Michoacán is a Commerce Age Federal State in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, available to the Mexicans. As soon as the player advances to the Commerce Age by choosing Michoacán, a Military Wagon appears at the Home City shipment point and the following Home City Cards will be added into the Mexican player's deck:
| Card | Description |
|---|---|
 Colegio de San Nicolás
|
Ships 500 XP; Units and buildings get +8 LOS; Sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds |
 Michoacán Fisherman
|
Ships 1 Dock Wagons; Ships 1 Fishing Boat for every Home City shipment that had been sent before this one and check for a water spawn point |
Strategy[]
If playing on a naval map, Michoacán is one of the first steps the Mexicans should take to develop an early naval economy and start taking over the sea. It is a flexible Federal State, as Colegio de San Nicolás increases the Line of Sight of all units and buildings permanently, not just ships. This shipment canalso be valuable for an early rush, as it allows the player to see what the opponent sees for 20 seconds, giving the player some intel to adjust the army against the opponent. This shipment also gives 500 XP, so it pays for itself.
When playing on a naval map, the Mexicans should pick Michoacán Fishermen early, but not so early the player gets a low quantity of Fishing Ships. Picking at least 4 shipments previously is optimal and recommended. For increasing Fishing Ship performance, the player should have improvements for this unit in the base deck. Michoacan Fishermen also gives 1 Dock Wagon, so the player also saves wood and time for the navy.
Recommended shipments[]
- Refurbished Firearms: Soldados get +2 LOS; stacks with Colegio de San Nicolás for a total of +10 Line of Sight for Soldados.
- Observers: Salteadores get +2 range and Line of Sight, +5% speed, and see the Line of Sight of enemies they attacked for 10 seconds. Stacks with Colegio de San Nicolás for a total of +10 Line of Sight for Salteadores. Can be sent through the Yucatán Revolution or from the base deck.
- Land of Hidalgo: The Padre gets +2 Line of Sight for a total of +10 with Colegio de San Nicolás.
- European Cannons: Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight, and +2 range. Considering Michoacan's focus is on navy and Line of Sight for units, this shipment is a good addition for a Mexican naval strategy.
- Coach Guns (Baja California) : Trading Posts get +12 Line of Sight and the Shotgun Messengers charged attack ability. The Line of Sight stacks up with Colegio de San Nicolás for a total of +14.
- Advanced Dock: Docks get +100% attack and repair ships twice as fast; Ship train time -33%. As Michoacan Fishermen sends 2 Dock Wagons, the Docks will be already able to better defend the shore.
- Fish Market and TEAM Rendering Plant: these make Fishing Ships more efficient.
- 1 Whale: Ships 1 Humpback Whale. As this appears at the shipment point, the player may set the naval shipment point near the Dock or the shore to better defend the Fishing Ships that will work at that whale.
- Pacific Pearl (Sinaloa): Ships 1 Fishing Ground. As this appears at the shipment point, the player may set the naval shipment point near the Dock or the shore to better defend the Fishing Ships that will work at that Fishing Ground.
- TEAM Gulf of Mexico: Reveals the location of enemy ships, fishes, and whales; Ships 1 Dock Wagon. With this shipment and Michoacán Fishermen, the player will have 3 Docks from shipments early on the game.
- Naval warship improvements: Further on, the player may specialize more on the navy.
- Tampico Customs (Tamaulipas): Dock technologies are free, but take 4.5 times as long to research.
- Port Veracruz (Veracruz): Forts gain +8 range and Line of Sight, stacks with Colegio de San Nicolás for a total of +16 Line of Sight for Forts.
