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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For other uses of the term, see Pikeman.

Archaic heavy infantry. Good against cavalry and buildings.
—In-game description

The Pikeman is a melee heavy infantry in Age of Empires III that can be trained at Barracks, Fort, and Galleon/Fluyt.

Pikemen are available to European civilizations except Ottomans and Russians.

Overview[]

An archaic unit, the Pikeman has low attack and three main advantages: high siege damage, high speed, and large multipliers against cavalry and shock infantry. While they are not suited to fighting any other units except cavalry and shock infantry, they are effective at supporting other units who are harassing the enemy. This is mainly by threatening their key buildings such as their military production. If they are engaged by infantry at all, their best move is to simply run out of range, thanks to their high speed. For example, Pikemen themselves should not be engaging Settlers/Villagers because Settlers actually have higher hand damage and can actually defeat the Pikemen in a duel. Despite having more speed than most infantry, they are not fast enough to pursue cavalry and are better used defensively to respond against cavalry attacks, rather than chasing them.

Pikemen are usually created in small numbers and rarely created outside of the Commerce Age. This is for multiple reasons: firstly, while the Pikeman is 20% cheaper in raw resources than a Musketeer, it costs wood, which is slower to chop. Secondly, the other anti-cavalry units (Musketeers and Dragoons) are vastly more versatile unit options because they can engage other units than cavalry without requiring overwhelming numbers. Thirdly, army sizes increase to the point that dedicated siege warriors are no longer necessary to threaten buildings. Fourthly, the other units can be further upgraded to stay useful in later ages, whereas archaic units largely cannot be upgraded. In short, other infantry units replace its siege role while also having melee capabilities, while ranged cavalry replaces its ability to quickly fend off cavalry attacks, and while they can't fulfill an identical role to the Pikemen, overall these units are a better replacement.

They can be defeated by most other units, but are particularly countered by ranged infantry and artillery. In the Commerce Age, they are useful for destroying buildings, since most civilizations lack artillery at that stage. Pikemen are useful as a front line defense for ranged units to position behind. Using them with Crossbowman is an effective combo early in the game, as they can take out infantry at long range while the Pikemen defeat any cavalry that get too close.

Spanish players have the option of being able to train Crossbowmen and Pikemen very quickly (6.75 seconds) in the Commerce Age, due to the "TEAM Archaic Soldier Training" and "Liberation March" cards. If Standing Army from the Church is used, Pikemen and Crossbowmen can be created instantly.

The Portuguese can train Crossbowmen and Pikemen more quickly (5.4 seconds) in the Commerce Age, due to the Ordenança technology from the Church, sent by the "Treaty of Tordesillas" card, and the "Fencing School" card.

In the Definitive Edition, The Papal Guard politician upgrades the Pikemen into the Guard level for free and allows them to be upgraded to Imperial. This opens some new strategies for the five aforementioned European civilizations. A French player, for example, should consider Pikemen as a faster and cheaper alternative to Halberdiers if they just serve to protect artillery/Skirmishers from melee cavalry or boost anti-building damage of the player's own cavalry. All civilizations in question, except for the Swedes, can do the same with their Crossbowmen, which allows the player to keep using the archaic combo into the late game. Keep in mind that gather rates for wood and infinite coin are equal (when equally upgraded) and Skirmishers have better multipliers agains heavy infantry, so this strategy is best if the player a) already has a big stockpile of food and wood, but lacks coin (most likely to be the case immediately after reaching the Industrial Age), b) really likes investing coin into expensive artillery or c) has access to additional upgrades for either archaic infantry in general or archers in particular, be it through native civilizations or TEAM cards.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect Civ.
Age III tech tree aoe3
Veteran spear infantry Veteran Pikemen 200 wood
200 coin
Upgrades Pikemen to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range)
Flag BritishDE
Flag DutchDE
Flag FrenchDE
Flag GermanDE
Italians
Flag MalteseDE
Portuguese
Spanish
Flag SwedishDE
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Guard spear infantry Guard Pikemen 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrades Pikemen to Guard (+30% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range); Requires Veteran Pikemen and The Papal Guard
Flag FrenchDE
Flag GermanDE
Italians
Flag MalteseDE
Guard spear infantry Ordinance Pikemen 750 wood
750 coin
Upgrades Pikemen to Ordinance Pikemen (Guard Pikemen with +10% hit points and attack, and -25% cost); Requires Veteran Pikemen
Portuguese
Guard spear infantry Tercio 750 wood
750 coin
Upgrades Pikemen to Tercios (Guard Pikemen with +10% hit points and attack); Requires Veteran Pikemen
Spanish
Guard spear infantry Dalkarl Upgrades Pikemen to Dalkarls (Guard Pikemen with +10% hit points and attack, and -15 food, -15 wood cost); Requires Veteran Pikemen
Flag SwedishDE
Imperial Age
Imperial spear infantry Imperial Pikemen 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Pikemen to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range); Requires Guard Pikemen and The Papal Guard
Flag FrenchDE
Flag GermanDE
Italians
Flag MalteseDE
Imperial spear infantry Imperial Ordinance Pikemen Upgrades Ordinance Pikemen to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range); Requires Ordinance Pikemen
Portuguese
Imperial spear infantry Imperial Tercio Upgrades Tercios to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range); Requires Tercio
Spanish
Imperial spear infantry Imperial Dalkarl Upgrades Dalkarls to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range); Requires Dalkarl
Flag SwedishDE

