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Heavy hand cavalry with a lot of hitpoints.
—In-game description

The Lifidi Knight is a melee heavy cavalry unit in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The African Royals that is unique to the Hausa and can be trained at War Camp once the Fortress Age is reached. It has more hit points than other melee cavalry and, unlike most other units, resists both melee and ranged attacks.

Overview[]

Compared to Cuirassiers, Lifidi Knights have less attack but cost less and use only two population. With the "Durbar Parade" Home City Card, Lifidi Knights deal Area of Effect damage like Cuirassiers and Sipahi.

Upgrades[]

The Lifidi Knight is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, getting +15% hit points and damage.

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Elite Hand Cavalry 250 wood
250 coin
Upgrade Raiders and Lifidi Knights to Elite (+25% hit points and damage for Raiders; +10% hit points and damage for Lifidi Knights; -15% train time for both)
Champion Hand Cavalry 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrade Raiders and Lifidi Knights to Champion (+25% hit points and damage, and -15% train time); requires Elite Hand Cavalry
Imperial Age
Imperial Age
Legendary Hand Cavalry 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrade Raiders and Lifidi Knights to Legendary (+50% hit points and damage); requires Champion Hand Cavalry

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Weak vs. Heavy infantry, light ranged cavalry, ranged shock infantry
Improvements
Hit points Cavalry Cuirass (+10%)
Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Yoga (+5%)
Pillage (+25% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings)
Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Resistance Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Speed Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Wind Horses (+0.5)
Line of Sight Town Watch (+3)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Train time Cheyenne Horse Trading (-40%)
Mass Cavalry (-35%)
Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Shaman Drums (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters (-10%)
Other Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Lifidi Knight
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)
British
Card Description Age
Cavalry Damage Cavalry damage +15%
Cavalry Hitpoints Cavalry hit points +15%
Europeans
Card Description Age
Cavalry Combat Cavalry hit points and damage +15%
African Roots Delivers a random 6 West Africa units and allows to ally with the Akan or Yoruba in the Native Embassy; Akan infantry, Yoruba infantry and Maroons can now use Stealth mode; costs 1,000 food
  • "African Roots" is available to the British and French upon revolting to Haiti.
French
Card Description Age
TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry damage +15%
Germans
Card Description Age
TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry damage +10%; Germans-only heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry damage +15% instead
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the Italian "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.
Hausa
Card Description Age
Gwandu Delivers 9 Fulani Archers and 5 Lifidi Knights
5 Lifidi Knights Delivers 5 Lifidi Knights
4 Lifidi Knights Delivers 4 Lifidi Knights
8 Lifidi Knights Delivers 8 Lifidi Knights
5 Lifidi Knights Delivers 5 Lifidi Knights
Rumfa's Riders Delivers 4 Lifidi Knights; enables Lifidi Knights to be trained from the Commerce Age; costs 500 influence
Durbar Parade Raider speed +5%, Lifidi Knight speed +10%; Raider and Lifidi Knight hand attack Area of Effect +1, trample attack Area of Effect +2
Zazzau Cavalry Delivers 1 Raider for each War Camp and Watch Tower present on the map; delivers 1 Lifidi Knight for each Palace present on the map
Hand Cavalry Damage Raider and Lifidi Knight damage +15%
Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Raider and Lifidi Knight hit points +15%
Hadejia Emirate Delivers 4 Raiders and 3 Lifidi Knights; Elite Hand Cavalry cost and research time -100%; Champion Hand Cavalry cost and research time -50%; Legendary Hand Cavalry cost and research time -20%; costs 1,000 influence
Amina Epic Grants 4.2 influence for each Raider and 6 influence for each Lifidi Knight trained so far
Feudal Armies Unit train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Hegemony Fulani Archer, Maigadi, Javelin Rider, Raider, and Akan Ankobia auto gather 0.03 influence; Lifidi Knight auto gather 0.06 influence
Indians
Card Description Age
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics Unit hit points and damage +5%
Italians
Card Description Age
TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry damage +10%; Italians-only heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry damage +15% instead
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the German "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.
Japanese
Card Description Age
TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Lakota
Card Description Age
TEAM Mustangs Cavalry and shock infantry cost -10%
Maltese
Card Description Age
TEAM Knights of the Round Table Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; unit hit points +2%
Mexicans
Card Description Age
TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
Russians
Card Description Age
TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions Cavalry and shock infantry hit points +10%, Line of Sight +4
Spanish
Card Description Age
TEAM Spanish Inquisition Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic unit Line of Sight +10

Changelog[]

The African Royals[]

  • Originally, Lifidi Knights had 460 hit points, a train time of 40 seconds, and 21 melee and siege damage. With update 43871, they have 430 hit points, and 22 melee and siege damage.
  • Originally, Champion Hand Cavalry cost 800 wood and 800 coin, and Imperial Hand Cavalry cost 2,000 wood and 2,000 coin. With update 43871, Champion Hand Cavalry costs 600 wood and 600 coin, and Imperial Hand Cavalry costs 1,500 wood and 1,500 coin.
  • Originally, the in-game description was "Heavy cavalry with a lot of hitpoints." Although it is not listed in the patch notes, with update 43871, the in-game description is "Heavy hand cavalry with a lot of hitpoints."
  • Originally, Lifidi Knights cost 90 food and had 30% ranged resistance. With update 13.690, they cost 110 food and have 20% ranged resistance.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 13.10442, Lifidi Knights have 375 hit points and 25 melee and siege damage.
  • With update 13.27885, Lifidi Knights have 50 second train time, 15 siege damage, and give 22 XP when trained or killed.

