Settler

Settler
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III
Type	Villager Economic
Civilization	European Knights of St. John (campaign) John Black's Mercenaries (campaign) United States (campaign)
Age	Exploration Age
Abilities	Gather resources Build buildings Claim Treasures
Training
Trained at	Town Center Manor (British)
Food	100 90 (Russians)
Coin	100 (Dutch)
Training time	25 seconds 48 seconds (automatic, Ottomans)
Training limit	99 50 (Dutch) 25 (Ottomans, before Galata Tower District, Topkapi, and Tanzimat)
Statistics
Hit points	150
Resists	20% vs. Melee
Speed	4.0
Line of Sight	14
Population	1
XP train bounty	5
XP bounty	10
Melee attack
Damage	10
Rate of Fire	1.5
Ranged attack
Damage	3
Multipliers	×4.0 vs. Huntable ×2.0 vs. Pet ×2.0 vs. Artillery ×0.5 vs. Villager
Range	12
Rate of Fire	3.0
Siege attack
Damage	5
Rate of Fire	3.0

“	Villager that constructs buildings and gathers resources.	”
—In-game description

The Settler is an economic unit in Age of Empires III that can be trained by European civilizations at the Town Center. Settlers are the backbone of every civilizations' economy, performing key tasks such as resource gathering and building construction. Unlike their equivalents in previous games, Settlers have a train limit.

In standard random map games, European civilizations start with six Settlers, although there are several exceptions (see Civilization differences).

The French have Coureurs des Bois instead of Settlers which are more expensive but are superior in combat and gathering. Native American and Asian civilizations have Villagers which are identical in all but name to Settlers.

Tactics

Settlers can be garrisoned inside Town Centers, Outposts, and Forts to protect themselves from the enemy. A Settler is required inside a Town Center in order to activate its ranged attack.

However, if Settlers are put into combat, it is best to send them into melee range. Their ranged attack is relatively weak, and they can attack faster with melee compared to ranged.

Tasks

Settlers gathering food from a bison.

Settlers can be assigned with the following tasks:

• Settlers can build most of the buildings given the colony has the right amount of resources, space and is at the right Age.
• Settlers can gather food from Berry Bushes, Cherry Orchards, and huntable animals. Settlers may also be tasked to a Mill, Farm or Rice Paddy which will generate infinite Food, but at a slower rate. Alternatively, food can also be gathered from livestock.
• Settlers can gather wood from trees which usually can be found plenty and rarely runs out. Alternatively, they can gather from Mango Groves.
• Settlers can gather coin from Mines and tasking settlers to work on a Plantation or Rice Paddy will generate Coin, similarly to a Mill.
• When resource shipments arrive from the Home City, they do so in the form of Crates (food), Cords (wood), and Chests (coin) at the assigned shipment arrival point, which usually is the first Town Center, but can be changed to certain other units and buildings. They must be unpacked by a gatherer (such as the Settler) in order to add them to your resources.
• Similarly to heroes and Explorers, Settler may also collect Treasures.

Civilization differences

• The British get one free Settler when a Manor is built. With the Estates Home City Card, Settlers can be trained at Manors, although their train time is doubled in both Manors and Town Centers.
• Dutch Settlers cost 100 coin instead of 100 food and has a train limit of 50, but gather from mines 15% faster.
• The Germans start with 3 Settler Wagons instead of Settlers, but can still train Settlers.
• Ottoman Settlers are automatically spawned by Town Centers, which takes almost twice as long as training them (48 seconds instead of the normal 25 seconds per Settler); the spawn rate can be increased by Millet System, Koprulu Viziers, and Abbasid Market. They also start with a limit of 25, which can be increased to 45 with Galata Tower District, 70 with Topkapi, and 99 with Tanzimat.
• The Portuguese and Dutch start with 7 Settlers.
• Russian Settlers are trained in groups of three, which are individually 10% cheaper (costing 270 food total) and 42% faster (taking 53 seconds). However, they start with only 5 Settlers.

