Range is the value which measures the maximum distance a unit or building can attack in each of the games in the Age of Empires series. It also applies to units which can do other actions at range, like convert or heal.
Overview[]
Range is measured in a variety of different ways depending on the game.
In Age of Empires and Age of Empires II, range measurements are based on tiles. In Age of Mythology, range is measured in feet rather than occupied space.
Note that both units and buildings may also have a minimum range meaning they cannot attack targets that are too close to them.
Units and buildings with long range[]
The following section shows units and buildings (fully upgraded) with the longest range in every game of the series.
Age of Empires[]
Units[]
- Priest - 16 (for the Egyptians only, 13 for the other civilizations)
- Heavy Catapult - 15
- Helepolis - 13 (for the Romans only, 12 for the other civilizations)
- Juggernaut - 12
- Composite Bowman - 12 (for the Minoans only, 10 for the other civilizations)
- War Galley - 12 (for the Hittites only, 9 for the other civilizations)
- Chariot Archer - 10
- Elephant Archer - 10
- Heavy Horse Archer - 10
- Trireme - 10
Buildings[]
- Ballista Tower - 13 (for the Choson only, 11 for the other civilizations)
Age of Empires II[]
Units[]
- Trebuchet - 19 (for the Tatars only, 17 for the other civilizations) and 4 minimum range
- Elite Cannon Galleon - 17 (for the Turks only, 16 for the other civilizations) and 3 minimum range
- Bombard Cannon - 14 (for the Turks only, 13 for the other civilizations) and 5 minimum range
- Dromon - 13 (for the Armenians and Romans only, 12 for the other civilizations) and 3 minimum range
- Monk - 12 for conversion and 4 for healing
- Elite Longbowman - 12 (Britons only)
- Arbalester - 11 (for the Britons only, 8 for the other civilizations)
- Missionary - 11 for conversion and 4 for healing (Spanish only)
- Galleon - 11 (for the Armenians only, 10 for the other civilizations)
- Elite Caravel - 10 (Portuguese only)
- Elite Longboat - 10 (Vikings only)
- Siege Onager - 10 (for the Koreans only, 9 for the other civilizations) and 3 minimum range
- Thirisadai - 9 (Dravidians only)
- Elite Skirmisher - 9 (for the Aztecs and Britons only, 8 for the other civilizations) and 1 minimum range
- Imperial Skirmisher - 9 (for the Aztecs and Britons with a Vietnamese ally only, 8 for the Vietnamese and other allies) and 1 minimum range
- Heavy Scorpion - 9 (Khmer and allies only, 8 for the other civilizations) and 2 minimum range
- Hand Cannoneer - 9 (for the Hindustanis only, 7 for the other civilizations)
Buildings[]
- Castle - 13 (for the Teutons only, 11 for the other civilizations)
- Keep - 13 (for the Koreans only, 11 for the other civilizations)
- Bombard Tower - 13 (for the Turks only, 11 for the other civilizations)
- Donjon - 11 (Sicilians only)
- Krepost - 10 (Bulgarians only)
- Town Center - 9 (for the Lithuanians only, 6 for the other civilizations)
All these buildings except the Town Center have 1 minimum range, which can be eliminated by researching Murder Holes.
Age of Mythology[]
Units[]
- Ballista - 30 feet
- Petrobolos - 28 feet
- Catapult - 28 feet
- Onager - 28 feet
- Sitting Tiger - 28 feet
- Gastraphetes - 24 feet
- Cheiroballista - 20 feet
- Fire Lance - 20 feet
- Chariot Archer - 20 feet (24 for Ra and Set)
- Arcus - 20 feet
Buildings[]
- Mirror Tower - 22 feet
- All other towers - 20 feet
- Town Center - 20 feet
- Fortress - 20 feet
- Migdol Stronghold - 20 feet
- Palace - 20 feet
- Castle - 20 feet
- Hill Fort - 20 feet
Age of Empires III[]
Units[]
- Monitor - 70 (Long-range Bombardment Attack ability)
- Ironclad - 80 (Long-range Bombardment Attack ability)
- Mortar - 50 (for the Portuguese only, 40 for the other civilizations)
- Morutaru - 46 (for the Japanese only, 40 for the other civilizations)
- Culverin - 34
- Hand Mortar - 34
- Light Cannon - 32
- Arrow Knight - 30
- Frigate - 30
- Tlaloc Canoe - 30
- War Canoe - 30
- Atakebune - 28
- Great Bombard - 28
- Siege Elephant - 28
- Tekkousen - 28
Buildings[]
- Outpost - 40 (anti-ship attack)
- Fort - 40 (anti-ship attack)
- Town Center - 40 (anti-ship attack)
Trivia[]
- The range of defensive buildings effectively creates a tier system based on whether attacking units can safely outrange them. For example, in Age of Empires II, the range of Town Centers is set at 6, a number that can only be surpassed by Castle Age units and technologies. This makes attacking enemy Town Centers a risky enterprise in most situations before the Castle Age. Similarly, a Castle's range of 11 means that only a small handful of units (including a Castle's own Trebuchets) is ever able to attack Castles safely.
- In Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, the range indicator has been added. Players can now see the maximum attack range of units and buildings when using a specific hotkey (Alt-key by default).