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Buffalo prev aoe2de

The Water Buffalo is a huntable animal in Age of Mythology, and a herdable animal in Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas and Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.

AoE2-DLCicon-0 Age of Empires II[]

The Water Buffalo appears in the Rise of the Rajas expansion pack as the main herdable animal available in Southeast Asia. It is a big, bulky animal that offers 150 food, which is 50 more than the Sheep and the Goat. This makes it on par with the Cow in terms of food. It also has the same 14 hit points as the Cow, whereas the other herdable animals have 7 hit points. Consequently, Scout Cavalry and Militia in the Dark Age will find it harder to deprive a player of Water Buffaloes (and Cows).

This animal is also available in the Age of Empires game mode in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome with the same attributes.

Trivia[]

  • In the Definitive Edition, the post-Dark Age African Mill is pushed by a Water Buffalo instead of the HD Edition's Donkey.
  • The African Kingdoms includes a decorative buffalo skeleton available in the Scenario Editor.
  • The Water Buffalo is based on an African Buffalo with its characteristic horns which curl sideways, which were never domesticated. This is distinct from the actual tameable Water Buffalo, also known as the Asiatic Buffalo whose horns grow backwards. Since African buffaloes were never domesticated, their presence in the African architecture mills is unsuitable. This animal is also used for the East Asian regional variant of the Trade Cart, which is geographically incorrect.
  • Prior to update 34699, the Water Buffalo had 7 hit points.

Gallery[]

Aom original icon Age of Mythology[]

In Age of Mythology, the Water Buffalo is a powerful huntable animal found on Egyptian and African maps, as well as in some others, such as Marsh. They are powerful, and a Villager will not be able to kill a Buffalo single-handedly. It takes at least three to prevent fatalities, though more are recommended to avoid injuries. They hold 400 food. Unlike in other games, the Water Buffalo in Age of Mythology are wild African buffaloes rather than domesticated, actual Asian water buffaloes.

History[]

Scientific name -- Syncerus caffer
Size -- about 2000 lbs.
Diet -- grasses

Buffalo are large, wild bovines. African water buffalo, also called cape buffalo, live in large herds sometimes numbering in the hundreds. When threatened, the animals form a protective ring with horns facing outward, making it difficult for predators to take calves. Lions tend to kill only older, solitary males. Big-game hunters came to refer to the buffalo as more dangerous than lions, because the large animals are unpredictable and dangerous if cornered. Buffalo are usually dark in color, with horns that curve downward and then back up again. Most African buffalo live on the savannah near a source of water, though there is a smaller forest subspecies as well. The animals may have difficulty regulating body temperature, as they stay in the shade or water during the day and forage at night.

Although often called buffalo, the North American animal is properly named bison.
—In-game help section

Gallery[]

3Icon48px Age of Empires III[]

Herd animal. Fattens over time. Fattens faster if tasked on a Livestock Pen, Farm, or Village.
—In-game description

In Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, the Water Buffalo is a herdable animal, appearing wild in the Deccan map, where they can be captured. The only alternate way to obtain them, is through the Water Buffalo Ranching and Year of the Ox Home City Cards for the Chinese; the former allows Villages to train Water Buffaloes while the latter grants one for each Village and Town Center. When fully fattened, they hold 500 food, and are generally similar to the Cow. Although meant to represent a domestic Asian buffalo, the Water Buffalo model has the horns of a wild African buffalo, and the icon shows an African buffalo as well.