Civilization differences[]

Revolutionary[]

  • (Definitive Edition) Haiti can upgrade their Pikemen to Pickets through the "Pickets" Home City Card. This upgrades Pikemen to Guard, changes cost from 40 food, 40 wood to 60 food and allows them to attack 15% faster, also updates their visual and icon.

Variants[]

Archaic heavy infantry. Good against cavalry and buildings.
—In-game description

The Tercio is a counterpart of the Pikeman, which starts with +10% hit points and attack.

Upgrades[]

The Tercio is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and Imperial Age:

  • Fortress age up +20% hit points and attack
  • Industrial age up +30% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack, +0.5 hand attack range

Civilization differences[]

The Deserted Pikeman is a treasure guardian variant of the Pikeman. It uses slightly modified stats from the base unit.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Cavalry, shock infantry, buildings
Weak vs. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Corselet Corselet (+25%; Spanish and Knights of St. John only)
Grand Encampment Grand Encampment (+25%; campaign United States only)
Maya Cotton Armor Maya Cotton Armor (+20%)
Infantry Breastplate Infantry Breastplate (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
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%)
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%)
Push of Pike Push of Pike (+10%; Swedes only)
Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Ordenança Ordenança (-30%; Portuguese only)
Standing Army Standing Army (-25%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Cost Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (-10%)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Penalties Grand Encampment Grand Encampment (-25% speed; campaign United States only)
Corselet Corselet (-15% speed; Spanish and Knights of St. John only)
High Crusade High Crusade (-5% hit points; Knights of St. John only)
Push of Pike Push of Pike (+10% training time; Swedes only)
Tillys Discipline Tilly's Discipline (+10% cost; Germans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Pikeman
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)

