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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For other uses, see Sipahi.

Powerful cavalry available only from the Home City.
—In-game description

The Sipahi (Spahi before update 14.43676) is a melee heavy cavalry unit in Age of Empires III that is unique to the Ottomans and can only be shipped from the Home City or chosen as an age up reward when aging to the Industrial Age. It is the second strongest melee cavalry unit in the game, behind the Mahout Lancer.

Overview[]

The Sipahi is effective against enemy Skirmishers, archers, shock infantry and artillery, but can be countered by heavy infantry and light cavalry. The Sipahi fights with a mace, and deals damage over a certain area rather than a single unit. It is considered one of the most effective units in the game and is almost twice as strong as a Cuirassier. 5 Sipahis can be sent as a Fortress Age shipment, costing only 1,000 food to ship, which means a player can get the equivalent of 9 Cuirassiers in just one Fortress Age shipment, making it one of the best shipments in the game.

Sipahi have a special trait; like the Explorer and his dog, they can regenerate hit points, allowing them to last longer in a game.

It is ill-advised to use the Trample mode with the Sipahi, because the Trample mode has the same Area of Effect as a normal hand attack, while it has lower attack damage and a longer Rate of Fire.

In the original game, the player could have a maximum of 43 Sipahi (3 with the The Grand Vizier politician in the Industrial Age and 40 shipped from the Home City – 22 in the Industrial Age and 18 in the Imperial Age), but in the Definitive Edition, infinite cards of Sipahis were introduced.

Special abilities[]

  • Regenerate ability aoe3de Health Regeneration: Regenerates hitpoints when idle (0.25% per second after 3.5 seconds idle).

Upgrades[]

The Sipahi is automatically upgraded in the Industrial Age and Imperial Age.

  • Industrial age up Guard Sipahi: +30% hit points and attack
  • Imperial age up Imperial Sipahi: +50% hit points and attack

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Ranged infantry, shock infantry, artillery
Weak vs. Heavy infantry, light cavalry
Improvements
Hit points Cavalry Cuirass Cavalry Cuirass (+10%)
Comanche Horse Breeding Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Pillage Pillage (+25% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings)
Horsemanship Horsemanship (+1.0 multiplier vs. Walls; Lakota only)
Wind horses Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Resistance Kapikulu Corps Kapikulu Corps (+10% hand resistance; Ottomans only)
Sudanese quilted armor Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Horse Secrets Horse Secrets (+10%; Haudenosaunee only)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Wind horses Wind Horses (+0.5)
Other Kapikulu Corps Kapikulu Corps (ships 5 Sipahis; Ottomans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Sipahi
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Damage) Cavalry Damage Cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Hitpoints) Cavalry Hitpoints Cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Cavalry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 3 (Liberation March) Liberation March Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +5% speed and -35% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "Cavalry Damage" is available to the British and Lakota.
  • "Cavalry Hitpoints" is available to the British and Haudenosaunee.
  • "Cavalry Combat" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Lakota, Mexicans, Ottomans, Russians, and Spanish.
  • "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land units get +5% hit points; land villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Germans[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% attack; Germans-only heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
German Home City 3 (Spanish Riding School) Spanish Riding School Cavalry get +10% speed; +4 Uhlans
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the Italian "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (Road Building) Road Building Land military units get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; Rajputs get +20% hand attack instead; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% attack; Italians-only heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
Italian Home City 2 (Schiavoni Swords) Schiavoni Swords Infantry and cavalry get +15% hand attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the German "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

Lakota[]

Card Description Age
Sioux Home City 1 (Morning Star) Morning Star Temporarily reveals all enemies and treasures; Axe Riders can loot treasures for double the resources or XP; hand cavalry get +2.0 attack multiplier against treasure guardians
Age II tech tree aoe3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexico card Plan of Casa Mata Plan of Casa Mata [Plan] Turns all Dragoons into Chinacos; hand cavalry get +5% speed; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas Colegio de San Nicolás Ships 500 XP; units get +4 and buildings (except Walls) get +8 Line of Sight; sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age

Ottomans[]

Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 2 (3 Spahis) 3 Sipahis Ships 3 Sipahis; costs 600 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 2 (4 Spahis) 4 Sipahis Ships 4 Sipahis; costs 800 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Ottoman Home City 2 (5 Spahis) 5 Sipahis Ships 5 Sipahis; costs 1,000 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 2 (6 Spahis) 6 Sipahis Ships 6 Sipahis; costs 1,200 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Ottoman Home City 2 (4 Spahis TEAM) TEAM Timariots Ships 4 Sipahis; costs 1,200 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Russians[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Hitpoints) Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Attack Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3

United States[]

Card Description Age
Federal card seminole ponies Seminole Ponies Ships 9 Hussars; hand cavalry get +15% hit points and attack, and +5% speed; cavalry train time -10%
Imperial Age
  • "Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Cavalry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
  • "Cavalry Combat" is available to the Dutch, Ottomans, Russians, and Sioux (at a level 25 Home City).

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40

French[]

Card Description Age HC level
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry and Coyote Runners get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
German Home City 3 (Spanish Riding School) Spanish Riding School Cavalry get +10% speed; +4 Uhlans
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; +1 Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Sioux[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Damage) Cavalry Damage Cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Hitpoints) Cavalry Hitpoints Cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Ottomans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Ottoman Home City 2 (3 Spahis) 3 Sipahis Ships 3 Sipahis; costs 600 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
Ottoman Home City 2 (4 Spahis) 4 Sipahis Ships 4 Sipahis; costs 800 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Ottoman Home City 2 (5 Spahis) 5 Sipahis Ships 5 Sipahis; costs 1,000 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Ottoman Home City 2 (6 Spahis) 6 Sipahis Ships 6 Sipahis; costs 1,200 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Ottoman Home City 2 (4 Spahis TEAM) TEAM 4 Spahis Ships 4 Sipahis; costs 1,200 food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Cavalry Scout Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
1

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Hand cavalry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

Age of Empires III[]

  • The unit is named Spahi.
  • Spahis cost 280 food, have 10% ranged resistance and give 28 XP when trained or killed.

