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This article is about the building in Age of Empires. For the building in other games of the series, see Watch Tower.

A simple tower. Will shoot arrows at enemies within range.
Age of Empires description

The Watch Tower is a tower in Age of Empires.

Gameplay[]

In order to be built, it must first be researched at the Granary for 50 food (unless starting a match from the Bronze Age). The Watch Tower can be upgraded in later Ages at the Granary. It is available to all civilizations. Watch Towers are more resistant against stone throwing siege weapons unlike other buildings, having 18 additional armor against them (meaning they will do 10 bonus damage instead of 28).

Watch Towers are a good defensive unit and can hold back early rushes if placed behind walls in early ages. Its effectiveness will dramatically decrease once the Bronze Age is reached so it is advised to upgrade it to the Sentry Tower as soon as possible. It is recommended to place them at higher elevations since the attack will be increased.

Since Return of Rome, like all towers, Watch Towers can also be used to shelter up to five Villagers when the base is under attack, which is especially more beneficial in the early game where loss of even a few Villagers can put the player behind. These garrisoned Villagers do not increase its combat power. No other unit can be garrisoned in towers.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Infantry, archers, ships
Weak vs. Siege units
Upgrades
Construction time Architecture aoe Architecture (-33%)
Hit points Architecture aoe Architecture (+20%)
Attack Alchemy Alchemy (+1)
Range Woodworking Woodworking (+1)
Artisanship Artisanship (+1)
Craftsmanship Craftsmanship (+1)
Accuracy Ballistics Ballistics (hit moving targets)
Line of Sight RoR City Watch City Watch (+3)
Upgrades Research Sentry Tower Sentry Tower

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

Age of Empires[]

  • Watch Towers have 3 attack, 5 range.
  • Watch Towers have construction time 80 seconds and 100 hit points.

Definitive Edition[]

  • Watch Towers have construction time 72 seconds.
  • With update 38862, Watch Towers have 125 hit points.

Return of Rome[]

  • Watch Towers have 5 attack, 6 range, and can garrison up to five Villagers.
  • Team bonuses added:
  • With update 99311, Watch Tower build time decreased from 72 seconds to 65 seconds.

History[]

The tower discovered on the wall at the ancient site of Jericho served several purposes. It extended the visual range of look-outs that would be watching for the approach of raiders and other visitors. An early warning might have been the difference between a successful defense and the fall of the town. The tower was a superior firing position for archery. Bowmen shooting down had an advantage in range and penetration power of arrows versus enemies shooting up. Enemies sheltering at the bottom of the wall may have remained visible to archers in the tower. The tower itself was an independent bastion that could serve as the defensive position of last resort if the wall was carried. The Watch Tower was a simple tower, easily built, and intended mainly to give early warning.

Gallery[]

Buildings Tree
Stone Age Icon (DE)
Stone Age
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede greek barracks available
   
   
Starting
Aoede greek town center available
   
   
Aoede storage pit available
   
   
Aoede house available
   
   
Aoede granary available
   
   
Aoede dock available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Tool Age Icon (DE)
Tool Age
   
   
Aoede stable available
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede archery range available
   
   
   
   
Aoede watch tower available
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede market available
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede small wall availableReturnofrome small gate available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede farm available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Bronze Age Icon (DE)
Bronze Age
   
   
Aoede greek academy available
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede siege workshop available
   
   
   
   
Aoede sentry tower available
   
   
Aoede greek government center available
   
   
Aoede temple available
   
   
Aoede greek medium wall availableReturnofrome medium gate available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Additional
Aoede greek town center available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Iron Age Icon (DE)
Iron Age
   
   
Wonder
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede greek guard tower available
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede greek fortified wall availableFortified Gate
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Aoede greek ballista tower available
   
   


Buildings in Age of Empires
Civilian buildings
GeneralReturnofrome stone age house icon House · AOEDE Temple icon Temple · AOEDE Government Center icon Government Center · Returnofrome greek wonder icon Wonder
EconomicAOEDE Town Center icon Town Center · AOEDE Dock icon Dock · Storage Pit icon Storage Pit · AOEDE Granary icon Granary · Market AOEDE icon Market · AOEDE Farm icon Farm
UnconstructableAqueduct aoe2DE Aqueduct · Army Tent icon nuRoR Army Tent · Barricade aoe2DE Barricade · Chain aoe2DE Chain · Amphitheatre aoe2DE Colosseum · 2de granary new icon Granary · Pyramid aoe2DE Great Pyramid · Hut small aoe2DE Hut · Returnofrome greek wonder icon Monument · Pyramid aoe2DE Pyramid · Returnofrome ruins icon Ruins · AOEDE Trade Workshop icon Trade Workshop · Yurt thatch small aoe2DE Yurt
Military buildings
ProductionAOEDE Barracks icon Barracks · AOEDE Archery Range icon Archery Range · AOEDE Stable icon Stable · AOEDE Siege Workshop icon Siege Workshop · AOEDE Academy icon Academy
TowerAOEDE Watch Tower icon Watch Tower · AOEDE Sentry Tower icon Sentry Tower · Returnofrome greek guard tower icon Guard Tower · Returnofrome greek guard tower icon Ballista Tower
WallReturnofrome small wall icon Small Wall · Returnofrome greek medium wall icon Medium Wall · Returnofrome greek fortified wall icon Fortified Wall · Small Gate (AOE RoR) icon Small Gate · Medium Gate (AOE RoR) icon Medium Gate · Fortified Gate (AOE RoR) icon Fortified Gate
UnconstructableReturnofrome greek guard tower icon Mirror Tower · Returnofrome roman guard tower icon Zenobia's Tower
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