Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Heavy cavalry that does hand damage from range. Good against archers, skirmishers, and artillery.
—In-game description

The Meteor Hammer is a melee heavy cavalry in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties that is unique to the Chinese and are trained as part of the Forbidden Army or (since the Definitive Edition) as part of the Black Flag Army.

Overview[]

Meteor Hammers are a very unique heavy cavalry available to the Chinese. They are characterized by their ranged hand attack, an attribute not shared with any other unit. Their attack is a hand attack, like any other heavy cavalry, but are able to attack a unit up to 4 tiles away. Thus, in crowded battles, they are able to fight much more effectively than other melee units. They are quite fragile, however, so should be properly guarded with other units.

Meteor Hammers are specialists at countering artillery, with a powerful multiplier and high hand damage. Coupled with the range on their attack, they are nearly impossible to block from reaching their target without a very large number of units, and can take out artillery in mere seconds.

This does not stop them from being effective in other situations. Meteor Hammers make very strong raiders. With the range on their attack, they are able to simultaneously attack the same Villager without bunching up or blocking each other, and can even attack through walls, Houses, or around huntables, berry bushes or trees that would obstruct any other cavalry.

The range on their attack also gives them the ability to fight behind Changdao Swordsmen, forming a powerful combination able to effectively fight almost anything that comes near.

Meteor Hammers are able to be upgraded quite substantially by stacking Double Faced Armor, Manchu Combat, and Western Reforms, and additionally, 10% hit points by allying with British at the Consulate. These all combined can drastically reduce their fragility, allowing them to function as standard heavy cavalry, but with their unique ranged attack and strong attack.

Because Meteor Hammers have a range on their attack, Musketeer-type units do not engage into melee mode when attacked by them, they just shoot. Since Meteor Hammers can have 41% range resist (after Double Faced Armor), they ignore a huge portion of the damage. Sepoy, for example, do 45 hand damage to cavalry every 1.5 seconds. At range, they do 25 every 3 seconds. Factor in armor, and that is 14.75 damage every 3 seconds instead of 90. This results in less than 17% of the potential hand damage total being dealt to the Meteor Hammer. Thus, if facing Meteor Hammers with a Musketeer army, it is critical to manually set at least some of them into melee mode, otherwise the Meteor Hammers will easily win.

Upgrades[]

The Meteor Hammer is automatically upgraded to Disciplined (+20% hit points and attack) in the Fortress Age.

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Honored meteor hammer Honored Meteor Hammer 300 wood
300 coin
Upgrades Meteor Hammers to Honored (+30% hit points and attack)
Imperial Age
Exalted meteor hammer Exalted Meteor Hammer 750 wood
750 coin
Upgrades Meteor Hammers to Exalted (+50% hit points and attack); requires Honored Meteor Hammer

Further statistics[]

As Meteor Hammers are unique to the Chinese, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Light infantry, artillery
Weak vs. Heavy infantry, light cavalry, ranged shock infantry
Improvements
Hit points Comanche Horse Breeding Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Wind horses Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Resistance Sudanese quilted armor Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Speed Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Wind horses Wind Horses (+0.5)
Train time Cheyenne Horse Trading Cheyenne Horse Trading (-40% Forbidden Army; -20% Black Flag Army)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%; Forbidden Army and Black Flag Army)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-10%; Black Flag Army)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%; Forbidden Army and Black Flag Army)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost; Forbidden Army and Black Flag Army)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost; Forbidden Army and Black Flag Army)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

As Meteor Hammers 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 Meteor Hammer
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
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Double-faced armor Double-Faced Armor Iron Flails, Meteor Hammers, and Keshiks get +15% hit points and +5% ranged resistance
Age III tech tree aoe3
Chinese Home City 2 (8 Meteor Hammers) 8 Meteor Hammers Ships 8 Meteor Hammers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Chinese Home City 2 (5 Meteor Hammers) 5 Meteor Hammers Ships 5 Meteor Hammers
Age III tech tree aoe3
Chinese Home City 2 (6 Meteor Hammers) 6 Meteor Hammers Ships 6 Meteor Hammers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Manchu combat Manchu Combat Qiang Pikemen, Changdao Swordsmen, Keshiks, and Meteor Hammers get +15% hit points and attack
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, Flying Crow, and Heavy Cannon 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

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the Italian "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

Germans[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% attack; Germans-only heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack instead
Age II tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

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

Italians[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% attack; Italians-only heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the German "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

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

Russians[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
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
Double-faced armor Double-Faced Armor Iron Flails and Meteor Hammers get +15% hit points and +10.5% resistance
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Chinese Home City 2 (8 Meteor Hammers) 8 Meteor Hammers Ships 8 Meteor Hammers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Chinese Home City 2 (5 Meteor Hammers) 5 Meteor Hammers Ships 5 Meteor Hammers
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Chinese Home City 2 (6 Meteor Hammers) 6 Meteor Hammers Ships 6 Meteor Hammers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Manchu combat Manchu Combat Qiang Pikemen, Changdao Swordsmen, Keshiks, and Meteor Hammers get +15% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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

French[]

Card Description Age HC level
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry and Coyote Runners get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack
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

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 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Cavalry Scouts Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
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

Changelog[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

Definitive Edition[]

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

History[]

Classified as a martial arts chain weapon, the meteor hammer evolved from ancient Chinese hunting weapons and basically consists of two weights connected by a rope or a chain. The "hammer" is a small ball of bronze about the size of a duck's egg, and the chain can vary in length, from 6 to 15 feet. The meteor hammer offers an unparalleled level of speed when striking, and can be utilized in different attack styles depending on the conditions of the battlefield: thrown, swung, or whipped. The most skillful wielder can wrap the chain around a number of body parts before unwrapping it to release the hammer with a jolt of accumulated energy. This causes the hammer to shoot forward with such speed that it strikes a target with deadly force. It is this burst of speed that earned the weapon its name. If space did not allow for this kind of combat, the meteor hammer could be modified to ensnare the weapon of an enemy attacker, or to strangle an enemy from a distance.

Trivia[]

  • Before the Definitive Edition, Meteor Hammers, together with Iron Flails, were the only units in Age of Empires III which could receive an upgrade to their resistance: the Double-Faced Armor card.
  • Meteor Hammers work very similar to the Mameluke in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings as they both are ranged melee units.

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