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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For the similar unit in Age of Empires II, see Caravel (Age of Empires II).

Caravel. Good at exploring, fishing or transport.
—In-game description

The Caravel is a military ship in Age of Empires III that can be trained at the Dock once the Commerce Age is reached. It can transport land units and gather from fishes and whales.

Caravels are available to European civilizations (except the Ottomans, who have Galleys instead and Maltese which have Order Galleys), Indians, and Ethiopians (through the Portuguese Alliance Age-up).

Overview[]

The Caravel is one of the first military ships available in the game other than the Galleon or Fluyt. Although it is one of the weakest warships in the game in terms of survivability, it is fast, versatile, relatively cheap and yet has surprisingly heavy firepower and high DPS for its cost and small size. It costs only 300 wood, 100 coin and can be built in a short amount of time. The Caravel is very useful at exploring uncharted waters because it is not big as other large ships, therefore being more agile and maneuverable. Moreover, it can transport and ferry troops from within across bodies of water, able to carry up to 50 units. It can also be used to clear out weak coastal enemy positions at beaches as well as harassing enemy Fishing Boats. However, it is most effective combined with the heavier Galleons and Frigates to take the heat while the Caravels exploit their high DPS. Moreover, care should be taken when near Outposts and Town Centers that can easily destroy one in just a few shots. The Caravel is also one of the only warships that can harvest from fish and Whales just like Fishing Boats, with a gather rate of 0.67 and 0.5.

Caravels are one of the easier ships to repair at a Dock due to their low hit points, this means a player can withdraw a damaged vessel and have it back in the fight in a relatively short period of time.

The Spanish may want to use Galleons and Privateers instead, due to the "Spanish Galleons" and "TEAM Inquisition" cards.

Most civilizations can ship Privateers during the Commerce Age. Though they lack a Caravel's speed and ability to gather resources, they are tougher and possess greater Line of Sight than most ships in that Age.

The Admiral of the Ocean Sea is a politician that gives a Caravel to the player when picking him for aging up to the Fortress Age (except for the Ottomans and Maltese, which receive Galleys or Order Galleys, respectively).

Special abilities[]

  • Broadside attack Broadside Attack: Fires a volley of cannon shots at an enemy within attack range, with each shot doing 50×2 siege damage in an Area of Effect of 1 with a ×2.0 multiplier against ships. 60 seconds cooldown.
  • Long-range bombardment attack Long-range Bombardment Attack (available to Finland after sending the "Gunboats" Home City Card): Fire a mortar shell from a range of 40, doing 100 siege damage in an Area of Effect of 4, with a ×6.0 multiplier against buildings, ×0.5 multiplier against artillery, and ×0.2 multiplier against villagers. Can only target buildings. 90 seconds cooldown.

Civilization differences[]

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Ships, infantry close to shore
Weak vs. Artillery especially Culverins, defensive structures
Improvements
Gather rate Long Lines Long Lines (+30%)
Gill Nets Gill Nets (+15%)
Huron Fish Wedding Huron Fish Wedding (+15%)
Fasting Fasting (+10%)
Aztec chinampa Aztec Chinampa (+5%)
Klamath Work Ethos Klamath Work Ethos (+5%)
Collective Economy Collective Economy (+50% from whales; Asians only)
Excessive Taxation Excessive Taxation (+50% from whales; Europeans only)
Large Scale Farming Large Scale Farming (+35% from whales; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Craftsmanship Navajo Craftsmanship (+20% from whales)
Somali coinage Somali Coinage (+10% from whales)
Hit points Armor Plating Armor Plating (+50%)
Byzantine legacy Byzantine Legacy (+15%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+10%)
Attack Carronade Carronade (+25%)
Percussion Lock Percussion Lock (+50% Broadside Attack damage)
Som ajuran engineers Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Ethiopians only)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Other Exploration Fleet Exploration Fleet (ships 1 Caravel with 3 Petards in it; Indians and Japanese only)
Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Oresund customs Öresund Customs (generates 0.2 coin/sec.)
Penalties Coffee Trade Coffee Trade (-10% speed; Dutch only)
High Crusade High Crusade (-5% hit points; Knights of St. John only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Caravel
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 3 (Advanced Dock) Advanced Dock Docks get +100% attack and heal ships 85% faster; warships' train time -33% (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City (Fish Market) Fish Market Fishing boats gather food from fishes 25% faster and coin from whales 20% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish Home City 4 (Rendering Plants) Rendering Plant Fishing boats gather food from fishes 30% faster and coin from whales 25% faster (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 4 (Whale Oil) Whale Oil Fishing boats gather coin from whales 30% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
40
Spanish Home City 5 (1 Caravel) 1 Caravel Ships 1 Caravel (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans)
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Spanish Home City 5 (2 Caravels) 2 Caravels Ships 2 Caravels (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
1*
Indian Home City 5 (3 Caravels) 3 Caravels Ships 3 Caravels (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Spanish Home City 5 (Improved Warships) Improved Warships Warships get +25% hit points and attack (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Team improved warships TEAM Improved Warships Warships get +10% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Indian Home City 5 (European Cannons) European Cannons Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Spanish Home City 5 (Admiralty) Admiralty Dock warship technologies cost and research time -60% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
  • "Advanced Docks" is available to Europeans and the Indians.
  • "Fish Market" is not available to the Japanese and Portuguese.
  • "Whale Oil" is available to the Japanese, Portuguese, and Swedes.
  • "1 Caravels" and "2 Caravels" are available to Europeans (except the Maltese and Ottomans) and Indians.
  • "3 Caravels" is available to the Indians and Portuguese.
  • "Improved Warships" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese), Ethiopians, Indians, and Japanese.
  • "TEAM Improved Warships" is available to the Chinese and Maltese.
  • "European Cannons" is available to Asians and Ethiopians.
  • "Admiralty" is available to Europeans, Federal Americans, and Indians.

