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This article is about the War Chief. For the untrainable unit, see Aztec Chief.

ā€œThe leader of your Tribe. Possesses many powerful bonuses and abilities. Explores, fights, builds Town Centers and Trading Posts.ā€
—In-game description

The Aztec War Chief is a melee infantry hero in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. In standard random map games, the Aztecs start with an Aztec War Chief. It explores uncharted areas of the map and has some special abilities to help himself and his tribe.

Overview[]

The Aztec War Chief doubles the experience bounty from kills made by friendly units in a radius of 24 around him. As all War Chiefs do, he can convert human Treasure guardians, detect stealth units, claim Treasures, and build Town Centers and Trading Posts. Like other explorer-type units, the Aztec War Chief will collapse instead of dying and can be rescued once he recovers enough health, although the War Chief Ceremony at the Community Plaza allows the player to return him there after a while as well as increasing his hit points.

Special abilities[]

  • Recruit guardian Recruit Guardian: Recruits a human treasure guardian (with the process taking 4 seconds to complete). 90 seconds cooldown; shared across the Swashbuckler Attack special ability.
  • Swashbuckler attack Swashbuckler Attack (requires The Chief Tribal Council member): A sweepping hand attack that damages all units in the area (deals 60 hand damage in a radius of 3 around with Ɨ3.0 multiplier against Treasure guardians, Ɨ0.5 vs. villagers, and Ɨ0.1 vs. MercType2). 90 seconds cooldown; shared across the Recruit Guardian special ability.
  • Ability cuachic ascension Cuachic Ascension: A powerful area attack that inflicts great damage against Treasure guardians and temporarily improves your War Chief's attack speed (deals 60 hand damage against treasure guardians in a radius of 2 around him, and improves the War Chief's attack speed by 30% for 13 seconds). 60 seconds cooldown.
  • Regenerate ability aoe3de Health Regeneration (passive): Regenerates 0.25% hit points per second after 3.5 seconds idle.
  • Aztec Warchief Support War Chief Support (passive): The Aztec War Chief doubles XP kill bounty from nearby friendly units.

  • Nature friendship Nature Friendship: Converts a Treasure guardian to the Aztec War Chief's side with the process taking 4 seconds to complete. 90 seconds cooldown.
  • Swashbuckler attack Swashbuckler Attack (requires The Chief Tribal Council member): The Aztec War Chief performs a sweeping hand attack that does 60 (180 against Treasure guardians, 15 against villagers, 6 against Spies and Ninja) hand damage to the target enemy and all enemies in a radius of 3 around him. 90 seconds cooldown.

  • Upgrades[]

    The Aztec War Chief is automatically upgraded in every Age up.

    • Colonial age up +50% hit points and attack
    • Fortress age up +100% hit points and +150% attack
    • Industrial age up +100% hit points and +200% attack
    • Imperial age up +275% hit points and +300% attack

    Further statistics[]

    As the Aztec War Chief is unique to the Aztecs, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

    Unit strengths and weaknesses
    Strong vs. Treasure guardians, infantry
    Weak vs. Villagers, cavalry, MercType2
    Improvements
    Hit points Sikh Gurus Sikh Gurus (+50%)
    Maya Cotton Armor Maya Cotton Armor (+20%)
    Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
    Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
    Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
    Attack Zapotec Cult of the Dead Zapotec Cult of the Dead (+20%)
    Carib Kasiri Beer Carib Kasiri Beer (+10%)
    Master Lessons Master Lessons (+10%)
    Yoga Yoga (+5%)
    Mapuche Tactics Mapuche Tactics (+50% siege attack)
    Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
    Speed Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
    Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
    Other Founder Founder (War Chief aura triples XP bounty)
    Carib Ambush Party Carib Ambush Party (train Carib Ambushers)
    Loyal Nootka Warchief Loyal Nootka War Chief (train Nootka War Chief)
    Tupi Animal Lore Tupi Animal Lore (train Buttercup the Pet Cougars)

    Home City Cards[]

    As the Aztec War Chief is unique to the Aztecs, only their cards and other civilizations' TEAM cards are shown in the following tables:

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

    Aztecs[]

    Card Description Age
    Aztec Home City 1 (High Priest of Ixtilion) High Priest of Ixtlilton The Aztec War Chief gets +50% hit points and attack; Warrior Priests get +10% effectiveness at the Community Plaza
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    Aztec Home City 1 (Smoking Mirror) Smoking Mirror The Aztec War Chief gets +25% speed and +2 hand attack Area of Effect
    Age III tech tree aoe3

    Chinese[]

    Card Description Age
    Chinese Home City 1 (TEAM Yongle Infrastructure) TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Ships 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villagers, healing units, Envoys, and Disciples get +5% speed
    Age II tech tree aoe3
    • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

    Dutch[]

    Card Description Age
    Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +10% hit points; Dutch-only infantry get +15% hit points instead
    Age II tech tree aoe3

