Explorer
First Appearance	Age of Empires III
Hero
Age Available	Discovery Age
Base Hit Points	400
Speed	4.5
Resists	10% vs. Ranged
Melee Damage	6
Melee Multipliers	x3.0 vs. treasure guardians x0.25 vs. villager
Range Damage	12
Range Multipliers	x3.0 vs. treasure guardians x0.25 vs. villager
Range	16
Siege Damage	15
Siege Range	0-6
R.O.F.	1.5 / 3.0 (ranged and siege)
This box: view • talk • edit

The Explorer is a unique Hero unit available for all European civilizations in Age of Empires III.

Overview Edit

The Explorer is a powerful unit that explores the uncharted areas of the map and also provides economical and military benefits for the colony. The Explorer usually is available only once in the beginning of a game and has some special abilities to help himself.

Armed with a powerful rifle, the Explorer can use his Sharpshooter ability to pick off one Treasure Guardian in a single shot and later learns Eye of Assassin which can be used on enemy units in a similar manner. Explorers are also one of the three units in the game (the others being the Settler and Villager) that can collect treasures. The Explorer can build Trading Posts and Town Centers more quickly than a Settler. The Explorer is also useful because he cannot be killed, only wounded. If an Explorer's hitpoints fall to zero, he will "faint", at which point he cannot move or fight. The Explorer can be revived by paying 100 Coin at the Town Center or by sending friendly units to his vicinity. The Explorer's hitpoints must be above 100 in order to be rescued by a friendly unit.

The Explorer is able to explore and fight longer if he has a few units accompanying him. Explorers are very ineffective at raiding enemy settlements early in the game, as they only deal 25% damage against Settlers and Villagers. They are also very weak against Spies and Ninja.

The Portuguese have an Industrial Age Home City card, Bandeirantes, that ships two additional Explorers. The Spanish Explorer can train up to five War Dogs, to help fight Treasure Guardians.

Every European Civilization has its own Home City card improvement for their Explorer which improves his fighting ability and sends him a powerful Explorer Dog which also collapses instead of dying if its hitpoints fall to zero. The Explorer's dog is highly effective against treasure guardians. The Spanish explorer, instead of a canine companion, has his War Dogs' hitpoints and attack increased.

Explorer improvement cards Edit

Civilization	Name	Effect	Icon
British	Captain	Improves the British Explorer in combat, and gives the powerful Swashbuckler attack, dealing AoE damage at close range. Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
Dutch	Stadhouder	Improves the Dutch Explorer in combat, and lowers the costs for Town Centers to 300 Wood. Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
French	Voyageur	Improves the French Explorer in combat and grants a healing ability. Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
German	Buergermeister	Improves the German Explorer in combat and doubles his building speed. Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
Ottoman	Agha	Improves the Ottoman Explorer in combat and increases his speed (+1 speed). Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
Portuguese	Navigator	Improves the Portuguese explorer in combat and increases the effectiveness of his Spyglass ability (+6 LOS). Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
Portuguese	Bandeirantes	Ships 2 additional Explorers (unique to the Portuguese).
Russian	Polar Explorer	Improves the Russian Explorer in combat, and improves his attack bonus against treasure guardians (5x bonus). Sends a canine companion (Explorer Dog).
Spanish	Conquistador	Improves the Explorer and his War Dogs in combat.

TEAM Explorer Combat

• Improves attack and hitpoints for all Explorers on a Team.

Unction

• Can boost the Spanish Explorer to an effective infantry unit with 60 damage, 75 siege damage and 3020 hitpoints in the late game if all other cards have been sent.

GalleryEdit

In game Spanish Explorer.

Concept art for the Spanish Explorer.

Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

See also Edit

• War Chief - Fulfills the same role for Native American civilizations.
• Monk - Fulfills the same role for Asian civilizations.