Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Heavy ranged infantry. Armed with a bayonet to beat cavalry.
—In-game description

The Musketeer is a ranged heavy gunpowder infantry in Age of Empires III that can be trained at Barracks, Forts, and Galleons. It is armed with a smoothbore musket to fight other infantry at range and a bayonet to fight cavalry in melee combat.

Musketeers are available to the British, French, Italians, Portuguese, and Spanish. Before update 14.43676, the Russians also had access to Musketeers; now, they have Rekruts instead.

Overview[]

Musketeers are ranged heavy infantry that are especially effective against cavalry in melee due to a damage multiplier. They are vulnerable to artillery and light infantry.

Musketeers are stronger in melee combat due to the attack speed of hand attacks, also with thanks to their high hit points and good hand resistance. This is particularly improved with Socket Bayonet. However, this is not always practical as Musketeers are slow, and the opponent may simply decide to make their units run away.

Musketeers' range attack is relatively strong, and due to the firearm animation it is possible to hit and run. However, it is short ranged compared to other ranged infantry and fires at the default rate of 3.0s, which is slower compared to certain archer units such as the Longbowman. They also have a decent siege attack against buildings, which makes them one of the most versatile units in the Commerce Age. While they are more expensive than archaic units, Musketeers are simple to mass produce due to their low coin cost and are cheaper than more specialised units such as Skirmishers or Halberdiers. Therefore, they can be powerful in general against both units and buildings alike, especially in vast quantities.

In The WarChiefs, Spanish Musketeers become the most damaging, thanks to the Unction effect.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect Civ.
Age III tech tree aoe3
Veteran infantry Veteran Musketeers 200 wood
200 coin
Upgrades Musketeers to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack)
Flag BritishDE
Flag FrenchDE
Italians
Portuguese
Spanish
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Guard infantry Guard Musketeers 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrades Musketeers to Guard (+30% hit points and attack); requires Veteran Musketeers
Flag FrenchDE
Italians
Spanish
Guard infantry Redcoats 750 wood
750 coin
Upgrades Musketeers to Redcoats (Guard Musketeers with +5% hit points and +15% attack); requires Veteran Musketeers
Flag BritishDE
Guard infantry Legionarios Upgrades Musketeers to Legionarios (Guard Musketeers with +10% hit points and attack); requires Veteran Musketeers
Portuguese
Imperial Age
Imperial infantry Imperial Musketeers 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Musketeers to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Guard Musketeers
Flag FrenchDE
Italians
Spanish
Imperial infantry Imperial Redcoats Upgrades Redcoats to Imperial Redcoats (+50% hit points and attack); requires Redcoats
Flag BritishDE
Imperial infantry Imperial Legionarios Upgrades Legionarios to Imperial Legionarios (+50% hit points and attack); requires Legionarios
Portuguese

Civilization differences[]

Revolutionary[]

  • (Definitive Edition) Canada can upgrade Musketeers to Fencibles, which are Redcoat Musketeers with -10% cost, +2 range, +10% hit points and attack.
  • (Definitive Edition) Gran Colombia have Independence Guards in place of Revolutionaries, which are Veteran Musketeers with +10% hit points and attack, a ×1.5 ranged attack multiplier against cavalry and ×1.3 against shock infantry, but -10% speed.
    • Revolting to Gran Colombia as the Germans also allows the player to train and upgrade Musketeers (as Independence Guards).
    • Revolting to Gran Colombia as the Portuguese grants Independence Guards additional +5% hit points and attack.

Variants[]

Heavy ranged infantry. Armed with a bayonet to beat cavalry.
—In-game description

The Redcoat is a counterpart of the Musketeer, which starts with +10% hit points and attack.

Upgrades[]

The Redcoat is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and Imperial Age:

  • Fortress age up +20% hit points and attack
  • Industrial age up +25% hit points and +35% attack
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack

Civilization differences[]

Heavy ranged infantry. Armed with a bayonet to beat cavalry.
—In-game description

The Blue Guard (Stadhouder before the Definitive Edition) is a counterpart of the Musketeer, which starts with +10% hit points and attack, and have Defence Promotion.