    Haudenosaunee[]

    Card Description Age
    Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Ships 1 Native Scout; infantry get +8 Line of Sight
    Age II tech tree aoe3

    Inca[]

    Card Description Age
    Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Ships 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villagers, healing units, and Envoys get +5% speed
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

    Indians[]

    Card Description Age
    Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
    Age IV tech tree aoe 3

    Maltese[]

    Card Description Age
    Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
    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

    Spanish[]

    Card Description Age
    TEAM Explorer Combat TEAM Fencing Instructor Heroes get +20% hit points and attack (except Shaolin Masters' Roundhouse Kick attack and Sohei Archers' Sabotage attack)
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
    Age II tech tree aoe3
    Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
    Age II tech tree aoe3

    Aztecs[]

    Card Description Age HC level
    Aztec Home City 1 (High Priest of Ixtilion) High Priest of Ixtlilton The Aztec War Chief gets +50% hit points and attack, and can train Pet Jaguars
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    1
    Aztec Home City 1 (Smoking Mirror) Smoking Mirror The Aztec War Chief gets +35% speed and +2 hand attack Area of Effect
    Age III tech tree aoe3
    10

    Dutch[]

    Card Description Age HC level
    Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
    Age II tech tree aoe3
    10

    Indians[]

    Card Description Age HC level
    Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
    Age IV tech tree aoe 3
    25

    Iroquois[]

    Card Description Age HC level
    Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 Line of Sight
    Age II tech tree aoe3
    10

    Spanish[]

    Card Description Age HC level
    TEAM Explorer Combat TEAM Explorer Combat Heroes get +20% hit points and attack (except Shaolin Masters' Roundhouse Kick attack and Sohei Archers' Sabotage attack)
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    1
    Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
    Age II tech tree aoe3
    10
    Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
    Age I tech tree aoe3
    10

    Random names[]

    Changelog[]

    The WarChiefs[]

    • Has Nature Friendship which converts all Treasure guardians, human and non-human.
    • The "High Priest of Ixtilton" Home City Card allows the Aztec War Chief to train Janey the Pet Jaguars.

    Definitive Edition[]

    • Nature Friendship replaced by Recruit Guardian, which converts human Treasure guardians only.
    • Receives Cauchic Ascension.
    • All special abilities now goes on cooldown when one is used, which is as long as the activated one.
    • The "High Priest of Ixtilton" Home City Card now allows the Aztec War Chief to build Nobles' Huts.
    • With update 9476, the Aztec War Chief can train Eagle Scouts.

    The African Royals[]

    • Although it is not listed in the patch notes, with update 50830, the Aztec War Chief portrait has been updated.

    Trivia[]

    • The Aztec War Chief use the same weapon as the Jaguar Prowl Knight, an obsidian sword known by the Aztecs as Macahuitl.
    • When idle and in movement, it is possible to see that the Aztec War Chief holds a bow, but he only attacks using the Macahuitl. This is due to the fact that the Aztec War Chief reuses the Explorer's idle and movement animations.

    History[]

    ā€œThe most densely populated region of the New World in 1492 was Mesoamerica, the region where North and Central America meet. Among the people living there were the Aztecs (also known as Mexica or Tenocha); they built a complex civilization centered around their great city of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City). This was one of the largest cities in the world (with an estimated population of 200,000) and arguably more beautiful and cleaner than most contemporary European capitals.

    In Aztec society, membership in the calpulli established each individual's religious and secular schooling, as well as how they would be trained in warfare. The men of a calpulli served together in battle and on the numerous public works projects. Their soldiers wielded weapons of wood and stone, and they often sought prisoners to be sacrificed in religious ceremonies.
    ā€

    Gallery[]

    In other languages[]

    • French: Chef de Guerre AztĆØque
    • Spanish: Jefe Guerrero Azteca

    See also[]

