Military Units
Scout
Recon Unit, 1
1
15
Requires
Tanning
Can Build a CampCan Train Scout, Archer, SkirmisherCan Construct Tannery
80
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1
adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrain, JungleJungle-1
Movement Cost: 2+0.25
in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here , MarshMarsh-1Movement Cost: 2+0.40 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here Cannot build any improvements on this feature, RainforestRainforest-1Movement Cost: 2Defending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsBetter Results from Tribal Villages+100% vs. AnimalsStarts with Disengage IDisengage I+20% Withdrawal Chance, ReconnaissanceReconnaissanceCan Heal while Moving-1 Terrain Movement Cost
Replacements and Upgrades
Explorer (Recon Units)
5, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice, Jungle, Marsh, RainforestBetter Results from Tribal VillagesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+25% Hills Attack+50% Jungle Attack+50% Forest Attack+50% Rainforest Attack+50% Taiga AttackStarts with Disengage I, Reconnaissance
Requires Cartography
History
Scouts are able to enter impassable terrain and features, gain only positive bonuses from Tribal villages, have a combat bonus against Animal Units, and start with the Reconnaissance and Disengage I promotions.
Smart application of a nation's military resources often means identifying the points that would benefit from it the most.The use of lightly armed but fleet of foot scouts to survey the situation can permit this effective application of might.
Explorer
Recon Unit, 5 2 40
Requires
CartographyEnables Map TradingCan Train Explorer, Caravel
1000
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrain, JungleJungle-1Movement Cost: 2+0.25 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here , MarshMarsh-1Movement Cost: 2+0.40 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here Cannot build any improvements on this feature, RainforestRainforest-1Movement Cost: 2Defending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsBetter Results from Tribal VillagesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+25% Hills Attack+50% Jungle Attack+50% Forest Attack+50% Rainforest Attack+50% Taiga AttackStarts with Disengage IDisengage I+20% Withdrawal Chance, ReconnaissanceReconnaissanceCan Heal while Moving-1 Terrain Movement Cost
Replacements and Upgrades
Bandeirante (Recon Units)
Unique Unit for The Portuguese
Replaces Explorer
8, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice, Jungle, Marsh, RainforestBetter Results from Tribal VillagesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (40% Chance)+25% Hills Attack+50% Jungle Attack+50% Forest Attack+50% Rainforest Attack+50% Taiga AttackStarts with Guerilla I, Woodsman I, Disengage ICan Capture Slaves Regardless of CivicsGuaranteed to Capture Slaves
Requires Cartography
History
Explorers can enter impassable terrain and features, gain only positive bonuses from tribal villages, ignore terrain movement costs, have additional attack on Forest, Rainforest, Jungle, and Hill tiles, have a chance to withdraw, and begin with the Reconnaissance and Disengage I promotions.
Throughout history there are those whose thirst for adventure led them from the safe confines of civilized lands. These explorers, frequently funded by government stipends, would then journey into the unknown, charting their progress all the way. These expeditions, and the maps they helped create, became blueprints for the conquest and domestication of the once uncharted regions of the world.
Archer
Archery Unit, 3 1 25
Requires
TanningCan Build a CampCan Train Scout, Archer, SkirmisherCan Construct Tannery
80
Abilities
1 First Strike+50% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+50% vs. Light Cavalry Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Asharittu Bowman (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Babylonians
Replaces Archer
3, 11 First StrikeCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)+50% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+50% vs. Light Cavalry Units
Requires Tanning
Medjay (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Nubians
Replaces Archer
3, 13 First Strikes+50% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+25% Open Terrain Attack+50% vs. Light Cavalry Units
Requires Tanning
Archer (Archery Units)
Replaces Archer
3, 1Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice, Jungle, Marsh, Rainforest1 First Strike+50% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+50% vs. Light Cavalry Units
Requires Tanning
Crossbowman (Archery Units)
6, 11 First Strike+25% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+25% vs. Light Cavalry Units+25% vs. Melee Units
Requires Machinery
Requires Iron
History
Archers have one first strike, have a defensive bonus in cities, have a defensive bonus in hills and have a bonus against Light Cavalry Units.
The bow and arrow, invented in prehistoric times, greatly improved the hunting skills of early man, allowing him to kill his targets from a distance. The bow was eventually adapted for use in battle, and was first used by Egyptian, Persian, and Assyrian armies as early as 5000 BC. The range provided by the bow allowed small forces of archers to rout armies of superior number armed only with hand-to-hand weapons. Archers were often used to soften enemy resistance prior to sending in mounted and skirmishing forces. Refinements in design and construction allowed the bow to remain an effective weapon until firearms finally replaced it in the 1500s.
Skirmisher
Archery Unit, 4 1 30
Requires
ContractEnables Gold Trading via DiplomacyEnables Vassal StatesCan Train SkirmisherCan Construct MintFirst to Discover Founds Confucianism
250TanningCan Build a CampCan Train Scout, Archer, SkirmisherCan Construct Tannery
80
Abilities
1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (2 Units) (max. 25%)+25% Hills Attack+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Holkan (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Maya
Replaces Skirmisher
3, 1Can Enter Jungle, Rainforest1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 25%)+25% Hills Attack+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest AttackReceives for Defeating Enemy Units
Requires Smelting
Atlatl (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Toltecs
Replaces Skirmisher
4, 1Can Enter Jungle, Rainforest1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 25%)+25% Hills Attack+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest Attack+25% vs. Archery Units+25% vs. Melee Units
Requires Contract
Requires Tanning
Kelebolo (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Mande
Replaces Skirmisher
4, 1Can Enter Desert1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 25%)+25% Hills Attack+50% Desert Strength+50% Semidesert Strength+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest Attack+50% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+50% vs. Melee Units
Requires Contract
Requires Tanning
Longbowman (Archery Units)
6, 11 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 30%)+25% Hills Strength+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest Attack
Requires Commune
History
Skirmishers have one first strike, can withdraw from combat, cause collateral damage and have an attack bonus in hills, forests and rainforests.
While the warfare of civilized states in the Bronze and Iron ages frequently revolved around clashes between large blocks of men with hand to hand combat weapons, virtually all societies made use of lighter-armed forces as well. Infantry with armor and locked into a fighting formation could not move faster than a slow walk, nor could they maintain unit cohesion in rough terrain. Therefore, it was necessary to employ men with lighter equipment and with weapons suitable for striking from a distance, and then retreating to fight another day.
Such tactics are known as "skirmishing," because they typically involve relatively small scale confrontations between smaller units, rather than massed exchanges of firepower or shock between large armies. Even nations legendary for their highly trained and deadly shock troops (such as the Greek phalanx and the Roman legions) routinely employed auxiliary units armed with bows, slings, and javelins for skirmishing tactics.
The skirmishers rarely defeated an enemy by themselves, but their harassment forced the enemy army to deploy sooner to meet a new threat, and their swifter movement allowed them to scout the enemy more efficiently. Moreover, their ranged attacks could weaken the enemy's heavy troops or draw them out of position and leave them vulnerable to the heavy troops of one's own side. The best counter to this was to employ one's own skirmishers to fight back, since simply doubling up heavy infantry did not make them more effective at pursuing the skirmisher.
In later eras, cavalry tended to compete for the skirmisher's role, since a mounted man can generally move faster than a man on foot - and carry more armor and weapons in case he comes into conflict with the foot skirmisher! Despite this, the concept of skirmishing in infantry warfare persisted through the gunpowder age, though. For instance, infantry armed with rifles (in those days, slower to reload than normal muskets) were often employed to snipe, harass, and disrupt blocks of pikemen and musketeers, then fall back upon the main body as the clash of arms approached, just as in ancient times.
Eventually, after the great advances in the range and volume of fire available to handheld firearms, it became clear that standing in large blocks and relying on sheer volume of firepower to suppress the enemy was not working. As a result, foot soldiers began making heavier use of cover and coordination with inherently more powerful combat arms such as tanks and artillery. Today, virtually all infantry fight with tactics more similar to those of the light infantry skirmishers of three hundred years ago, and far less like the heavy infantry of the same era.
Longbowman
Archery Unit, 6 1 60
Requires
CommuneCan Train LongbowmanCan Construct Armoury, Notre Dame, Old Synagogue
750
Abilities
1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (2 Units) (max. 30%)+25% Hills Strength+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Patiyodha (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Indians
Replaces Longbowman
5, 1Can Enter Jungle, Rainforest1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 25%)+25% Hills Strength+50% Forest Attack+50% Rainforest AttackStarts with Formation, Woodsman I
Requires Nobility
Rattan Archer (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Vietnamese
Replaces Longbowman
6, 12 First StrikesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 30%)+25% Hills Strength+25% Forest Attack+25% Rainforest AttackStarts with Guerilla I, Woodsman I
Requires Civil Service
Musketeer (Gunpowder Units)
12, 1+10% vs. Arquebusier
Requires Replaceable Parts
Grenadier (Gunpowder Units)
10, 1Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. RiflemanStarts with City Raider I
Requires Chemistry
History
Longbowmen have one first strike, can withdraw from combat, cause collateral damage and have an attack bonus in hills, forests and rainforestshills, forests and rainforests.
Longbowmen were highly skilled archers capable of firing up to six arrows a minute over long distances into massed enemy formations. Using bows constructed from a type of wood called Yew, they used arrows specifically designed to penetrate chainmail armor - even plate if close enough. Frequently they would comprise approximately four-fifths of an army, and their devastating attacks helped to reverse the dominance of knights in warfare. Only lightly-armored, they enjoyed a great mobility advantage should their opponents survive their barrages.
Once gunpowder began to find applications in the military, their use began to wane. Guns allowed foot soldiers the same effectiveness against knights, but without the decades of training required to be proficient with the longbow.
Crossbowman
Archery Unit, 6 1 50
Requires
MachineryCan Build a WindmillCan Build a WatermillCan Train Crossbowman, TrebuchetCan Construct The Grand Canal
650
Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
1 First Strike+25% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+25% vs. Light Cavalry Units+25% vs. Melee Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Cho-Ko-Nu (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Chinese
Replaces Crossbowman
6, 12 First StrikesCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% City Defense+25% Hills Defense+25% vs. Light Cavalry Units+25% vs. Melee Units
Requires Artisanry
Requires Iron
Balestriere (Archery Units)
Unique Unit for The Italians
Replaces Crossbowman
6, 12 First Strikes+25% City Strength+25% Hills Defense+25% vs. Light Cavalry Units+25% vs. Melee UnitsStarts with Amphibious
Requires Machinery
Requires Iron
Arquebusier (Gunpowder Units)
10, 1
Requires Firearms
History
Crossbowmen have one first strike, have a defense bonus in cities and hills and have a combat bonus against Melee Units and Light Cavalry Units.
Crossbows were actively being used in European warfare from 800 to 1500 A.D. They supplanted bows in many European armies for a number of reasons. While an expertly handled longbow had greater range, better accuracy, and a much faster rate of fire than an average crossbow, the value of the crossbow came in its simplicity: a crossbow could be used effectively after a week of training, while a comparable single-shot skill with a longbow could take years. The use of winches allowed soldiers to use and fire weapons with a draw weight far in excess of what they could have handled with a bow. In the later years of its use, the crossbow had enough power to penetrate the armor of a knight with ease. Moreover, crossbows could be kept cocked and ready to shoot for some time with little effort, allowing crossbowmen to aim better and to "cover" a target area, while archers could not keep their powerful bows pulled for long periods of time.
Horseman
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 6 2 50
Requires
RidingCan Train Horseman, Camel Rider, War ElephantCan Construct StableEnables Skirmish
120
Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism and (
Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery)
Abilities
Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)-25% City Strength+25% vs. Siege WeaponsFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics
Replacements and Upgrades
Companion (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Greeks
Replaces Horseman
6, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+25% vs. Siege WeaponsFlank attack against CatapultStarts with March, Blitz
Requires Riding
Requires Horse
Requires Copper or Iron
Numidian Cavalry (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Phoenicians
Replaces Horseman
6, 2Can Enter DesertDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+50% vs. Melee UnitsFlank attack against CatapultStarts with Disengage I, Desert Adaptation
Requires Riding
Requires Horse
Requires Copper or Iron
Asvaka (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Kushans
Replaces Horseman
7, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)-25% City Defense+25% vs. Siege WeaponsFlank attack against CatapultStarts with City Raider I
Requires Riding
Requires Horse
Requires Copper or Iron
Horse Archer (Light Cavalry Units)
6, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain Strength
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Lancer (Heavy Cavalry Units)
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet
Requires Feudalism
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
History
Horsemen don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat penalty in cities, have a bonus against Siege Units units and have a flank attack against Catapult units.
Among the technically more advanced sedentary civilizations on both edges of the Eurasian landmass, a different kind of cavalry seems to have emerged shortly after 1000 BC. Reliefs from great Assyrian palaces show horsemen, clad in armour and armed with spear or lance or sword, who were used in combination with other troops such as light and heavy infantry. The function of these cataphracts (from the Greek word for 'armour') was not to engage in long-distance combat but to launch massed shock action, first against the enemy cataphracts and then, having gained the field, against the enemy foot. The fact that ancient cavalry apparently did not possess the stirrup has often led modern historians to question the mounted soldier's effectiveness. They argue that, since riders held on only by pressure of their knees, their ability to deliver shock was limited by the fear of falling off their mounts. This argument fails to note that, particularly in Hellenistic times and again in late Roman ones, cavalry forces did indeed play an important, often decisive, part in countless battles. Still, it is true that never during classical antiquity did cavalry succeed in replacing the formations of heavy infantry that remained the backbone of every army.
Camel Rider
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 5 2 50
Requires
RidingCan Train Horseman, Camel Rider, War ElephantCan Construct StableEnables Skirmish
120
Camel+1, +1Revealed by Pastoralism
Healthy: +1
(with Pasture) and (Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh waterDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)-25% City Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+25% vs. Siege WeaponsFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires MathematicsStarts with Desert Adaptation
Replacements and Upgrades
Camel Archer (Light Cavalry Units)
5, 2Can Enter DesertDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Desert Adaptation
Requires Nobility
Requires Camel
History
Camel Riders don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat penalty in cities, have a bonus against Siege Units and Heavy Cavalry Units units, have a flank attack against Catapult units, have a combat bonus in Desert and begin with the Desert Adaptation promotion.
