This article is about the infantry units in Age of Empires. For infantry in other games of the series, see Infantry. |

Infantry in Age of Empires is one of the four combat forces on land, the other ones being archers, cavalry, and siege weapons. Infantry units are non-ranged foot soldiers.
General information[]
Infantry cost food and gold, with the exception of the Clubman and Axeman, which only cost food. The main bonus of infantry is that they are cost effective and easy to mass, and can be used for assaults on enemy fortifications, while siege weapons and archers provide backup. Weak at first glance, infantry can be extremely important, since they are the cheapest unit branch, available early in the game, created quickly, and usually hold a medium to high attack.
Due to their low speed and lack of range, infantry units are easily taken down by archers or converted by Priests.
The Hoplite (and its later improvements) are not as good for fast assaults as the Short Swordsman, since Hoplites are slow and expensive, although they have a large amount of hit points so they can suck up damage that would kill the faster (but weaker) Swordsmen, who have lower armor and hit points.
List of infantry units[]
Infantry unit | Building | A | HP | At | Ar | PA | ROF | LOS | Sp | F | G | TT |
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Barracks | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 50 | 0 | 26 | |
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Barracks | 50 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 50 | 0 | 26 | |
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Barracks | 60 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 35 | 15 | 26 | |
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Barracks | 80 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 35 | 15 | 26 | |
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Barracks | 100 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 35 | 15 | 26 | |
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Barracks | 140 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 1.2 | 35 | 15 | 26 | |
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Academy | 120 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 40 | 36 | |
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Academy | 120 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 40 | 36 | |
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Academy | 160 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 1.5 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 40 | 36 |
Technologies[]
Listed below are technologies that benefit infantry units. This list does not contain unit upgrades.
Technology | Researched at | Age | Civilizations | Effect |
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Storage Pit | All | Increases attack by +2 | |
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Storage Pit | All | Increases attack by +2 | |
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Storage Pit | 11 | Increases attack by +3 | |
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Storage Pit | All | Increases armor by +2 | |
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Storage Pit | All | Increases armor by +2 | |
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Storage Pit | 12 | Increases armor by +2 | |
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Storage Pit | 14 | Increases pierce armor by +1 | |
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Storage Pit | 11 | Increases pierce armor by +1 | |
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Storage Pit | 9 | Increases pierce armor by +1 | |
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Government Center | 15 | Barracks units cost 1/2 population | |
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Government Center | 11 | The Hoplite line moves 25% faster (required for Centurion upgrade) |
Civilization bonuses[]
The following civilizations have bonuses that specifically benefit infantry units:
- Carthaginians: The Hoplite line has +25% HP.
- Choson: Axemen have +5 HP. Short/Broad/Long Swordsmen and Legions have +15/20/60/80 HP respectively.
- Greeks: The Hoplite line moves 30% faster and is 20% cheaper.
- Macedonians: The Hoplite line has +1/+2 pierce armor in the Bronze/Iron Age. Melee infantry have +2 Line of Sight. Infantry units are 4 times more resistant to conversion.
- Romans: The Short Swordsman line has -33% reload time.
Gallery[]
Units in Age of Empires | |
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Priest · Villager · Trade Boat · Merchant Ship · Fishing Boat · Fishing Ship · Light Transport · Heavy Transport | |
Infantry | Clubman · Axeman · Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman · Long Swordsmen · Legion · Hoplite · Phalanx · Centurion |
Archer | Bowman · Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman · Chariot Archer · Elephant Archer · Horse Archer · Heavy Horse Archer |
Cavalry | Scout · Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Cataphract · Chariot · War Elephant |
Siege | Stone Thrower · Catapult · Heavy Catapult · Ballista · Helepolis |
Ship | Scout Ship · War Galley · Trireme · Catapult Trireme · Juggernaught |
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Armored Elephant · Camel Rider · Fire Galley · Scythe Chariot · Slinger | |