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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. For other uses of the term, see Ninja.

Japanese assassin. Highly effective against mercenaries, Explorers, War Chiefs, and Monks.
—In-game description

The Ninja is a mercenary melee heavy infantry unit in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. It is a stealthy unit that excels against heroes and mercenaries, similar to the Spy.

Overview[]

Ninjas are infantry units that are very effective against heroes and mercenaries. Ninjas themselves are mercenaries, so are easily countered by Spies. The Ninja can also use Stealth Mode, which can be detected by an Explorer or Town Center (or other units or buildings).

The Ninja differs from the Spy in that it is classified as a mercenary, in contrast to the Spy, making the Spy very effective against Ninjas. The Ninja also has much higher cost, slightly less speed, much lower Line of Sight and much lower multipliers, but it has more hit points and much higher base damage and siege damage. Ninjas also take up 4 population per unit, despite only costing 200 coin, whereas Spies take up only 1 population per unit, despite costing 125 coin. Ninjas are slightly more deadly against mercenaries, but less effective against heroes, and are far less useful for scouting. Exclusively, Ninjas have multipliers against native warriors.

As is the case with Spies, Ninjas are not cost effective against any units other than mercenaries and heroes. However, they do much better against normal units than Spies do, because of their higher base damage. This makes them more well-rounded than Spies. Ninjas are classified as heavy infantry and infantry, making them especially vulnerable to light infantry, counter-skirmishers, and artillery.

The Ninja also has worse accessibility than Spies, as Spies are always available from the Church/Mosque from the Commerce Age onward, can be sent from the Home City by European civilizations, while the Ninja can sometimes be trained at the Saloon/Monastery, or sent with Home City shipments by certain civilizations.

Ninjas are very useful in the third and fourth scenarios of the Chinese campaign (by choosing Japanese Mercenaries at the Consulate) because most enemies on these maps (namely, Aztec Jaguar Warriors and Aztec Eagle Warriors) are classified as native warriors, which the Ninja has bonuses against.

Ninjutsu-Zukai[]

Japanese assassin. Highly effective against mercenaries, Explorers, War Chiefs, and Monks.
—In-game description

The Ninjutsu-Zukai is a counterpart of the Ninja which starts with +10% hit points and attack. It is identical to the Ninja, but is easier to access, since it can be trained from the Japanese Consulate if Japanese Isolation is chosen. Unlike Ninja, Ninjutsu-Zukai do not have multiplier against native warriors.

Upgrades[]

The Ninjutsu-Zukai is automatically upgraded in the Industrial Age and Imperial Age:

  • Industrial age up +30% hit points and attack
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Heroes, mercenaries, native warriors, buildings
Weak vs. Cavalry, light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery, defensive structures
Improvements
Hit points Corselet Corselet (+25%, Spanish only)
Maya Cotton Armor Maya Cotton Armor (+20%)
Infantry Breastplate Infantry Breastplate (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Zapotec Cult of the Dead Zapotec Cult of the Dead (+20%)
Carib Kasiri Beer Carib Kasiri Beer (+10%)
Master Lessons Master Lessons (+10%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Mapuche Tactics Mapuche Tactics (+50% siege attack)
Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Tillys Discipline Tilly's Discipline (+20%; Germans only)
Military Drummers Military Drummers (+10%)
Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Standing Army Standing Army (-25%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Africans only)
Cost Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Yemeni Relations Yemeni Relations (exchanges cost for 50% coin, 50% influence; Ethiopians only)
Penalties Corselet Corselet (-15% speed; Spanish only)
Coffee Trade Coffee Trade (-10% speed; Dutch only)
Tillys Discipline Tilly's Discipline (+10% cost; Germans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Ninja
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
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 3 (Liberation March) Liberation March Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +5% speed and -35% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
Baja California Home City (Outlaw Combat) Outlaw Combat Outlaws and mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack (also upgrades Filibusters to Veteran for Baja California; costs 750 coin for Baja California, Hungary, and Revolutionary Mexicans)
Revolution
  • "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.
  • "Fencing School" is available to the Europeans (except the French, Maltese, Ottomans, and Spanish) and Indians.
  • "Outlaw Combat" is available to the Mexicans upon revolting to Baja California and Europeans upon revolting to the Barbary States, Hungary, and Mexico.

