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Rateoffire prev
AoE2DE icon Reload Time
Cavalierinfo

Cavalier infobox showing Rate of Fire as 1.80

The Rate of Fire (RoF) determines the speed at which a unit or building attacks. It is a measure of the time between two attacks, e.g. a unit with an ROF of 3 will attack every 3 seconds. The lower the Rate of Fire, the faster it attacks, resulting in a higher damage output.

The rate of fire is not to be confused with firetime: 'Rate of Fire' is a value per a set time interval (e. g., rounds/attacks per minute), while 'firetime' indicates the very interval itself. However, due to 'rate of fire' being a more common term and the usage of firetimes in game code (referred to as '(Attack) Reload time'), in most sources and articles regarding Age of Empires,[1] 'Rate of Fire' is henceforth used with the meaning of 'Firetime' in this article.

Because of this, in the past, technology trees in Age of Empires II incorrectly stated the percentage values of several civilization bonuses and unique technologies. For example, the Japanese technology tree stated that "infantry attack 25% faster", which actually meant that the Japanese infantry's firetime was reduced by 25%. In reality, the attack speed is increased by the following: for .

... or by 33% in the Japanese example. With update 42848 for the Definitive Edition, the percentage numbers were updated to represent their actual effect.

Technology trees in Age of Empires used to have the same error. With Return of Rome, the percentage numbers were updated to represent their actual effect.

Age of Empires[]

Most infantry and cavalry units in the game have a fast ROF, as well as the Scout Ship line and the Helepolis. The Stone Thrower line, on the other hand has slow ROF, and so does the Catapult Trireme and the Juggernaut, whereas the Ballista has medium ROF.

The unit with the fastest ROF is the Fire Galley, which coupled with its large attack, means that it can easily fell ships in groups.

These civilizations have bonuses related to ROF:

Age of Empires II[]

Rateoffire testanim aoe2de

Clockwise: an Archer, Throwing Axeman, Cavalry Archer, Camel Archer, Scorpion and Organ Gun in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.

In Age of Empires II, the most common ROF is 2. There are some units with a faster attack: most notably the Fire Ship with a ROF of 0.25, which has by far the fastest attack. Quite a few units have a slower attack, though. Units with heavy attack, such as siege weapons and gunpowder units have a much higher ROF, and most trash units also attack at a lower speed. Lastly, ships (bar the Fire Ship) range below the standard value. Listed below are all units and buildings in Age of Empires II that have a ROF different from 2 (civilization bonuses not included).

In the table below, default ROF of the generic and unique units is presented.

Unit/Building Base Rate of Fire
Fire Galley line 0.25
Elite Cataphract 1.7
Knight, Cavalier, Cataphract, (Elite) Magyar Huszar 1.8
Hussar, Winged Hussar, Paladin, (Elite) Samurai, (Elite) Plumed Archer, Condottiero, (Elite) Boyar, (Elite) Keshik, (Elite) Leitis, (Elite) Coustillier, Elite Shrivamsha Rider, (Elite) Centurion 1.9
(Elite) Mangudai, (Elite) Tarkan 2.1
(Elite) Kipchak 2.2
(Elite) Konnik 2.4
(Elite) War Wagon, (Elite) Ballista Elephant 2.5
(Elite) Conquistador 2.9
(Elite) Longboat, Spearman line, Skirmisher line, (Elite) Genitour, Galley line, (Elite) Caravel, Harbor, (Elite) Chu Ko Nu, Armored Elephant, Siege Elephant 3
(Elite) Organ Gun, Hand Cannoneer, (Elite) Janissary, (Elite) Hussite Wagon, Thirisadai 3.45
(Heavy) Scorpion 3.6
Ram line 5
Mangonel line, (Elite) Turtle Ship, Bombard Tower 6
Bombard Cannon, Houfnice 6.5
Dromon 8
Trebuchet, (Elite) Cannon Galleon 10

These civilizations have bonuses or unique technologies related to ROF:[note 1]

