Light Transport

Light Transport
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Transport Boat
Civilization	All civilizations
Age	Tool Age
Training
Trained at	Dock
Wood	150
Training time	75 seconds (base) 50 seconds 44 seconds 37 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	150
Melee armor	0
Pierce armor	0
Speed	1.4
Garrison	5
Line of Sight	4
Upgrades to
Upgrades to	Heavy Transport
Upgrade cost	300 food, 150 wood
Upgrade time	180 seconds (base) 90 seconds

“	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

Light Transports in the Definitive Edition.

A group of Light Transports in the original game.

Light Transport (left) and Heavy Transport (right).

Light Transport idle sprite in Return of Rome

Technology tree

	➞		➞			➞
		➞						Requires War Galley
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			➞			➞
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								Requires unlock	➞