Gathering rates[]

Resource Source Gathering rate
per second per minute
All resources Shrine 0.1425 8.55
Food Hacienda 0.166667 10.00002
Wood 0.25 15
Coin 0.113334 6.80004
XP Sacred Field 0.21 12.6
Influence Livestock Market 0.08
0.3 (fattened)
4.8
18 (fattened)

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Nothing
Weak vs. Nothing
Improvements
Fatten rate Navajo Shepherds Navajo Shepherds (+100% auto gather; +30% from Livestock Pens, Farms, Villages, Livestock Markets, and Haciendas)
Large Scale Gathering Large Scale Gathering (+50% from Farms; Native Americans only)
Selective Breeding Selective Breeding (+25% from Livestock Pens, Farms, Villages, Livestock Markets, and Haciendas)
Punjabi New Year Punjabi New Year (+10% from Livestock Pens, Farms, Villages, Livestock Markets, and Haciendas)
XP generation rate Navajo Shepherds Navajo Shepherds (+30%)
Punjabi New Year Punjabi New Year (+10%)
Ritual bovine Ritual Bovine (+10% from Sacred Fields)
Shrine resource generation rate Navajo Shepherds Navajo Shepherds (+35%)
Punjabi New Year Punjabi New Year (+10%)
Influence generation rate Transhumance Transhumance (+0.15)
Hit points Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+2; before the Definitive Edition)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Other Cow Loans Cow Loans (fattened herded animal sold at Livestock Markets spawns an unfattened one; Africans only)
Royal Banquet Royal Banquet (sells for 50% of its food as influence; Africans only)
Dia de muertos Día de Muertos (+5 XP for every lost; Mexicans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Water Buffalo
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All
Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 4 (Stockyards) Stockyards Herded animals fatten 30% faster when tasked to Livestock Pens, Farms, Villages, and Haciendas
Age I tech tree aoe3
  • "Stockyards" is available to Europeans (except the Dutch and Portuguese), Federal Americans, the Chinese and Haudenosaunee.
British
Card Description Age
British Home City 1 (Wool Staple Ports) TEAM Wool Staple Ports Herded animals fatten 20% faster and 20% faster when tasked to Villages, Livestock Pens, Haciendas, Farms, and Livestock Markets; Indian herded animals generate +20% XP; Japanese herded animals generate +25% resources/XP when tasked to Shrines
Age I tech tree aoe3
Chinese
Card Description Age
Chinese Home City 1 (Year of the Ox) Year of the Ox Each Village, Town Center, and Command Post spawns 2 Water Buffaloes
Age III tech tree aoe3
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Water buffalo ranching Water Buffalo Ranching Enables Water Buffaloes to be trained at Villages
Age I tech tree aoe3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except monks) train time -20%; Heavy Cannon, Flying Crow, and Summer Palace banner army spawn time -5%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Hausa
Card Description Age
Hc habbanaya Habbanaya Exchanges all cattle for 70% the influence received from selling them otherwise, and spawns unfattened ones in their place
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Hc moroccan leather Moroccan Leather Cattle gives 50 influence when harvested; sheep or goat gives 30 influence when harvested
Age I tech tree aoe3
Hausa Home City 4 (Kilishi Jerky) Kilishi Jerky Cattle get +100 food capacity; sheep or goat get +60 food capacity
Age I tech tree aoe3
Indians
Card Description Age
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 4 (Goraksha) Goraksha Herded animals generate +80% XP; Sacred Cows cost -25 food; +1 Hindu Villager
Age I tech tree aoe3
Mexicans
Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas Colegio de San Nicolás Delivers Large Collection of Books (500 XP); units get +4 and buildings (except Walls) get +8 Line of Sight; sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds
Age II tech tree aoe3

All
Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 4 (Stockyards) Stockyards Herded animals fatten 30% faster when tasked to Livestock Pens, Farms, and Villages
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
British
Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 1 (Wool Staple Ports) TEAM Wool Staple Ports Herded animals fatten 20% faster and 20% faster when tasked to Villages, Livestock Pens, and Farms; Indian herded animals generate +20% XP; Japanese herded animals generate +25% resources/XP when tasked to Shrines
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Chinese
Card Description Age HC level
Chinese Home City 1 (Year of the Ox) Year of the Ox Each Village and Town Center spawns 2 Water Buffaloes
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Water buffalo ranching Water Buffalo Ranching Enables Water Buffaloes to be trained at Villages
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except monks, Heavy Cannon, Flying Crow, and Summer Palace banner army) train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Indians
Card Description Age HC level
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Indian Home City 4 (Goraksha) Goraksha Herded animals generate +80% XP; Sacred Cows cost -25 food; +1 Villager
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish
Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

History[]

Scientific Name: Bubalus bubalis
Approx. Size: 6 ft., 2,000 lb.
Diet: Grass, other sparse vegetation

This huge, gray, mud-wallowing beast is an ungulate, or "hoofed animal," and a member of the bovine subfamily. Asia is home to 95% of the world's population of water buffalo, and while it has been domesticated as a draught animal for centuries, some still wander wild in the swamps and grass jungles of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Thailand.

