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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. For the unit in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten, see Flamethrower (Age of Empires II).

Light artillery, good against infantry
—In-game description
Chinese siege weapon that shoots fire at a short range. Better against infantry than buildings.
—In-game description

The Flamethrower is a ranged siege infantry unit in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties that is unique to the Chinese and can be trained at the Castle once the Commerce Age is reached or (prior to the Definitive Edition) as part of the Black Flag Army.

Overview[]

The Flamethrower attack has a high Rate of Fire (the highest of all units) and deals splash damage with strong multipliers against infantry, buildings, and ships. However, it is countered easily by cavalry and other artillery as an infantry unit. Unlike true artillery units such as the Mortar, the Flamethrower can take some time to destroy buildings, especially with its short siege range. The Flamethrower is best used as a support unit for infantry against massed enemy infantry.

Though the Flamethrower has damage multipliers against ships, its attack range is too short to attack them.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age III tech tree aoe3
Disciplined siege Disciplined Flamethrower 200 food
200 wood
Upgrades Flamethrowers to Disciplined (+20% hit points and attack)
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Honored siege Honored Flamethrower 250 food
250 wood
Upgrades Flamethrowers to Honored (+30% hit points and attack); requires Disciplined Flamethrower
Imperial Age
Exalted siege Exalted Flamethrower 1,000 food
1,000 wood
Upgrades Flamethrowers to Exalted (+50% hit points and attack); requires Honored Flamethrower

Further statistics[]

As Flamethrowers are unique to the Chinese, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following tables:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Infantry, ships, buildings
Weak vs. Cavalry, shock infantry, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Armatoloi Armatoloi (+5%)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Som ajuran engineers Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Speed Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

As Flamethrowers are unique to the Chinese, 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 Flamethrower
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
Team ranged infantry damage TEAM Senegalese Riflemen Ranged infantry get +10% attack; French and Hausa-only ranged infantry get +15% attack instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Senegalese Riflemen" is available to the French and Hausa.

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
Chinese Home City 2 (Mandarin Duck Squad) Mandarin Duck Squad Ships 8 Chu Ko Nus and 1 Flamethrower; costs 500 food
Age II tech tree aoe3
Chinese Home City 2 (2 Flamethrowers) 1 Flamethrower + 1 Castle Rickshaw Ships 1 Flamethrower and 1 Castle Rickshaw
Age II tech tree aoe3
Chinese Home City 2 (2 Flamethrowers) 2 Flamethrowers + 1 Castle Rickshaw Ships 2 Flamethrowers and 1 Castle Rickshaw
Age III tech tree aoe3
Hc year of the dragon Year of the Dragon Ships 1 Flamethrower for every Town Center built and 1 Pet Monitor Lizard for every Village built
Age III tech tree aoe3
Chinese Home City 2 (4 Flamethrowers) 4 Flamethrowers + 1 Castle Rickshaw Ships 4 Flamethrowers and 1 Castle Rickshaw
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Chinese Home City 2 (Iron Cap Princes' Army) Iron Cap Princes' Army Ships 12 Changdao Swordsmen and 2 Flamethrowers; costs 800 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 2 (Light Artillery Hitpoints) Siege Hitpoints Artillery and Flamethrowers get +15% hit points; grenade troopers get +20% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 2 (Artillery Attack) Siege Attack Artillery and Flamethrowers get +15% attack; grenade troopers get +20% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Artillery Combat Siege Combat Artillery get +15% hit points and attack; Flamethrowers and grenade troopers get +20% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Hc fire dragon manual Fire Dragon Manual Ships 1 Flying Crow and 2 Flamethrowers; upgrades Flamethrowers to Disciplined and Honored (if not already); Flying Crows and Flamethrowers get -10% Rate of Fire
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except Shaolin Masters) train time -20%; Summer Palace banner army, Heavy Cannon, and Flying Crow spawn time -5%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Banner school Banner School Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%
Age II tech tree aoe3
Team engineering school TEAM Engineering School Artillery, Fixed Gun, Siege Elephant, Flamethrower, Ram, Mantlet, and Haudenosaunee Mantlet train time -15%; Heavy Cannon, Great Bombard, Rocket, Flying Crow, and Gatling Camel train time -5%
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

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ethiopian Home City 2 (TEAM Coffee Consumption) TEAM Coffee Consumption Ranged infantry get +5% speed
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

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

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
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
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Chinese Home City 2 (Mandarin Duck Squad) Mandarin Duck Squad Ships 8 Chu Ko Nus and 1 Flamethrower; costs 500 food
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Chinese Home City 2 (2 Flamethrowers) 1 Flamethrower Ships 1 Flamethrower
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Chinese Home City 2 (2 Flamethrowers) 2 Flamethrowers Ships 2 Flamethrowers
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
Chinese Home City 2 (Iron Cap Princes' Army) Iron Cap Princes' Army Ships 12 Changdao Swordsmen and 2 Flamethrowers; costs 1,000 food
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Ottoman Home City 2 (Light Artillery Hitpoints) Siege Hitpoints Artillery get +15% hit points; Flamethrowers get +20% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Ottoman Home City 2 (Artillery Attack) Siege Attack Artillery get +15% attack; Flamethrowers get +20% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Artillery Combat Siege Combat Artillery get +15% hit points and attack; Flamethrowers get +20% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except Shaolin Masters, Heavy Cannons, Flying Crows, and Summer Palace banner armies) train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Banner school Banner School Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Team engineering school TEAM Engineering School Abus Gun, Grenadier, Culverin, Falconet, Mortar, Organ Gun, Mantlet, Ram, Light Cannon, Petard, Horse Artillery, Siege Elephant, Morutaru, Flaming Arrow, Hand Mortar, and Flamethrower train time -30%; Heavy Cannon, Great Bombard, Rocket, and Flying Crow train time -5%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

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

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 3 (Dueling School) Dueling School Infantry (except Skull Knights), Old Han Army, and Territorial Army train time -25%; Black Flag Army, Standard Army, Ming Army, and Imperial Army train time -12%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

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

Changelog[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

  • Flamethrowers take 4 population.
  • The Flamethrower is trained as part of the Black Flag Army.
  • The Disciplined, Honored and Exalted upgrade for Flamethrowers grants 30%, 35% and 60% extra hit points and attack respectively.

Definitive Edition[]

  • The Flamethrower is no longer trained as part of the Black Flag Army.
  • The Disciplined, Honored and Exalted upgrade for Flamethrowers grants 20%, 30% and 50% extra hit points and attack respectively.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

Trivia[]

  • When destroyed, the Flamethrower will explode, although the explosion causes no damage and is purely aesthetic.

History[]

The flamethrower was the first use of gunpowder in warfare, before it was imbued with enough saltpeter to explode. The Chinese flamethrower design, the Pen Huo Qi, was based on a seventh-century Byzantine model, which featured an inconsistent spurting action. The Chinese desired a more continuous flame, and achieved it by developing a dual bellows system. Two bellows allowed for the creation of an unbroken stream of the chemical fuel naptha, which could then be ignited.

The Chinese flamethrower was used both as a defensive weapon and a siege unit. It was often fixed on a wall, positioned to fire down on incoming soldiers and siege weapons. However, the most common depiction of the flamethrower portrays it as mounted on a four-wheeled pushcart. This mobility most likely allowed the flamethrower to be used on the battlefield, to deter enemy attacks, as well as to project a shield of flame for advancing soldiers.

Gallery[]

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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