"Fast-moving sword and buckler infantry."
—In-game description
The Rodelero is a heavy infantry unit unique to the Spanish and Knights of St. John in Age of Empires III.
Overview 
Edit
The Rodelero is first available in the Colonial Age. It can also be sent from the Consulate building as the Japanese, once a level 40 Home City is attained and Spain is selected as an ally, the Aztec are also able to obtain the rodelero through the home city in groups ranging from ten to forty.
Outfitted with a sword and buckler, Rodeleros are quite different compared to your typical heavy infantry. They move extremely fast (similar to cavalry). This makes a relatively cheap raiding/scouting unit in the very early stages of the game. Rodelero deal less damage against cavalry compared to Pikemen (even at Imperial level), however, Roldeleros can catch up to fleeing enemies due to their speed. They are also a decent melee unit against non-cavalry units as they possess a higher base damage compared to Pikemen.
However, when destroying buildings, Rodeleros are not recommended, as they possess siege damage similar to that of ranged infantry, despite being a heavy infantry unit. Pikemen and Musketeers are far more efficient at razing buildings. Rodeleros should also be wary of ranged infantry and artillery, as they can be easily destroyed by them in battle.
Knights of St. John can further boost their Rodeleros' hit points by 20% through the Hand Infantry Hitpoints card (12 damage and 189 hit points with all upgrades except Corselet).
Through use of Academy cards from the Spanish Home City, Rodeleros' hit points and attack can be increased by 35% and 30% respectively. Unction will then boost their attack further 5-63% (39.93 damage and 324 hit points with all upgrades except Corselet).
Upgrades Edit
| Age | Improvement | Cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  | 200 wood, 200 coin | Upgrades Rodeleros to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack) |
 |  | 1000 wood, 1000 coin | Upgrades Rodeleros to Espada Rodeleros (+40% hit points and attack); requires Veteran Rodeleros |
 |  | 1500 wood, 1500 coin | Upgrades Espada Rodeleros to Imperial Espadas (+50% hit points and attack); requires Espadachins |
Home City Cards Edit
As the Rodelero is exclusive to the Spanish and the Knights of St. John (campaign), only other civilizations' TEAM cards that affects them are listed here.
| Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Rodelero | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dutch
|
| Card | Description | Age | Home City level |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Infantry get +15% hit points
|  | 10 |
Russians Edit
| Card | Description | Age | Home City level |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Infantry train 33% faster; Skull Knights train 25% faster; banner armies train 14% faster
| | 25 |
Spanish Edit
| Card | Description | Age | Home City level |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ships 10 Pikemen and 8 Rodeleros |  | 25 |
 | Ships 5 Rodeleros | | 1 |
 | Ships 7 Rodeleros |  | 1 |
 | Ships 13 Rodeleros | | 10 |
 | Ships 8 Rodeleros | | 10 |
 | Ships 6 Rodeleros | | 25 |
 | Melee infantry get +15% attack | | 10 |
 | Pikemen get +15% hit points; Rodeleros get +20% hit points | | 10 |
 | Pikemen and Rodeleros gain +15% hit points and attack | | 25 |
 | Ships 10 Rodeleros | | 10 |
 | Infantry train 67% faster
| | 10 |
 | All units get +10 LOS |  | 10 |
Trivia Edit
- Royal Guard Rodeleros' name, Espada, is short from espadachín, which means "swordsman" in Spanish. Alternatively, it could also mean "fencer".
History Edit
"Rodeleros were a Spanish infantry who used swords and round shields. This arms combination was often used against formations of pike and halberds. Agile swordsmen could better evade the deadly iron of densely packed pikes and could take formations apart from the inside. In 1506 Cortez arrived in the New World with over 1,300 soldiers, 1,000 of which were rodeleros. They were adaptable, versatile soldiers, capable in close quarters on the decks of ships as well as against the loose, guerilla tactics of non-European enemies.
Rodela is a Spanish word meaning shield; Rodeleros are "shield-bearers." Rodeleros were armed with one-handed swords and round shields approximately two feet in diameter. These rodela were most often made of steel, but were also made of iron-bound wood covered with hide."
Gallery Edit
