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Aztec elite berserker.
—In-game description

The Skull Knight is a melee heavy infantry in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs that is unique to the Aztecs and can only be obtained through Garland War Ceremony and Tezcatlipoca Worship, or shipped from the Home City.

Overview[]

Similar to the German Doppelsoldner and the Japanese Samurai, the Skull Knight possesses high hit points, deals Area of Effect damage, has a massive siege damage against buildings, and has multipliers against cavalry. Although highly effective in melee combat, its low speed renders it vulnerable to artillery.

Skull Knights work well when used in numbers due to effects of their splash damage and resists against hand damage, but it is recommended to support them with Arrow Knights, since the latter's high range deals increased damage to counter artillery. Another strong combination is with the Coyote Runner, since they reach and attack ranged units more quickly, not only artillery but also infantry.

Special abilities[]

  • Obsidian Storm (automatically activated when attacking with a cooldown of 15 seconds): The Skull Knight performs a sweeping hand attack that does 30 hand damage without multipliers, with 4 Area of Effect. This is always based on their hand attack, meaning the Great Temple of Huiztilopochtli Support card increases the area of effect of this ability, as well as any attack increases boosting its damage, notable their War Ceremony at the Community Plaza, making this a devastating melee ability if well utilized.
  • Health Regeneration: Regenerates hit points when idle (0.25% per second after 3.5 seconds idle).

Strategies[]

  • When they are marching to enemy artillery it is highly recommended to use "In cover" mode against shots, and then change to normal mode once they are in melee range.
  • Another form to avoid too much range damage from artillery and infantry is placing only one unit in front, as units automatically attack the enemy units closer to them, leading to the artillery wasting shots.
    • Remember to place them a good distance or in a different way from the army because artillery has Area of Effect attacks, which could lead to the Skull Knights' deaths.
    • Against professionals, this strategy is less effective, as they will use their artillery more efficiently.
  • Try a Coyote and Arrow Knight combination with the Skull Knight army, making a more versatile composition.
  • With the Arrow Knight composition, it is preferable to place them in front. In that form, if the player sees artillery, they will attack as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is not necessary, because it makes the Arrow Knights too exposed.
    • Protect them from infantry and cavalry attacks with the Skull Knight army.
    • If the enemy uses their cavalry or infantry to kill the Arrow Knights, carry a Coyote army to ambush the artillery and long range infantry.
  • With the Coyote Runner composition, guide them in the front and the flanks of the Skull Knight army.
    • When the Skull army sees the enemy's army, retreat them a short distance and try to see if there are enemy artillery or skirmisher units with a Coyote or with a Knight. if there are, don't attack first with Skull Knights, but if there is, let them attack first and retreat the Skull Knight army, waiting for the cavalry or infantry to pursue it. Once they get close, ambush with Coyotes.
      • This tactic won't work if the enemy doesn't move their cavalry or infantry, but the Arrow Knight composition will help.
  • Always make tactic compositions.

Upgrades[]

The Skull Knight is automatically upgraded in every Age from the Fortress Age.

  • Elite Skull Knight (+25% hit points and damage)
  • Champion Skull Knight (+25% hit points and damage)
  • Legendary Skull Knight (+50% hit points and damage)

Further statistics[]

