Tambo

Tambo
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Type	Building Economic Military
Civilization(s)	Inca
Age	Exploration Age
Supports	5 population
Use	Trains Chasqui Periodically generates resource or experience points if built on Trade Routes Generates 0.35 XP/sec, trains native units, and researches native improvements if built on a minor civilization settlement Upgrades to be able to generate other resources and at a higher rate on Trade Routes Provides population Receives Home City shipments Necessary for the Trade Monopoly win condition
Building
Built by	Villager Inca War Chief Chasqui
Cost	250 Wood
Max. builders	8
Build time	72 seconds
Statistics
Size	4x4
Hit points	3,000
Garrison	20 villagers, Homestead Wagons, healing units, Chasqui
Line of Sight	14
Build XP	50
Kill XP	100
Ranged attack
Damage	5 * no. of villagers garrisoned, up to 10 Ranged
Range	8
Rate of Fire	3.0
Bonus damage	0.5x vs. Siege trooper 0.25x vs. Villager
Notes
Must be built on a Trade Route or a native settlement

“	Defensive Inca Trading Post that supports 5 population and can shelter civilians, who strengthen its attack.	”
—In-game description

The Tambo is an economic/military building in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition that replaces the Trading Post for the Inca. It retains the functions of a Trading Post, but has a weak ranged attack, can garrison Villagers which increases its attack, receives Home City shipments, and supports 5 population.

The Inca War Chief builds Tambos three times faster.

Overview

The Tambo can be used like an Outpost. It can garrison Villagers and works as a spawn point for Home City shipments. It is sturdier than a Trading Post, but it costs more wood.

Minor civilizations

Main article: Minor civilization

Units

Main article: Native warrior

Age	Unit	Cost	Limit
	Chasqui	50 wood 50 coin	1

Technologies

For each native or religious settlement's technologies, please see their respective articles.

Upgrades

Age	Upgrade	Cost	Effect
	Level 2 (Stagecoach by default)	200 food 200 wood	Upgrades the Trade Route where the Trading Post is built to use a Level 2 Trade unit which can deliver resources, moves faster, and has greater Line of Sight
	Level 3 (Iron Horse by default)	300 wood 400 coin	Upgrades the Trade Route where the Trading Post is built to use a Level 2 Trade unit which moves faster and has greater LOS; requires Level 2
	Mighty Tambos	600 wood 200 coin	Upgrades Tambos into Mighty Tambos (+50% hit points, attack, and range)

• To see specific names of upgrades, see Trade Route.

Further statistics

As Tambos are unique to the Inca, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following tables:

Building strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Short-ranged units
Weak vs.	Everything, especially siege units, artillery, and Monitors
Improvements
Hit points	Flying Buttress (+20%) Byzantine Legacy (+15%)
Range	Pukaras (+3)
Line of Sight	Pukaras (+3)
Build time	Cree Textile Craftsmanship (-25%)
Cost	Tupi Forest Burning (-20% wood) Cree Textile Craftsmanship (-10%)

Home City Cards

As Tambos are unique to the Inca, only their cards and other civilizations' TEAM cards are shown in the following tables:

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

Some cards are highlighted with:
Green	TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Blue	Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Shared

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Improved Buildings	Building hit points +25%

• "TEAM Improved Buildings" is available to the Inca, Indians, and Maltese.

Inca

Card	Description	Age
Quipi Kamayuks	Chasqui Line of Sight +8, speed +5%, and can claim treasure; Tambos get an aura that increases the hit points of nearby units by +10%, +1 Chasqui
Native Treaties	Each different allied native tribe sends a shipment of their respective native warriors
Advanced Tambos	Tambo cost -25%, hit points +35%, +1 Chasqui
High Ground	Town Center, Tambo, War Hut, and Stronghold Line of Sight +15, ranged attack range +5
Monumental Architecture	Building hit points +30%; Town Center and Command Post damage +35%
Ceque System	Tambo auto gather XP 0.7, +1 Chasqui
Huanka Support	Delivers 1 Town Travois and 1 War Hut Travois; Town Center build limit +1; building build time -15%; costs 500 coin

Mexicans

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Mariachi	For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%

Ottomans

Card	Description	Age
TEAM House of Osman	Trading Post and State Capitol Trading Post Wagon cost -40%

Portuguese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM House of Bragança	Trade Route upgrades are free and available in any Age

Trivia

• While the Tambo is referred to and treated as a distinct building unique to the Inca, the game's data files reveal that it is actually an ordinary Trading Post with its name changed, a distinct appearance, and modified statistics.

History

“

The Inca Empire utilized an extensive system of roads to facilitate travel and transport throughout its vast territories. During the late 15th century, the Inca constructed over 10,000 tambos--administrative buildings that were staffed by locals conscripted through the mit'a corvee system--along these roadways. Tambos contained quipu records; they also served a military purpose, storing supplies and quartering soldiers stationed nearby or passing through the region. Tambos sometimes housed Inca functionaries, or even served as economic or religious spaces. Critically, they also were transit stations for the Chasquis, messengers responsible for relaying orders and information throughout the Inca Empire. A capable Chasqui could travel from tambo to tambo within the space of a day and be assured of food and lodging for maximal efficiency. The system was deemed so effective that the Spanish conquerors adopted and expanded it.

”

Gallery

Tambo image from the Compendium section

In-game Tambo

In-game Mighty Tambo