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The Black Duke is an Imperial Age politician in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean introduced in update 13.27885, available to the British and Germans, and replaces The Inventor.
If chosen to advance to the Imperial Age, the following Hanover Royal House units will appear at the Home City shipment point:
- British – 6 Drummers
- Germans – 16 Black Brunswickers
Strategy[]
The Black Duke offers units from the Hanover Royal House, so neither possible option takes population. In the late game, players are often near their maximum population space, so the British or Germans can use The Black Duke to save some population space in order to still get some unit shipments in the Imperial Age, or keep training units.
For the British, the Black Duke ships Drummers; unlike most infantry, they serve a supporting role, as the Cadence Support ability increases the movement speed of nearby units by +10%, and reduces their Rate of Fire by 5%, in a radius of 34, making this politician a versatile pick, as the Drummers may help any army composition.
For the Germans, The Black Duke ships Black Brunswickers, which are native musket infantry that have the Combat Promotion ability that improves them when defeating enemy units. This makes The Black Duke a great pick if the player either focused on infantry or native units, making it a great follow-up politician for The Marksman, The Sergeant at Arms, and The Papal Guard. Germans also have shipment cards that enable the unit for them (Prince-Electors), or that ship more Black Brunswickers (Circle Army).
Recommended shipments[]
British and Germans[]
- Advanced Arsenal.
- Fencing School and Riding School: Producing military units faster helps.
British[]
- Florence Nightingale: Manor Houses slowly heal nearby friendly units.
- Greenwich Time: Ships 1 Trading Post Wagon; Technology research and Age up time -20% for every Trading Post built by the player.
- Any military unit Shipment: The Drummers will boost any of them.
- 4 Hanover Allies: Ships 4 Drummers.
Germans[]
- Blood Brothers: Upgrades native warriors to Elite/Disciplined/Veteran and Champion/Honored/Royal Guard (if not already).
- Treaty of Westphalia: Provides the Church with Tilly's Discipline.
- Prince-Electors: Ships 1 Royal Embassy Wagon; Choose any one German Royal House as an ally that will allow you to recruit and upgrade units at the Royal Embassy. Allied units will now cost population in the Royal Embassy and Home City. Removed cost for Royal Houses alliances.
- Circle Army: Sends different German Royal House units each time. 13 Black Brunswickers → 8 Mounted Infantry → 5 Saxon Cuirassiers.
- Any military unit shipment that may complement the Black Brunswickers.
Trivia[]
- The Black Duke refers to Frederick William, who was responsible for the retaliations against Napoleonic France in Germany.