In the Arabian Peninsula, cavalrymen ride on either horse or camel. While horses are somewhat easier to train than camels, camels are the obvious choice for forces operating in the deep desert. Arab tribesmen such as the Bedouin have always been fearsome warriors, and their prowess with bow and arrow (and later, rifle) from atop a mount has become the stuff of legend.
Lancer
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 10 2 100
Requires
Feudalism
Obsoletes Terracotta ArmyEnables VassalageCan Train LancerCan Construct Himeji Castle
700Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism and Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics, TrebuchetTrebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery
Replacements and Upgrades
Savaran (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Persians
Replaces Lancer
8, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet
Requires Generalship
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Farari (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Mande
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, TrebuchetStarts with River Combat, Desert Adaptation
Requires Feudalism
Mobile Guard (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Arabs
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)Flank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet
Requires Feudalism
Requires Horse
Mamluk (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Masryeen
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, TrebuchetStarts with Formation, Skirmish
Requires Feudalism
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Keshik (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Mongols
Replaces Lancer
10, 31 First StrikeImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)-25% City DefenseFlank attack against Catapult, TrebuchetStarts with Steppe Adaptation
Requires Feudalism
Requires Horse
Cataphract (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Byzantines
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, TrebuchetStarts with Shock
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Chambul (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Tatars
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength+30% Open Terrain StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, TrebuchetStarts with March, Steppe Adaptation
Requires Feudalism
Requires Horse
Chang Suek (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Thais
Replaces Lancer
10, 2Can Enter Jungle, RainforestImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength+50% Attack vs. Arquebusier+50% Attack vs. Musketeer+50% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet
Requires Feudalism
Requires Ivory
Cuirassier (Heavy Cavalry Units)
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
History
Lancers are immune to first strikes, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat penalty in cities and have a flank attack against Catapult and Trebuchet units.
Knights were heavily armored, mounted men-at-arms found primarily in medieval Europe. Like the samurai of ancient Japan, knights followed a strict code that covered their behavior both in battle and in their personal pursuits. Fighting astride powerful horses, armored knights had a distinct advantage over enemies on foot and remained the dominant force on the battlefield when battles were fought primarily hand-to-hand. Occasionally, brilliant infantry tactics allowed knights to be outmaneuvered, but it wasn't until the development of gunpowder that knights were rendered obsolete.
Cuirassier
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 12 2 120
Requires
Combined Arms
Obsoletes The Great Wall
Obsoletes Krak des Chevaliers
Obsoletes Alamut FortressCan Train Pistolier, Camel Gunner, CuirassierCan Construct Harmandir SahibEnables Commando
1600Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism and Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength
Replacements and Upgrades
Gendarme (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The French
Replaces Cuirassier
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthStarts with Pinch, Leadership
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Conquistador (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Spanish
Replaces Cuirassier
12, 2Can Enter Jungle, RainforestImmune to First Strikes-25% City Strength+50% Attack vs. Light Swordsman+50% Attack vs. Swordsman+50% Attack vs. Heavy Swordsman+50% Attack vs. Spearman+50% Attack vs. Heavy Spearman
Requires Exploration
Requires Firearms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Winged Hussar (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Polish
Replaces Cuirassier
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength+50% Attack vs. Arquebusier+50% Attack vs. Musketeer
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Sowar (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Mughals
Replaces Cuirassier
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Defense
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Bannerman (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Manchus
Replaces Cuirassier
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthTargets any Heavy Cavalry Units, Light Cavalry Units first in combat outside citiesStarts with ShockCaptures defeated units of more powerful civilizations
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
Dragoon (Heavy Cavalry Units)
14, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength
Requires Biology
Requires Horse
History
Cuirassiers don't receive defensive bonuses, are immune to first strikes, have a combat penalty in cities and can withdraw from combat.
The Cuirassier was the last step in the evolution of European armored cavalry. Drawing their name from their heavy, metal breastplates - or "cuirasses" - the Cuirassiers were the heaviest of the heavy cavalry.
The earliest Cuirassiers, born in the 15th century, were armored head-to-toe and armed with heavy saber and pistols. As European warfare began to rely more on firearms, much of this heavy armor was shed to increase mobility, eventually adapting into what is now recognized as the standard Cuirassier uniform - a breastplate and helm. Fielded almost exclusively in the battles of continental Europe, the Cuirassier saw its most widespread use under the command of Napoleon, who was fielding 14 regiments of the cavalrymen by 1812.
Dragoon
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 14 2 140
Requires
BiologyCan Build Farms without IrrigationPasture: +1Can Train Hussar, DragoonCan Construct ParkRequired for the spread of Cereal Industry
3600Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength
Replacements and Upgrades
Cassay (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Burmese
Replaces Dragoon
14, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City StrengthStarts with Pinch, Blitz
Requires Biology
Requires Horse
Ikhwan (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Saudis
Replaces Dragoon
14, 2Can Enter DesertImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses+50% Desert Strength+50% Semidesert StrengthStarts with Desert Adaptation
Requires Biology
Requires Camel
Grenadier Cavalry (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Argentinians
Replaces Dragoon
14, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength+25% Attack vs. Musketeer+25% Attack vs. RiflemanStarts with City Raider I
Requires Biology
Requires Horse
Cavalry (Light Cavalry Units)
14, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+20% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Artillery+50% Attack vs. HowitzerFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery, Howitzer
Requires Microbiology
Requires Horse
History
Dragoons don't receive defensive bonuses and are basic Mounted Units in the Industrial Era.
The word "dragoon" is derived from the French Army designation dragon which was originally the name of a type of firearm (whose name means dragon) carried by French dragoons. In French, Portuguese and Spanish there is no distinction between the words dragoon and dragon.
Dragoons were originally infantrymen deployed by horse, but later became cavalry. They were therefore trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. Dragoon regiments were established in most European armies during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Originally dragoons were considered as separate from regular cavalry, but during the 18th century they evolved into conventional mounted troops trained to fight from horseback.
War Elephant
Heavy Cavalry Unit, 8 1 70
Requires
GeneralshipCan Build a FortEnables HegemonyCan Train War ElephantEnables Formation
350RidingCan Train Horseman, Camel Rider, War ElephantCan Construct StableEnables Skirmish
120
Ivory+1
Happy: +1
(with Camp)
Abilities
Can Enter JungleJungle-1Movement Cost: 2+0.25 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here , RainforestRainforest-1Movement Cost: 2Defending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Varu (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Indians
Replaces War Elephant
8, 1Can Enter Jungle, RainforestDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Shock
Requires Generalship
Requires Riding
Requires Ivory
Ballista Elephant (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Khmer
Replaces War Elephant
8, 1Can Enter Jungle, RainforestDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses+25% City Attack+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsTargets any Heavy Cavalry Units first in combat outside cities
Requires Generalship
Requires Riding
Requires Ivory
Cuirassier (Heavy Cavalry Units)
12, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses-25% City Strength
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Requires Iron
History
War Elephants are able to enter Jungle and Rainforest, don't receive defensive bonuses and have a combat bonus against Heavy Cavalry Units.
The war elephant was first used in India and was known to the Persians by the 4th Century BC. Using war elephants, Candra Gupta defeated Alexander's successor Seleucus and established the Mauryan Empire. Though Carthage's African war elephants accomplished little subsequently, their presence in Hannibal's army during his transit of the Alps into the heart of Rome in 218 BC established their reputation as a fearsome weapon. The elephant's tactical importance apparently stemmed in large part from its willingness to charge both foot soldiers and cavalry and from the panic that it inspired. Although used in Indian military forces until the 20th Century, as with so many traditional weapons, the utility of elephants in war ended with the widespread use of gunpowder.
Chariot
Light Cavalry Unit, 4 2 30
Requires
LeverageCan Build a RoadCan Train ChariotCan Construct Weaver
120Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength
Replacements and Upgrades
War Chariot (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Egyptians
Replaces Chariot
4, 2Can Enter DesertImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert AttackStarts with Desert Adaptation
Requires Leverage
Requires Horse
Huluganni (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Hittites
Replaces Chariot
5, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)+25% Hills Strength+25% Open Terrain StrengthStarts with Cover, Mobility
Requires Leverage
Requires Horse
Horse Archer (Light Cavalry Units)
6, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain Strength
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Horseman (Heavy Cavalry Units)
6, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (20% Chance)-25% City Strength+25% vs. Siege WeaponsFlank attack against Catapult
Requires Riding
Requires Horse
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Chariots don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat and have a combat bonus on open terrain.
The chariot was the first true fighting vehicle. Ancient armies used it to transport archers and other troops to the battlefield, where they would disembark and fight. The Assyrians, whose archers and spearmen fought from inside the chariot itself, turned the vehicle into a fearsome offensive weapon. Few enemies were able to withstand an onslaught of Assyrian chariots. This devastating form of attack was soon adopted by many of the Assyrians' enemies, who used the chariot against them with good effect.
Horse Archer
Light Cavalry Unit, 6 2 70
Requires
NobilityFirst to Discover Receives a Great GeneralCan Train Horse Archer, Camel Archer
550Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain Strength
Replacements and Upgrades
Mangudai (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Mongols
Replaces Horse Archer
8, 3Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain StrengthStarts with Steppe Adaptation
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Khampa (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Tibetans
Replaces Horse Archer
6, 2Can Enter TundraDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% City Attack+50% Hills Attack+50% Open Terrain StrengthStarts with Mobility
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Oghuz (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Turks
Replaces Horse Archer
6, 3Hidden NationalityCan Attack without Declaring WarDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain StrengthStarts with March, Steppe Adaptation
Requires Nobility
Requires Horse
Pistolier (Light Cavalry Units)
7, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+30% Open Terrain StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
History
Horse Archers don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat and have a combat bonus on open terrain.
A horse archer (or horsed archer or mounted archer) is a cavalryman armed with a bow. Because using a bow requires a horseman to let go of the reins with both hands, horse archers need superb equestrian skills. Horse archery is typically associated with steppe nomads.
The weapon of choice for horse archers was the recurve bow, because it was compact enough to shoot from a horse and retained sufficient range and penetrating power. The most serious threat to horse archers was arrows, and they could wheel away out of bowshot after every attack. Mounted archers therefore needed little or no armor and could ride light, fast mounts such as ponies. This made them cheap to equip and increased their strategic mobility.
A drawback of horse archers was that the movements of a running horse disturbed the accuracy of the shot. After the invention of the stirrup, horse archers would stand up in their stirrups to absorb the motion of the horse. Another method to facilitate accurate shooting was to time shots between the strides of the horse.
Horse archers were eventually made obsolete by the development of modern firearms.
Camel Archer
Light Cavalry Unit, 5 2 70
Requires
NobilityFirst to Discover Receives a Great GeneralCan Train Horse Archer, Camel Archer
550Camel+1, +1Revealed by Pastoralism
Healthy: +1(with Pasture)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh waterDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+50% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Desert Adaptation
Replacements and Upgrades
Camel Gunner (Light Cavalry Units)
6, 2Can Enter DesertImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+30% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, CannonStarts with Desert Adaptation
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Camel
History
Camel Archers don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus on open terrain, have a bonus against Heavy Cavalry Units units, have a combat bonus in Desert and begin with the Desert Adaptation promotion.
In the Arabian Peninsula, cavalrymen ride on either horse or camel. While horses are somewhat easier to train than camels, camels are the obvious choice for forces operating in the deep desert. Arab tribesmen such as the Bedouin have always been fearsome warriors, and their prowess with bow and arrow (and later, rifle) from atop a mount has become the stuff of legend.
Pistolier
Light Cavalry Unit, 7 2 80
Requires
Combined Arms
Obsoletes The Great Wall
Obsoletes Krak des Chevaliers
Obsoletes Alamut FortressCan Train Pistolier, Camel Gunner, CuirassierCan Construct Harmandir SahibEnables Commando
1600Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+30% Open Terrain StrengthFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics, TrebuchetTrebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery, BombardBombard (Siege Weapons)
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron, CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron
Replacements and Upgrades
Hakkapeliitta (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Swedish
Replaces Pistolier
8, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+20% Open Terrain StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, CannonStarts with Shock, Pinch
Requires Firearms
Requires Horse
Mounted Brave (Light Cavalry Units)
Replaces Pistolier
8, 2Immune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (60% Chance)+30% Open Terrain StrengthFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Horse
Hussar (Light Cavalry Units)
10, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (40% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Cannon+50% Attack vs. ArtilleryFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery
Requires Nationalism
Requires Biology
Requires Horse
History
Pistoliers are immune to first strikes, don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus on open terrain and have a flank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard and Cannon units.
Pistols were the first gunpowder weapons developed for cavalry, and the pistoliers was one of the new cavalry types to develop which signaled the end of the lance-charging heavy cavalry. Pistoliers were expected to be able to engage their opponents both with firearms and sword; they formed up in deep blocks and used their firearms in a caracole attack to disrupt enemy infantry formations before charging home and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. German mercenary cavalry called Reiters or "Black Riders" were some of the most prominent pistoliers.