While domestic forms are known to be somewhat docile, wild water buffalo are extremely fierce, and can use their widely spread horns (sometimes reaching spans of 6 feet in length) to kill an adult tiger, their only natural predator.

Gallery[]

See also[]

Animals in Age of Empires
Until Age of Empires Definitive Edition icon Definitive Edition
HuntablesReturn of rome gazelle Gazelle · Returnofrome elephant icon Elephant
PredatorsAlligator icon AoE Alligator · Returnofrome lion icon Lion · Returnofrome crocodile icon Crocodile
Marine creaturesAoE2 DE shore fish icon Shore Fish · AoE2 DE tuna icon Tuna · AoE2 DE salmon icon Salmon · Aoede whale icon Whale
Animal KingsReturnofrome lion icon Lion (Alpha) · Returnofrome crocodile icon Crocodile (Alpha) · Return of rome gazelle Gazelle (Alpha) · Returnofrome elephant icon Elephant (Alpha)
OtherReturnofrome lion icon Lion (tame)
DecorativeAoEDE Eagle icon Bird · Dragon Icon updated nuRoR Dragon
CutHorse icon AoE Horse · Goat Goat
Including AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome
HuntableAoE2DE Deer icon Deer · AoE2DE ingame ibex icon Ibex · Boar aoe2DE Iron Boar · Boar aoe2DE Javelina · Ostrich icon aoe2de Ostrich · PR4-010 Rhinoceros · Boar aoe2DE Wild Boar · Zebra aoe2DE Zebra
HerdableCowDE Cow · Goat aoe2DE Goat · AoE2DE ingame goose icon Goose · PR4-009 Llama · Iconpig Pig · Sheep aoe2DE Sheep · PR4-006 Turkey · Yak aoe2DE Water Buffalo
PredatorAoE2DE ingame bear icon Bear · PR2-002 Dire Wolf · PR4-004 Jaguar · AoE2 DE komodo Komodo Dragon · PR2-002 Rabid Wolf · AoE2DE ingame snow leopard icon Snow Leopard · PR4-016 Tiger · PR2-002 Wolf
CivilianBactrian camel icon Bactrian Camel · AoE2DE ingame camel icon Camel · Donkey caravan aoe2DE Donkey · Returnofrome horse icon Horse
Military animalsAoE2 DE alfred icon Alfred the Alpaca · Monkey aoe2DE Furious the Monkey Boy · Penguin aoe2DE Penguin
DecorativeBactrian camel icon Wild Bactrian Camel · AoE2DE ingame camel icon Wild Camel · Returnofrome horse icon Wild Horse
Marine animalsAoE2 DE box turtles icon Box Turtles · AoE2 DE dolphin icon Dolphin · AoE2 DE dorado icon Dorado · AoE2 DE marlin icon Marlin · AoE2 DE perch icon Perch · AoE2 DE snapper icon Snapper
Animals in Age of Empires II
Herdable animalsCowDE Cow · Goat aoe2DE Goat · AoE2DE ingame goose icon Goose · PR4-009 Llama · Iconpig Pig · Sheep aoe2DE Sheep · PR4-006 Turkey · Yak aoe2DE Water Buffalo
Timid huntablesAoE2DE Deer icon Deer · Return of rome gazelle Gazelle · AoE2DE ingame ibex icon Ibex · Ostrich icon aoe2de Ostrich · Zebra aoe2DE Zebra
Aggressive huntablesElephant aoe2DE Elephant · Boar aoe2DE Iron Boar · Boar aoe2DE Javelina · PR4-010 Rhinoceros · Boar aoe2DE Wild Boar