British[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Gentlemen of the Pike) Gentlemen of the Pike Ships 17 Pikemen and upgrades them to Veteran (if not already) and Guard; allows researching Imperial Pikemen for -75% cost
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Chinese Home City 1 (TEAM Yongle Infrastructure) TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Ships 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villagers, healing units, Envoys, and Disciples get +5% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 2 (Belgian Revolution) Belgian Revolution Turns all Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Ruyters into Revolutionaries; costs 500 food, 500 wood, 500 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Attack) Infantry Attack Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Revolutionary Sharpshooters, and Musketeers get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
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
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Combat) Infantry Combat Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Revolutionary Sharpshooters, and Musketeers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III 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 the Tavern; Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Hussars, and Ruyters cost +10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (8 Pikemen) 8 Pikemen Ships 8 Pikemen
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (10 Pikemen) 10 Pikemen Ships 10 Pikemen
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (12 Pikemen) 12 Pikemen Ships 12 Pikemen
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (24 Pikemen) 24 Pikemen Ships 24 Pikemen
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40%
Age II tech tree aoe3
Pickets Pickets Upgrades Pikemen to Pickets (Guard Pikemen which cost 60 food instead of 40 food, 40 wood and have -15% Rate of Fire)
Revolution
Indonesia Home City (Kraton Guards) Kraton Guards Pikemen get +25% hit points and attack; Revolutionaries get +15% hit points and attack
Revolution
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land units get +5% hit points; land villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
United States Home City (Rhode Island Militia) Rhode Island Militia Ships 10 Veteran State Militia and 5 Militiamen; Caravels, Galleons/Fluyts, Frigates, and Ironclads get +10% ranged attack per garrisoned State Militia and/or Militiaman (up to +60%); turns all Crossbowmen/Longbowmen and Pikemen into State Militia; State Militia replace Crossbowmen, Longbowmen, Pikemen, and Halberdiers at Barracks and Forts, and can be upgraded to Guard
Revolution
  • "8 Pikemen" is available to the Dutch, Maltese, Spanish and Swedes.
  • "10 Pikemen" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "12 Pikemen" is available to the Maltese, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "24 Pikemen" is available to the French, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "Fencing School" is not available to the French, Maltese, and Spanish.
  • "Pickets" is available to the British and French upon revolting to Haiti.
  • "Kraton Guards" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.
  • "Rhode Island Militia" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 2 (Cent-Suisses) Cent-Suisses Crossbowmen, Pikemen, and Halberdiers get +10% hit points and resistance
Age III tech tree aoe3
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 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry Attack Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% attack; +2 Uhlans
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry Hitpoints Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% hit points; +2 Uhlans
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Combat) Hand Infantry Combat Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% hit points and attack; +3 Uhlans
Age III tech tree aoe3
German Home City 2 (March Revolution) March Revolution Turns all villagers and Pikemen into Revolutionaries, and Settler Wagons into Guard Hussars; costs 1,000 food, 1,000 wood, 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

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

Inca[]

Card Description Age
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
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
Italian Home City 2 (Roman Tactics) Roman Tactics Pavisiers, Pikemen, and Halberdiers get +10% hit points, and get +0.3% attack for each Pavisier, Pikeman, and Halberdier in a radius of 34 (up to +15%)
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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
Good faith agreements Good Faith Agreements Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-300 export for Brigades) and researche time -50% (except Brigades)
Age I tech tree aoe3

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
Spanish Home City 1 (20 Pikemen) 20 Pikemen Ships 20 Pikemen
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Attack) Archaic Soldier Attack Crossbowmen and Pikemen get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) Archaic Soldier Hitpoints Crossbowmen and Pikemen get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Combat) Archaic Soldier Combat Crossbowmen and Pikeman get +15% hit points and attack
Age III 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

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age
Portuguese Home City 2 (Constable) Constable Pikemen, Halberdiers, Hussars, and Llaneros get +15% hit points and attack; Spies get +15% hit points and +10 hand attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Portuguese Home City 5 (Naval Infantry) Naval Infantry Caravels can train Crossbowmen, Ordinance Riflemen (if available), Pikemen, and Halberdiers; Monitors and Ironclads can train Musketeers, Cassadores, and Grenadiers (if available); Frigates can train all Barracks units; Battleships can train all Barracks units and Grenadiers; Caravels, Frigates, Monitors, Ironclads, and Battleships now tagged as recruiting ships
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (Archaic Soldier Training) TEAM Hidalgos Pikeman, Crossbowman, Aenna, Cetan Bow, Longbowman, Otontin Slinger, Yumi Archer, and Pavisier train time -40%; Old Han Army train time -30%; Jungle Bowman, Plumed Spearman, Fulani Archer, Desert Archer, Puma Spearman, Insurgente, Standard Army, and Ming Army train time -15%
Age I tech tree aoe3
Spanish Square Spanish Square Ships 20 Pikemen; Pikemen get +10% melee and ranged resistances
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 1 (Tercio Tactics) Tercio Tactics Turns all Pikemen into Rodeleros
Age III tech tree aoe3
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
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 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
Swedish Home City 2 (Dalecarlian Rebelion) Dalcarlian Rebellion Turns all Pikemen into Halberdiers
Age III tech tree aoe3
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
Revolution (Finnish Melee Speed) Cudgel War Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Poruchiks get -10% Rate of Fire and +10% speed
Revolution
  • "Cudgel War" is available upon revolting to Finland.