As Skull Knights are unique to the Aztecs, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Most units, buildings
Weak vs. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Maya Cotton Armor (+20%)
Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Zapotec Cult of the Dead (+20%)
Carib Kasiri Beer (+10%)
Master Lessons (+10%)
Yoga (+5%)
Mapuche Tactics (+50% siege attack)
Resistance Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Speed Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Akan Fontomfrom (-5%)
Immigrants (-5%)
Other Tezcatlipoca Worship (delivers 1 Skull Knight for every 4 minutes of the game time, up to 30 minutes)
Jagiellonian Legacy (delivers 2/3/5/8 Skull Knights if The Warrior was chosen for the Aztecs to reach the Commerce/Fortress/Industrial/Imperial Age respectively)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Skull Knight
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Aztecs
Card Description Age
Knight Hitpoints Arrow Knight, Eagle Runner Knight, Jaguar Prowl Knight, and Skull Knight hit points +15%
Knight Attack Arrow Knight, Eagle Runner Knight, Jaguar Prowl Knight, and Skull Knight damage +15%
Knight Combat Arrow Knight, Eagle Runner Knight, Jaguar Prowl Knight, and Skull Knight hit points and damage +15%
4 Skull Knights Delivers 4 Skull Knights
5 Skull Knights Delivers 5 Skull Knights
6 Skull Knights Delivers 6 Skull Knights; costs 350 food
7 Skull Knights Delivers 7 Skull Knights
Wall of Skulls Delivers 1 Skull Knight for each 3 Skull Knights lost so far (up to 13)
Great Temple of Huiztilopochtli Support Delivers 11 Skull Knights; Skull Knight speed +0.25, hand attack Area of Effect +1; costs 1,500 coin
Religious Unity Temple Support, Native Ally, Renegade, and Buccaneer shipment cost -50%, infinite Native Ally shipment cost -25% instead
Chinese
Card Description Age
TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Delivers 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villager, healing unit, Envoy, and Disciple speed +5%
  • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.
Dutch
Card Description Age
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry hit points +10%; Dutch-only infantry hit points +15% instead
Haudenosaunee
Card Description Age
TEAM Scout Infantry Delivers 1 Native Scout; infantry Line of Sight +8
Inca
Card Description Age
TEAM Inca Bridges Delivers 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villager, healing unit, and Envoy speed +5%
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.
Indians
Card Description Age
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics Unit hit points and damage +5%
Maltese
Card Description Age
TEAM Knights of the Round Table Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; unit hit points +2%
Mexicans
Card Description Age
TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
Spanish
Card Description Age
TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry damage +15%
TEAM Spanish Inquisition Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic unit Line of Sight +10
Swedes
Card Description Age
TEAM House of Bernadotte Heavy infantry hit points +15%

Aztecs
Card Description Age HC level
Knight Hitpoints Arrow Knights, Eagle Runner Knights, Jaguar Prowl Knights, and Skull Knights get +15% hit points
10
Knight Attack Arrow Knights, Eagle Runner Knights, Jaguar Prowl Knights, and Skull Knights get +15% attack
10
Knight Combat Arrow Knights, Eagle Runner Knights, Jaguar Prowl Knights, and Skull Knights get +15% hit points and damage
25
3 Skull Knights Ships 3 Skull Knights
1
5 Skull Knights Ships 5 Skull Knights
10
4 Skull Knights Ships 4 Skull Knights
10
7 Skull Knights Ships 7 Skull Knights
25
Great Temple of Huiztilopochtli Support Ships 11 Skull Knights; Skull Knights get +1 hand attack Area of Effect; costs 2,000 coin
25
Religious Unity Zapotec and Maya Allies, Renegade Spanish, Recruit Buccaneers, and (Great) Temple Support shipments cost -25% to -50%
40
  • "Religious Unity" reduces "Great Temple of Huiztilopochtli Support" cost by 50%.
Dutch
Card Description Age HC level
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
10
Indians
Card Description Age HC level
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and damage
25
Iroquois
Card Description Age HC level
TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 Line of Sight
10
Spanish
Card Description Age HC level
TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
10
TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
10

Changelog[]

The WarChiefs[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Skull Knights now have 320 hit points.
  • With update 23511, Skull Knights now have a ×2.2 multiplier against shock infantry, have an Obsidian Storm charged attack and can regenerate hit points.

History[]

In Aztec society, membership in the calpulli established each individual's religious and secular schooling, as well as how they would be trained in warfare. The men of a calpulli served together in battle and on the numerous public works projects. Their soldiers wielded weapons of wood and stone, and they often sought prisoners to be sacrificed in religious ceremonies.

The most-feared and powerful division in the Aztec army was made up of skull knights. Their name, Tzitzimitl, translates as "frightful specters," the skull knight dressed as a kind of undead horror, and the enemy often fled at their advance.

Trivia[]

  • Despide the in-game history information, Tzitzimitl was the name of minor female deities depicted as skeletal female figures wearing skirts (often with skull and crossbone designs).
  • The Skull Knight is based on Tlacochcalcatl, Aztec warriors whose role is similar to a general in modern times; the Tlatoani (Aztec emperor) was the only rank to supersede them.
    • Their weapon was known as Huitzauhqui.
    • As a side note, the Tlacateccatl (similar in appearance to a Champion/Legendary Puma Spearman but with a shield in addition) was second-in-command to the Tlacochcalcatl and the Tlatoani.
  • The Skull Knight's outfit appears to be based on the Osprey published book "Aztec Warrior".