Camel Gunner
Light Cavalry Unit, 6 2 80
Requires
Combined Arms
Obsoletes The Great Wall
Obsoletes Krak des Chevaliers
Obsoletes Alamut FortressCan Train Pistolier, Camel Gunner, CuirassierCan Construct Harmandir SahibEnables Commando
1600Camel+1, +1Revealed by Pastoralism
Healthy: +1(with Pasture)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh waterImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+30% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics, TrebuchetTrebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery, BombardBombard (Siege Weapons)
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron, CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires IronStarts with Desert Adaptation
Replacements and Upgrades
Zamburak (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Iranians
Replaces Camel Gunner
7, 2Can Enter DesertImmune to First StrikesDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 60%)+30% Open Terrain Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Desert Adaptation
Requires Combined Arms
Requires Camel
Gunship (Helicopter Units)
24, 4Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice, Jungle, Marsh, RainforestCannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+100% vs. Armored UnitsFlank attack against Cannon, Artillery, Howitzer, Mobile ArtilleryStarts with Amphibious
Requires Aerodynamics
Requires Oil
History
Camel Gunners are immune to first strikes, don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus on open terrain and have a flank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard and Cannon units, have a bonus against Heavy Cavalry Units units, have a combat bonus in Desert and begin with the Desert Adaptation promotion.
In the Arabian Peninsula, cavalrymen ride on either horse or camel. While horses are somewhat easier to train than camels, camels are the obvious choice for forces operating in the deep desert. Arab tribesmen such as the Bedouin have always been fearsome warriors, and their prowess with bow and arrow (and later, rifle) from atop a mount has become the stuff of legend.
Hussar
Light Cavalry Unit, 10 2 100
Requires
Nationalism
Obsoletes Notre Dame
Obsoletes Topkapi PalaceEnables NationhoodCan Train HussarCan Construct National Monument, Brandenburg Gate, Chapultepec Castle
3000BiologyCan Build Farms without IrrigationPasture: +1Can Train Hussar, DragoonCan Construct ParkRequired for the spread of Cereal Industry
3600Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (40% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron+50% Attack vs. ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires IronFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics, TrebuchetTrebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery, BombardBombard (Siege Weapons)
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron, CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron, ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron
Replacements and Upgrades
Cossack (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Russians
Replaces Hussar
10, 2Can Enter Tundra, IceDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Cannon+50% Attack vs. Artillery+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+25% vs. Light Cavalry UnitsFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery
Requires Measurement
Requires Horse
Llanero (Heavy Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Colombians
Replaces Hussar
10, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (40% Chance)+25% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Musketeer+50% Attack vs. Rifleman+50% Attack vs. Cannon+50% Attack vs. ArtilleryFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, ArtilleryStarts with Mobility
Requires Nationalism
Requires Horse
Cavalry (Light Cavalry Units)
14, 2Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+20% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Artillery+50% Attack vs. HowitzerFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery, Howitzer
Requires Microbiology
Requires Horse
History
Hussars don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus on open terrain, have a attack bonus against Cannon and Artillery units and have a flank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon and Artillery units.
Frederick the Great was instrumental in spreading the irregular light cavalry of Hungary (huszars) to the battlefields of Europe. By dropping metal body armor, these light hussars became ideal for reconnaissance and raiding. In battle, they were used in such light cavalry roles as harassing enemy skirmishers, overrunning artillery positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. Following the Prussian example, hussar regiments were introduced across Europe, often maintaining the colorful uniforms a reputation for recklessness in battle of Frederick's original hussars.
Cavalry
Light Cavalry Unit, 14 2 150
Requires
MicrobiologyCan Remove JungleCan Remove RainforestCan Train CavalryCan Construct Hospital, Red Cross, Las Lajas Sanctuary
5400Horse+1Revealed by Pastoralism
Abilities
Doesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+20% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron+50% Attack vs. HowitzerHowitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires IronFlank attack against CatapultCatapult (Siege Weapons)
3, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics, TrebuchetTrebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery, BombardBombard (Siege Weapons)
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron, CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron, ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron, HowitzerHowitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires Iron
Replacements and Upgrades
Rural (Light Cavalry Units)
Unique Unit for The Mexicans
Replaces Cavalry
14, 2Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+20% Open Terrain Strength+50% Attack vs. Artillery+50% Attack vs. HowitzerFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery, HowitzerStarts with Combat I
Requires Microbiology
Requires Horse
Light Horse (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Australians
Replaces Cavalry
14, 2Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+20% Open Terrain Strength+25% Plains Strength+25% Desert Strength+25% Semidesert Strength+50% Attack vs. Artillery+50% Attack vs. HowitzerFlank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Artillery, HowitzerStarts with Mobility, Desert Adaptation
Requires Microbiology
Requires Horse
Gunship (Helicopter Units)
24, 4Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice, Jungle, Marsh, RainforestCannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+100% vs. Armored UnitsFlank attack against Cannon, Artillery, Howitzer, Mobile ArtilleryStarts with Amphibious
Requires Aerodynamics
Requires Oil
History
Cavalry don't receive defensive bonuses, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus on open terrain, has a combat bonus against Artillery and Howitzer units and has a flank attack against Catapult, Trebuchet, Bombard, Cannon, Atillery and Howitzer units.
Cavalry is composed of soldiers trained to fight on horseback. Because of their speed, cavalry units were often used for reconnaissance missions and hit-and-run raids on enemy installations and troops. Although warriors fighting from horseback with a variety of weapons date back to ancient Egypt, horse-mounted cavalry as we generally think of it today actually began in the late 1700s. Under Napoleon, the cavalry became an elite force, frequently deployed simultaneously with foot soldiers to mask the movements of the main battle force.
Cavalry were used extensively in the American Civil War, and in other conflicts throughout the mid to late 19th century. When the repeating rifle replaced earlier single-shot firearms, horse-mounted troops became easy targets for infantrymen. The South African War, from 1899 to 1902, was the last major conflict where cavalry played an important role. Today, the roles once performed by horse-mounted cavalry have been assumed by troops utilizing armored assault vehicles and aircraft.
Warrior
Melee Unit, 2 1 15
Requires
Abilities
National Unit (0 Allowed)+25% City Defense
Replacements and Upgrades
Axeman (Melee Units)National Unit (0 Allowed)
5, 1+50% vs. Melee Units
Requires Alloys
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Spearman (Melee Units)
4, 1+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
History
Build this melee combat unit for quick, early defense for your cities or as escorts for your defenseless Settlers. This unit is cheap to produce but weak so you will want to make better units as soon as you are able.
The earliest military forces were simply the citizens of the city, armed with whatever implements they could use as weapons. Although a militia made up of warriors was inexpensive, they were no match for organized armies. Warriors were usually used as stopgap measures while waiting for superior units to be trained, or to defend a city that had been temporarily cut off from military support. In a crisis situation, an assembly of warriors is better than no defense at all.
Militia
Melee Unit, 2 1 15
Requires
Abilities
+25% City Defense
Replacements and Upgrades
Light Swordsman (Melee Units)
5, 1
Requires Alloys
Requires Copper or Iron or ObsidianSpearman (Melee Units)
4, 1+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
History
Militia have a defensive bonus in cities.
The earliest military forces were simply the citizens of the city, armed with whatever implements they could use as weapons. Although a militia made up of warriors was inexpensive, they were no match for organized armies. Warriors were usually used as stopgap measures while waiting for superior units to be trained, or to defend a city that had been temporarily cut off from military support. In a crisis situation, an assembly of warriors is better than no defense at all.
Axeman
Melee Unit, 5 1 35
Requires
AlloysCan Chop Down a ForestCan Remove SavannaCan Train Light Swordsman, Axeman
150Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery or 
Obsidian+1
Abilities
National Unit (0 Allowed)+50% vs. Melee Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Heavy Swordsman (Melee Units)
8, 1+10% City Attack
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Axemen have a combat bonus against Melee Units
The original axes were constructed of stone many thousands of years ago. They were hand-held tools and lacked a handle, which began appearing some time around 6000 BC. The original use of the axe was to chop wood, but axe-wielders no doubt quickly realized its potential as a weapon.
An axe is a device that concentrates energy at the edge of a sharp blade, which can then chop into a tree - or skull. The axe is an edged weapon and is most effective when the user swings it in a wide arc, preferably with both hands.
The first bronze axes begin to appear around 3000 BC. Most early cultures used some form of this fearsome weapon, which is far superior to clubs and other primitive melee weapons.
Light Swordsman
Melee Unit, 5 1 35
Requires
AlloysCan Chop Down a ForestCan Remove SavannaCan Train Light Swordsman, Axeman
150Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery or Obsidian+1
Abilities
Replacements and Upgrades
Vulture (Melee Units)
Replaces Light Swordsman
4, 1+25% Attack vs. Militia+25% Attack vs. Spearman+25% Attack vs. Archer
Requires Alloys
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Dog Soldier (Melee Units)
Replaces Light Swordsman
5, 1+25% vs. Melee Units
Requires Alloys
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Oathsworn (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Celts
Replaces Light Swordsman
5, 2+25% City AttackStarts with Mobility
Requires Alloys
Swordsman (Melee Units)
6, 1+10% City Attack
Requires Bloomery
Requires Iron
History
Light Swordsmen are the basic Melee units or the Classical Era.
The sword developed from the dagger when the construction of longer blades became possible, from the late 3rd millennium BC in the Middle East, first in arsenic copper, then in tin-bronze. The oldest sword-like weapons are found at Arslantepe, Turkey, and date to around 3300 BC. However, it is generally considered that these are longer daggers, and not the first ancestors of swords. Sword blades longer than 60 cm (24 in) were rare and not practical until the late Bronze Age because the tensile strength of bronze is relatively low, and consequently longer blades would bend easily.
Swordsman
Melee Unit, 6 1 40
Requires
BloomeryReveals IronCan Train SwordsmanCan Construct The Colossus
300Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
+10% City Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Jaguar (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Aztecs
Replaces Swordsman
6, 1Can Enter Jungle, RainforestCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+10% City AttackStarts with Woodsman I
Requires Alloys
Requires Iron or Obsidian
Legion (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Romans
Replaces Swordsman
8, 1Can Build a Roman Road+10% City Attack
Requires Bloomery
Requires Iron
Gallic Warrior (Melee Units)
Replaces Swordsman
6, 1+10% City AttackStarts with Guerilla I
Requires Bloomery
Requires Copper or Iron
Pendekar (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Javanese
Replaces Swordsman
6, 1Can Enter Jungle, RainforestCan Withdraw from Combat (30% Chance)+10% City AttackStarts with Amphibious
Requires Bloomery
Aucac (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Inca
Replaces Swordsman
5, 1+10% City Attack+50% vs. Archery Units+50% vs. Melee UnitsStarts with Combat I
Requires Mining
Shotelai (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Ethiopians
Replaces Swordsman
6, 1Can Enter Desert+10% City AttackStarts with Guerilla I
Requires Bloomery
Requires Obsidian or Iron
Heavy Swordsman (Melee Units)
8, 1+10% City Attack
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Swordsmen have a combat bonus when attacking cities.
The advantages of a long, sharp blade in battle had to await advanced smelting and casting technologies before they could be realized. By about 1500 BC the war ax had evolved into the sickle sword, a bronze sword with a curved, concave blade and a straight, thickened handle. Bronze swords with straight blades more than three feet long have been found in Greek grave sites; however, because this length exceeded the tensile strength of bronze, these swords were not practical. As a serious military weapon, the sword had to await the development of ironworking, and the first true swords date from about 1200 BC. Swords in antiquity and classical times tended to be relatively short, at first because they were made of bronze and later because they were rarely called upon to penetrate armor. The blade of the classic Roman stabbing sword, the gladius, was only some two feet long, though in the twilight years of the empire the gladius gave way to the spatha, the long slashing sword of the barbarians and forerunner of the great broadswords of medieval Europe.
Heavy Swordsman
Melee Unit, 8 1 70
Requires
Civil Service
Obsoletes The Hanging GardensCan Train Heavy SwordsmanCan Construct Wat Preah Pisnulok, Khajuraho
700
SteelCan Build a LumbermillCan Train Heavy Swordsman, Heavy SpearmanCan Construct Forge, Iron Pillar
500Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
+10% City Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Gallowglass (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Celts
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
7, 1+10% City Attack+50% Hills Attack+50% Open Terrain Attack+50% Forest Attack
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Samurai (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Japanese
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
8, 1+10% City AttackStarts with Leadership
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Requires Iron
Huscarl (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Norse
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
8, 1+20% City AttackStarts with Amphibious
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
Ghazi (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Arabs
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
8, 2+20% City Attack
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
Druzhina (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Rus
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
8, 2+10% City AttackStarts with Woodsman I, Flanking I, River Combat
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
Pombos (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Congolese
Replaces Heavy Swordsman
8, 1Can Enter Jungle, Marsh, Rainforest+10% City Attack+50% vs. Gunpowder Units
Requires Civil Service
Requires Steel
Musketeer (Gunpowder Units)
12, 1+10% vs. Arquebusier
Requires Replaceable Parts
History
Heavy Swordsmen have a combat bonus when attacking cities.
During the Middle Ages sword technology improved, and the sword became a very advanced weapon. It was frequently used by men in battle, particularly during an attack. The spatha type remained popular throughout the Migration period and well into the Middle Ages. Vendel Age spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic bracteates fashioned after Roman coins). The Viking Age saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to the spatha.
Around the 10th century, the use of properly quenched hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common than in previous periods. The Frankish 'Ulfberht' blades (the name of the maker inlaid in the blade) were of particularly consistent high quality. Charles the Bald tried to prohibit the export of these swords, as they were used by Vikings in raids against the Franks.
Wootz steel which is also known as Damascus steel was a unique and highly prized steel developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BC. Its properties were unique due to the special smelting and reworking of the steel creating networks of iron carbides described as a globular cementite in a matrix of pearlite. The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.
It was only from the 11th century that Norman swords began to develop the crossguard (quillons). During the Crusades of the 12th to 13th century, this cruciform type of arming sword remained essentially stable, with variations mainly concerning the shape of the pommel. These swords were designed as cutting weapons, although effective points were becoming common to counter improvements in armour, especially the 14th-century change from chain mail to plate armour.