Wild animalsAoE2DE ingame bear icon Bear · Gator aoe2DE Crocodile · PR2-002 Dire Wolf · PR4-004 Jaguar · AoE2 DE komodo Komodo Dragon · Lion aoe2DE Lion · PR2-002 Rabid Wolf · AoE2DE ingame snow leopard icon Snow Leopard · PR4-016 Tiger · PR2-002 Wolf
Marine animalsAoE2 DE box turtles icon Box Turtles · AoE2 DE dolphin icon Dolphin · AoE2 DE dorado icon Dorado · AoE2 DE marlin icon Marlin · AoE2 DE perch icon Perch · AoE2 DE salmon icon Salmon · AoE2 DE shore fish icon Shore Fish · AoE2 DE snapper icon Snapper · AoE2 DE tuna icon Tuna
Civilian animalsBactrian camel icon Bactrian Camel · AoE2DE ingame camel icon Camel · Donkey caravan aoe2DE Donkey · Horse aoe2DE Horse
Military animalsAoE2 DE alfred icon Alfred the Alpaca · Monkey aoe2DE Furious the Monkey Boy · Penguin aoe2DE Penguin
Hero animalsHunting wolf aoe2DE Hunting Wolf · Ornluthewolf aoe2DE Ornlu the Wolf
Decorative animalsAoE2 DE hawk icon Bird · AoE2 DE stormy dog Stormy Dog · Bactrian camel icon Wild Bactrian Camel · AoE2DE ingame camel icon Wild Camel · Horse aoe2DE Wild Horse
Animals (non-myth units) in Age of Mythology
Herdable animalsAoMR Cow icon Cow · AoMR Goat icon Goat · AoMR Pig icon Pig · YakiconAoM Yak
Timid huntablesAoMR Baboon icon Baboon · AoMR Caribou icon Caribou · AoMR Chicken icon Chicken · AoMR Crowned Crane icon Crowned Crane · AoMR Deer icon Deer · DuckAoM icon Duck · AoMR Elk icon Elk · AoMR Gazelle icon Gazelle · AoMR Giraffe icon Giraffe · AoMR Monkey icon Monkey · AoMR Zebra icon Zebra
Aggressive huntablesAoMR Aurochs icon Aurochs · AoMR Boar icon Boar · AoMR Elephant icon Elephant · AoMR Hippopotamus icon Hippopotamus · RamAoM icon Ram · AoMR Rhinoceros icon Rhinoceros · AoMR Walrus icon Walrus · AoMR Water Buffalo icon Water Buffalo
Wild animalsAoMR Arctic Wolf icon Arctic Wolf · AoMR Crocodile icon Crocodile · AoMR Bear icon Bear · AoMR Hyena icon Hyena · AoMR Lion icon Lion · LizardAoM icon Lizard · PandaAoM icon Panda Bear · AoMR Polar Bear icon Polar Bear · AoMR Serpent icon Serpent (Predator) · TigerAoM icon Tiger · AoMR Wolf icon Wolf
Military animalsAoMR Lion icon Golden Lion · AoMR Monkey icon Relic Monkey
FishAoMR Fish icon Herring · AoMR Fish icon Mahi-mahi · AoMR Fish icon Perch · AoMR Fish icon Salmon
Decorative animalsBird (AoM Hawk Icon Eagle · AoMR Hawk icon Hawk · AoM Hawk Icon Parrot · AoMR Vulture icon Vulture) · Hawksbill Turtle · Orca · Shark · Whale
Scenario Editor-exclusive animalsHour of Alpacas Alfred · Wolf icon Dog · Giant Duck-Billed Platypus · GoatAOM Golden Fleece (also herdable) · Elk icon Reindeer
Cheat animalsChickenIcon Methane Chicken
Cut animalsAnchovies · Camel icon AoM Camel · Horse · Musk Ox · Nubian Goat · Shore Fish · Unicorn
Animals in Age of Empires III
Land