British[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 4 (Team Whale Oil) TEAM Whale Oil Fishing boats gather coin from whales 15% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Advanced port Advanced Port Ports get +100% hit points and heal ships 100% faster; warships' train time -33%
Age I tech tree aoe3
Roof africa Roof of Africa Villagers and fishing boats gather food 25% faster
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Fazogli gold Fazogli Gold Villagers and fishing boats gather coin 20% faster
Age II tech tree aoe3
Land of the sea Land of the Sea Warships get +35% attack for each garrisoned Ras
Age III tech tree aoe3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 4 (Economic Theory) Economic Theory Villagers and fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
40
British Home City 5 (Naval Gunners) Naval Gunners Warships get +20% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Gunboats Gunboats Grants Imperial Monitor upgrade; Caravels can use the Long-range bombardment ability
Revolution
N/A
Indonesia Home City (Lantakas) Lantakas Artillery, buildings, and ships get +15% attack
Revolution
N/A
United States Home City (Rhode Island Militia) Rhode Island Militia Ships 10 Veteran State Militia and 5 Militiamen; Caravels, Galleons/Fluyts, Frigates, and Ironclads get +10% ranged attack per garrisoned State Militia and/or Militiaman (up to +60%); turns all Crossbowmen/Longbowmen and Pikemen into State Militia; State Militia replace Crossbowmen, Longbowmen, Pikemen, and Halberdiers at Barracks and Forts, and can be upgraded to Guard
Revolution
N/A
  • "Economic Theory" is not available to the British, Dutch, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "Naval Gunners" is available for the British, French, Italians, Russians, and Swedes.
  • "Gunboats" is available to the Russians and Swedes upon revolting to Finland.
  • "Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
  • "Rhode Island Militia" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 5 (Offshore Support) Offshore Support Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range; +2 Uhlans
Age II tech tree aoe3
40

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
Indian Home City 3 (Foreign Trading Companies) Foreign Trading Companies Gives a trickle of 0.75 export; Consulate Armies cost -15% export but Indian units cost +2.5% (except Villagers, Fishing Boats, and Sacred Cows which cost +5%); +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
N/A
Indian Home City 5 (Bombay Marine) Bombay Marine Ships' train time -30% and train bounty +30%; +1 Hindu Villager
Age I tech tree aoe3
1

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Japanese Home City 4 (Chonindo) TEAM Chonindo Villagers and fishing boats gather 8% faster from all sources except hunts; Haciendas auto gather 8% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Japanese Home City 4 (Fish Market) Fish Market Fishing boats gather food from fishes 25% faster and coin from whales 20% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Japanese Home City 4 (Peacetime Fishing) Peacetime Fishing Warships gather food from fishes and coin from whales 125% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

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
Mexican Home City 4 (TEAM Rendering Plant) TEAM Rendering Plant Fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 3 (Navigation School) Navigation School Warships cost and train time -20%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Portuguese Home City 4 (Fish Market) TEAM Fish Market Fishing boats gather 10% faster
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Portuguese Home City 5 (Carracks) Carracks Caravel get +15% hit points
Age III tech tree aoe3
N/A
Portuguese Home City 5 (Naval Infantry) Naval Infantry Enables Portuguese Warships to train infantry: Caravels can train Crossbowmen, Pikemen and Halberdiers; Monitors and Ironclads can train Musketeers, Cassadores, and Grenadiers (if available); Frigates can train all Barracks units; Battleship can train all Barracks units and Grenadiers
Age III tech tree aoe3
N/A

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 5 (Cold Water Port) TEAM Cold Water Port Warships cost -15%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 5 (Armada) Armada Warships get +20% hit points and 2 Line of Sight; Caravels can now train infantry units; Frigates can now train cavalry and artillery units; Monitors can now train Mortars; Battleship can now train infantry, cavalry, and artillery units
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Trivia[]

  • The Caravel uses a low-pitch version of the voice clips of the Musketeer (depending on their language).
  • The model for the Caravel is actually based on a carrack. The real caravel doesn't have a forecastle, and the caravel's sails are triangular lateen sails.
  • The Spanish Caravel may have the random names of Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, making reference to the Christopher Columbus's ships of his first voyage to the Americas.

History[]

Caravels were developed by Portuguese shipwrights in the fourteenth century, and were initially used to explore the coast of Africa. They had two masts with square sails and one forward triangular, or lateen, sail. They were relatively small ships and wide for their length, giving them a shallow draft and the ability to sail safely in shallow waters. These two factors made them extremely popular with explorers until the Spanish Galleon took over about 200 years later.

Approximate weight: 80 tons. Length: 50 feet.

Gallery[]

See also[]

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