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This article is about the politician in Age of Empires III. For other uses, see Knight. |
The Knight is an Imperial Age politician introduced in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, available to all European civilizations (except Italians). As soon as the player advances to the Imperial Age by choosing him, Knighthood and Peerage will be automatically researched for the player.
Strategy[]
The Knight's benefits go directly to the Explorer and other Hero type units they may have. The technologies granted cost in total 2,500 food, so it can also be seen as a refund if the player intended to make better use of their Explorer unit in the late game. All civilizations have at least one early shipment that further increases the statistics of their initial Hero Unit. For most European civilizations, this shipment also brings an Explorer's Dog, so if the player made a Home City deck with some Explorer focus, it may be a wise idea to Age up with The Knight in order to get the most powerful version of this unit faster than if picking any other politician.
The Maltese can alternatively pick The Scottish Marshal instead, who gives their Grand Master the Oberhau ability, so the player may have a dilemma on which one to pick. If the player has access to other hero units through a minor civilization (like the Berbers, which enable a Berber Sultan with the Berber Dynasties technology), The Knight should always be preferred over The Scottish Marshal, since only the Grand Master can have the Oberhau attack, while Knighthood and Peerage applies to all heroes. The Knight may also be the preferred option when the player needs to save food while requiring to upgrade the Grand Master, but if the player wants to fully improve their Grand Master, they should pick The Scottish Marshal.
Considering all Explorers are a bit different by default, and that each civilization has different upgrades they can get from their Home City for their explorer, picking The Knight may work a bit differently for each civilization. Both technologies gives heroes a considerable amount of hit points, making them extremely resilient, and Knighthood also gives substantially more attack.
Recommended Shipments[]
All European civilizations have at least one Home City Card that improves the Explorer or heroes. Here is the complete list, excluding Italians shipments, as they do not have access to The Knight, as well as excluding revolution shipments, since the player has to choose to either to age up or revolt.
- Advanced Arsenal (all except Swedes): Flint Lock, Paper Cartridge and Military Drummers apply to hero units that are infantry like the Explorer or the Grand Master. The Swedes have these technologies by default.
- Hot Air Balloon (all civilizations except French): The Explorer can summon a Hot Air Balloon to explore the map for a limited time. The effect of this shipment can be replicated if aging up with The Inventor in the Commerce Age.
- Castrametation (all civilizations): Ships 1 Fort Wagon; Fort build limit +1; the Explorer can build Outposts and Forts.
- Captain (British): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer can use Swashbuckler Attack; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Stadhouder (Dutch): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; Town Centers cost -50% wood; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- TEAM Infantry Hitpoints (Dutch): Infantry get +10% hit points; Dutch-only infantry get +15% hit points instead.
- Voyageur (French): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer can use Heal; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Aerostatic Corps (French): Explorer gains the ability to use a temporary Hot Air Balloon for reconnaissance; Hot Air Balloons can be called more often and can stay longer in the air; Hot Air Balloon grants +100 XP build bounty
- Buergermeister (Germans): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer build Town Centers and Trading Posts 100% faster; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Treaty of Westphalia: Tilly's Discipline applies to the Explorer.
- TEAM Knights of the Round Table (Maltese): Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points.
- Bailiff (Maltese): Heroes get +50% attack and hit points; The Grand Master now boosts nearby units' build rate by 50% (effectively reducing build time by 33%); +1 Lamb of the Creator.
- Agha (Ottomans): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer gets +1.0 speed; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Navigator (Portuguese): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer's Spyglass ability gets +6 Area of Effect; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Bandeirantes (Portuguese): Ships 1 additional Explorer; removes cooldown for ransoming Explorers.
- TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints (Portuguese): Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points.
- Polar Explorer (Russians): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer gets +2.0 attack multiplier against treasure guardians; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
- Ransack (Russians): Infantry get +50% siege attack.
- Conquistador (Spanish): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; War Dogs get +20% hit points and attack.
- TEAM Fencing Instructor (Spanish): Heroes get +20% hit points and attack.
- Peninsular Guerrillas (Spanish): Ranged infantry get +20% attack, musket infantry get +10% attack instead.
- TEAM Spanish Inquisition (Spanish): Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight.
- Unction (Spanish): Missionaries increase the attack of nearby friendly units.
- Duelist (Swedes): Heroes get +50% hit points and attack; the Explorer can use the Heavy Strike ability; also ships an Explorer's Dog.
