Sentry Tower (Age of Empires)

This article is about the building in Age of Empires. For the similar building in Age of Mythology, see Sentry Tower (Age of Mythology).

Sentry Tower
Building information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Tower
Civilization	All civilizations
Age	Bronze Age
Population	4 (Hittites and allies only)
Use	Attacks enemies in range
Construction
Stone	150
Build time	65 seconds
Statistics
Size	2×2 tiles
Hit points	185
Garrison	5 (only Villagers)
Pierce attack	6
Reload time	1.5
Range	7
Projectile speed	8
Melee armor	0
Pierce armor	4
Armor classes	Buildings and Fire Galley (+90) Defensive structures Towers
Line of Sight	9
Building evolution
Upgrades from	Watch Tower
Upgrades to	Guard Tower
Upgrade cost	300 food, 100 stone
Upgrade time	75 seconds

“	Upgrade of the Watch Tower. The Sentry Tower has more hit points, attack strength and range.	”
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition

The Sentry Tower is a defensive structure available once the Bronze Age is reached. It is also available to the Scenario Editor and can be seen throughout the Campaign mode of the game.

Gameplay

It is an upgrade of the Watch Tower and can be researched in the Granary for 120 food, 50 stone, or is unlocked when starting a match from the Iron Age. Every civilization in the game has the ability to construct this Tower. Like all towers, Sentry Towers are more resistant against stone throwing siege weapons than other buildings, having 18 additional armor against them (meaning they will do 10 bonus damage instead of 28).

Since Return of Rome, like all towers, Sentry Towers can also be used to shelter up to five Villagers when the base is under attack. These garrisoned Villagers do not increase its combat power. No other unit can be garrisoned in towers.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Infantry, archers, ships
Weak vs.	Siege units
Upgrades
Construction time	Architecture (-33%)
Hit points	Architecture (+20%)
Attack	Alchemy (+1)
Range	Woodworking (+1) Artisanship (+1) Craftsmanship (+1)
Accuracy	Ballistics (hit moving targets)
Line of Sight	City Watch (+3)
Upgrades	Guard Tower

Civilization bonuses

• Babylonians: Sentry Towers have +60% hit points.
• Choson: Sentry Towers have +2 range.
• Macedonians: Sentry Towers are four times more resistant to conversion.
• Romans: Sentry Towers cost -40%.

Team bonuses

• Babylonians: Sentry Towers are built 10% faster.
• Choson: Sentry Towers have +2 Line of Sight.
• Hittites: Sentry Towers provide +4 population room.
• Palmyrans: Technologies which benefit or upgrade Sentry Towers are researched 30% faster.

Changelog

Age of Empires

• Sentry Towers have construction time 80 seconds and 150 hit points.
• Sentry Towers have 4 attack, 6 range.

Definitive Edition

• Sentry Towers have construction time 72 seconds.
• With update 38862, Sentry Towers have 185 hit points.

Return of Rome

• Sentry Towers have 6 attack, 7 range, and can garrison up to five Villagers.
• Team bonuses added:
  • Babylonians: Sentry Towers are built 10% faster.
  • Choson: With update 93001, Sentry Towers have +2 Line of Sight.
  • Hittites: Sentry Towers provide +4 population room.
  • Palmyrans: Technologies which benefit or upgrade Sentry Towers are researched 30% faster.
• With update 99311, Sentry Tower build time decreased from 72 seconds to 65 seconds.

History

“	The tower discovered on the wall at the ancient site of Jericho served several purposes. It extended the visual range of lookouts that would be watching for the approach of raiders and other visitors. An early warning might have been the difference between a successful defense and the fall of the town. The tower was a superior firing position for archery. Bowmen shooting down had an advantage in range and penetration power of arrows versus enemies shooting up. Enemies hiding at the bottom of the wall may have remained visible to archers in the tower. The tower itself was an independent bastion that could serve as the defensive position of last resort if the wall was carried. The Sentry Tower was an improved fortification of strong materials and designed for defense.	”
—Age of Empires manual

Buildings in Age of Empires
Stone Age Starting Tool Age Bronze Age Additional Iron Age

Gallery

Two rows of Sentry Towers, as seen in The Great Hunt.

Sentry Tower in the Definitive Edition

Sentry Tower in the original game