Promotion Promotion BronzeRank Bronze Rank Promotion SilverRank Silver Rank Promotion GoldRank Gold Rank
Defence Promotion Defence Promotion +10% hit points +15% hit points +20% hit points

Upgrades[]

The Blue Guard is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and Imperial Age:

  • Fortress age up +20% hit points and attack
  • Industrial age up +30% hit points and attack
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack

Civilization differences[]

Heavy ranged infantry. Armed with a bayonet to beat cavalry.
—In-game description

The Legionario (Guerreiro before the Definitive Edition) is a counterpart of the Musketeer, which starts with +10% hit points and attack.

Upgrades[]

The Legionario is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and Imperial Age:

  • Fortress age up +20% hit points and attack
  • Industrial age up +30% hit points and attack
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack

Civilization differences[]

Heavy ranged infantry. Armed with a bayonet to beat cavalry.
—In-game description

The Spanish Musketeer is a counterpart of the Musketeer, which starts with +10% hit points and attack, but trains 65% slower.

Upgrades[]

The Spanish Musketeer is automatically upgraded in the Fortress Age, Industrial Age, and Imperial Age:

  • Fortress age up +20% hit points and attack
  • Industrial age up +30% hit points and attack
  • Imperial age up +50% hit points and attack

Civilization differences[]

  • The Mexicans can ship 9 Spanish Musketeers through the "Criollos" card, which also allows them to be trained at Forts.

Revolutionary[]

  • Argentina can ship 22 Spanish Musketeers through the "Criollos" card, which also allows them to be trained at Forts.

The Outlaw Musketeer is a treasure guardian variant of the Musketeer which only appears in the campaign and on Unknown maps. It is one of the few Treasure guardians with a damage multiplier against specific unit types. Overall, the Outlaw Musketeer is better than the normal Musketeers, making them good candidates for conversion using the Recruit Guardian ability of the Native American War Chiefs.

Civilization differences[]

  • The Lakota and Maya can also get Outlaw Musketeers through the "Outlaw Band" and "Bandit Gang" Home City Cards, which are included in the pool of random outlaws shipped. In this case, the Outlaw Musketeer is affected by the Wild West technology, as well as all technologies and shipments that affect infantry and hand infantry.

In-game dialogue[]

The Outlaw Musketeer speaks French using the French Musketeer's dialogue files.

The Marauding Musketeer is another treasure guardian variant of the Musketeer. It uses slightly modified stats from the base unit.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Cavalry, shock infantry
Weak vs. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Corselet Corselet (+25%; Spanish only)
Grand Encampment Grand Encampment (+25%; campaign United States only)
Thin Red Line Thin Red Line (+20%; British only)
Second guarantee Second Guarantee (+15%; Mexicans only)
Flint lock Flint Lock (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Paper cartridge Paper Cartridge (+15%)
Second guarantee Second Guarantee (+15%; Mexicans only)
Iroquois lacrosse Iroquois Lacrosse (+10%; vanilla Age of Empires III only)
Smokeless Powder Smokeless Powder (+10%)
Armatoloi Armatoloi (+5%)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Clenched Fist Clenched Fist (+25% hand attack)
Socket Bayonet Socket Bayonet (+20% hand attack)
Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Hualcana Hualcana (+5% resistance; Inca only)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Tillys Discipline Tilly's Discipline (+20%; Germans only)
Military Drummers Military Drummers (+10%)
Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Standing Army Standing Army (-25%)
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 Stadhouders Blue Guards (ships 30 Guard Musketeers; Dutch only)
British Army British Army (ships 17 Redcoats; Hausa only)
Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Penalties Grand Encampment Grand Encampment (-25% speed; campaign United States only)
Corselet Corselet (-15% speed; Spanish only)
Thin Red Line Thin Red Line (-10% speed; British only)
Tillys Discipline Tilly's Discipline (+10% cost; Germans only)
Second guarantee Second Guarantee (+30% train time; Mexicans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Musketeer
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
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
Mexican Home City 3 (Liberation March) Liberation March Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +5% speed and -35% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Senegalese Riflemen" is available to the French and Hausa.
  • "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans (also revolting to California and Rio Grande) and Spanish (also revolting to Chile).

Asian[]

Card Description Age
Good faith agreements Good Faith Agreements Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-300 export for Brigades) and research time -50% (except Brigades) (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
Intervention Intervention The Consulate ally sends a shipment of their units (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "Intervention" ships 9 Redcoats (if British allies are picked) or 9 Blue Guards (if Dutch allies are picked).