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 (Spanish Immigrants) Spanish Immigrants [Immigrant] Ships 1 Outpost Wagon; gives a trickle of 1.70 XP/sec.; Levy spawns 6 Tercios from the Commerce Age; costs 300 food
Age I tech tree aoe3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age HC level
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Attack) Infantry Attack Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Skirmishers get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Combat) Infantry Combat Pikemen, Halberdiers, and Skirmishers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 1 (8 Pikemen) 8 Pikemen Ships 8 Pikemen
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish Home City 1 (10 Pikemen) 10 Pikemen Ships 10 Pikemen
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish Home City 1 (12 Pikemen) 12 Pikemen Ships 12 Pikemen
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 1 (24 Pikemen) 24 Pikemen Ships 24 Pikemen
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry train time -40%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
  • "8 Pikemen" is available to the Dutch and Spanish.
  • "10 Pikemen" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • "12 Pikemen" is available to the Spanish.
  • "24 Pikemen" is available to the French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry Attack Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% attack; +2 Uhlans
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry Hitpoints Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% hit points; +2 Uhlans
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Combat) Hand Infantry Combat Pikemen and Doppelsoldners get +15% hit points and attack; +3 Uhlans
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
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
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
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
Intervention Intervention The Consulate ally sends a shipment of their units
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
  • "Intervention" ships 11 Tercios (if Spanish allies are picked).

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
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 (Archaic Soldier Training) TEAM Archaic Soldier Training Pikeman, Longbowman, Crossbowman, Aenna, Cetan Bow, Otontin Slinger, Yumi Archer, and Old Han Army train time -50%; Standard Army and Ming Army train time -25%
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 1 (20 Pikemen) 20 Pikemen Ships 20 Pikemen
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Spanish Home City 1 (Spanish Square) Spanish Square Ships 10 Pikemen and 8 Rodeleros
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Spanish Home City 1 (Tercio Tactics) Tercio Tactics Turns all Pikemen into Rodeleros
Age III tech tree aoe3
40
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 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry Hitpoints Pikemen get +15% hit points; Rodeleros get +20% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Combat) Hand Infantry Combat Pikemen and Rodeleros get +15% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

The African Royals[]

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 13.27885, Pikemen get +0.5 hand attack range with each direct unit upgrade.
  • With update 14.43676, the Tercio and Dalkarl upgrades received new models.

Trivia[]

  • Spanish Royal Guard/Consulate Pikemen are named after the Tercio infantry organization system used by Spain during the Habsburg era.
  • Swedish Royal Guard Pikemen's name refers to the Dalecarlians.
  • Portuguese Ordinance Pikemen are based on Napoleonic Wars Portuguese Ordenanças militias that actually used pikes.
  • The Russians originally had the Pikeman, as there are voice files for Russian Pikeman in the game files and in the Scenario Editor which are used by the Russian Petard.
  • Italians are the only civilization that has Halberdiers and Guard/Imperial Pikemen without being enabled by The Papal Guard politician.

History[]

Pikemen fought in very tight formations that maximized the danger to enemies as they approached. The front rank would set their pikes against a cavalry charge, placing the butt of the staff against the ground, braced by the instep of their back foot, with the tip raised up at an angle. The rank standing just behind the first would hold their pikes straight out at about shoulder height to add still more stabbing spearheads. As firearms developed, they were integrated into units of pikemen. By the mid-seventeenth century an infantry regiment might be composed of two-thirds musketeers and a third pikemen. Eventually firearms with mounted bayonets came to replace pikes, which were little seen or used after the nineteenth century.

A typical pike was a 10- to almost 20-foot spear-like wooden staff with a steel or iron spear point. Some pikemen also carried swords and axes to attack any enemies who survived the deadly bristling of pike formation. They wore helmets, and sometimes breastplates, to defend themselves against attacks.

