Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Light artillery. Good against infantry and artillery.
—In-game description

The Light Cannon is an artillery in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs that is unique to the Haudenosaunee and can be trained at the Siege Workshop once the Industrial Age is reached. It combines the functions of a Falconet and a Culverin.

Overview[]

The most notable trait and largest disadvantage of the Light Cannon is that it is only available in the Industrial Age, unlike European artillery. This can be quite a restriction in a fast-paced battle.

It does excellent damage against artillery and buildings and is also good against ships. It can also do peripheral damage to nearby targets. The Light Cannon is strong against ships, infantry, and other artillery. Due to their effectiveness against a wide array of units complimented with a powerful range (most standard artillery have 26 or 28), they are devastating against enemy armies if left unchecked. If the "Siege Discipline" card is sent, the Haudenosaunee can easily mass a large number of these without a major penalty to the population space.

The Light Cannon is a mixture of Falconet and Culverin. It nearly has the range and damage of the Culverin, which makes it effective against other artillery units, and part of the power of the Falconet, which makes it effective against infantry and buildings.

Another advantage is that, unlike European artillery, they spend no time switching between Bombard and Limber mode. Both of the modes have equal speed, and if for any cause they have changed mode, they can change them instantly, allowing them to always remain both mobile and ready for combat. As of update 61213, Light Cannons no longer have a Limber mode, only a Bombard mode.

The main disadvantages of the Light Cannon are its slower rate of fire, less damage, and smaller damage area than a Falconet (making it for example only 31% as effective against infantry as a Falconet, not factoring in the reduced damage area), as well as its fewer hitpoints than either a Culverin or a Falconet, while costing almost the same amount of resources to train.

Light Cannons are arguably one of the best anti-artillery counter units in the game: Culverins slightly outrange them, but are highly situational and overspecialized. The Light Cannon's flexibility and great range makes it essentially a better Culverin that is also very capable at taking down buildings and can help against armies. It should be noted, however, that Light Cannons do not shine against infantry nearly as much as Falconets do, with a combination of weaker damage, area of effect and multiplier making them incapable of taking on large groups of infantry like Falconets can. This is why they should be used to destroy buildings and enemy artillery first and foremost, while their decent firepower against regular units is more of a bonus than their specialty. Aennas and Forest Prowlers should be used as a backbone of the Haudenosaunee army when it comes to dealing with infantry, with Light Cannons providing additional support.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Field Cannon Field Cannon 250 food
250 coin
Upgrades Light Cannons to Field Cannons (+25% hit points and attack)
Imperial Age
Legendary iroquois siege unit Legendary Field Cannon 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Field Cannons to Legendary (+50% hit points and attack); requires Field Cannon

Civilization differences[]

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Infantry, artillery, ships, buildings
Weak vs. Cavalry, shock infantry, Culverins, Arrow Knights
Improvements
Hit points Professional gunners Professional Gunners (+10%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Smokeless Powder Smokeless Powder (+5%)
Heated Shot Heated Shot (+50% multiplier vs. ships)
Som ajuran engineers Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight Gunners Quadrant Gunner's Quadrant (+6)
Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Trunion Trunion (+15%)
Siege Drill Siege Drill (+10%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Other Thunderbolts of Illapa Thunderbolts of Illapa (ships 4 Field Cannons; Inca only)
Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Light Cannon
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)

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
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
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Team engineering school TEAM Engineering School Artillery, Fixed Gun, Cannoneer, Siege Elephant, Flamethrower, Ram, Mantlet, and Huron Mantlet train time -15%; Heavy Cannon, Great Bombard, Rocket, Flying Crow, and Gatling Camel train time -5% instead
Age II 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
Ethiopian Home City 5 (Italian Firearms) Italian Firearms Ships 3 Li'l Bombards; artillery except Culverins get +25% Area of Effect; costs 2,500 influence
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
Indonesia Home City (Lantakas) Lantakas Artillery, buildings, and ships get +15% attack
Revolution
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land units get +5% hit points; land villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
United States Home City (Knox Continental Artillery) Knox's Continental Artillery Ships 5 Consulate Culverins; artillery get +10% hit points and -10% train time; Culverins get +20% hit points and -25% train time instead; costs 500 wood
Revolution
  • "Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
  • "Wanderlust"is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.
  • "Knox's Continental Artillery" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 2 (Light Artillery Hitpoints) Siege Hitpoints Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% hit points
Age III tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 2 (Artillery Attack) Siege Damage Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Artillery Combat Siege Combat Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Siege Construction) Siege Construction Mantlets, Rams, and Light Cannons take -1 population and get -30% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
Haudenosaunee Home City 2 (TEAM 2 Light Cannons) TEAM 2 Light Cannons Ships 2 Light Cannons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 2 (4 Light Cannons) 4 Light Cannon Ships 4 Light Cannons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Haudenosaunee Home City 3 (Wampum) Wampum Training units and constructing buildings grants +35% XP; unit train time -20%, siege unit and artillery train time -5% instead
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "4 Light Cannon" is also available to the Mexicans upon revolting to the Maya.

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 2 (Team Japanese Artillery Damage) TEAM Odzutsu Mortars Artillery get +10% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
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
Mexico card Plan of Veracruz Plan of Veracruz [Plan] Turns all Outposts into Falconets; upgrades Falconets to Field Guns (if not already); artillery get +4 Line of Sight; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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 Ships 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
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age
Maya Home City (British Weapon Trade) British Weapon Trade Ships 12 Redcoats and 4 Rockets; Light Cannons get +70% hit points; costs 1,000 wood
Revolution
  • "Colegio de San Nicolás" is available upon selecting the Michoacán Federal State.
  • "National Servant" is available upon selecting the Estado de México Federal State.
  • "British Weapon Trade" is available upon revolting to the Maya.

Ottomans[]

Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 2 (Topcular) Topçular Artillery, artillery troopers, and Humbaracis get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 2 (Light Artillery Hitpoints) Artillery Hitpoints Grenade troopers get +30% hit points; artillery get +15% hit points
Age II 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

United States[]

Card Description Age
Federal card marions diversions Marions Diversions Artillery get +5% speed; Quaker Guns available at the Artillery Foundry
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "Marions Diversions" is available upon selecting the South Carolina Federal State.

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
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

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 2 (Artillery Hitpoints) TEAM Artillery Hitpoints Artillery, Abus Guns, and Grenadiers get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
  • "TEAM Artillery Hitpoints" is available to the Ottomans and Portuguese.

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
Ottoman Home City 2 (Light Artillery Hitpoints) Siege Hitpoints Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% hit points
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Ottoman Home City 2 (Artillery Attack) Siege Damage Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Artillery Combat Siege Combat Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Iroquois Home City 2 (Beaver Wars) Siege Discipline Rams, Mantlets, and Light Cannons take -1 population
Age III tech tree aoe3
40
Iroquois Home City 2 (4 Light Cannons) 4 Light Cannon Ships 4 Light Cannons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
French Home City 3 (Engineering School) 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 -40%; Heavy Cannon, Great Bombard, Rocket, and Flying Crow train time -10%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

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

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

Trivia[]

  • A portrait file named sx_light_cannon_portrait.ddt in the game files suggests that the Sioux would also have access to the Light Cannon. This portrait has been updated for the Definitive Edition, where it remains unused.

History[]

Most Iroquois campaigns ended up with siege warfare. This fact, combined with the Iroquois predilection for modern weapons (trade steel and gunpowder), meant that they learned to deal with military technology early in their history. The cannon was a natural step in this development. The Light Cannon represents an artillery piece, bought or stolen from European allies, but crewed by Iroquois warriors.

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
Advertisement