Upgrade (Age of Empires IV)

This article is about the upgrades in Age of Empires IV. For the upgrades in other games, see Upgrade.

Upgrades are technologies in Age of Empires IV that allow the creation of better military units and access to improved versions of buildings. The upgrade of a unit transforms the unit into a better version of itself, usually with an increase in attributes. All existing units, except converted units, are upgraded. Unit upgrades, including those of unique units, are shown directly below the unit in the user interface of the building in which they are created. Chinese Dynasty units can also be upgraded at the Spirit Way landmark. Byzantine mercenary units are upgraded in groups via the Mercenary Contracts upgrades at the Mercenary House, though they can also receive additional improvements for free if the Foreign Engineering Company landmark is constructed.

Buildings are not usually upgraded. However, a number of buildings (primarily those classified as defensive buildings) can have emplacements added which grant an additional attack and are researched for every individual building for a recurring cost. Emplacements are not upgrades since they do not affect every building - in other words, their effect is never universal.

Unique units and upgrades are marked yellow in the lists below.

Types of upgrades

Free

Some units, such as the Bedouin Skirmishers, Bedouin Swordsmen, King, Samurai Bannermen, and Shinobi, receive boosts to their hit points, armor, and attack from advancing through the Ages. In addition, all units with torch attacks likewise have this attribute increased with every Age advancement. Likewise, the Mongol Khan and Khan's Hunter are automatically upgraded for free with every Age advancement.

Direct

Most units upon reaching the next Age can be upgraded for better statistics across the board. The names of upgrades are fairly simple, and depend on which Age they are unlocked. All civilizations can upgrade all of their units in all following Ages. For example, any civilization getting a unit in the Feudal Age can upgrade the unit in both the Castle and Imperial Ages.

Normally unlocked in					Exception
Dark Age		Hardened	Veteran	Elite	Warrior Scout
Feudal Age	Early		Veteran	Elite
Castle Age	Vanguard	Early		Elite
Imperial Age

Cost and research time

For standard units and upgrades:

• Upgrading from Dark Age variant to Feudal Age variant costs 15 food, 35 gold, 15 seconds.
• Upgrading from Feudal Age variant to Castle Age variant costs 100 food, 250 gold, 30 seconds.
• Upgrading from Castle Age variant to Imperial Age variant costs 300 food, 700 gold, 60 seconds.

Indirect

Buildings, and some unit types, namely siege, naval, religious, and elephant units, do not have such unit upgrades. Their upgrades come in the form of technologies, which affect only that specific unit and are available at the same building. Most of the time, they are available to all civilizations which have access to the unit. Except for the Fishing Boat technologies, none of them are chained, that is, they can be researched independently. Religious units are a special case, as they can be upgraded even in the same Age in which they are unlocked.

It can be said that Villagers working on different tasks are also upgraded as such, but Villagers as a whole are not affected, except by Textiles. Individual upgrades can be found in economy technologies section of the technology page.

Barracks

Unit	Upgrade	Cost and Time	Change
Spearman	Hardened Spearman	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+10 hit points, +1 melee attack, +3 vs Cavalry
Hardened Spearman	Veteran Spearman	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee attack, +3 vs Cavalry
Veteran Spearman	Elite Spearman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 melee attack, +5 vs Cavalry
Vanguard Man-at-Arms	Early Man-at-Arms	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Early Man-at-Arms	Man-at-Arms	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Man-at-Arms	Elite Man-at-Arms	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Ghulam	Elite Ghulam	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack, +1 charge attack
Early Palace Guard	Palace Guard	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack
Palace Guard	Elite Palace Guard	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Landsknecht	Elite Landsknecht	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +3 melee attack
Donso	Hardened Donso	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +3 vs Cavalry (melee), +2 vs Cavalry (ranged)
Hardened Donso	Veteran Donso	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee attack, +1 ranged attack, +3 vs Cavalry (melee), +1 vs Cavalry (ranged)
Veteran Donso	Elite Donso	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +5 vs Cavalry (melee), +2 vs Cavalry (ranged)
Musofadi Warrior	Veteran Musofadi Warrior	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee attack, +5 vs Heavy
Veteran Musofadi Warrior	Elite Musofadi Warrior	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Heavy
Limitanei	Hardened Limitanei	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+10 hit points, +1 melee attack, +3 vs Cavalry
Hardened Limitanei	Veteran Limitanei	50 food, 125 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee attack, +3 vs Cavalry
Veteran Limitanei	Elite Limitanei	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 melee attack, +5 vs Cavalry
Varangian Guard	Elite Varangian Guard	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack
Onna-Bugeisha	Veteran Onna-Bugeisha	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 melee attack
Veteran Onna-Bugeisha	Elite Onna-Bugeisha	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee attack
Samurai	Hardened Samurai	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 melee armor, +2 melee attack
Hardened Samurai	Veteran Samurai	50 food, 250 gold 30 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Veteran Samurai	Elite Samurai	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Gilded Spearman	Hardened Gilded Spearman	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 melee attack, +6 vs Cavalry
Hardened Gilded Spearman	Veteran Gilded Spearman	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +2 melee attack, +6 vs Cavalry
Veteran Gilded Spearman	Elite Gilded Spearman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +4 melee attack, +10 vs Cavalry
Early Gilded Man-at-Arms	Gilded Man-at-Arms	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+60 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack
Gilded Man-at-Arms	Elite Gilded Man-at-Arms	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+60 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +4 melee attack
Gilded Landsknecht	Elite Gilded Landsknecht	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +4 melee attack

