“ | Used to transport villagers, military units, and Artifacts across water. | ” |
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition |
The Light Transport is a unit in Age of Empires that carries land units across water. It is able to carry five units (every unit counts as one, be it a Villager or Heavy Catapult).
Gameplay[]
Light Transports have no attack and may need to be escorted by military ships. They are best used in groups, and with expensive units spread out, so that if one is lost, it is less likely to be the one with five Heavy Catapults or Centurions. Boats are also twice as resistant to conversion than land units.
They can be upgraded to the Heavy Transport in the Iron Age with doubled capacity, faster speed and hitpoints.
Civilization bonuses[]
- Carthaginians: Light Transports have +25% speed.
- Greeks: Light Transports have +20% speed.
- Macedonians: Light Transports have +2 Line of Sight and are four times more resistant to conversion.
- Minoans: Light Transports cost -20%/-25%/-30% in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
- Yamato: Light Transports have +15%/+20%/+25% hit points in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Team bonuses[]
- Palmyrans: Upgrading Light Transports to Heavy Transports and researching technologies that benefit Fishing Boats are 30% faster.
Changelog[]
Age of Empires[]
- Light Transports take 75 seconds to upgrade.
- Minoans: Light Transports cost -30%.
- Yamato: Light Transports have +30% hit points.
Definitive Edition[]
- Light Transports take 180 seconds to upgrade.
- Yamato: Upon release, Light Transports have +25% hit points. With update 38862, they have +20% hit points.
Return of Rome[]
- Palmyrans (team bonus): Technologies benefiting Light Transports are researched 30% faster.
- Minoans: With update 99311, Light Transports cost -20%/-25%/-30% in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
- Yamato: With update 99311, Light Transports have +15%/+20%/+25% hit points in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
History[]
“ | The earliest use of boats in war were primarily to carry men across rivers, lakes, or seas to raid and plunder. They were lightly armored but were armed with ranged weapons carried by the passengers. The most suitable boat for this purpose was built as a compromise between speed and capacity. Raiders did not want to spend long periods in boats making a crossing and needed to surprise their enemies. The boat also had to carry a reasonable number of raiders and have room for any booty to be brought back. The fastest boats of ancient times were galleys powered by sails when possible but mainly by oars. The Greek penteconter with 50 oars was a common transport for troops. In most cases, the crew of oarsmen became raiders when they reached their destination. | ” |
—The Age of Empires manual |
Gallery[]
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Catapult Trireme |
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War Galley |
Units in Age of Empires | |
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Civilian | Villager · Trade Cart |
Other | Priest · Slinger · Artifact |
Civilian ship | Fishing Boat · Fishing Ship Trade Boat · Merchant Ship Light Transport · Heavy Transport |
Infantry | Clubman · Axeman Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman · Long Swordsmen · Legionary Hoplite · Phalangite · Centurion |
Archer | Bowman Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman Chariot Archer Horse Archer · Heavy Horse Archer Elephant Archer |
Cavalry | Scout Chariot · Scythe Chariot Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Cataphract War Elephant · Armored Elephant Camel Rider |
Siege | Stone Thrower · Catapult · Heavy Catapult Ballista · Helepolis |
War Ship | Scout Ship · War Galley · Trireme Catapult Trireme · Juggernaut Fire Galley |
Scenario Editor-only units | |
Chieftain · Donkey · Explorer · General · High Priest · Horse · Mercenary (removed) · Penguin · Pharaoh · Raft · War Chest |