Spearman
Melee Unit, 4 1 30
Requires
SmeltingReveals CopperCan Train Spearman
120Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery or Obsidian+1
Abilities
+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Azmaru (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Assyrians
Replaces Spearman
4, 1+50% City Attack+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Hoplite (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Greeks
Replaces Spearman
5, 1+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Cover, Shock
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Sacred Band (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Phoenicians
Replaces Spearman
4, 1+25% City Strength+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Amphibious
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Immortal (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Persians
Replaces Spearman
4, 1+100% Attack vs. Archer+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with March
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Raider (Melee Units)
Replaces Spearman
4, 2Can Enter Jungle, Marsh, Rainforest+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry UnitsStarts with Mobility
Requires Smelting
Requires Copper or Iron or Obsidian
Heavy Spearman (Melee Units)
6, 1+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Requires Steel
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Spearmen have a combat bonus against Heavy Cavalry Units.
Though early man probably employed spears of fire-hardened wood, spearheads of knapped stone were used long before the emergence of any distinction between hunting and military weapons. Bronze spearheads closely followed the development of alloys hard enough to keep a cutting edge and represented, with the war ax, the earliest significant military application of bronze. Spearheads were also among the earliest militarily significant applications of iron, no doubt because existing patterns could be directly extrapolated from bronze to iron. Though the hafting is quite different, bronze Sumerian spearheads of the 3rd millennium BC differ only marginally in shape from the leaf-shaped spearheads of classical Greece. The spears of antiquity were relatively short, commonly less than the height of the warrior, and typically were wielded with one hand. As defensive armor and other weapons of shock combat (notably the sword and mounted troops) improved, spear shafts were made longer and the use of spearmen became increasingly specialized. The Greek hoplite's spear was about nine feet long; the Macedonian sarissa was twice that length in the period of Alexander's conquests. The Middle Ages would see the evolution of the spear into the pike and halberd.
Heavy Spearman
Melee Unit, 6 1 60
Requires
SteelCan Build a LumbermillCan Train Heavy Swordsman, Heavy SpearmanCan Construct Forge, Iron Pillar
500Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Kyundaw (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Burmese
Replaces Heavy Spearman
6, 1Can Enter RainforestCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+100% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units
Requires Steel
Pikeman (Melee Units)
8, 1+50% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+50% vs. Melee Units
Requires Companies
Requires Iron
History
Heavy Spearmen have a combat bonus against Heavy Mounted Units.
Broadly speaking, spears were either designed to be used in melee, or to be thrown. Within this simple classification, there was a remarkable range of types. For example, M.J. Swanton identified thirty different spearhead categories and sub-categories in Early Saxon England. Most medieval spearheads were generally leaf-shaped. Notable types of Early medieval spears include the angon, a throwing spear with a long head similar to the Roman pilum, used by the Franks and Anglo-Saxons, and the winged (or lugged) spear, which had two prominent wings at the base of the spearhead, either to prevent the spear penetrating too far into an enemy or to aid in spear fencing. Originally a Frankish weapon, the winged spear also was popular with the Vikings. It would become the ancestor of later medieval polearms, such as the partisan and spetum.
The thrusting spear also has the advantage of reach, being considerably longer than other weapon types. Exact spear lengths are hard to deduce as few spear shafts survive archaeologically but 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) would seem to have been the norm. Some nations were noted for their long spears, including the Scots and the Flemish. Spears usually were used in tightly ordered formations, such as the shieldwall or the schiltron. To resist cavalry, spear shafts could be planted against the ground. William Wallace drew up his schiltrons in a circle at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 to deter charging cavalry, it was a widespread tactic sometimes known as the "crown" formation.
Throwing spears became rarer as the Middle Ages drew on, but survived in the hands of specialists such as the Catalan Almogavars. They were commonly used in Ireland until the end of the 16th century.
Spears began to lose fashion among the infantry during the 14th century, being replaced by pole weapons that combined the thrusting properties of the spear with the cutting properties of the axe, such as the halberd. Where spears were retained they grew in length, eventually evolving into pikes, which would be a dominant infantry weapon in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Pikeman
Melee Unit, 8 1 80
Requires
Companies
Obsoletes Flavian AmphitheatreReveals CoffeeEnables Regulated TradeCan Train PikemanCan Construct Vijaya Stambha
900Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
+50% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+50% vs. Melee Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Landsknecht (Melee Units)
Unique Unit for The Germans
Replaces Pikeman
8, 1+50% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+100% vs. Melee UnitsStarts with Leadership
Requires Companies
Requires Iron
Musketeer (Gunpowder Units)
12, 1+10% vs. Arquebusier
Requires Replaceable Parts
History
Pikemen have a combat bonus against Mounted Units and Melee Units.
The growing deployment of knights on the battlefield demanded that foot soldiers develop new means of fighting that would lessen their vulnerability to mounted opponents. One of the best ways to do this was to lengthen the reach of the infantrymen by arming them with long, sturdy spears known as pikes. Massed infantry armed with pikes -- particularly in conjunction with archers -- managed to even the battlefield odds. Armies equipped in this manner were able to hold their own until the invention of gunpowder made archers, pikemen, and knights a thing of the past.
Catapult
Siege Weapons, 3 1 75
Requires
MathematicsEnables Bridge BuildingCan Train CatapultCan Construct Arch, The Parthenon, Pyramid of the Sun, The Temple of Artemis
275
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (3 Units) (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Siege Ram (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Assyrians
Replaces Catapult
2, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)Starts with Cover
Requires Leverage
Ballista (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Romans
Replaces Catapult
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 40%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Mathematics
Trebuchet (Siege Weapons)
4, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Fortification
Requires Machinery
History
Catapults cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
The catapult was one of the earliest forms of artillery, with records indicating that they were in use by the Greeks as far back as 400 BC. It was a large mechanical arm that propelled heavy stones and other missiles from a great distance, battering down walls and inflicting damage on buildings and defenders. Catapults could easily launch projectiles 500 to 1000 feet with a surprising amount of force behind them. Though cumbersome and nearly useless on the battlefield, the catapult was an effective weapon for siege operations.
Trebuchet
Siege Weapons, 4 1 100
Requires
Fortification
Obsoletes The Statue of ZeusCan Train TrebuchetCan Construct Castle, Krak des Chevaliers
600MachineryCan Build a WindmillCan Build a WatermillCan Train Crossbowman, TrebuchetCan Construct The Grand Canal
650
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (3 Units) (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Bombard (Siege Weapons)
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Trebuchets cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
The trebuchet was a medieval siege weapon designed to throw a projectile a great distance through the air. The trebuchet originated in China sometime between the fifth and third centuries BC. From there it spread to the west, reaching Europe around 500 AD.
Although it is usually thought of as a type of catapult, the trebuchet is in fact a gigantic sling attached to a lever. The shorter arm of the lever carries a counterweight, while the longer arm carries the sling that throws the projectile. In operation the sling end is pulled towards the ground (lifting the counterweight in the process) and held in place by a trigger while a projectile is loaded into the sling. When the trigger is released, the counterweight falls and the sling flies up and above the machine, releasing the projectile at the top of its arc.
Constructed properly, trebuchets could fire very heavy loads. In modern reconstructions using trebuchets built with the original tools and materials, trebuchets have been able to throw projectiles weighing as much as 300 kilograms. Aiming the trebuchet was difficult and required some practice and knowledge of engineering - both of which were usually in short supply for medieval operators. Trebuchets were also extremely heavy and almost immobile; this, combined with their slow rate of their fire, made them impractical for anything except siege operations.
Although the Chinese were the first to develop the trebuchet, by the time of the Mongol invasions the Chinese had fallen behind other parts of the world in siege technology. This was due to the fact that China had been politically united for long periods of time, preventing the formation of strong fortresses across the country, and the traditional enemies of the Chinese were nomadic warriors - not fortified city-dwellers. Nevertheless, the Chinese were still far more advanced in siege warfare than the Mongols, and it was not until the Mongols adopted Chinese practices that they began to have success capturing enemy fortifications.
Late in the conquest of Song China, Mongol leader Kublai Khan brought in Arab engineers from the Mongol holdings in Persia to build hinged counterweight trebuchets, which were more advanced than anything yet seen in China. With the aid of these powerful weapons, Kublai was able to take the previously-impenetrable fortress of Xiangyang in 1273, and from there rapidly take the rest of Song China's cities, completing his conquest of the Song Empire in 1279.
Bombard
Siege Weapons, 5 1 120
Requires
Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (3 Units) (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Hwacha (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Koreans
Replaces Bombard
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron
Lantaka (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Javanese
Replaces Bombard
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)Starts with Amphibious
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron
Siege Elephant (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Mughals
Replaces Bombard
6, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+50% City Attack+25% vs. Archery Units+25% vs. Gunpowder UnitsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Ivory
Requires Copper or Iron
Great Bombard (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The Ottomans
Replaces Bombard
5, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+75% City AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron
Cannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron
History
Bombards cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
A bombard is a medieval cannon or mortar, used chiefly in sieges for throwing heavy stone balls. This weapon was usually used during sieges to hurl various forms of missile into enemy fortifications. Projectiles such as stone or metal balls, burning materials and weighted cloth soaked in quicklime or Greek fire are documented.
Cannon
Siege Weapons, 8 1 150
Requires
Physics
Obsoletes CheomseongdaeCan Train CannonCan Construct Observatory
2500Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (4 Units) (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires IronCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Gribeauval (Siege Weapons)
Unique Unit for The French
Replaces Cannon
8, 2Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)Starts with Pinch
Requires Physics
Requires Iron
Artillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron
History
Cannons cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
Closely following the invention of gunpowder, the development of the cannon caused a revolution in siege warfare. Invented by a German monk in the 14th century, early cannons used gunpowder charges to fire rocks or metal balls. The cannon forced a redesign of most fortifications because the straight, high walls surrounding most cities could be easily destroyed by direct fire. This was the fate of the walls of Constantinople, which had held against countless sieges for over a thousand years. The cannon quickly assumed an important role on the battlefield.
Artillery
Siege Weapons, 12 1 180
Requires
Ballistics
Obsoletes Walls
Obsoletes The Red FortCan Train Rifleman, Infantry, Artillery, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Triumphal Arch
3800Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (5 Units) (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Howitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires Iron
History
Artillery cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
Artillery is a general term covering several varieties of large-caliber weapons including mortars and field guns. Mortars fire an explosive projectile in a high arc, and are particularly effective against small, concealed targets. Field guns, long-range weapons that fire their projectiles in a flat arc, are used primarily for their ability to penetrate hard targets. Powerful enough to batter opposing forces even behind the strongest fortifications, artillery is also able to move quickly from one firing position to another. This is an important capability when fighting a moving battle or when avoiding enemy fire.
Machine Gun
Siege Weapons, 18 1 125
Requires
PneumaticsCan Train Machine Gun, SubmarineCan Construct Gas Plant, Waterworks, Metropolitain
5400
Abilities
Can Only Defend1 First StrikeCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% vs. Gunpowder Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Mechanized Infantry (Gunpowder Units)
32, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, IceCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Starts with March
Requires Telecommunications
History
Machine Guns can only defend, have one first strike, can intercept aircraft, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and have a combat bonus against Gunpowder Units.
Many WWII-era divisions had a heavy weapons unit composed of a number of heavy machine guns, and perhaps a battery of 8cm field mortars. While such units were sometimes attached on the company level to a battalion, there were also entire battalions of machineguns attached at the division or corps level. The defensive ability of massed machineguns was first illustrated with deadly earnest during WWI by windrows of dead. By WWII the typical machinegun's rate of fire and increased and its bulk decreased, thus making it even deadlier and more mobile.
Howitzer
Siege Weapons, 15 1 200
Requires
FlightCan Train Howitzer, Carrier, Biplane
7500Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (6 Units) (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. HowitzerHowitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires Iron+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Mobile Artillery (Siege Weapons)
20, 2Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 70% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 70%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Mobile ArtilleryCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Computers
Requires Oil
Requires Iron
History
Howitzers cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles over relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent.
In the taxonomies of artillery pieces used by European (and European-style) armies in the 17th to 20th centuries, the howitzer stood between the "gun" (characterized by a longer barrel, larger propelling charges, smaller shells, higher velocities, and flatter trajectories) and the "mortar" (which was meant to fire at even higher angles of ascent and descent). Howitzers, like other artillery equipment, are usually organized in groups called batteries.
Mobile Artillery
Siege Weapons, 20 2 220
Requires
ComputersCan Train Mobile ArtilleryCan Construct SupercomputerCan Create The InternetRequired for the spread of Computer Industry
12000
Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) and Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 70% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (7 Units) (max. 70%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Mobile ArtilleryMobile Artillery (Siege Weapons)
20, 2Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 70% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 70%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Mobile ArtilleryCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Computers
Requires Oil
Requires IronCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Mobile Artillery cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, have a combat bonus when attacking cities, cause collateral damage, are immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons and can bombard city defenses.
The campaigns of World War II brought to the forefront a key predicament in the development of mobile howitzers: how should new artillery reconcile the need for maneuverability with the demand for destructive power? Militaries the world round would have to wait until the 1960s for a machine that was both mobile and truly powerful.
The M109 Paladin, capable of launching a 155mm-caliber artillery shell over nine miles and moving at speeds of 40mph, has become the world standard in self-propelled howitzers. But with the Paladin beginning to show its age, a new machine, the Crusader, capable of firing every six seconds and coordinating eight hits simultaneously, may soon find a spot at the top of the howitzer hierarchy.
Arquebusier
Gunpowder Unit, 10 1 70
Requires
FirearmsCamp: +1Can Train ArquebusierCan Construct St. Basil's CathedralEnables Pinch
1200
Abilities
Replacements and Upgrades
Firelancer (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Chinese
Replaces Arquebusier
9, 1Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)
Requires Gunpowder
Tercio (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Spanish
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 1Starts with Pinch, Formation
Requires Firearms
Strelets (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Russians
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 2Starts with City Garrison I
Requires Firearms
Janissary (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Ottomans
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 1+25% vs. Archery Units+25% vs. Heavy Cavalry Units+25% vs. Melee Units
Requires Firearms
Oromo Warrior (Gunpowder Units)
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 11 First StrikeImmune to First StrikesStarts with Drill I, Drill II
Requires Firearms
Qizilbash (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Iranians
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 1+25% vs. Gunpowder UnitsStarts with Guerilla I
Requires Firearms
Mohawk (Gunpowder Units)
Replaces Arquebusier
10, 1+30% Forest DefenseStarts with Woodsman I
Requires Firearms
Musketeer (Gunpowder Units)
12, 1+10% vs. Arquebusier
Requires Replaceable Parts
History
Arquebusiers are the first Gunpowder Unit available.