British[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Musketeer and Grenadier Damage) Scots Guards Musketeers and Grenadiers get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Musketeers and Longbowmen Hitpoints) TEAM Grenadier Guards Musket infantry and grenade troopers get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Musketeer and Grenadier Combat) Coldstream Guards Musketeers and Grenadiers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3

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
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' train time -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Banner school Banner School Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%
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 (Nassau Regiment) Nassau Regiment Ships 14 Musketeers and upgrades them to Blue Guard Musketeers; Musketeers can be trained at Forts; costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Attack) Infantry Attack Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Revolutionary Sharpshooters, and Musketeers get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
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
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Combat) Infantry Combat Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Revolutionary Sharpshooters, and Musketeers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III 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

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (6 Musketeers) 6 Musketeers Ships 6 Musketeers
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (8 Musketeers) 8 Musketeers Ships 8 Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (14 Musketeers) 14 Musketeers Ships 14 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
British Home City 2 (9 Musketeers) 9 Musketeers Ships 9 Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (16 Musketeers) 16 Musketeers Ships 16 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40%
Age II tech tree aoe3
Argentina Home City (Criollos) Criollos Ships 22 Spanish Musketeers; Spanish Musketeers can be trained at Forts; costs 1,000 food
Revolution
Gran Colombia Home City (Independence Guards) 16 Musketeers Ships 16 Musketeers
Revolution
Canada Home City (Fencibles) Fencibles Upgrades Musketeers to Fencibles (Redcoat Musketeers with -10% cost, +10% hit points and attack, and +2 range)
Revolution
Gran Colombia Home City (Colombian Army) Colombian Army Imperial upgrades for Independence Guards, Cassadores, Skirmishers, Landwehrs, and Ordinance Riflemen can be researched at Barracks; Imperial upgrades for Independence Guards, Cassadores, Skirmishers, and Landwehrs cost -60%
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 (Haslet Continental Regiment) Haslet's Continental Regiment Ships 12 Regulars; turns all Musketeers into Regulars; Regulars replace Musketeers at Barracks, Forts, and Galleons
Revolution
  • "6 Musketeers", "8 Musketeers", "14 Musketeers", and "9 Musketeers" are available to the British, Italians, and Portuguese.
  • "16 Musketeers" is available to the British and Portuguese.
  • "Fencing School" is not available to the French and Spanish.
  • "Criollos" is available to the Germans, Italians, and Spanish upon revolting to Argentina.
  • "16 Musketeers" is available to the British and French upon revolting to Canada, and Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish named Independence Guards upon revolting to Gran Colombia.
  • "Fencibles" is available upon revolting to Canada.
  • "Colombian Army" is available upon revolting to Gran Colombia.
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.
  • "Haslet's Continental Regiment" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

French[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Ranged Infantry Hitpoints Crossbowmen, Musketeers, Skirmishers, and Revolutionary Sharpshooters get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
French Home City 2 (French Royal Army) French Royal Army Enables Musketeers and Halberdiers to benefit from Combat promotion to receive extra hit points and attack for each defeated enemy military unit
Age III tech tree aoe3
French Home City 3 (Royal Fencing School) Royal Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40%; +3 Royal Musketeers
Age II tech tree aoe3
Revolutionary French Home City (Hundred Days) Hundred Days Ships 1 Musketeer for each villager lost (up to 100), but Musketeers get -30% hit points and attack; costs 5 food, 5 wood, 5 coin for each shipped Musketeer
Revolution
Revolutionary French Home City (Grande Armee) Grande Armée Imperial upgrades for military units are available and cost -50%
Revolution

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 (Road Building) Road Building Land military units get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
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
Revolution Tupac Rebellion Turns all villagers into Revolutionaries, Plumed Spearmen into Guard Musketeers, Chimu Runners into Guard Hussars, Jungle Bowmen into Guard Skirmishers, Bolas Warriors into Veteran Dragoons, Huaracas into Guard Grenadiers, and Macemen into Guard Soldados; costs 1,500 food, 1,500 wood, 1,500 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; Rajputs get +20% hand attack instead; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 3 (Foreign Trading Companies) Foreign Trading Companies Gives a trickle of 0.75 export; banner army cost -15% export; Indian units cost +2.5% (Villagers, Fishing Boats, and Sacred Cows cost +5% instead); +1 Hindu Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
Italian Home City 2 (Red Shirts) Garibaldini Musketeers, Bersaglieri, Papal Zouaves, and Schiavoni get +15% attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Italian Home City 2 (Schiavoni Swords) Schiavoni Swords Infantry and cavalry get +15% hand attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +5% speed, +10 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military unit train time -20%; artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
Age III tech tree aoe3