Africans[]

Card Description Age
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except Shaolin Masters) train time -20%; Summer Palace banner army, Flying Crow, and Heavy Cannon spawn time -5%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +10% hit points; Dutch-only infantry get +15% hit points instead
Age II tech tree aoe3
Dutch Home City 5 (Dutch States Army) Dutch States Army Mercenary train time -15% and shipments arrive time -20%, and get +7% speed (except Napoleon Guns and Li'l Bombards); enables training of Highlanders at Barracks, Royal Horsemen at Stables, and both at Tavern; Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Hussars, and Ruyters cost +10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Loyal warriors Loyal Warriors Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15% (also affects shipments)
Age I tech tree aoe3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 5 (Hire Ninja) Hire Japanese Ninja Ships 12 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land military units get +5% hit points; villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
  • "Hire Japanese Ninja" is available to the Ottomans and Portuguese.
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 3 (Royal Fencing School) Royal Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40%; +3 Royal Musketeers
Age II tech tree aoe3

Germans[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 5 (Improved Mercenaries) Improved Mercenaries Mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack; +3 Uhlans
Age III tech tree aoe3

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Ships 1 Native Scout; infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 3 (Conservative Tacticcs) Conservative Tactics Infantry get +10% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Hausa[]

Card Description Age
Hausa Home City Cards 5 (Sahelian Kingdoms) Sahelian Kingdoms Native warriors get +15% hit points and attack; mercenaries and outlaws get +10% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (Road Building) Road Building Land military units get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Ships 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villagers, healing units, and Envoys get +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; Rajputs get +20% hand attack instead; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 3 (Conscript Sepoys) Zamindars Infantry train time -20%; receives 2 Sepoys instead of 1 Villager with every Home City shipment; +2 Sepoys
Age II tech tree aoe3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Italian Home City 2 (Schiavoni Swords) Schiavoni Swords Infantry and cavalry get +15% hand attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Good faith agreements Good Faith Agreements Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-300 export for Brigades) and research time -50% (except for Brigades)
Age I tech tree aoe3
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +5% speed, +10 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military unit train time -20%, artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 5 (10 Ninjas) Hire Ninja Assassins Ships 10 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 5 (TEAM 10 Ninjas) TEAM 10 Ninja Assassins Ships 10 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "Good Faith Agreements" only affects Ninjutsu-Zukai.

Lakota[]

Card Description Age
Sioux Home City 2 (Wind Runner) Moccasins Infantry get +10% speed
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 3 (Squires) Squires Military buildings train and research work 80% faster, except Forts which train and research work 260% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas Colegio de San Nicolás Ships 500 XP; units get +4 and buildings (except Walls) get +8 Line of Sight; sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age
Rio Grande Home City (Bastimento) Bastimento Infantry train time -25%; Revolutionary train time -50%; villager train time -20%
Revolution
Maya Home City (Pok Ta Pok) Pok Ta Pok Infantry get +10% speed and -10% train time
Revolution
  • "Colegio de San Nicolás" is available upon selecting the Michoacán Federal State.
  • "National Servant" is available upon selecting the Estado de México Federal State.
  • "Bastimento" is available upon revolting to Rio Grande.
  • "Pok Ta Pok" is available upon revolting to the Maya.

Ottomans[]

Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 3 (Matrakci School) Matrakci School Infantry and shock infantry train time -30%; Janissary, Azap, Nizam Fusilier, Abus Gunner, and Humbaraci train time -40% instead
Age II tech tree aoe3

Russians[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 2 (Ransack) Ransack Infantry get +50% siege attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Russian Home City 3 (Dueling School) Dueling School Infantry train time -25%
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Archaic Infantry Hitpoints Hand infantry and foot archers get +15% hit points; Rodeleros get +20% hit points instead
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Combat) Archaic Infantry Combat Hand infantry and foot archers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Attack Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Swedish Home City 2 (TEAM House of Bernadotte) TEAM House of Bernadotte Heavy infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Swedish Home City 5 (German Mercenary Contracts) German Mercenary Contracts Mercenaries get +20% hit points and attack; Jaegers and Landsknechts can be trained at Barracks and Galleons; Black Riders can be trained at Stables and Galleons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

United States[]

Card Description Age
US Home City 2 (United States Army) United States Army The General, Minutemen, and heavy infantry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
US Home City 5 (Poker) Poker Ships 13 random mercenaries; up to 3 random mercenaries available at Saloon; costs 3,500 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Federal card indiana mobilization Indiana Mobilization Ships 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game including this one; unit train time (except Heavy Cannons), technology research time, and age-up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Federal card hamilton's own Hamilton's Own Ships 4 Napoleon Guns and 2 Li'l Bombards; mercenaries get +25% hit points and attack; costs 2,500 coin
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Hamilton's Own" is available upon selecting the New York Federal State.

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
  • "Fencing School" is available to Europeans and Indians.

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Dutch[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 5 (Hire Ninja) Hire Japanese Ninja Ships 12 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
German Home City 5 (Improved Mercenaries) Improved Mercenaries Mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack; +3 Uhlans
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Iroquois[]

Card Description Age HC level
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Good faith agreements Good Faith Agreements Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-400 export for Brigades) and research time -50% (except Brigades)
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Japanese Home City 5 (10 Ninjas) Hire Ninja Assassins Ships 10 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Japanese Home City 5 (TEAM 10 Ninjas) TEAM 10 Ninja Assassins Ships 10 Ninja; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
  • "Good Faith Agreements" only affects Ninjutsu-Zukai.