Definitive Edition[]

  • Spahis now have 20% ranged resistance.
  • Fixed a bug which causes Spahis shipped to non-Ottoman players (through "TEAM 4 Spahis") to not be automatically upgraded in the Industrial and Imperial Ages.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 14.43676, the unit is renamed to Sipahi, costs 400 food and give 40 XP when trained or killed.

Trivia[]

  • The original name of the unit, Spahi, is the Western rendition of Ottoman Turkish Sipahi, which itself was borrowed from Persian sepâhi.
  • Before release, Sipahi were originally the unique Ottoman variant of the European Hussar.
    • The Sipahi shown in the history portrait is from that time of game development, which shows an unused texture in the final game for a visual upgrade called Elite Sipahi in the game files.

History[]

The Sipahis were cavalry for two different nations. Their name derives from a Persian word for soldier, "sipahi." They were elite cavalry in the Ottoman army, performing much the same duties as the janissaries, only mounted. There were more Sipahi than any other cavalry in the Ottoman army. They were also Algerian cavalrymen that fought for the French in Africa. These cavalrymen revolted when the French wanted them to leave Africa to aid France in the Franco-Prussian wars.

Mounted soldiers, they wore baggy pants and riding boots. Long, heavy cloaks, turned out to show the lining, draped them shoulder to calf, and they covered their heads with turbans. Armed chiefly with swords, they also carried firearms and spears.

Gallery[]

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer · Militiaman de Militiaman · Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman · Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman · Halberdier de Halberdier · Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer · Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher · Grenadier de Grenadier · Hussar aoe3de Hussar · Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon · Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer · Falconet aoe3de Falconet · Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin · Mortar de Mortar · Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon · Caravel aoe3de Caravel · Galleon aoe3de Galleon · Frigate aoe3de Frigate · Monitor aoe3de Monitor
3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior · Horse art de Horse Artillery · Petard aoe3de Petard · Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy · Native canoe aoe3de Canoe · War canoe aoe3de War Canoe · Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar · Sloop aoe3de Sloop · Steamer aoe3de Steamer · Battleship portrait Battleship
The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman · Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman · Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner · Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe · Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
Unique units
Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman · Ranger portrait Ranger · Rocket de Rocket
Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter · Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr · Doppel de Doppelsoldner · Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan · War wagon de War Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk · Janissary aoe3de Janissary · Ottomans azap portrait Azap · Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier · Ottomans deli portrait Deli · Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner · Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci · Great bombard de Great Bombard · Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir · Spahi de Sipahi · Galley aoe3de Galley
Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman · Cacador de Cassador · Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet · Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut · Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik · Cossack de Cossack · Oprichink de Oprichnik
Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero · Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief · Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout · Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner · Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger · Puma spearman de Puma Spearman · Arrow knight de Arrow Knight · Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight · Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight · Warrior priest de Warrior Priest · Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight · Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief · Aenna de Aenna · Tomahawk de Tomahawk · Forest prowler de Forest Prowler · Kanya de Kanya Horseman · Musket rider de Musket Rider · Ram aoe3de Ram · Iro mantlet de Mantlet · Light cannon de Light Cannon
Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief · Cetan de Cetan Bowman · Club warrior de Club Warrior · Wakina de Wakina Rifle · Axe rider de Axe Rider · Bow rider de Bow Rider · Rifle rider de Rifle Rider · Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler · Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master · Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu · Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman · Changdao de Changdao Swordsman · Arquebusier de Arquebusier · Steppe rider de Steppe Rider · Keshik de Keshik · Iron flail de Iron Flail · Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer · Flamethrower de Flamethrower · Hand mortar de Hand Mortar · Flying crow de Flying Crow · Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk · War junk aoe3de War Junk · Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin · Sentry IN de Sentry · Irregular IN de Irregular · Rajput de Rajput · Sepoy de Sepoy · Gurkha de Gurkha · Urumi de Urumi Swordsman · Sowar de Sowar · Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak · Mahout de Mahout Lancer · Howdah aoe3de Howdah · Flail elephant de Flail Elephant · Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Yumi archer de Yumi Archer · Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer · Samurai aoe3de Samurai · Naginata de Naginata Rider · Yabusame de Yabusame · Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow · Morutaru de Morutaru · Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo · Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa · Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi · Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi · Fune aoe3de Fune · Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune · Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief · Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui · Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman · Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman · Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner · DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior · Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca · Inca Maceman Icon Maceman · Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean · Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit · Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General · Us marine aoe3de Minuteman · State militia aoe3de State Militia · Regular aoe3de Regular · Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter · Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun · Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General · Padre revolution portrait Padre · Insurgente portrait Insurgente · Soldado portrait Soldado · Emboscador portrait Salteador · Chinaco portrait Chinaco · Desperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras · Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior · Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya · Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior · Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya · Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir · Fulani Fulani Archer · Raider aoe3de portrait Raider · Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight · Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier · Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere · Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard · Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone · Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer · Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave · Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard · Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank · Galleass portrait Galleass
Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master · Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller · Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel · Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower · Order galley portrait Order Galley · SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
Revolution Revolution
Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior · Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar · Californio portrait Californio · Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon · Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain · Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman · Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger · Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry · Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo · Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur · Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho · Comanchero icon aoe3de Jagunço · Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman · Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero · Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer · Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco · Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero · Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary · Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter · San martin portrait San Martin · Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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