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 (Plan of Tuxtepec) Plan of Tuxtepec Turns all Salteadores into Soldados; musket infantry get +1 Line of Sight and range; costs 500 food, 500 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
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
Hc criollos Criollos Ships 9 Spanish Musketeers; Spanish Musketeers can be trained at Forts; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age II 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 bustamante Bustamante The General can build Field Hospitals for free; musket infantry get +10% hit points; Field Hospitals can train Soldados
Age III tech tree aoe3
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age
Rio Grande Home City (Bastimento) Bastimento Infantry train time -25%; Revolutionary train time -50%; villager train time -20%
Revolution
Maya Home City (Pok Ta Pok) Pok Ta Pok Infantry get +10% speed and -10% train time
Revolution
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.
  • "Bustamante" is available upon selecting the San Luis Potosí Federal State.
  • "National Servant" is available upon selecting the Estado de México Federal State.
  • "Bastimento" is available upon revolting to Rio Grande.
  • "Pok Ta Pok" and "British Weapon Trade" are available upon revolting to the Maya.

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age
Portuguese Home City 2 (10 Musketeers) 10 Musketeers Ships 10 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Attack) Gunpowder Infantry Attack Musketeers and Cassadores get +15% attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Combat) Gunpowder Infantry Combat Musketeers and Cassadores get +15% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Portuguese Home City 5 (Naval Infantry) Naval Infantry Caravels can train Crossbowmen, Ordinance Riflemen (if available), Pikemen, and Halberdiers; Monitors and Ironclads can train Musketeers, Cassadores, and Grenadiers (if available); Frigates can train all Barracks units; Battleships can train all Barracks units and Grenadiers; Caravels, Frigates, Monitors, Ironclads, and Battleships now tagged as recruiting ships
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 2 (Peninsular Guerrillas) Peninsular Guerrillas Ranged infantry get +20% attack, musket infantry get +10% attack instead; Skirmishers now see the Line of Sight of enemies they attacked for 3 seconds
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
Swedish Home City 2 (TEAM House of Bernadotte) TEAM House of Bernadotte Heavy infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3

Asian[]

Card Description Age HC level
Good faith agreements Good Faith Agreements Consulate units' train time -50%; Consulate technologies' cost -40% (-400 export for Brigades) and research time -50% (except Brigades) (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Intervention Intervention The Consulate ally sends a shipment of their units (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
  • "Intervention" ships 9 Redcoats (if British allies are picked) or 9 Stadhouders (if Dutch allies are picked).

British[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Musketeer and Grenadier Damage) Musketeer/Grenadier Damage Musketeers and Grenadiers get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 2 (Musketeers and Longbowmen Hitpoints) TEAM Musketeer/Grenadier Hitpoints Musketeers, Sepoys, Ashigaru Musketeers, and Grenadiers get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 2 (Musketeer and Grenadier Combat) Musketeer/Grenadier Combat Musketeers and Grenadiers get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' train time -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Banner school Banner School Banner army train time -30%; Summer Palace banner army spawn time -7%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

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

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (6 Musketeers) 6 Musketeers Ships 6 Musketeers
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
British Home City 2 (8 Musketeers) 8 Musketeers Ships 8 Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
British Home City 2 (14 Musketeers) 14 Musketeers Ships 14 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
British Home City 2 (9 Musketeers) 9 Musketeers Ships 9 Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 2 (16 Musketeers) 16 Musketeers Ships 16 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry train time -40%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
  • "6 Musketeers", "8 Musketeers", "14 Musketeers", and "9 Musketeers" are available to the British and Portuguese.
  • "16 Musketeers" is available to the British, Portuguese, and Russians (at a level 1 Home City).