Lakota[]

Card Description Age HC level
Sioux Home City 2 (Wind Runner) Wind Runner Infantry get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 2 (Ransack) Ransack Infantry get +50% siege attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Russian Home City 3 (Dueling School) Dueling School Infantry (except Skull Knights), Old Han Army, and Territorial Army train time -25%; Black Flag Army, Standard Army, Ming Army, and Imperial Army train time -12%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Ninjutsu-Zukai now no longer has a ×5.0 multiplier against native warriors.

In-game dialogue[]

The Ninja speaks Japanese but with different lines than the Japanese civilization's ones, which is also shared with the Ronin.

  • はい? [Hai?] (Yes?)
  • 用意! [Youi!] (Ready!)
  • ご命令を? [Gomerei o?] (Your command?)
  • 了解しました [Ryoukai shimashita] (I understand)
  • すぐにかかります [Suguni kakarimasu] (Immediately)
  • そうだ! [Souda!] (It is!)
  • 攻撃! [Kougeki!] (Attack!)
  • 戦え、戦うんだ! [Tatakae, tatakaunda!] (Fight, fight!)

History[]

Shrouded by the mists of time, the exploits of the ninja continue to fire imaginations across the globe. During the turbulent years of Japan's sixth and seventh centuries, a secret class of warrior priests emerged. Rulers of opposing factions came to value the ninja for their skills in stealth, combat, and espionage.

As the centuries passed, the legendary powers of the ninja grew: invisibility, shape-shifting, flight; even the ability to pass through solid walls. Modern filmmakers blend historical fact with ancient myth to fashion a portrait of a warrior class that continues to fascinate and terrify.

Gallery[]

Video[]

NINJA_vs_EVERY_UNIQUE_UNIT_-_AoE_3-_Definitive_Edition

NINJA vs EVERY UNIQUE UNIT - AoE 3- Definitive Edition

Mercenary and Outlaw units in Age of Empires III
Aoe3 unit type mercenary Mercenaries
InfantryMercenary armored pistoleer portrait Armored Pistoleer · Arsonist aoe3de Arsonist · Askari aoe3de portrait Askari · Corsair de Barbary Corsair · Cannoneer portrait aoe3de Cannoneer · Dahomey amazon aoe3de portrait Dahomey Amazon · Fusilier de Fusilier · Mercenary giant grenadier portrait Giant Grenadier · Highlander de Highlander · Mercenary irish brigade portrait Irish Brigadier · Iron troop aoe3de Iron Troop · Jaeger portrait aoe3de updated Jaeger · Landsknecht de Landsknecht · Ninja de Ninja · Mercenary pandour portrait Pandour · Ronin de Ronin · Swiss pikeman aoe3de Swiss Pikeman · Zouave icon aoe3de Zouave
CavalryBlack rider aoe3de Black Rider · Mercenary bosniak rider portrait Bosniak · Elmeti aoe3de Elmetto · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel · Hackapell aoe3de Hackapell · Harquebusier icon Harquebusier · Jat lancer de Jat Lancer · Kanuri guard aoe3de portrait Kanuri Guard · Mameluke aoe3de Mameluke · Manchu de Manchu · Mercenary mounted rifleman portrait Mounted Rifleman · Mercenary royal horseman portrait Royal Horseman · Sennar horseman aoe3de portrait Sennar Horseman · Stradiot aoe3de Stradiot · Yojimbo aoe3de Yojimbo · Zenata rider aoe3de portrait Zenata Rider
ArtilleryLil bombard aoe3de Li'l Bombard · Napoleon gun icon aoe3de Napoleon Gun · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel
ShipBattleship portrait Battleship · Privateer aoe3de Privateer · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow · Wokou junk aoe3de Wokou Junk · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Outlaws
InfantryAfrican vagabond portrait African Vagabond · Colonial looter portrait Colonial Looter · Dacoit aoe3de Dacoit · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Hajduk portrait Hajduk · Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman · Inquisitor portrait Inquisitor · Pistolero aoe3de Pistolero · Renegado aoe3de Renegado · Thuggee aoe3de Thuggee · Blind monk aoe3de Wokou Monk · Wayward ronin aoe3de Wokou Ronin
Shock infantryPirate aoe3de Pirate · Wokou pirate aoe3de Wokou Pirate
CavalryComanchero icon aoe3de Comanchero · Cossack daredevil portrait Cossack Daredevil · Crabat portrait Crabat · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman · Wokou horseman aoe3de Wokou Horseman
ArtilleryCaptured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar
ShipCatamaran aoe3de Marathan Catamaran
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesGunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansDesperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido
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