    Military units in Age of Empires III
    Common/shared units
    3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer Ā· Militiaman de Militiaman Ā· Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman Ā· Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman Ā· Halberdier de Halberdier Ā· Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer Ā· Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher Ā· Grenadier de Grenadier Ā· Hussar aoe3de Hussar Ā· Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon Ā· Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer Ā· Falconet aoe3de Falconet Ā· Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin Ā· Mortar de Mortar Ā· Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon Ā· Caravel aoe3de Caravel Ā· Galleon aoe3de Galleon Ā· Frigate aoe3de Frigate Ā· Monitor aoe3de Monitor
    3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior Ā· Horse art de Horse Artillery Ā· Petard aoe3de Petard Ā· Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy Ā· Native canoe aoe3de Canoe Ā· War canoe aoe3de War Canoe Ā· Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
    Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar Ā· Sloop aoe3de Sloop Ā· Steamer aoe3de Steamer Ā· Battleship portrait Battleship
    The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman Ā· Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman Ā· Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner Ā· Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider Ā· Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior Ā· Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer Ā· Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider Ā· Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe Ā· Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
    Unique units
    Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman Ā· Ranger portrait Ranger Ā· Rocket de Rocket
    Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter Ā· Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
    Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
    Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr Ā· Doppel de Doppelsoldner Ā· Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan Ā· War wagon de War Wagon
    Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk Ā· Janissary aoe3de Janissary Ā· Ottomans azap portrait Azap Ā· Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier Ā· Ottomans deli portrait Deli Ā· Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner Ā· Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci Ā· Great bombard de Great Bombard Ā· Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir Ā· Spahi de Sipahi Ā· Galley aoe3de Galley
    Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman Ā· Cacador de Cassador Ā· Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
    Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet Ā· Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut Ā· Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik Ā· Cossack de Cossack Ā· Oprichink de Oprichnik
    Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero Ā· Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
    Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief Ā· Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout Ā· Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner Ā· Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger Ā· Puma spearman de Puma Spearman Ā· Arrow knight de Arrow Knight Ā· Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight Ā· Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight Ā· Warrior priest de Warrior Priest Ā· Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight Ā· Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
    Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief Ā· Aenna de Aenna Ā· Tomahawk de Tomahawk Ā· Forest prowler de Forest Prowler Ā· Kanya de Kanya Horseman Ā· Musket rider de Musket Rider Ā· Ram aoe3de Ram Ā· Iro mantlet de Mantlet Ā· Light cannon de Light Cannon
    Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief Ā· Cetan de Cetan Bowman Ā· Club warrior de Club Warrior Ā· Wakina de Wakina Rifle Ā· Axe rider de Axe Rider Ā· Bow rider de Bow Rider Ā· Rifle rider de Rifle Rider Ā· Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler Ā· Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
    Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master Ā· Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple Ā· Sentry cn jp de Sentry Ā· Irregular cn jp de Irregular Ā· Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu Ā· Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman Ā· Changdao de Changdao Swordsman Ā· Arquebusier de Arquebusier Ā· Steppe rider de Steppe Rider Ā· Keshik de Keshik Ā· Iron flail de Iron Flail Ā· Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer Ā· Flamethrower de Flamethrower Ā· Hand mortar de Hand Mortar Ā· Flying crow de Flying Crow Ā· Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk Ā· War junk aoe3de War Junk Ā· Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
    Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin Ā· Sentry IN de Sentry Ā· Irregular IN de Irregular Ā· Rajput de Rajput Ā· Sepoy de Sepoy Ā· Gurkha de Gurkha Ā· Urumi de Urumi Swordsman Ā· Sowar de Sowar Ā· Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak Ā· Mahout de Mahout Lancer Ā· Howdah aoe3de Howdah Ā· Flail elephant de Flail Elephant Ā· Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
    Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer Ā· Sentry cn jp de Sentry Ā· Irregular cn jp de Irregular Ā· Yumi archer de Yumi Archer Ā· Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer Ā· Samurai aoe3de Samurai Ā· Naginata de Naginata Rider Ā· Yabusame de Yabusame Ā· Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow Ā· Morutaru de Morutaru Ā· Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo Ā· Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa Ā· Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi Ā· Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi Ā· Fune aoe3de Fune Ā· Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune Ā· Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
    Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief Ā· Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui Ā· Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman Ā· Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman Ā· Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner Ā· DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior Ā· Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca Ā· Inca Maceman Icon Maceman Ā· Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
    Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean Ā· Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit Ā· Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
    Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General Ā· Us marine aoe3de Minuteman Ā· State militia aoe3de State Militia Ā· Regular aoe3de Regular Ā· Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter Ā· Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry Ā· Gatlin de Gatling Gun Ā· Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun Ā· Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger Ā· Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy Ā· Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
    Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General Ā· Padre revolution portrait Padre Ā· Insurgente portrait Insurgente Ā· Soldado portrait Soldado Ā· Emboscador portrait Salteador Ā· Chinaco portrait Chinaco Ā· Desperado portrait Desperado Ā· Vaquero portrait Cuatrero Ā· Bandido portrait Bandido
    Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras Ā· Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior Ā· Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya Ā· Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior Ā· Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya Ā· Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar Ā· War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
    Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir Ā· Fulani Fulani Archer Ā· Raider aoe3de portrait Raider Ā· Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight Ā· Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi Ā· Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
    Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier Ā· Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere Ā· Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard Ā· Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone Ā· Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer Ā· Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave Ā· Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard Ā· Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank Ā· Galleass portrait Galleass
    Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master Ā· Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller Ā· Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel Ā· Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower Ā· Order galley portrait Order Galley Ā· SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
    Revolution Revolution
    Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior Ā· Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar Ā· Californio portrait Californio Ā· Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon Ā· Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain Ā· Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman Ā· Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger Ā· Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry Ā· Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo Ā· Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur Ā· Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster Ā· Gatlin de Gatling Gun Ā· Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho Ā· Comanchero icon aoe3de JagunƧo Ā· Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman Ā· Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero Ā· Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer Ā· Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco Ā· Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero Ā· Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary Ā· Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter Ā· San martin portrait San Martin Ā· Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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