The arquebus is an early muzzle-loaded firearm. They were used against enemies that were often protected by steel-plate armor, which a bullet could pierce only at close range. The arquebus was unable to match the accuracy of a bow in the hands of a highly-skilled archer. However, it had a faster rate of fire than the most powerful crossbow, and a much shorter learning curve than a longbow. Once the methods were developed, powder and shot were relatively easy to mass-produce, while arrow making was a genuine craft requiring highly skilled labor.
Musketeer
Gunpowder Unit, 12 1 90
Requires
Replaceable Parts
Obsoletes Vijaya StambhaWindmill: +1Watermill: +1Can Train Musketeer
2500
Abilities
+10% vs. ArquebusierArquebusier (Gunpowder Units)
10, 1
Requires Firearms
Replacements and Upgrades
Redcoat (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The English
Replaces Musketeer
12, 1Causes Collateral Damage (max. 60%)+10% vs. Arquebusier
Requires Replaceable Parts
Carolean (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Swedish
Replaces Musketeer
12, 1Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+10% vs. ArquebusierStarts with Formation, March
Requires Combined Arms
Fusilier (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Prussians
Replaces Musketeer
12, 1+10% vs. ArquebusierStarts with Drill I, Drill II
Requires Replaceable Parts
Rifleman (Gunpowder Units)
16, 1
Requires Ballistics
History
Musketeers requires no special resources.
One of the most important developments in the history of warfare was the invention of firearms. Originally developed in the 14th century, firearms evolved quickly, and by the late 17th century flintlock muskets had become commonplace in battle. Musketmen, who were relatively inexpensive to equip and train, proved a deadly foe for the knights who had dominated the battlefield for so many years. Armies were often comprised of a combination of musketmen, cannon, and knights, each complementing the strengths and weaknesses of the others. Large forces of musketmen within a fortress or behind city walls proved an exceedingly difficult obstacle to an attacking army. Muskets were the primary firearms in use until they were replaced by repeating rifles in the mid-19th century.
Rifleman
Gunpowder Unit, 16 1 120
Requires
Ballistics
Obsoletes Walls
Obsoletes The Red FortCan Train Rifleman, Infantry, Artillery, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Triumphal Arch
3800
Abilities
Replacements and Upgrades
Mehal Sefari (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Ethiopians
Replaces Rifleman
16, 1Starts with Drill I, Drill II
Requires Ballistics
Infantry (Gunpowder Units)
20, 1+20% vs. Marine+20% vs. Paratrooper
Requires Social Services
Requires Ballistics
History
Riflemen are the basic Gunpowder Units of the Industrial Era.
Two developments in the 19th century made early firearms (such as the musket) obsolete. The first was the invention of a spiral groove, or "rifling," inside the barrel of a gun. Second was the development of the repeating rifle, which could fire multiple shots before it required reloading. The rifle was a better weapon than its ancestors, with much more accuracy over a greater range than the musket and a much higher rate of fire.
Riflemen were first employed in large numbers during the American Civil War. The rifle gave a strong defensive advantage, since riflemen could fire several times while the attackers advanced to within hand-to-hand distance. This was normally enough to hold any position. Riflemen dominated the battlefield until the appearance of armored attack vehicles.
Grenadier
Gunpowder Unit, 10 1 100
Requires
ChemistryFarm: +1Paddy Field: +1Can Train GrenadierCan Construct Distillery
3000
Abilities
Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (3 Units) (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. RiflemanRifleman (Gunpowder Units)
16, 1
Requires BallisticsStarts with City Raider ICity Raider I+15% City Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Rocketeer (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Dravidians
Replaces Grenadier
12, 1Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. Musketeer+25% Attack vs. Rifleman
Requires Chemistry
Grenzer (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Germans
Replaces Grenadier
8, 1Can Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. RiflemanStarts with Guerilla I, City Raider I, Disengage I
Requires Geography
Albion Legion (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Colombians
Replaces Grenadier
12, 2Can Enter Jungle, RainforestCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. RiflemanStarts with City Raider I
Requires Chemistry
Chasseur (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Belgians
Replaces Grenadier
10, 1Can Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+25% Attack vs. RiflemanStarts with City Raider I
Requires Chemistry
Infantry (Gunpowder Units)
20, 1+20% vs. Marine+20% vs. Paratrooper
Requires Social Services
Requires Ballistics
History
Grenadiers have one first strike, can withdraw from combat, cause collateral damage, have an attack bonus against Rifleman and begin with the City Raider I.
The original grenadier was a specialized assault soldier designed to attack enemy fortifications. The grenadier was equipped with grenades, small metal balls filled with gunpowder. The grenadiers would approach the enemy's works, light and throw their grenades, and then rush the works in the resulting confusion and panic.
As time progressed, the early grenades were abandoned, primarily because improvements in musketry and massed fire techniques made it highly likely that the grenadier would get shot while in the act of throwing the grenade. The term "grenadier" remained, however, and it was used to denote elite troops until the First World War.
Anti-Tank
Gunpowder Unit, 14 1 120
Requires
RocketryCan Train Anti-Tank, SAM Infantry, Mobile SAM, Guided MissileCan Construct BunkerCan Create Ballistic MissileEnables Ambush
9000
Abilities
Can Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)+100% vs. Armored UnitsStarts with AmbushAmbush+25% vs. Armored Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Mechanized Infantry (Gunpowder Units)
32, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, IceCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Starts with March
Requires Telecommunications
History
Anti-Tanks can intercept aircraft, have a combat bonus against Armored Units and begin with the Ambush promotion.
Since its introduction at the tail-end of WWI, the tank has completely recast the modern battlefield. Being heavily armored, tanks are almost invulnerable to the small arms carried by standard infantry. To combat this new force, Anti-Tank Infantry units were developed by world militaries. These units employed high-velocity cannons capable of penetrating a tank's thick armor, turning once unstoppable war machines into oversized, mobile targets.
Infantry
Gunpowder Unit, 20 1 140
Requires
Social Services
Obsoletes Old Synagogue
Obsoletes Shalimar GardensEnables Public WelfareCan Train InfantryCan Construct Waterworks, Electrical Grid, Cristo Redentor
7500Ballistics
Obsoletes Walls
Obsoletes The Red FortCan Train Rifleman, Infantry, Artillery, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Triumphal Arch
3800
Abilities
+20% vs. MarineMarine (Gunpowder Units)
24, 1Can Enter Jungle, Rainforest+25% Attack vs. Machine Gun+25% Attack vs. HowitzerStarts with Amphibious, Guerilla I, Woodsman I
Requires Geopolitics+20% vs. ParatrooperParatrooper (Gunpowder Units)
24, 1Can Evade Interception (25% Chance)Can perform paradrops (Range=5)
Requires Radar
Replacements and Upgrades
Viet Cong (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Vietnamese
Replaces Infantry
20, 1Can Enter Jungle, Rainforest2 First Strikes+20% vs. Marine+20% vs. ParatrooperStarts with Guerilla I, Woodsman I
Requires Social Services
Requires Ballistics
Digger (Gunpowder Units)
Unique Unit for The Australians
Replaces Infantry
20, 1+25% Open Terrain Defense+20% vs. Marine+20% vs. ParatrooperStarts with Amphibious
Requires Social Services
Requires Ballistics
Mechanized Infantry (Gunpowder Units)
32, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, IceCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Starts with March
Requires Telecommunications
History
Infantry is the basic Gunpowder Unit of the Modern Era.
Modern infantry is given the challenging task of taking and holding terrain, which often involves dangerous,close range fighting. Organized into small squads, their strength lies in their training and equipment (rifle, grenades, helmet, and other critical gear). Often individuals in the squad are trained to be specialists, allowing them access to anti-tank weapons or light machine guns. Experienced in concealment and patrolling close to the enemy, these hard-fighting men play an important and versatile role in modern military conflict.
SAM Infantry
Gunpowder Unit, 18 1 150
Requires
LaserCan Train SAM Infantry, Guided MissileCan Construct Diagnostics Center, Iron DomeCan Create Strategic Defense Initiative
10000RocketryCan Train Anti-Tank, SAM Infantry, Mobile SAM, Guided MissileCan Construct BunkerCan Create Ballistic MissileEnables Ambush
9000
Abilities
Can Intercept Aircraft (40% Chance)+75% vs. Helicopter Units
Replacements and Upgrades
Mobile SAM (Gunpowder Units)
22, 2, 1 RangeCannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsCan Intercept Aircraft (50% Chance)+50% vs. Helicopter Units
Requires Robotics
Requires Rocketry
Requires Oil
History
SAM Infantry can intercept aircraft and have a combat bonus against Helicopter Units.
With the invention of the aircraft it quickly became apparent that mobile infantry units would need some kind of Anti-Aircraft weapons to defend against the new menace from the air. However, when flight was invented the idea that a single person could carry a rocket-based missile to destroy aircraft was unthinkable, and it took years before any were put into service. Throughout World War II, both sides in the conflict used rocket launcher devices in various forms. One form was the M1A1, an American made anti-tank rocket launcher that could be carried by infantry. By the late 1960s, several surface-to-air missile, shoulder fired single operator weapons were available. Many of these could hit an aircraft at over 10,000 feet off the ground. Even today these weapons are not as reliable as their designers had hoped, but when they do hit their target, it almost always results in devastating destruction.
Mobile SAM
Gunpowder Unit, 22 2 240
Requires
RoboticsMine: +1Slave Mine: +1Quarry: +1Can Train Mobile SAM, Main Battle TankCan Construct Channel Tunnel
14500RocketryCan Train Anti-Tank, SAM Infantry, Mobile SAM, Guided MissileCan Construct BunkerCan Create Ballistic MissileEnables Ambush
9000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsCan Intercept Aircraft (50% Chance)+50% vs. Helicopter Units
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Mobile SAMs cannot capture enemy cities and untis, can intercept aircraft and have a combat bonus against Helicopter Units.
Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems have been in development since the end of World War II. And while the versatility of modern SAMs keeps numerous systems in use, the "Stinger" missile remains the most popular and effective low-altitude SAM available, thanks to its ability to be transported by both infantry and mobile units. The Avenger Air Defense System (a Humvee emboldened with eight "Stinger" missiles) and the M6 Linebacker (an armored fighting vehicle with a single "quad-pod" of Stingers), both employed by the United States, successfully fuse high mobility and surface-to-air suppression.
Marine
Gunpowder Unit, 24 1 175
Requires
Geopolitics
Obsoletes Image of the World SquareEnables MultilateralismCan Train MarineCan Construct The United Nations, Berlaymont, World Trade Center
8000
Abilities
Can Enter JungleJungle-1Movement Cost: 2+0.25 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here , RainforestRainforest-1Movement Cost: 2Defending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most units+25% Attack vs. Machine GunMachine Gun (Siege Weapons)
18, 1Can Only Defend1 First StrikeCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% vs. Gunpowder Units
Requires Pneumatics+25% Attack vs. HowitzerHowitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires IronStarts with AmphibiousAmphibiousNo Combat Penalty for Attacking from SeaNo movement loss when entering enemy watersNo Combat Penalty for Crossing River, Guerilla IGuerilla I+20% Hills Defense, Woodsman IWoodsman I+20% Jungle Defense+20% Forest Defense+20% Rainforest Defense
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Marines have a combat bonus against Machine Gun and Howitzer units, are able to enter Jungle, Rainforest and Marsh and begin with the Amphibious promotion.
The Marines Corps is a branch of the military service whose training prepares them to carry out integrated land, sea, and air operations. The first marines were commissioned during the American Revolution, only to be inactivated after the war. Congress permanently reestablished the Marine Corps in July, 1798. Legendary for their toughness, rigid codes of behavior, and adaptability, they have played an important role in almost every major war and conflict of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Paratrooper
Gunpowder Unit, 24 1 175
Requires
Radar
Obsoletes Triumphal ArchCan Train ParatrooperCan Construct Security Bureau, Container Terminal
10000
Abilities
Can Evade Interception (25% Chance)Can perform paradrops (Range=5)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Paratroopers can evade interception and can perform paradrops.
Infantry trained in the subtle art of leaping out of aircraft, Paratroopers have been surprising and encircling their opponents since World War II. While the concept of airborne troops had been suggested as far back as Benjamin Franklin (although his troopers were attached to balloons rather than parachutes), the Second World War became the first proving ground for the skyborne infantry. While the ability of Paratroopers to enter otherwise inaccessible territory gave the troops an invaluable tactical advantage, the use of Paratroopers in conjunction with regular troops provided the added bonus of confusion - dug-in troops were often unable to tell if the Paratroopers were the main opposing force.
While massive deployments of Paratroopers are no longer considered tactically sound, new forms of drops, such as the HALO (High Altitude-Low Opening), have developed, allowing small groups of soldiers - usually special forces - to be placed precisely behind enemy lines with almost no radar signature.
Mechanized Infantry
Gunpowder Unit, 32 2 200
Requires
TelecommunicationsCan Train Mechanized InfantryCan Construct Logistics Center, Oriental Pearl TowerCan Create Global Positioning System, Great Firewall
14500
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrainCan Intercept Aircraft (20% Chance)Starts with MarchMarchCan Heal while Moving
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Mechanized Infantry can intercept aircraft and begin with the March promotion.
The introduction of armored tanks meant that armies could quickly break through enemy defensive positions and move aggressively forward on the battlefield. Such a quick advance, however, left the ground won in the advance largely undefended. Mechanized infantry, which was first used during World War II, was designed to move in quickly and defend the conquered area behind the tanks. Infantry were mounted in armored vehicles, such as half-tracks and Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), to carry them quickly and safely along with the rapidly-advancing armored divisions.