Archery Range

Unit	Upgrade	Cost and Time	Change
Archer	Veteran Archer	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+10 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Veteran Archer	Elite Archer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged attack, +1 vs Light melee infantry
Crossbowman	Elite Crossbowman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Heavy
Camel Archer	Veteran Camel Archer	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Veteran Camel Archer	Elite Camel Archer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 ranged attack, +1 vs Light melee infantry
Zhuge Nu	Veteran Zhuge Nu	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+10 hit points, +1 ranged attack
Veteran Zhuge Nu	Elite Zhuge Nu	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged attack
Tower Elephant	Howdahs	720 seconds	+30% hit points, +4 ranged armor, +11 vs Heavy
Longbowman	Veteran Longbowman	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+10 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Veteran Longbowman	Elite Longbowman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged attack
Arbalétrier	Elite Arbalétrier	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 melee armor, +3 ranged attack, +2 vs Heavy
Mangudai	Veteran Mangudai	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 ranged attack
Veteran Mangudai	Elite Mangudai	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +2 ranged attack
Horse Archer	Elite Horse Archer	300 food, 700 gold 30 seconds	+15 hit points, +2 ranged attack
Javelin Thrower	Veteran Javelin Thrower	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+10 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +2 ranged attack, +4 vs Ranged
Veteran Javelin Thrower	Elite Javelin Thrower	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 ranged attack, +6 vs Ranged
Janissary	Elite Janissary	150 food, 350 gold 30 seconds	+15 hit points, +4 ranged attack, +4 vs Cavalry
Yumi Ashigaru	Veteran Yumi Ashigaru	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+10 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Veteran Yumi Ashigaru	Elite Yumi Ashigaru	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged attack, +1 vs Light melee infantry
Onna-Musha	Elite Onna-Musha	150 food, 350 gold 30 seconds	+15 hit points, +3 ranged attack, +3 vs Heavy
Desert Raider	Veteran Desert Raider	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee armor, +2 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Cavalry (melee)
Veteran Desert Raider	Elite Desert Raider	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +2 melee armor, +4 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +4 vs Cavalry (melee)
Gilded Archer	Veteran Gilded Archer	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Veteran Gilded Archer	Elite Gilded Archer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Light melee infantry
Gilded Crossbowman	Elite Gilded Crossbowman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +3 ranged attack, +2 vs Heavy

Stable

Unit	Upgrade	Cost and Time	Change
Early Horseman	Horseman	15 food, 35 gold 15 seconds	+15 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +1 melee attack, +1 vs ranged
Horseman	Veteran Horseman	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack, +2 vs ranged
Veteran Horseman	Elite Horseman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack, +2 vs ranged
Early Knight	Knight	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Lancer	Elite Lancer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Camel Rider	Elite Camel Rider	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+50 hit points, +2, +2 vs Cavalry
Fire Lancer	Elite Fire Lancer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack
Ghazi Raider	Veteran Ghazi Raider	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Ranged, +1 vs Heavy
Veteran Ghazi Raider	Elite Ghazi Raider	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Ranged, +1 vs Heavy
War Elephant	Armored Beasts	720 seconds	+25% hit points, +4 ranged armor, +3 melee armor
Royal Knight	Veteran Royal Knight	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Veteran Royal Knight	Elite Royal Knight	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Keshik	Veteran Keshik	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +4 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Veteran Keshik	Elite Keshik	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +4 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Scout (Malians)	Warrior Scout	15 food, 35 gold 30 seconds	+6 melee attack, movement speed +0.125 tiles/second, regeneration +0.5 HP/second
Warrior Scout	Veteran Warrior Scout	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 melee attack, +9 vs Ranged, movement speed +0.125 tiles/second
Veteran Warrior Scout	Elite Warrior Scout	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+35 hit points, +2 melee attack, +2 vs Ranged, regeneration +1 HP/second
Sofa	Veteran Sofa	50 food, 125 gold 30 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +4 melee attack, +1 vs Infantry
Veteran Sofa	Elite Sofa	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 melee attack, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +1 vs Infantry
Sipahi	Veteran Sipahi	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Ranged
Veteran Sipahi	Elite Sipahi	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Ranged
Cataphract	Elite Cataphract	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+45 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack
Mounted Samurai	Elite Mounted Samurai	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+40 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack
Desert Raider	Veteran Desert Raider	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+25 hit points, +1 melee armor, +2 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +2 vs Cavalry (melee)
Veteran Desert Raider	Elite Desert Raider	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+30 hit points, +2 melee armor, +4 melee attack, +2 ranged attack, +4 vs Cavalry (melee)
Camel Lancer	Elite Camel Lancer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+35 hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 ranged armor, +5 melee attack, +2 charge attack
Gilded Horseman	Veteran Gilded Horseman	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+60 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +3 melee attack, +3 vs Ranged
Veteran Gilded Horseman	Elite Gilded Horseman	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+50 hit points, +1 ranged armor, +2 melee attack, +2 vs Ranged
Gilded Knight	Elite Gilded Knight	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+60 hit points, +2 melee armor, +2 ranged armor, +6 melee attack, +2 charge attack