HerdablesCow aoe3de Cow · Goat aoe3de Goat · Llama aoe3de Llama · Cow aoe3de Sacred Cow · Sanga aoe3de Sanga Cattle · Sheep aoe3de Sheep · Water buffalo aoe3de Water Buffalo · Yak portrait aoe3de Yak · Aoe3de zebu Zebu Cattle · Sanga aoe3de Big Benny
HuntablesBighorn sheep aoe3de Bighorn Sheep · Bison aoe3de Bison · Capybara aoe3de Capybara · Caribou aoe3de Caribou · Deer aoe3de Deer · Elephant aoe3de Elephant · Elk aoe3de Elk · Gazelle portrait Gazelle · Giant salamander aoe3de Giant Salamander · Giraffe portrait Giraffe · Guanaco aoe3de Guanaco · Ibex aoe3de Ibex · Marco polo sheep aoe3de Marco Polo Sheep · Moose aoe3de Moose · Musk deer aoe3de Musk Deer · Musk ox aoe3de Musk Ox · Nilgai aoe3de Nilgai · Ostrich portrait aoe3de Ostrich · Pronghorn aoe3de Pronghorn · Rhea aoe3de Rhea · Saiga aoe3de Saiga · Serow aoe3de Serow · Tapir aoe3de Tapir · Turkey aoe3de Turkey · Zebra portrait aoe3de Zebra
Treasure guardiansAlligator aoe3de Alligator · Tibetan macaque aoe3de Baboon · Black bear aoe3de Black Bear · Black panther aoe3de Black Panther · Beast portrait Beast · Beast portrait Beast of Gévaudan · Grizzly aoe3de Brown Bear · Cougar aoe3de Cougar · Pet wolf aoe3de Coyote · Alligator aoe3de Crocodile · Elephant aoe3de Elephant · Ethiopian Wolf portrait Ethiopian Wolf · Grizzly aoe3de Grizzly Bear · Hippo portrait Hippo · Honey Badger portrait Honey Badger · Hyena portrait aoe3de Hyena · Jaguar pet aoe3de Jaguar · Jaguar pet aoe3de Leopard · Lion aoe3de Lion · Liontailed macaque aoe3de Lion-Tailed Macaque · Guardian dog portrait Mad Dog · Monitor lizard aoe3de Monitor Lizard · Orangutan portrait aoe3de Orangutan · Panda portrait aoe3de Panda · Polar bear aoe3de portrait Polar Bear · Rhino aoe3de Rhinoceros · Snow leopard aoe3de Snow Leopard · Snowmonkey aoe3de Snow Monkey · Tibetan macaque aoe3de Tibetan Macaque · Tiger icon aoe3de Tiger · Warthog portrait Warthog
Unknown-exclusiveAoe3de zebu Cash Cow · Aoe3de zebu Wood Cattle
MilitaryWar dog aoe3de Dog · Turkey scout portrait aoe3de Intrepid Turkey Scout · Sheep aoe3de Lamb of the Creator · Pet wolf aoe3de Tengri Wolf
Water
Treasure guardiansAlligator aoe3de Alligator · Hippo portrait Hippo · Greatwhiteshark aoe3de Great White Shark · Orca aoe3de Orca · White tiger aoe3de White Tiger · Warthog portrait Wild Boar · Pet wolf aoe3de Wolf
FishBass aoe3de Bass · Carp portrait aoe3de Carp · Catfish portrait aoe3de Catfish · Cod portrait aoe3de Cod · Mahi portrait aoe3de Mahi-mahi · Mola mola portrait aoe3de Mola Mola · Salmon aoe3de Salmon · Sardine portrait aoe3de Sardines · Squid portrait aoe3de Squid · Tarpon portrait aoe3de Tarpon · Tuna aoe3de Tuna
WhalesBeluga whale portrait aoe3de Beluga Whale · Whale humpback portrait aoe3de Humpback Whale · Minke whale portrait aoe3de Minke Whale
Air
Bird · Bird unit icon AoE3DE Bird (unit)
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