Gallery[]

See also[]

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer · Militiaman de Militiaman · Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman · Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman · Halberdier de Halberdier · Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer · Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher · Grenadier de Grenadier · Hussar aoe3de Hussar · Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon · Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer · Falconet aoe3de Falconet · Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin · Mortar de Mortar · Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon · Caravel aoe3de Caravel · Galleon aoe3de Galleon · Frigate aoe3de Frigate · Monitor aoe3de Monitor
3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior · Horse art de Horse Artillery · Petard aoe3de Petard · Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy · Native canoe aoe3de Canoe · War canoe aoe3de War Canoe · Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar · Sloop aoe3de Sloop · Steamer aoe3de Steamer · Battleship portrait Battleship
The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman · Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman · Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner · Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe · Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
Unique units
Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman · Ranger portrait Ranger · Rocket de Rocket
Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter · Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr · Doppel de Doppelsoldner · Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan · War wagon de War Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk · Janissary aoe3de Janissary · Ottomans azap portrait Azap · Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier · Ottomans deli portrait Deli · Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner · Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci · Great bombard de Great Bombard · Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir · Spahi de Sipahi · Galley aoe3de Galley
Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman · Cacador de Cassador · Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet · Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut · Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik · Cossack de Cossack · Oprichink de Oprichnik
Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero · Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief · Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout · Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner · Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger · Puma spearman de Puma Spearman · Arrow knight de Arrow Knight · Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight · Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight · Warrior priest de Warrior Priest · Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight · Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief · Aenna de Aenna · Tomahawk de Tomahawk · Forest prowler de Forest Prowler · Kanya de Kanya Horseman · Musket rider de Musket Rider · Ram aoe3de Ram · Iro mantlet de Mantlet · Light cannon de Light Cannon
Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief · Cetan de Cetan Bowman · Club warrior de Club Warrior · Wakina de Wakina Rifle · Axe rider de Axe Rider · Bow rider de Bow Rider · Rifle rider de Rifle Rider · Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler · Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master · Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu · Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman · Changdao de Changdao Swordsman · Arquebusier de Arquebusier · Steppe rider de Steppe Rider · Keshik de Keshik · Iron flail de Iron Flail · Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer · Flamethrower de Flamethrower · Hand mortar de Hand Mortar · Flying crow de Flying Crow · Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk · War junk aoe3de War Junk · Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin · Sentry IN de Sentry · Irregular IN de Irregular · Rajput de Rajput · Sepoy de Sepoy · Gurkha de Gurkha · Urumi de Urumi Swordsman · Sowar de Sowar · Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak · Mahout de Mahout Lancer · Howdah aoe3de Howdah · Flail elephant de Flail Elephant · Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Yumi archer de Yumi Archer · Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer · Samurai aoe3de Samurai · Naginata de Naginata Rider · Yabusame de Yabusame · Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow · Morutaru de Morutaru · Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo · Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa · Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi · Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi · Fune aoe3de Fune · Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune · Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief · Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui · Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman · Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman · Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner · DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior · Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca · Inca Maceman Icon Maceman · Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean · Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit · Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General · Us marine aoe3de Minuteman · State militia aoe3de State Militia · Regular aoe3de Regular · Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter · Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun · Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General · Padre revolution portrait Padre · Insurgente portrait Insurgente · Soldado portrait Soldado · Emboscador portrait Salteador · Chinaco portrait Chinaco · Desperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras · Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior · Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya · Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior · Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya · Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir · Fulani Fulani Archer · Raider aoe3de portrait Raider · Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight · Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier · Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere · Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard · Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone · Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer · Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave · Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard · Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank · Galleass portrait Galleass
Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master · Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller · Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel · Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower · Order galley portrait Order Galley · SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
Revolution Revolution
Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior · Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar · Californio portrait Californio · Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon · Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain · Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman · Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger · Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry · Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo · Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur · Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho · Comanchero icon aoe3de Jagunço · Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman · Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero · Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer · Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco · Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero · Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary · Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter · San martin portrait San Martin · Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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