French[]

Card Description Age HC level
French Home City 2 (Ranged Infantry Attack) TEAM Ranged Infantry Attack Gunpowder infantry and archers get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
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
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 2 (10 Musketeers) 10 Musketeers Ships 10 Musketeers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Attack) Gunpowder Infantry Attack Musketeers and Cassadores get +15% attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Combat) Gunpowder Infantry Combat Musketeers and Cassadores get +15% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 2 (Suvorov Reforms) Suvorov Reforms Turns all Streltsy into Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Russian Home City 2 (Ransack) Ransack Infantry get +50% siege attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Russian Home City 2 (13 Musketeers) 13 Musketeers Ships 13 Musketeers
Age III tech tree aoe3
1
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
Russian Home City 3 (National Redoubt) National Redoubt Musketeers can build Forts
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40

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[]

Age of Empires III[]

Definitive Edition[]

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 14.43676, the Russians can train Rekruts instead. The Veteran and Guard/Imperial Musketeer's weapon no longer shows a knife bayonet. Redcoat and Legionario upgrades received new models. Researching Thin Red Line grants new models for British Musketeers. Dutch Musketeers shipped by the "Nassau Regiment" Home City Card or the Blue Guards technology received new models. Blue Guards benefit from the Defence Promotion. Independence Guards received new models.
  • With update 15.30007, the Musketeer model after sending the "Fencibles" Home City Card was updated.

Trivia[]

  • The Musketeer has four visual upgrades in total, although the first one is unused.
    • Despite these model textures going unused in the original game, they were updated for the Definitive Edition.
    • The Musketeer is based on generic 16th-17th century European musketeers.
    • The Veteran Musketeer is based on French and Indian War period Compagnies franches de la marine. This was changed to British uniforms of the same era in the Definitive Edition.
    • The Guard/Imperial Musketeer is based on Napoleonic Wars period French fusiliers.
  • The Musketeer's unit portrait depicts the Veteran Musketeer model.
  • In the beta, the Germans and Dutch could train Musketeers normally in the Barracks; German Musketeers' unused voice files still exist in the Scenario Editor and game files. In contrast, the Russians could not train Musketeers in the beta.
  • John Black's Mercenaries, Spanish, and United States are the only civilizations with Musketeers that lack Home City Cards improving them (except "Advanced Arsenal").
  • British Royal Guard/Consulate Musketeers are named after the Redcoat soldiers.
    • After researching the Thin Red Line since update 14.43676, it grants new models for British Musketeers.
      • The British Musketeer is based on the New Model Army troops formed by the Parliamentarians during the First English Civil War.
      • The British Veteran Musketeer is based on the British troops during the French and Indian War as well as during the American Revolutionary War.
      • The (Imperial) Redcoat is based on the British troops during the Napoleonic Wars.
  • Dutch Consulate Musketeers are named after the Dutch Blue Guards.
    • Before the Definitive Edition, they are named Stadhouder, which refers to Statdholder, a provincial executive officer in the Low Countries, or Netherlands, from the 15th through the 18th century.
  • Portuguese Royal Guard/Consulate Musketeers' name refers to the Portuguese Legion.
    • Before the Definitive Edition, they are named Guerreiro, which translates to "Warrior" in Portuguese.
    • The Portuguese Legion is also referenced in the Portuguese Royal Guard/Consulate Dragoons' name in the Definitive Edition.
  • At the relase of the Definitive Edition, the Veteran and Guard/Imperial upgrades showed a knife bayonet on the unit's musket, which is anachronistic as it was not used until the 20th century. This was corrected in update 14.43676, with the musket now carrying a socket bayonet.

History[]

Musketeers were infantry soldiers who stood in ranks two and three men deep, taking turns firing while other ranks reloaded. Musketeers were drilled and disciplined to stand as close as 80 yards away from an enemy firing at them. Musket balls ranged from about a half inch in diameter to three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Until long guns with rifled barrels that could be fired more than once every two minutes were developed, muskets were the ranged weapon of choice for infantry.

Muskets had a relatively short range and were wildly inaccurate. Musketeers fought a lot like longbowmen, firing volley after volley in the direction of the enemy with no specific target. The barrage of lead was bound to hit something. A competent musketeer could fire three shots in a minute - four times slower than a longbow and twice as fast as an early rifle.

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
Advertisement