Tank
Armored Unit, 28 2 180
Requires
Synthetics
Obsoletes Star Fort
Obsoletes Amber
Obsoletes Fur
Obsoletes Jade
Obsoletes PearlsCan Train Tank, Battleship, BomberCan Construct Department Store
6500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrainDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesStarts with BlitzBlitzCan Attack Multiple Times per Turn
Replacements and Upgrades
Panzer (Armored Units)
Unique Unit for The Prussians
Replaces Tank
28, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, IceDoesn't Receive Defensive Bonuses+25% Attack vs. Rifleman+25% Attack vs. InfantryStarts with Blitz, Leadership
Requires Synthetics
Requires Oil
Main Battle Tank (Armored Units)
40, 2Can Enter Desert, Tundra, Ice1 First StrikeDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesStarts with Blitz
Requires Robotics
Requires Oil
Requires Aluminum
History
Tanks don't receive defensive bonuses and begin with the Blitz promotion.
The rise in the use of semi-automatic and automatic firearms in the late 19th and early 20th century led to the demise of horse-mounted cavalry. As a result, attackers lost a significant advantage in both scouting and deployment. It was only with the development of tanks, armored mobile attack vehicles equipped with high caliber-guns, that a weapon was found which could once more punch a hole through enemy field forces. First appearing in World War I, armored attack vehicles move quickly and strike with power, while still possessing an effective defensive strength. Tanks are powerful weapon against any ground unit.
Main Battle Tank
Armored Unit, 40 2 240
Requires
RoboticsMine: +1Slave Mine: +1Quarry: +1Can Train Mobile SAM, Main Battle TankCan Construct Channel Tunnel
14500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) and 
Aluminum+1Revealed by Metallurgy
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrain1 First StrikeDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesStarts with BlitzBlitzCan Attack Multiple Times per Turn
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Main Battle Tanks have one first strike, don't receive defensive bonuses and begin with the Blitz promotion.
Modern armor's goal is to provide versatile firepower that can operate in any battlefield condition, while at the same time ensuring the safety of its crew. Sophisticated electronics allows modern tanks to operate in any weather, day or night, with no significant performance degradation. Capable of nearly 50 mph in rugged terrain, these fighting vehicles are often in the 50-60 ton range. Though their firepower varies, most of these advanced tracked vehicles are equipped with 100mm+ cannons, in addition to other smaller caliber machine guns. Depending on the assignment, some versions include "reactive" armor, which helps to thwart the advanced armor-penetrating munitions seen on today's battlefields.
Gunship
Helicopter Unit, 24 4 160
Requires
AerodynamicsCan Train Gunship, Jet FighterCan Construct Burj Khalifa
12500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Can Enter DesertDesert+1 adjacent to riverMovement Cost: 2Improvements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal or unless they are near fresh water, TundraTundra+1 adjacent to riverImprovements take +25% time to buildImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here unless they are coastal, IceIceImpassable terrain, JungleJungle-1Movement Cost: 2+0.25 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here , MarshMarsh-1Movement Cost: 2+0.40 in nearby citiesDefending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot build cities here Cannot build any improvements on this feature, RainforestRainforest-1Movement Cost: 2Defending units get +50% strengthImpassable for most unitsCannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesIgnores Terrain Movement CostsCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+100% vs. Armored UnitsFlank attack against CannonCannon (Siege Weapons)
8, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. CannonCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Physics
Requires Iron, ArtilleryArtillery (Siege Weapons)
12, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 50% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Artillery+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Ballistics
Requires Iron, HowitzerHowitzer (Siege Weapons)
15, 1Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 60% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Howitzer+25% vs. Siege WeaponsCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Flight
Requires Iron, Mobile ArtilleryMobile Artillery (Siege Weapons)
20, 2Cannot Capture Enemy Cities or UnitsDoesn't Receive Defensive BonusesCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Maximum 70% damage to enemy on attackCauses Collateral Damage (max. 70%)Immune to collateral damage from Siege Weapons+25% City Attack+25% Hills Defense+25% Defense vs. Mobile ArtilleryCan Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Computers
Requires Oil
Requires IronStarts with AmphibiousAmphibiousNo Combat Penalty for Attacking from SeaNo movement loss when entering enemy watersNo Combat Penalty for Crossing River
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Gunships are able to enter Jungle, Rainforest and Marsh, cannot capture enemy cities or units, don't receive defensive bonuses, ignore terrain movement costs, can withdraw from combat, have a combat bonus against Armored Units, have a flank attack against Siege Weapons and begin with the Amphibious promotion.
A gunship is an armed helicopter. They are the cavalry of the modern army, designed to reconnoiter enemy positions, deploy special forces deep behind enemy lines, and so forth. However, modern gunships are armed with armor-piercing missiles and heavy, quick-firing machine guns; with these, a gunship can wreck havoc on enemy tanks and troops.
Gunships first saw extensive service in the Vietnam War. The Soviet Union employed gunships in Afghanistan, and the US has used them to great effect in all its recent conflicts.
Ground troops defend themselves from gunships with SAMs (surface-to-air missiles). When the CIA supplied Afghan guerillas with such weapons during the Afghanistan war; the Afghans used the SAMs with such devastating effect that they virtually crippled the Soviet war effort.
Biplane
Air Unit, 12 6 120
Requires
FlightCan Train Howitzer, Carrier, Biplane
7500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Can Intercept Aircraft (50% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-8%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Replacements and Upgrades
Fighter (Air Units)
15, 1, 6 RangeCan Intercept Aircraft (75% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-12%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Requires Aviation
Requires Oil
History
Biplanes can intercept enemy air units, destroy improvements, bomb city defenses, perform recon missions and damage enemy units.
A biplane is a type of fixed-wing aircraft that mounts two wings, one above the other. This allows the plane to have a large total wing area, while keeping the individual wings short and reducing the structural load on each wing. For early aircraft this was helpful, because it reduced the stress on their wooden construction, while allowing them to fly at very low speeds because of the large wing area.
The Wright Brothers' first aircraft was a biplane, as were many of the other prototype flying machines of that era. Many of the aircraft of the first two decades of aviation were biplanes (or triplanes), including the military aircraft of World War I, with only a limited number of exceptions.
The main drawbacks of biplane construction are poor aerodynamics and excess weight, especially because of the mass of struts and stays required to hold the wings together. As more powerful engines made greater speeds possible, and as the advent of metal aircraft hulls in the 1930s made it easier to rely on the strength of a single pair of wings, the biplane became comparatively obsolete.
Fighter
Air Unit, 15 6 150
Requires
AviationCan Train Fighter, Bomber, Nuclear BomberCan Construct Airport
8000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Can Intercept Aircraft (75% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-12%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Replacements and Upgrades
Zero (Air Units)
Unique Unit for The Japanese
Replaces Fighter
15, 1, 6 RangeCan Intercept Aircraft (75% Chance)Can Evade Interception (25% Chance)+50% vs. Water UnitsCan Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-12%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Requires Aviation
Requires Oil
Jet Fighter (Air Units)
28, 1, 10 RangeCan Intercept Aircraft (100% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-16%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Requires Aerodynamics
Requires Oil
Requires Aluminum
History
Fighters can intercept enemy air units, destroy improvements, bomb city defenses, perform recon missions and damage enemy units.
The earliest military aircraft were used primarily in a reconnaissance role. In 1915, during World War I, aircraft designer Anthony Fokker developed a gear system that allowed a plane-mounted machine gun to fire through the propeller, giving birth to the first fighter aircraft. The fighter's mission was to shoot down enemy reconnaissance and fighter planes. Later, as the use of bombers became more widespread, fighters were called upon to act as interceptors against enemy bombing runs and escorts for friendly bombers. The best way to ensure the safe passage of friendly bombers to their selected targets is the destruction of enemy fighters.
Jet Fighter
Air Unit, 28 10 225
Requires
AerodynamicsCan Train Gunship, Jet FighterCan Construct Burj Khalifa
12500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) and Aluminum+1Revealed by Metallurgy
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Abilities
Can Intercept Aircraft (100% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-16%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Jet Fighters can intercept enemy air units, destroy improvements, bomb city defenses, perform recon missions and damage enemy units.
The introduction of jet engines to fighter aircraft changed the way man wages war in the skies. The primary impact was that of speed, since even early jet engines were able to outperform their rotary peers by three to one. While this improvement was certainly appreciated by their pilots (speed advantages often translate to more options in air combat), it was some time before the nature of this change was fully understood. Dogfighting became a significantly more difficult task, since the window to 'take a shot' was reduced to an instant. The introduction of guided missiles helped address this, as well as increase engagement ranges to beyond what the pilot could visually see. Though missiles dramatically changed air combat, cannons still remained a staple of the vehicles' arsenal. Missiles could be jammed, and early attempts were fraught with unreliability. Without a backup weapon, pilots were often at the mercy of inferior planes, but ones where the pilot wasn't relying on shaky, emerging technologies.
Bomber
Air Unit, 18 8 180
Requires
AviationCan Train Fighter, Bomber, Nuclear BomberCan Construct Airport
8000Synthetics
Obsoletes Star Fort
Obsoletes Amber
Obsoletes Fur
Obsoletes Jade
Obsoletes PearlsCan Train Tank, Battleship, BomberCan Construct Department Store
6500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Causes Collateral Damage (8 Units) (max. 50%)-50% vs. Water UnitsCan Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Flying Fortress (Air Units)
Unique Unit for The Americans
Replaces Bomber
18, 1, 12 RangeCan Evade Interception (25% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 75%)-50% vs. Water UnitsCan Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Requires Aviation
Requires Synthetics
Requires Oil
Stealth Bomber (Air Units)
24, 1, 12 RangeCan Evade Interception (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 75%)-50% vs. Water UnitsCan Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-24%/Turn)
Requires Superconductors
Requires Oil
Requires Aluminum
History
Bombers can destroy improvements, lower city defenses, perform recon missions, damage enemy units, cause collateral damage and have a combat penalty against Water Units.
The bombing of strategic targets from the air dates back to the beginning of World War I, when the Germans used zeppelins to bomb Paris and London. Because zeppelins proved to be extremely vulnerable, they were withdrawn from war in favor of airplanes. By the end of World War I planes were being designed specifically as bombers.
The bomber's job is to carry bombs into enemy territory, normally beyond the range of artillery, and destroy targets of military and economic value. Bombers were often designed for specific missions, such as attacking ships, bombing vehicles and railroads, daylight precision bombing, and carpet-bombing.
Stealth Bomber
Air Unit, 24 12 250
Requires
SuperconductorsCan Train Stealth Destroyer, Stealth BomberCan Construct Fiber Network, Skytree, Large Hadron Collider
16000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) and Aluminum+1Revealed by Metallurgy
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Abilities
Can Evade Interception (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (10 Units) (max. 75%)-50% vs. Water UnitsCan Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-24%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Stealth Bombers can destroy improvements, bomb city defenses, perform recon missions, damage enemy units, have an increased chance to evade interception, causes collateral damage and has a combat malus against Water Units.
Concurrent with the development of a stealth fighter, aeronautical engineers began to apply stealth technology to a full-scale bomber. The B-1B bomber, which went into service in 1986 as a replacement for the B-52, incorporated some of these innovations. The radar signature of the B-1B was reduced to a mere one percent that of the B-52 due to its low cross-section and its minimal use of radar-reflective, hard-edged surfaces.
Soon after the B-1B entered service, the U.S. Air Force commissioned Northrop to develop a true stealth bomber as an eventual replacement. First revealed to the public in 1988, the B-2 stealth bomber uses a flying wing design similar in shape to the F-117A stealth fighter. The flying wing design reduces the profile of the B-2 by incorporating its engines into the body of the plane. The engine exhausts and intakes are shielded to prevent infrared tracking. The B-2 also makes use of curved surfaces and radar-absorbing materials to enhance its "invisibility", and make it far less detectable than the B-1B. As of the late 1980s, it was announced that 132 B-2's would be constructed, and would enter service sometime in the 1990s.
Drone
Air Unit, 20 10 120
Requires
CyberneticsWell: +2Offshore Platform: +2Can Train DroneCan Construct Automated FactoryCan Create Mars Habitat
25000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) and Aluminum+1Revealed by Metallurgy
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Abilities
Invisible to All UnitsCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Evade Enemy Detection (50% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-16%/Turn)Can be Based on Carriers
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Drones are invisible to all units, can explore rival territory, can destroy improvements, bomb city defenses, perform recon missions, damage enemy units and have an increased chance to evade interception.
An unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), also known as a combat drone or simply a drone, is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that usually carries aircraft ordnance such as missiles and is used for drone strikes. These drones are usually under real-time human control, with varying levels of autonomy. Aircraft of this type have no onboard human pilot. As the operator runs the vehicle from a remote terminal, equipment necessary for a human pilot are not needed, resulting in a lower weight and a smaller size than a manned aircraft. China, Israel, and the United States are widely recognized as industry leaders in UCAV technology. Several other countries have operational domestic UCAVs and many more have imported armed drones or have development programs under way.
Nuclear Bomber
Air Unit, 0 1 400
Requires
FissionCan Train Nuclear BomberCan Construct Bomb Shelters, CERN Research ComplexCan Create The Manhattan Project
10000AviationCan Train Fighter, Bomber, Nuclear BomberCan Construct Airport
8000
UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Can Nuke Enemy Lands
Requires The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan ProjectWorld Project (1 Allowed)Enables Nuclear Attacks (For all Players)Enables Bomb Shelter (For all Players)First to complete receives a free Nuclear Bomber
Required for Anyone to Create Strategic Defense Initiative
2000 (Double Production Speed with Uranium)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Nuclear Bombers can nuke enemy lands.
At the start of the Cold War, bombers were the only means of carrying nuclear weapons to enemy targets, and had the role of deterrence. With the advent of guided air-to-air missiles, bombers needed to avoid interception. High-speed and high-altitude flying became a means of evading detection and attack. Designs such as the English Electric Canberra could fly faster or higher than contemporary fighters. When surface-to-air missiles became capable of hitting high-flying bombers, bombers were flown at low altitudes to evade radar detection and interception.