Civilizations bonus affecting ROF
Civilization Bonus Affected units Base ROF New ROF
CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines Fire Galley line and Dromon attack 25% faster Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley
Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship
Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
0.25 0.2
AoE2 Dromon Dromon 8 6.4
CivIcon-Dravidians Dravidians Skirmisher and Elephant Archer lines attack 25% faster Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher
Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher*
3 2.4
GenitourIcon-DE Genitour*
GenitourIcon-DE Elite Genitour*
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer
ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
2 1.6
CivIcon-Celts Celts Siege weapons attack 25% faster Battering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram
Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram
Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
5 4
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel
Onager aoe2DE Onager
Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
6 4.8
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion
Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
3.6 2.88
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet 10 8
CivIcon-Ethiopians Ethiopians Archer line attack 18% faster
(-15% reload time)
Archer aoe2DE Archer
Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman
Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
2 1.7
CivIcon-Hindustanis Hindustanis Camel Rider line attack 20% faster Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider
Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider
2 1.6667
CivIcon-Japanese Japanese Infantry attack 33% faster starting in Feudal Age
(-25% reload time)
MilitiaDE Militia
Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms
Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman
Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman
Champion aoe2DE Champion
2 1.5
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman
Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman
Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
3 2.25
SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai
SamuraiIcon-DE Elite Samurai
1.9 1.425
CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero*
CivIcon-Mongols Mongols Mounted archers attack 25% faster Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer
Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
2 1.6
MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai
MangudaiIcon-DE Elite Mangudai
2.1 1.68
Kipchakicon Mercenary Kipchak* 2.2 1.76
GenitourIcon-DE Genitour*
GenitourIcon-DE Elite Genitour*
3 2.4
CivIcon-Saracens Saracens Galley line attack 25% faster Galley aoe2DE Galley
War galley aoe2DE War Galley
Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
3 2.4
CivIcon-Spanish Spanish Gunpowder units attack 18% faster
(-15% reload time)
(except the Conquistador)
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer 3.45 2.9325
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon
Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
10 8.5
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon 6.5 5.525
Unique technologies affecting ROF
Civilization Unique Technology Affected units Base ROF New ROF
CivIcon-Bengalis Bengalis UniqueTechCastle-DE Paiks: Rathas and elephant units attack 20% faster Aoe2de ratha ranged/Aoe2de ratha melee Ratha
Aoe2de ratha ranged/Aoe2de ratha melee Elite Ratha
2 1.6667
Battle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant
Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer
ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant
AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
3 2.5
CivIcon-Bulgarians Bulgarians UniqueTechCastle-DE Stirrups: Cavalry attack 33% faster
(-25% reload time)
Konnikicon Konnik
Konnikicon Elite Konnik
2.4 1.8
Knight aoe2DE Knight
Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier
1.8 1.35
Scoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry
Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry
2 1.5
Hussar aoe2DE Hussar 1.9 1.425
CivIcon-Celts Celts UniqueTechCastle-DE Stronghold: Castles and towers attack 33% faster
(-25% reload time)
Watch Tower icon AoE2DE Watch Tower
Guard Tower icon AoE2DE Guard Tower
Keep icon AoE2DE Keep
Castle aoe2DE Castle
2 1.5
CivIcon-Japanese Japanese UniqueTechImperialDE Kataparuto: Trebuchets attack 33% faster
(-25% reload time)
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet 10 7.5
CivIcon-Romans Romans UniqueTechCastle-DE Ballistas: Scorpions attack 33% faster
(-25% reload time)
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion
Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
3.6 2.7
Units affecting ROF
Civilization Unique Unit Affected units Base ROF New ROF
CivIcon-Romans Romans Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon (Elite) Centurion: Nearby Militia-line attack 20% faster MilitiaDE Militia
Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms
Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman
AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary
2 1.6

Age of Mythology[]

The Rate of Fire also plays a role in Age of Mythology but is instead divided into two factors: Rate and AnimationRate. In a unit's proto definition, most unit attacks have a rate of 5, however it is unknown whether or not this truly affects a units Rate of Fire.

Otherwise the Rate of Fire is dependent on the frames, and total length of a unit's animation, combined with tag definitions within a unit's anim file. Animation rates can also be affected by technologies (although Weightless Mace is the only example of this).

Age of Empires III[]

Almost all ranged land units (such as Musketeers, Crossbowmen, and Dragoons) have a standard ROF of 3 for their ranged attacks, regardless of their weapon. Siege attacks are also generally fired at a ROF of 3. All melee attacks have an ROF of 1.5. Artillery ROF are normally in the ballpark of 4-6.

The main exceptions are ranged cavalry with a bow, such as the Bow Rider and Cavalry Archer, which have an ROF of 1.5, and mercenaries/outlaws, which vary from 1.5 to 4.0. For artillery, the Chinese Flamethrower is a very special case, having an ROF of 0.5 (essentially firing continuously), while the Great Bombard has a ROF of 8.

With the The African Royals expansion, units with variable attack of rate based on distance have been added:

Yoruba Eso Rider attack targets faster as their hit points decrease.

Notes[]

  1. Corrected for actual rate of fire; inverse values affecting 'AttackReload time' were usually presented in game before update 42848.

References[]

Gameplay elements in the Age of Empires series
Age · Ability (M · III · IV) · Architecture set (II · III) · Area of Effect (Trample damage) · Armor/Resists (hack/melee · pierce/ranged · crush/siege)  · Armor class/Tag (I - original · I - Return of Rome · II · IV) · Artificial intelligence · Attack (Attack bonus/Multiplier) · Attack delay · Attack ground · Aura · Auto Scout · Building (I · II · M · III · IV) · Civilization (I · II · M · III · IV) · Civilization bonus · Cheat code (I · II · M · III · IV) · Conversion · Counter · Diplomacy · Gaia/Mother Nature · Game modes · Garrison · Gather Point · Healing · Hit points · Hotkey · Line of Sight · Mini map · Player · Population · Range · Rate of Fire · Regeneration · Relic (II · M · IV) · Renewable resources · Repairing · Resource · Scenario Editor (I · II · M · III · IV) · Score · Signal Allies/Flare · Soundtrack (I · II · M · III · IV) · Speed · Stealth mode · Taunt · Technology (I · II · M · III · IV) · Technology tree (I · II · IV) · Town Bell · Trade · Tribute · Unit (I · II · M · III · IV) · Unit formation · Unit stance (III) · Upgrade (I · II · III) · User interface · Victory
Genie Engine
Frame delay · Full Tech Tree · Team bonus
ReturnRome-AoEIcon Age of EmpiresRuins · Discovery
AoE2-DLCicon-0 Age of Empires IIPass-through damage · Projectile duplication
Bang Engine
Autoqueue · Snare
Aom original icon Age of MythologyGod (Major · Minor) · God power · Settlement
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIAge-up methods (Politician/Tribal Council/Wonder/Federal State/Alliance· Banner army · Consulate · Damage Cap · Home City · Home City Card · Inspiring Flag · Promotion · Revolution · Target Lock · Trade Monopoly · Trade Route · Treasure
Essence Engine
GameIcon-AoE4 Age of Empires IVBounty · Dynasty · Fire armor · Imperial Council (Vizier Point) · Influence · Landmark · Religion · Sacred Site · Variant civilization
If a gameplay element has different pages across games, like civilization, the individual pages are linked in brackets.
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