Siege Workshop

Unit	Upgrade	Age	Cost and Time	Change
Battering Ram	Lightweight Beams		300 wood, 400 gold 60 seconds	20% attack speed, +100% field construction time
Cheirosiphon
Springald	Roller Shutter Triggers		150 wood, 350 gold 60 seconds	+2 range, +25% attack speed
Mangonel	Adjustable Crossbars		200 wood, 500 gold 90 seconds	+25% attack speed
Nest of Bees	Additional Barrels		200 wood, 500 gold 60 seconds	+1 arrow per volley
Counterweight Trebuchet	Geometry		100 wood, 225 gold 45 seconds	+20% attack
Traction Trebuchet
Huihui Pao
Counterweight Trebuchet	Greek Fire Projectiles		100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+30% attack, projectiles spread Greek Fire which deals area damage; replaces Geometry
Huihui Pao
Counterweight Trebuchet	Shattering Projectiles		300 wood, 700 gold 90 seconds	+0.375 tiles blast radius
Bombard	Reload Drills		150 wood, 350 gold 60 seconds	-25% reload time

Exceptions

• The Huihui Pao and Chinese Bombard can upgraded despite being an Imperial Age-only unit.
• The English Trebuchet can be upgraded twice in the Imperial Age.
• Zhu Xi's Legacy's Nest of Bees cannot be upgraded.

Other land siege engines

• The Siege Tower cannot be upgraded.
• The Battering Ram and Cheirosiphon cannot be upgraded in the Castle Age.
• The Tower of the Sultan gets +20% attack speed from Lightweight Beams.

Dock

Unit	Upgrade	Age	Cost and Time	Change
Fishing Boat Lodya Fishing Boat	Extended Lines		75 wood, 175 gold 30 seconds	+20% gather rate, +10 carry capacity
	Drift Nets		150 wood, 350 gold 45 seconds	+15% gather rate, +20 carry capacity, +10% movement speed
Archer Ship	Extra Hammocks		100 wood, 250 gold 30 seconds	+1 arrow per volley
	Heated Shot		200 wood, 500 gold 45 seconds	Deal 30 damage over 10 seconds
Springald Ship	Springald Crews		150 food, 350 gold 35 seconds	+1 range, +20% attack speed
	Swivel Cannon		150 food, 350 gold 45 seconds	Gain a cannon projectile: deals 15 damage and can fire in any direction
	Mounted Guns		200 food, 500 gold 45 seconds	Replaces springalds with cannons: deals 40 siege damage, +25 vs Buildings, +2 range
Incendiary Ship	Incendiaries		100 food, 250 gold 30 seconds	+20% explosion range
	Explosives		150 food, 350 gold 45 seconds	+40% attack
Dromon	Heavy Dromon		100 food, 250 gold 30 seconds	· Leave burning Area of Effect with attack · Man the Sails recharges 200% faster

Exceptions

• The Dromon cannot be upgraded in the Imperial Age.
• The Galleass cannot be upgraded.
• Provided the civilization lacks the Warship or equivalent, the Springald Ship can be upgraded twice in the Imperial Age.