Revolution

• When an European player revolts, all of their Settlers will turn into Revolutionaries (Karelian Jaegers for Finland, Javanese Spearmen for Indonesia, Vaqueros for Mexico) except if the player revolts to Canada (as the British) or South Africa, where they will retain their Settlers.
  • Revolting to Canada increases the ranged attack of Settlers by 13 and aesthetically turns them into Métis Pathfinders.
  • Revolting to South Africa increases Settlers' gather rate by 10%.
• Most revolutionary nations have the "Citizenship" card which allows them to train Settlers as Citizens, but they cost 70 coin instead of 100 food. Chile can also do the same with "Salitrera".
  • Barbary States have the "Dhimma" Home City card which allows them to train Settlers as they were before revolting. Brazil and Indonesia can also do the same with "Minas Gerais" and "Aceh Pepper Exports", respectively.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Nothing
Weak vs.	Everything, especially Oprichniks
Improvements
Gathering speed	Klamath Work Ethos (+5%) Fasting (+10%) Punjabi New Year (+10% from Mills, Farms, Plantations, and Rice Paddies) For food: Hunting Dogs (+10% from huntable animals) Steel Traps (+20% from huntable animals) Seed Drill (+15% from Mills, Farms, and Rice Paddies) Artificial Fertilizer (+30% from Mills, Farms, and Rice Paddies) Large Scale Agriculture (+50% from Mills, Farms, and Rice Paddies) Encomienda Manor (+20% from Mills, Portuguese only) Aztec Chinampa (+20% from Mills, Farms, and Rice Paddies, Age of Empires III only) Maya Calendar (+10%) Zapotec Food of the Gods (+10%) Vegetarianism (+40% from Berry Bushes) For wood: Gang Saw (+10%) Log Flume (+20%) Circular Saw (+30%) Deforestation (+50%) Wood Clearing (+20%) For coin: Placer Mines (+10% from mines) Amalgamation (+20% from mines) Bookkeeping (+10% from Plantations and Rice Paddies) Homesteading (+20% from Plantations and Rice Paddies) Refineries (+30% from Plantations and Rice Paddies) Excessive Taxation (+50%) Incan Metalworking (+20% from mines) Navajo Craftsmanship (+20%)
Hit points	Great Coat (+35%) Nootka Bark Clothing (+50%) Apache Cactus Use (+15%)
Attack	Blunderbuss (+3)
Range	Blunderbuss (+4)
Sight	Blunderbuss (+4) Town Watch (+2)
Speed	Apache Cactus Use (+15%)
Creation speed	Millet System (-5 seconds, Ottomans only) Koprulu Viziers (-5 seconds, Ottomans only) Abbasid Market (-8 seconds, Ottomans only) Christian Schools (-15%)
Other	Galata Tower District (increases limit to 45, Ottomans only) Topkapi (increases limit to 70, Ottomans only) Tanzimat (increases limit to 99, Ottomans only) Sequoyah's Cherokee Syllabary (ships 4 Settlers) Sharia (+10% limit)
Penalties	Encomienda Manor (-5% gather rate from anything but Mills, Portuguese only) Tax Burden (-40% hit points, Knights of St. John only) Fasting (-40% hit points)