Trivia[]

History[]

Lifidi, a unique form of quilted armor, was a staple among cavalrymen in West and Central African societies such as the Hausa, the Fulani, the Sudanese, and the Kanem-Bornu. Lifidi was effective at parrying both melee and ranged attacks, and these feudal cavalrymen, though only comprising a minority of their armies, accounted for a disproportionate of their power.

Gallery[]

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
Age of Empires III Explorer · Militiaman · Crossbowman · Pikeman · Musketeer · Grenadier · Halberdier · Skirmisher · Hussar · Dragoon · Cavalry Archer · Falconet · Culverin · Mortar · Heavy Cannon · Caravel · Galleon · Frigate · Monitor
The WarChiefs Warrior · Spy · Petard · Horse Artillery · Canoe · War Canoe · Ironclad
The Asian Dynasties/ Sentry · / Irregular
Definitive Edition*/ General · Captured Mortar · Sloop · Steamer · Battleship
The African Royals Levied Spearman · Levied Bowman · Levied Gunner · Javelin Rider · Battle Canoe · Cannon Boat
Unique units
British Longbowman · Ranger · Rocket
Dutch Ruyter · Fluyt
French Cuirassier
Germans Doppelsoldner · Landwehr · Uhlan · War Wagon
Ottomans Bashibozuk · Janissary · Azap · Abus Gunner · Humbaraci · Muhbir · Nizam Fusilier · Deli · Sipahi · Great Bombard · Galley
Portuguese Cassador · Ordinance Rifleman · Organ Gun
Russians Strelet · Rekrut · Poruchik · Cossack · Oprichnik
Spanish Rodelero · Lancer
Aztecs Aztec War Chief · Eagle Scout · Otontin Slinger · Puma Spearman · Warrior Priest · Arrow Knight · Jaguar Prowl Knight · Skull Knight · Coyote Runner · Eagle Runner Knight · Tlaloc Canoe
Haudenosaunee Haudenosaunee War Chief · Aenna · Tomahawk · Forest Prowler · Ram · Mantlet · Kanya Horseman · Musket Rider · Light Cannon
Lakota Lakota War Chief · Cetan Bowman · Club Warrior · Wakina Rifle · Axe Rider · Bow Rider · Rifle Rider · Tashunke Prowler · Tokala Soldier
Chinese Shaolin Master · Chu Ko Nu · Qiang Pikeman · Flamethrower · Changdao Swordsman · Arquebusier · Disciple · Steppe Rider · Keshik · Iron Flail · Meteor Hammer · Hand Mortar · Flying Crow · Fire Junk · War Junk · Fuchuan
Indians Brahmin · Rajput · Sepoy · Gurkha · Urumi Swordsman · Sowar · Zamburak · Flail Elephant · Mahout Lancer · Howdah · Siege Elephant
Japanese Sohei Archer · Yumi Archer · Ashigaru Musketeer · Samurai · Yamabushi · Shinobi · Naginata Rider · Yabusame · Daimyo · Shogun Tokugawa · Flaming Arrow · Morutaru · Fune · Atakebune · Tekkousen
Inca Inca War Chief · Jungle Bowman · Plumed Spearman · Bolas Warrior · Huaraca · Maceman · Chasqui · Chimu Runner · Chincha Raft
Swedes Carolean · Hakkapelit · Leather Cannon
United States Minuteman · State Militia · Regular · Gunslinger · Owlhoot · Sharpshooter · Cowboy · Carbine Cavalry · Gatling Gun · Quaker Gun
Ethiopians Ras · Gascenya · Neftenya · Shotel Warrior · Oromo Warrior · Sebastopol Mortar · War Dhow
Hausa Emir · Fulani Archer · Maigadi · Raider · Lifidi Knight · Xebec
Mexicans Padre · Insurgente · Soldado · Salteador · Desperado · Bandido · Chinaco · Cuatrero
Italians Pavisier · Papal Guard · Schiavone · Bersagliere · Papal Zouave · Papal Lancer · Papal Bombard · Leonardo's Tank · Galleass
Maltese Grand Master · Hospitaller · Sentinel · Fire Thrower · Order Galley · Fire Ship
Revolution
Barbary Warrior · Bolivar · Californio · Cetbang Cannon · Corsair Captain · Corsair Marksman · Cruzob Avenger · Cruzob Infantry · Cuerudo · Eclaireur · Filibuster · Gatling Gun · Gaucho · Jagunço · Javanese Spearman · Llanero · Militia Officer · Morochuco · Mounted Granadero · Revolutionary · Revolutionary Sharpshooter · San Martin · Trek Wagon