Gallery[]

In other languages[]

  • Spanish: Caballero Cráneo
  • French: Chevalier Crâne
  • German: Totenkopfritter
  • Italian: Cavaliere del Teschio
  • Japanese: 髑髏の騎士 (Dokuro no Kishi)
  • Korean: 해골 용사 (Haegol Yongsa)
  • Portuguese: Cavaleiro Caveira
  • Russian: Рыцарь черепа (Rytsar' cherepa)

See also[]

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
Age of Empires III Explorer · Militiaman · Crossbowman · Pikeman · Musketeer · Grenadier · Halberdier · Skirmisher · Hussar · Dragoon · Cavalry Archer · Falconet · Culverin · Mortar · Heavy Cannon · Caravel · Galleon · Frigate · Monitor
The WarChiefs Warrior · Spy · Petard · Horse Artillery · Canoe · War Canoe · Ironclad
The Asian Dynasties/ Sentry · / Irregular
Definitive Edition*/ General · Captured Mortar · Sloop · Steamer · Battleship
The African Royals Levied Spearman · Levied Bowman · Levied Gunner · Javelin Rider · Battle Canoe · Cannon Boat
Unique units
British Longbowman · Ranger · Rocket
Dutch Ruyter · Fluyt
French Cuirassier
Germans Doppelsoldner · Landwehr · Uhlan · War Wagon
Ottomans Bashibozuk · Janissary · Azap · Abus Gunner · Humbaraci · Muhbir · Nizam Fusilier · Deli · Sipahi · Great Bombard · Galley
Portuguese Cassador · Ordinance Rifleman · Organ Gun
Russians Strelet · Rekrut · Poruchik · Cossack · Oprichnik
Spanish Rodelero · Lancer
Aztecs Aztec War Chief · Eagle Scout · Otontin Slinger · Puma Spearman · Warrior Priest · Arrow Knight · Jaguar Prowl Knight · Skull Knight · Coyote Runner · Eagle Runner Knight · Tlaloc Canoe
Haudenosaunee Haudenosaunee War Chief · Aenna · Tomahawk · Forest Prowler · Ram · Mantlet · Kanya Horseman · Musket Rider · Light Cannon
Lakota Lakota War Chief · Cetan Bowman · Club Warrior · Wakina Rifle · Axe Rider · Bow Rider · Rifle Rider · Tashunke Prowler · Tokala Soldier
Chinese Shaolin Master · Chu Ko Nu · Qiang Pikeman · Flamethrower · Changdao Swordsman · Arquebusier · Disciple · Steppe Rider · Keshik · Iron Flail · Meteor Hammer · Hand Mortar · Flying Crow · Fire Junk · War Junk · Fuchuan
Indians Brahmin · Rajput · Sepoy · Gurkha · Urumi Swordsman · Sowar · Zamburak · Flail Elephant · Mahout Lancer · Howdah · Siege Elephant
Japanese Sohei Archer · Yumi Archer · Ashigaru Musketeer · Samurai · Yamabushi · Shinobi · Naginata Rider · Yabusame · Daimyo · Shogun Tokugawa · Flaming Arrow · Morutaru · Fune · Atakebune · Tekkousen
Inca Inca War Chief · Jungle Bowman · Plumed Spearman · Bolas Warrior · Huaraca · Maceman · Chasqui · Chimu Runner · Chincha Raft
Swedes Carolean · Hakkapelit · Leather Cannon
United States Minuteman · State Militia · Regular · Gunslinger · Owlhoot · Sharpshooter · Cowboy · Carbine Cavalry · Gatling Gun · Quaker Gun
Ethiopians Ras · Gascenya · Neftenya · Shotel Warrior · Oromo Warrior · Sebastopol Mortar · War Dhow
Hausa Emir · Fulani Archer · Maigadi · Raider · Lifidi Knight · Xebec
Mexicans Padre · Insurgente · Soldado · Salteador · Desperado · Bandido · Chinaco · Cuatrero
Italians Pavisier · Papal Guard · Schiavone · Bersagliere · Papal Zouave · Papal Lancer · Papal Bombard · Leonardo's Tank · Galleass
Maltese Grand Master · Hospitaller · Sentinel · Fire Thrower · Order Galley · Fire Ship
Revolution
Barbary Warrior · Bolivar · Californio · Cetbang Cannon · Corsair Captain · Corsair Marksman · Cruzob Avenger · Cruzob Infantry · Cuerudo · Eclaireur · Filibuster · Gatling Gun · Gaucho · Jagunço · Javanese Spearman · Llanero · Militia Officer · Morochuco · Mounted Granadero · Revolutionary · Revolutionary Sharpshooter · San Martin · Trek Wagon