Home City Cards

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Settler

Green: TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team All Card Description Age HC level TEAM Food Silos Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from Mills, Farms, and Rice Paddies (food) 10% faster 1 TEAM Furrier Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from huntable animals 10% faster and gather from Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 15% faster 1 TEAM Medicine Villager train time -15% 25 The TEAM Food Silos card is available to Germans and Iroquois. The TEAM Furrier card is available to Iroquois and Russians. The TEAM Medicine card is available to Aztecs, Indians, and Iroquois. Aztecs Card Description Age HC level TEAM Exotic Hardwoods Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather wood 15% faster 25 TEAM Silversmith Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from mines 10% faster 1 British Card Description Age HC level 8 Settler Ships 8 Settlers 25 Estates Manors become Estates which can train Settlers, but Settler train time +100% 10 Fulling Mills Settlers gather from livestock 300% faster 1 TEAM Rum Distillery Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from Plantations and Rice Paddies (coin) 15% faster 1 Dutch Card Description Age HC level TEAM Spice Trade Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from huntable animals 10% faster and gather from Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 15% faster 10 Europeans Card Description Age HC level 2 Settlers Ships 2 Settlers 1 4 Settlers Ships 4 Settlers 1 3 Settlers Ships 3 Settlers 10 5 Settlers Ships 5 Settlers 10 Pioneers Villagers get +65% hit points 1 Stonemasons Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and wagons build buildings 65% faster 10 Sawmills Settlers and Settler Wagons gather wood 15% faster 10 Exotic Hardwoods Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather wood 20% faster 25 Establish Ironmonger Settlers gather from mines 20% faster 1 TEAM Ironmonger Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather from mines 10% faster 1 Silversmith Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from mines 20% faster 10 Food Silos Settlers and Coureurs des Bois gather from Mills, Farms and Rice Paddies, (food) 15% faster 1 Royal Mint Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather coin 25% faster 25 Sustainable Agriculture Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from Mills, Farms and Rice Paddies (food) 15% faster 10 Refrigeration Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather food 20% faster 25 Furrier Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from huntable animals 15% faster and gather from Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 20 faster 1 Spice Trade Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from huntable animals, Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 20% faster 10 Economic Theory Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, Fishing Boats, and Caravels/Galleys gather 10% faster 40 Rum Distillery Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from Plantations and Rice Paddies (coin) 20% faster 1 Textile Mill Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from Plantations and Rice Paddies (coin) 25% faster 10 Cigar Roller Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, and Settler Wagons gather from Plantations and Rice Paddies (coin) 20% faster 1 Medicine Villager train time -15% 25 The 2 Settlers, 4 Settlers, and 3 Settlers card is not available to Germans, Portuguese and Russians. The 5 Settlers card is available to British and Spanish. The Establish Ironmongers card is not available to the Russians. Ottomans and Spanish have the TEAM Ironmongers card instead of Establish Ironmongers. The Food Silos card is available to Dutch and Russians. The Furriers card is not available to British and Dutch. The Russians have the TEAM Furriers card instead of Furriers. The Dutch have the TEAM Spice Trade card instead of Spice Trade. The Economic Theory card is not available to British and Dutch. The Rum Distillery and Textile Mill cards are not available to the Ottomans. The British have the TEAM Rum Distillery card instead of Rum Distillery. The Medicine card is not available to the Ottomans. The Sawmills card is not available to the United States. The Refrigeration, Royal Mint, Rum Distillery, Cigar Roller and Textile Mill cards are not available to the Knights of st.John.. The Refrigeration and Textile Mill cards are not available to John Black's Mercenaries. The Refrigeration and Cigar Roller cards are not available to the United States. French Card Description Age HC level TEAM Sawmills Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, and Villagers gather wood 10% faster 10 Indians Card Description Age HC level TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack 25 Japanese Card Description Age HC level TEAM Pioneers Villagers get +35% hit points 1 TEAM Chonindo Settlers, Coureurs des Bois, Settler Wagons, Villagers, Fishing Boats, Caravels/Galleys/War Junks/Fune, Canoes, War Canoes, Tlaloc Canoes, and Marathan Catamarans gather 8% faster 40 Spanish Card Description Age HC level TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 LOS 10

Changelog

Definitive Edition

• Originally, the Canadian Revolution improves the rife attacks of Settlers by +13 damage. With update 3552, it improves it by +17 damage.

Trivia

• Settlers come in the forms of men and women and the gender is randomly decided upon being trained from the Town Center. This feature is present since Age of Empires II.
• German, Russian and Swedish settlers wear thick winter clothing while Spanish, Portuguese, and Ottomans dress for sunny weather, men especially, who wear sombreros. British and Dutch men don't wear hats and are dressed lightly, with breeches. They resemble the settler icon the most.
• Additionally, while the icon shows white Settlers, the racial appearance of Settlers is also randomized, and the Settlers in game can appear as being of European, African, or Native American extraction. In contrast, European military units are always white.
• Settlers always speak in the same language as the playing civilization and sound modest and willing.
• Settlers seen as Treasures (trapped by wild animals or tightened up by bandits) have the British and Dutch appearance, but upon being rescued, will immediately turn into the appearance of the Settlers/Villagers of their rescuers.
  • This is also the only way for the French, Native American and Asian civilizations to acquire Settlers and will sound as Coureur des Bois or Villagers, respectively. In the case of the French, it was also the only way to acquire female units, but certain Politicians in the Definitive Edition are another way. The French Settlers have the same appearance as the British and Dutch Settlers.
• Canadian Settlers' name is a reference to the Métis people, descended from both the Native Americans and European settlers.

History

“

Highly industrious and loyal to a fault, the Settler lives to work for you. Whether it's chopping down the seventeen thousandth tree, scurrying across the map to a distant pile of silver ore, or endlessly toiling away at a mill, the Settler is ready to happily tackle any tedious task. The Settler’s hobbies include running away from enemy soldiers, getting thrown into the river by enemy cannon fire, and crochet.

”

Gallery

Two East European Settlers

A Settler at work

British and Dutch Settler variant

Ottoman, Portuguese, and Spanish Settler variant

German and Russian Settler variant