Religious buildings

Unit	Technology	Age	Cost and Time	Change
Religious unit	Herbal Medicine		275 gold 45 seconds	+60% healing rate; unavailable to the Japanese
	Piety		325 gold 45 seconds	+40 hit points; unavailable to the Japanese; can be researched in the Dark Age for the Delhi Sultanate
Buddhist Monk	Zen		200 food, 300 wood 35 seconds	Generate 25 gold/min
	Nehan		350 gold 45 seconds	Conversion ability: · Recharges 33% faster · Grants +25% movement speed in addition to +20% attack
Prelate	Inspired Warriors		100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	Prelates +10% movement speed and can inspire military units
	Devoutness		100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	Inspired Villagers gather resources 10% faster and construct 25% faster
Scholar	Efficient Production		135 seconds	Can garrison in military buildings (except Docks) increasing their production speed by +100%
	All-Seeing Eye		157 seconds	+100% Line of Sight radius
	Sanctity		210 seconds	Can capture Sacred Sites in Feudal Age; Sacred Sites generate +25% gold
	Swiftness		450 seconds	+50% movement speed
	Zeal		1,080 seconds	Units healed by Scholars gain 50% attack speed for 3 seconds
Shinto Priest	Shinto Rituals		300 gold 30 seconds	+40 hit points, +60% heal rate, +15% movement speed
Warrior Monk	Divine Light		75 food, 200 gold 45 seconds	Saint's Blessing's duration +10 seconds

Exceptions

• Holy Roman Empire's Prelates can be upgraded thrice in the Castle Age, but cannot be upgraded in the Dark and Feudal Ages.
• Order of the Dragon's Prelates can be upgraded twice in the Castle Age.
• Scholars can be upgraded twice in each Age except the Imperial Age.
• Shinto Priests cannot be upgraded in the Imperial Age.
  • While the Shinto Priest does not actually get the regular upgrades, Herbal Medicine and Piety, Shinto Rituals is a combination of both technologies for the price of one, and also gives +15% movement speed boost.
• Warrior Monks can be upgraded twice in the Castle Age.

Building upgrades

Building	Upgrade	Cost and Time	Change
Outpost	Pax Mongolica	700 gold, 300 stone 45 seconds	+225 hit points, +3 fire armor
Town Center	Daimyo Manor	300 stone 20 seconds	+1,000 hit points, +1 arrow slit, Enriched Farmland aura 25%
Daimyo Manor	Daimyo Palace	600 stone 20 seconds	+2,000 hit points, +1 arrow slit, Enriched Farmland aura 50%, +2 fire armor
Daimyo Palace	Shogunate Castle	1,200 stone 20 seconds	+3,000 hit points, +1 Cannon Emplacement, Enriched Farmland aura 75%, +3 fire armor
Keep	Boiling Oil	500 gold, 200 stone 90 seconds	Additional 30 siege attack in 1.5 tiles range with 1.1 blast radius every 9.62 seconds
Castle
Stone Wall Tower

Note: While technically Boiling Oil is available in the Castle Age, the Japanese cannot access it till the Imperial Age, since the building at which it is researched unlocks in the Imperial Age.

Exceptions

• Since Boiling Oil is available in the Castle Age, the Castle and Keep can be upgraded in the very Age they are unlocked in.
• Japanese Stone Wall Towers cannot be upgraded in the Castle Age.
• Other Stone Wall Towers cannot be upgraded in the Imperial Age.

Campaign-only upgrades

Building	Unit	Upgrade	Cost and Time	Change
Archery Range	Turkic Horse Archer	Veteran Turkic Horse Archer	100 food, 250 gold 60 seconds	+20 hit points, +2 ranged attack
	Veteran Turkic Horse Archer	Elite Turkic Horse Archer	300 food, 700 gold 60 seconds	+15 hit points, +2 ranged attack

Civilization bonuses

• Abbasid Dynasty: While in Golden Age Tier 2/3, the research speed of all technologies increased by +15%/+20%, respectively. If Preservation of Knowledge has been researched, upgrades cost -20%.
• Ayyubids: While in Golden Age Tier 2 or higher, the research speed of all technologies increased by +50%.
• Byzantines: Research speeds are 30% faster per water level at buildings within the influence of a Cistern with the Dialecticus ability active.
• Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy: Imperial Officials can supervise military production buildings to make researching upgrades +150% faster. With the Regional Inspection technology, this boost is increased to +300% (Zhu Xi's Legacy only). Upgrades for Dynasty units are 50% cheaper if researched at the Spirit Way landmark (Chinese only).
• Delhi Sultanate: Upgrades are free, but take longer to research.
• Holy Roman Empire and Order of the Dragon: Infantry upgrades at the Burgrave Palace are researched 400% faster.
• Japanese: Can place Yorishiro in military production buildings to increase the research speed of upgrades by +150%.
• Malians: Upgrades take less time to research based on how much gold has been obtained through trade.

Trivia

• The Khan and the Khan's Hunter are the only units upgraded for free which have their rank and icon changed. Other units which are upgraded for free, such as the King, retain the same name and icon throughout the game.
• The Shinto Priest and Buddhist Monk both have unused icon files showing tier 3 and 4 pips, suggesting that they were initially envisioned to receive direct upgrades as well.