War Galley
Naval Unit, 3 4 40
Requires
ShipbuildingCan Train War Galley, Heavy Galley, CogCan Construct Harbor, The Great Cothon
120
Abilities
Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here , Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Heavy Galley (Naval Units)
5, 4Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+25% Coast Attack
Requires Alchemy
Requires Shipbuilding
History
War Galleys cannot enter Ocean, cannot pass Capes until Compass and can withdraw from combat.
Triremes were ancient war galleys with three rows of oars on each side. The trireme was an improvement upon an older type of ship called the "pentekonter," which was similar in design but possessed only one row of oars on each side. (The standard "galleys" found in Civilization IV are pentekonters.) The staggered seating of the rowers on the trireme allowed for more people to be packed into roughly the same amount of space, and (more importantly) the extra manpower allowed triremes to travel at faster speeds. Some ancient sources claim that the trireme existed as far back as the eighth century BC, but the first known account of their use was by Polycrates of Samos in 525 BC during an invasion of Egypt. By the middle of the fifth century BC, triremes were in common use throughout Greece.
The average trireme was about 35 meters long, carrying 170 oarsmen, 20 crew members, and 10 marines under the command of a captain. According to ancient sources, triremes could reach a maximum speed of about 20 km/hour in battle, or sustain a slower speed of 13 km/hour for a long stretch of time. Triremes also possessed sails but they were not used during combat. A Trireme's main offensive weapon was its "beak," a stout piece of sharpened wood (often clad in metal) which protruded directly forward from its bow, at or below the waterline. In battle the primary tactic was to use the beaks to ram and sink enemy ships, which required building up as much speed as possible to punch through the opposing ship's hull. This was a difficult task and required a great deal of cooperation from the rowers, as even a single rower moving out of place could greatly slow the ship. For this reason the rowers on Greek triremes were not slaves but instead well-trained free men who received good pay for their services.
During the Persian War, the Greeks used their triremes to defeat the Persians at the decisive Battle of Salamis. Triremes also formed the backbone of the Athenian navy during the Peloponnesian War. As the war progressed Sparta and her allies created their own powerful fleet of triremes; these would be put into good use in 404 BC during the Battle at Aegospotami, when Lysander destroyed Athen's navy, cutting off the city-state's trade and eventually starving her into submission.
Triremes would eventually be supplanted by the larger and faster quinqueremes, but the design was revived years later by the Romans, who, facing no major naval enemies, preferred the smaller and cheaper triremes to the more expensive quinqueremes.
Heavy Galley
Naval Unit, 5 4 60
Requires
Alchemy
Obsoletes The Great CothonCan Train Heavy GalleyCan Construct Pharmacy, House of Wisdom
650ShipbuildingCan Train War Galley, Heavy Galley, CogCan Construct Harbor, The Great Cothon
120
Abilities
Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here , Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+25% Coast Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Dromon (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Byzantines
Replaces Heavy Galley
6, 4Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)+50% Coast Attack
Requires Alchemy
Requires Shipbuilding
Longship (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Norse
Replaces Heavy Galley
5, 6Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+25% Coast AttackCan Bombard City Defenses (-4%/Turn)Starts with Disengage I
Requires Artisanry
Requires Shipbuilding
Galleass (Naval Units)
6, 4Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+50% Coast Strength
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Compass
Requires Copper or Iron
History
Heavy Galleys cannot enter Ocean, cannot pass Capes until Compass, have a combat bonus attacking on coast and can withdraw from combat.
Dromons were the most important warships of the Byzantine navy from the 6th to 12th centuries CE. They were indirectly developed from the ancient trireme and were usually propelled by both oars and sails, a configuration that had been used by navies in the Mediterranean Sea for centuries. Literary sources and accounts reveal that there were at least three varieties of dromon, while the exact relation of the dromon proper with the chelandion, a term with which it is often used interchangeably, somewhat unclear. These were, firstly the ousiakon which took its name from one company or ousia of 100 men. This was a two-banked galley with the lower rank rowing only, and the upper rank rowing or disengaging to fight when required. Secondly the slightly larger pamphylos with a crew of between 120 and 160. Thirdly the dromon proper, which had a crew of 200: 50 on the lower bank, and 100 on the upper bank in two files, together with 50 marines.
Dromons had a central tower (xylokastron: "wooden castle") near the main mast, from which the marines could use their bows and arrows or throw spears and other projectiles. Dromons were frequently equipped with flamethrowers (siphones, and as such the ships were described as siphonphoroi dromones) that discharged Greek fire and catapults capable of hurling 10 kg projectiles up to 250 meters.
Galleass
Naval Unit, 6 4 70
Requires
Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900
Compass
Obsoletes The Great LighthouseCan Create Ocean FisheryEnables 
on Arctic CoastCan Train GalleassCan Construct Wharf, Alamut Fortress, Gur-e-Amir
750Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here , Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+50% Coast Strength
Replacements and Upgrades
Kobukson (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Koreans
Replaces Galleass
8, 4Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+50% Coast StrengthStarts with Drill I, Drill II
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Compass
Requires Copper or Iron
Djong (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Malays
Replaces Galleass
6, 4Cannot Enter OceanCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+100% Coast Defense+50% Coast Attack+50% vs. Privateer
Requires Compass
Lanterna (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Italians
Replaces Galleass
8, 5Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+50% Coast Strength
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Compass
Requires Copper or Iron
Torpedo Boat (Naval Units)
18, 8Cannot Enter Ocean1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+50% Coast Attack
Requires Ballistics
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal or Oil
History
Galleasses cannot enter Ocean, cannot pass Capes until Compass and have a combat bonus on Coast.
The galleass (known as a "mahon" in Turkey) developed from large merchant galleys. Converted for military use they were higher and larger than regular ("light") galleys. They had up to 32 oars, each worked by up to 5 men. They usually had three masts and a forecastle and aftcastle. Much effort was made in Venice to make these galleasses as fast as possible to compete with regular galleys. The gun-deck usually ran over the rowers' heads, but there are also pictures showing the opposite arrangement. Galleasses usually carried more sails than true galleys, and were far deadlier; a galley caught broadside lay all but helpless, but coming broadside to a galleass, as with a ship of the line, exposed an attacker to her gunfire. The galleass exemplified an intermediate type between the galley and the true man-of-war. One disadvantage was that, being more reliant on sails, their position at the front of the galley line at the start of a battle could not be guaranteed but they were used at the Battle of Lepanto (7 October 1571), their firepower helping to win victory for the Christian fleet, and some sufficiently seaworthy galleasses accompanied the Spanish Armada in 1588. In the 15th century a type of light galleass, called the frigate, was built in southern European countries to answer the increasing challenge posed by the north African based Barbary pirates in their fast galleys.
Caravel
Naval Unit, 6 6 60
Requires
CartographyEnables Map TradingCan Train Explorer, Caravel
1000Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900
Abilities
Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Can Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Carrack (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Portuguese
Replaces Caravel
6, 6Cargo Space: 2Can Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Can Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)Starts with Sentry
Requires Cartography
Requires Gunpowder
Frigate (Naval Units)
12, 7Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Geography
Requires Gunpowder
Requires IronTorpedo Boat (Naval Units)
18, 8Cannot Enter Ocean1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+50% Coast Attack
Requires Ballistics
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal or Oil
History
Caravels can explore rival territory and carry one Scout, Explorer, Missionary, Spy or Great Person.
The caravel was a small sailing ship with three or four masts, a broad bow, and a high, narrow stern. Though often used as a warship, the caravel could also carry just over 100 metric tons of cargo. The Spanish and the Portuguese used caravels for both commerce and exploration. Christopher Columbus' three ships, the "Nina," "Pinta," and "Santa Maria," were caravels that risked the hazards of an ocean crossing.
Privateer
Naval Unit, 10 6 90
Requires
Exploration
Obsoletes Temple of KukulkanEnables ColonialismCan Train Galleon, PrivateerCan Construct El EscorialRequired for the spread of Trading Company
1100Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900Copper+1Revealed by Smelting or Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Hidden NationalityCan Attack without Declaring WarCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)Starts with SentrySentry+1 Visibility Range
Replacements and Upgrades
Corsair (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Moors
Replaces Privateer
8, 6Hidden NationalityCan Attack without Declaring WarCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+25% Coast Strength+50% vs. PrivateerStarts with SentryReceives 
for Sinking Enemy Ships
Requires Exploration
Requires Gunpowder
Requires Copper or Iron
Ironclad (Naval Units)
20, 6Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Metallurgy
Requires Coal
Requires Iron
History
Privateers has hidden nationality can attack enemy units without declaring war, can withdraw from combat and begins with the Sentry promotion.
Privateers were government-sanctioned pirate ships prominent from the seventeenth century until the nineteenth century. Pillaging for their lords in the shipping lanes of Europe or in the seas of the New World, Privateers bore no marking of their affiliation, making it impossible to trace their employer short of the "Letter of Marque" commissioning them.
Successful Privateers, such as Sir Francis Drake in the employ of Queen Elisabeth I or Barbarossa under Sultan Suleiman I, wreaked havoc among the merchant vessels of rival nations, securing for themselves and their sovereigns significant, if second-hand, wealth. In the cases of both Barbarossa and Drake, the disruptive effect these naval bandits had upon the enemies of their lords helped ensure the naval supremacy of both the Ottoman Empire and England in their respective ages.
Frigate
Naval Unit, 12 7 100
Requires
Geography
Obsoletes Silver Tree Fountain+1 Trade Routes per CityCan Train FrigateCan Construct Image of the World Square
1500Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Ironclad (Naval Units)
20, 6Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Metallurgy
Requires Coal
Requires Iron
History
Frigates are basic Naval Units in the early Renaissance.
The frigate was a fast and powerful warship that evolved to fill several important roles, but one of its primary roles was to raid enemy shipping. These three masted ships were lighter and faster than the European great ship or man-of-war, and usually carried 36 or fewer guns. The frigate was powerful enough to overcome most of its prospective opponents and fast enough to escape those it could not outgun. Because of their speed and strength, frigates were often employed as escorts for merchant vessels during times of war. The frigate remained the most useful and dominant naval vessel until the development of the ironclad.
Ship of the Line
Naval Unit, 15 7 120
Requires
Measurement
Obsoletes Salsal Buddha
Obsoletes Great Adobe Mosque
Obsoletes San Marco BasilicaCan Train Ship of the LineCan Construct Warehouse, Trafalgar Square
2000Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Causes Collateral Damage (2 Units) (max. 50%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Man-of-War (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The English
Replaces Ship of the Line
18, 8Causes Collateral Damage (max. 50%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-8%/Turn)
Requires Measurement
Requires Iron
Destroyer (Naval Units)
24, 12Can See SubmarinesCan Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+25% vs. Torpedo Boat+25% vs. Submarine+25% vs. Nuclear SubmarineDefends first against Submarine, Nuclear Submarine
Requires Electronics
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Ship of the Lines can bombard city defenses and are basic Naval Units in the late Renaissance.
Ships of the Line were the largest vessels deployed during the height of the European wooden navies, from the seventeenth until the mid-nineteenth century. In naval strategy, the most powerful ships of each respective navy would often form into lines and unleash a barrage upon their rivals. Ships of the Line, as they were known, usually carried 80 or more guns, but this extra-heavy armament cost the vessel dearly in maneuverability.
Ironclad
Naval Unit, 20 6 150
Requires
Thermodynamics
Obsoletes El EscorialReveals OilCan Train Steamship, Ironclad, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Abbey MillsRequired for the spread of Textile Industry
3200
MetallurgyReveals Aluminum, Rare EarthsCan Train IroncladCan Construct Ironworks, Bell Rock LighthouseRequired for the spread of Steel Industry
3200
Coal+1Revealed by Geology and Iron+1Revealed by Bloomery
Abilities
Causes Collateral Damage (3 Units) (max. 50%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-12%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Cruiser (Naval Units)
28, 7Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)Can Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Requires Engine
Requires Refining
Requires Coal or Oil
History
Ironclads can bombard city defenses and are basic Naval Units in the Industrial age.
Ironclads were the forerunners of future generations of armored naval vessels. Instead of the simple wooden hulls found on the other ships at the time, ironclads were covered with strong metal plating. This plating made them nearly impervious to large-caliber explosive shells that would easily penetrate and destroy wooden vessels. Ironclads made their first appearance during the American Civil War, and quickly gained dominance over other ships of that era. Perhaps the most famous naval battle of the Civil War was the battle between the Confederate ironclad "Merrimack", and the Union ironclad "Monitor", which lasted for several hours before the "Merrimack" was forced to withdraw.
Torpedo Boat
Naval Unit, 18 8 120
Requires
Ballistics
Obsoletes Walls
Obsoletes The Red FortCan Train Rifleman, Infantry, Artillery, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Triumphal Arch
3800Thermodynamics
Obsoletes El EscorialReveals OilCan Train Steamship, Ironclad, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Abbey MillsRequired for the spread of Textile Industry
3200Coal+1Revealed by Geology or Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here 1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+50% Coast Attack
Replacements and Upgrades
Destroyer (Naval Units)
24, 12Can See SubmarinesCan Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+25% vs. Torpedo Boat+25% vs. Submarine+25% vs. Nuclear SubmarineDefends first against Submarine, Nuclear Submarine
Requires Electronics
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Torpedo Boats cannot enter Ocean, have a first strike, can withdraw from combat and have a combat bonus attacking on Coast.
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other slow and heavily armed ships by using speed, agility, and the power of their torpedo weapons. A number of inexpensive torpedo boats attacking en masse could overwhelm a larger ship's ability to fight them off using its large but cumbersome guns. An inexpensive fleet of torpedo boats could pose a threat to much larger and more expensive fleets of capital ships, albeit only in the coastal areas to which their small size and limited fuel load restricted them.
