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:
- Assyrians: Archers fire 11%/22%/33% faster in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
- Persians: Scout Ship line fire 18%/25%/33% faster in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
- Phoenicians: Catapult Trireme and Juggernaut fire 33% faster.
- Romans: Swordsmen attack 50% faster.
- Shang: Cavalry line attacks 10% faster.
- Sumerians: Stone Thrower, Catapult, and Heavy Catapult fire 45% faster.
Age of Empires II[]
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 |
Byzantines | Fire Galley line and Dromon attack 25% faster | Fire Galley Fire Ship Fast Fire Ship |
0.25 | 0.2 |
Dromon | 8 | 6.4 | ||
Dravidians | Skirmisher and Elephant Archer lines attack 25% faster | Skirmisher Elite Skirmisher Imperial Skirmisher* |
3 | 2.4 |
Genitour* Elite Genitour* | ||||
Elephant Archer Elite Elephant Archer |
2 | 1.6 | ||
Celts | Siege weapons attack 25% faster | Battering Ram Capped Ram Siege Ram |
5 | 4 |
Mangonel Onager Siege Onager |
6 | 4.8 | ||
Scorpion Heavy Scorpion |
3.6 | 2.88 | ||
Trebuchet | 10 | 8 | ||
Ethiopians | Archer line attack 18% faster (-15% reload time) |
Archer Crossbowman Arbalester |
2 | 1.7 |
Hindustanis | Camel Rider line attack 20% faster | Camel Rider Heavy Camel Rider Imperial Camel Rider |
2 | 1.6667 |
Japanese | Infantry attack 33% faster starting in Feudal Age (-25% reload time) |
Militia Man-at-Arms Long Swordsman Two-Handed Swordsman Champion |
2 | 1.5 |
Spearman Pikeman Halberdier |
3 | 2.25 | ||
Samurai Elite Samurai |
1.9 | 1.425 | ||
Condottiero* | ||||
Mongols | Mounted archers attack 25% faster | Cavalry Archer Heavy Cavalry Archer |
2 | 1.6 |
Mangudai Elite Mangudai |
2.1 | 1.68 | ||
Mercenary Kipchak* | 2.2 | 1.76 | ||
Genitour* Elite Genitour* |
3 | 2.4 | ||
Saracens | Galley line attack 25% faster | Galley War Galley Galleon |
3 | 2.4 |
Spanish | Gunpowder units attack 18% faster (-15% reload time) (except the Conquistador) |
Hand Cannoneer | 3.45 | 2.9325 |
Cannon Galleon Elite Cannon Galleon |
10 | 8.5 | ||
Bombard Cannon | 6.5 | 5.525 | ||
Unique technologies affecting ROF | ||||
Civilization | Unique Technology | Affected units | Base ROF | New ROF |
Bengalis | Paiks: Rathas and elephant units attack 20% faster | / Ratha / Elite Ratha |
2 | 1.6667 |
Battle Elephant Elite Battle Elephant | ||||
Elephant Archer Elite Elephant Archer | ||||
Armored Elephant Siege Elephant |
3 | 2.5 | ||
Bulgarians | Stirrups: Cavalry attack 33% faster (-25% reload time) |
Konnik Elite Konnik |
2.4 | 1.8 |
Knight Cavalier |
1.8 | 1.35 | ||
Scout Cavalry Light Cavalry |
2 | 1.5 | ||
Hussar | 1.9 | 1.425 | ||
Celts | Stronghold: Castles and towers attack 33% faster (-25% reload time) |
Watch Tower Guard Tower Keep Castle |
2 | 1.5 |
Japanese | Kataparuto: Trebuchets attack 33% faster (-25% reload time) |
Trebuchet | 10 | 7.5 |
Romans | Ballistas: Scorpions attack 33% faster (-25% reload time) |
Scorpion Heavy Scorpion |
3.6 | 2.7 |
Units affecting ROF | ||||
Civilization | Unique Unit | Affected units | Base ROF | New ROF |
Romans | (Elite) Centurion: Nearby Militia-line attack 20% faster | Militia Man-at-Arms Long Swordsman 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:
- Dahomey Amazon
- Desert Archer
- Fulani Archer
- Gascenya
- Oromo Warrior (before Knights of the Mediterranean)
- Seminole Sharktooth Bowman
- Somali Issa Warrior
- Sudanese Dervish
- Xebec
- Yoruba Oyo Legionary
Yoruba Eso Rider attack targets faster as their hit points decrease.
Notes[]
- ↑ Corrected for actual rate of fire; inverse values affecting 'AttackReload time' were usually presented in game before update 42848.