The introduction of fast torpedo boats in the late 19th century was a serious concern to the era's naval strategists. In response, navies operating large ships introduced smaller ships to counter torpedo boats, mounting light quick-firing guns. These ships, which came to be called "torpedo boat destroyers" and later simply "destroyers," became larger and took on more roles, making torpedo attacks as well as defending against them, and eventually defending against submarines and aircraft. The destroyer eventually became the predominant type of surface warship in the guided missile age.
Cruiser
Naval Unit, 28 7 200
Requires
Engine
Obsoletes Torre de Belem
Obsoletes IvoryCan Train CruiserCan Construct Coal Plant, Crystal PalaceCan Create Suez Canal
4200
RefiningCan Build a WellCan Train CruiserCan Construct Chateau Frontenac, Nobel PrizeRequired for the spread of Oil Industry
4800Coal+1Revealed by Geology or Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)Can Bombard City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Missile Cruiser (Naval Units)
40, 10Cargo Space: 4 (Carries Missiles)Can Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Requires Satellites
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Cruisers can bombard city defenses and are basic Naval Units in the Industrial Era.
For centuries, "cruiser" existed as a mission designation- a 'cruiser' was a ship that cruised long distances on independent patrol, searching for the enemy or engaging in commerce warfare. This role typically fell upon sloops frigates, which were less heavily burdened than the massive ships of the line and thus better suited to long range independent operations. The frigates of the Age of Sail survived in recognizable form up through the mid-19th century. Auxiliary wood or coal-fired steam engines appeared to give the ship better mobility than sail alone could offer, but the basic design remained constant.
The superiority of ironclads over wooden-hulled ships forced a redesign of this intermediate-sized warship. Early ironclads were short-ranged and unseaworthy; in the 1870s steam propulsion had matured to the point where a fast ship could be provided with a useful armor belt to protect it from enemy cannon fire. This gave rise to the "armored cruiser," usually tipping the scales at five to ten thousand tons, powerful enough to fight alongside the largest warships, but sacrificing some of a heavier battleship's firepower in exchange for speed.
Early armored cruisers adopted the basic 'citadel' concept of other ironclads: a well-armored box covered the ship's steam engines, ammunition storage, and main guns. The main difference between cruisers and battleships was the cruiser's relatively smaller size and lighter weapons, along with a hull designed to allow for higher speed. Armored cruisers and battleships of the same generation usually had roughly the same layout because of this.
At the beginning of the period, the norm was to equip ships with a small number of powerful broadside guns, with a few very heavy guns forward and aft. Over time, this gave way to lighter broadside guns (mostly meant to engage relatively small, poorly armored opponents) and two to four heavy guns mounted in turrets at the front and back ends of the 'box.' This arrangement was common among cruisers and battleships throughout the last third of the 19th century and into the early 20th.
However, armored cruisers might be fast, but they were usually short ranged. For a time, unarmored cruisers soldiered on for long-range operations in colonial waters. In the 1880s the invention of lighter but stronger steel armor allowed these ships to be replaced by "protected cruisers" of two to five thousand tons. A protected cruiser had much less armor than a true 'armored' cruiser, but at least provided a solid deck that would prevent enemy fire from penetrating the ship's engine compartments and ammunition storage.
These ships were mainly powered by steam, but had a limited backup sailing rig in case of engine failure, or for operations far from a coaling depot. As the 19th century closed, the backup sailing rigs began to lose popularity in favor of all-steam propulsion. However, a limited sailing rig can still be seen on some 1890s-vintage protected cruisers such as USS Olympia, which was preserved as a museum ship after serving as the American flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay.
Moving into the 20th century, the 'broadside' armament concept was abandoned entirely, replaced by the idea of putting all a ship's main guns in turrets in a line along the length of the ship. This left much more room for the heaviest guns. Battleships built according to this principle are famously known as 'dreadnoughts;' the same changes affected cruisers.
Armored cruisers evolved into 'battlecruisers:' fast ships with guns roughly the same size as those used by battleships of the same generation, but with thinner armor; battlecruisers tended to resemble battleships closely and often performed the same missions. Advances in engine technology and the gradual increase of ship tonnage allowed protected cruisers to carry stronger armor belts in addition to their decks, and to protect more of the ship; protected cruisers evolved into what later became known as "heavy" and "light" cruisers.
During the World Wars, typical speed for a cruiser was around 30 knots (~55 km/h); main armament for a battlecruiser would be heavy naval artillery of around 15" caliber (~38 cm), while more ordinary cruisers limited themselves to a more numerous battery of 6" or 8" (15-20 cm) guns.
The cruiser's missions of raiding, scouting, and escort duty stayed more or less unchanged, although battlecruisers were often drawn into intense combat between battleships even though their thinner armor protection made them dangerously vulnerable to enemy heavy guns as illustrated by the unfortunately named HMS Invincible, which was blown apart and sunk in less than two minutes at the Battle of Jutland.
After World War Two, the cruiser, like all warships, saw major changes in design as advances in air power and missile technology made heavy naval artillery obsolete.
Destroyer
Naval Unit, 24 12 200
Requires
Electronics
Obsoletes Itsukushima Shrine+1 Railroad MovementCan Create Offshore PlatformCan Train DestroyerCan Construct Hydro Plant, Itaipu Dam
9000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Can See SubmarinesCan Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+25% vs. Torpedo BoatTorpedo Boat (Naval Units)
18, 8Cannot Enter Ocean1 First StrikeCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)+50% Coast Attack
Requires Ballistics
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal or Oil+25% vs. SubmarineSubmarine (Naval Units)
24, 10Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Targets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Pneumatics
Requires Oil+25% vs. Nuclear SubmarineNuclear Submarine (Naval Units)
30, 10Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)+50% vs. SubmarineTargets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Nuclear Power
Requires UraniumDefends first against SubmarineSubmarine (Naval Units)
24, 10Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Targets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Pneumatics
Requires Oil, Nuclear SubmarineNuclear Submarine (Naval Units)
30, 10Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)+50% vs. SubmarineTargets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Nuclear Power
Requires Uranium
Replacements and Upgrades
Corvette (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Canadians
Replaces Destroyer
20, 14Can See SubmarinesCan Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)+25% vs. Torpedo Boat+25% vs. Submarine+25% vs. Nuclear SubmarineDefends first against Submarine, Nuclear SubmarineStarts with Sentry
Requires Electronics
Requires Oil or Uranium
Stealth Destroyer (Naval Units)
30, 12Invisible to Most UnitsCan See Submarines2 First StrikesCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)Defends first against Submarine, Nuclear Submarine
Requires Superconductors
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Destroyers can see the Submarine and Nuclear Submarine units, intercept air units and bombard city defenses and have an combat bonus against Submarine, Nuclear Submarine and Torpedo Boat units.
Destroyers are small escort ships that serve a variety of useful functions. These light, fast vessels were used extensively in World War II to provide air and sea cover for carrier groups. One of the primary functions of the destroyer is to locate and destroy enemy submarines. Using their sonar equipment to locate the subs, and their batteries of depth charges and torpedoes to destroy them, the destroyer forces of World War II were the key to the success of many crucial naval operations. Modern destroyers are still used in much the same role, as escorts for larger vessels and as submarine hunters. In addition to five-inch guns, the arsenal of today's destroyer includes anti-submarine helicopters, anti-ship cruise missiles, and the Phalanx system for defense against anti-ship missiles.
Battleship
Naval Unit, 40 10 240
Requires
Synthetics
Obsoletes Star Fort
Obsoletes Amber
Obsoletes Fur
Obsoletes Jade
Obsoletes PearlsCan Train Tank, Battleship, BomberCan Construct Department Store
6500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Causes Collateral Damage (5 Units) (max. 60%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
Missile Cruiser (Naval Units)
40, 10Cargo Space: 4 (Carries Missiles)Can Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (max. 60%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Requires Satellites
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Battleships can bombard city defenses and causes collateral damage.
The battleship was once the most powerful vessel on the seas. Heavily armored and difficult to destroy, its massive guns could accurately fire heavy projectiles at targets miles away. The battleship had two primary functions: clearing the seas of enemy ships and bombarding enemy coastal targets, usually in preparation for an invasion. The battleship's importance began to decline in World War II when the increasing use of fighters and bombers launched from aircraft carriers greatly extended the range of naval conflicts. Ship-to-ship combat became less frequent than long-range air attacks against enemy battle groups. The last of the U.S. Navy's battleships was decommissioned shortly after the Vietnam War, but the four battleships of the Iowa class were remodeled and re-commissioned in the 1980s.
Missile Cruiser
Naval Unit, 40 10 280
Requires
SatellitesCan Train Missile Cruiser, SatelliteCan Construct Hubble Space TelescopeCan Create International Space Station, Mission to Mars
14500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Cargo Space: 4 (Carries Missiles)Can Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Causes Collateral Damage (5 Units) (max. 60%)Can Bombard City Defenses (-20%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Missile Cruiser can bombard city defenses, causes collateral damage and can carry four Missile Units.
Once considered an obsolete class of ship, the Cruiser made an impressive comeback in the final decades of the twentieth century. Experiments in ship-mounted missile systems had begun as early as World War II and by the end of the war, the United States Navy had outfitted a slew of Cruisers with surface-to-air missile capabilities. In the 1980s, these early experiments in ship-mounted missile armaments culminated in AEGIS-equipped Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers. More than simply reviving the Cruiser class, the "Tico," with its 127 missile arsenal and its phase-array radar, turned the Cruiser into one of the most ferocious ships at sea.
Stealth Destroyer
Naval Unit, 30 12 225
Requires
SuperconductorsCan Train Stealth Destroyer, Stealth BomberCan Construct Fiber Network, Skytree, Large Hadron Collider
16000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Invisible to Most UnitsCan See SubmarinesCan See Stealth Ships2 First StrikesCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)Defends first against SubmarineSubmarine (Naval Units)
24, 10Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Targets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Pneumatics
Requires Oil, Nuclear SubmarineNuclear Submarine (Naval Units)
30, 10Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)+50% vs. SubmarineTargets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Nuclear Power
Requires Uranium
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Stealth Destroyers are invisible to all units to all units except Stealth Destroyers, have two first strikes and can see Submarine, Nuclear Submarine and Stealth Destroyer units.
The elusive element of surprise has brought about deciding victories on land, at sea and in the air for centuries. But in the face of more precise forms of radar developed in the latter half of the twentieth century, new technology was needed to return the tactical advantage stealth once provided.
Beginning in the 1980s, breakthroughs in naval stealth research, such as radar-silent construction materials and simplified superstructures, initiated the creation of the world's first stealth navies. Since that time, France, Sweden and the United States have all adopted their own stealth ships, capable of performing missions while remaining invisible to enemy radar.
Submarine
Naval Unit, 24 10 150
Requires
PneumaticsCan Train Machine Gun, SubmarineCan Construct Gas Plant, Waterworks, Metropolitain
5400Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation)
Abilities
Invisible to Most UnitsCan See SubmarinesCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Targets any GalleonGalleon (Naval Units)
8, 6Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Exploration
Requires Gunpowder, SteamshipSteamship (Naval Units)
12, 8Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal, TransportTransport (Naval Units)
16, 10Cargo Space: 4Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Infrastructure
Requires Oil or Uranium first in combat outside cities
Replacements and Upgrades
Nuclear Submarine (Naval Units)
30, 10Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)+50% vs. SubmarineTargets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Nuclear Power
Requires Uranium
History
Submarines can see Submarine and Nuclear Submarine units, is able to enter Ice, can explore rival territory, can withdraw from combat and are invisible to all units except Destroyers, Stealth Destroyers, Submarines and Attack Submarines units.
A submarine is a submersible warship, designed to attack enemy vessels while remaining hidden underwater. Although defensively weak, submarines are feared because of their ability to make a stealthy approach and attack without warning. Often, the presence of a submarine is not detected until the first of the sub's torpedoes strikes its target. The Germans first used submarine warfare extensively during World War I.
Developments after the war, such as sonar, made the submarine even more effective. During World War II, submarines were used extensively by all the world's naval powers. Today's submarines, in addition to their role as fast attack vessels, also carry nuclear weapons that can be fired from underwater positions just off the coast of an enemy country.
Nuclear Submarine
Naval Unit, 30 10 200
Requires
Nuclear PowerCan Scrub FalloutCan Train Nuclear Submarine, ICBMCan Construct Nuclear Plant, Atomium
12000UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Cargo Space: 1 (Carries Scouts, Explorers, Missionaries, Spies, Great People)Invisible to Most UnitsCan See SubmarinesCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)+50% vs. SubmarineSubmarine (Naval Units)
24, 10Invisible to Most UnitsCan Move through Impassable TerrainCan Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (75% Chance)Targets any Galleon, Steamship, Transport first in combat outside cities
Requires Pneumatics
Requires OilTargets any GalleonGalleon (Naval Units)
8, 6Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Exploration
Requires Gunpowder, SteamshipSteamship (Naval Units)
12, 8Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal, TransportTransport (Naval Units)
16, 10Cargo Space: 4Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Infrastructure
Requires Oil or Uranium first in combat outside cities
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Nuclear Submarines can carry one Scout, Explorer, Missionary, Spy or Great Person, has an attack bonus against Submarine units, can see Submarine and Nuclear Submarine units, is able to enter Ice, can explore rival territory, can withdraw from combat and are invisible to all units except the Destroyer, Stealth Destroyer, Submarine and Attack Submarine units.
An Attack Submarine is any submersible with the capacity to destroy enemy ships. In the past, nearly all subs would have been considered Attack Submarines, but with advances in technology, many shed their torpedoes for the capability to carry ballistic missiles. While able to attack land targets, such submarines are particularly vulnerable to attacks from their torpedo-armed cousins.
Carrier
Naval Unit, 18 9 200
Requires
Power Projection
Obsoletes Stable
Obsoletes Amber RoomCan Train CarrierCan Construct The Pentagon, The Motherland Calls
10000FlightCan Train Howitzer, Carrier, Biplane
7500Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Cargo Space: 3 (Carries Fighters)
Replacements and Upgrades
Supercarrier (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Americans
Replaces Carrier
24, 10Cargo Space: 5 (Carries Fighters)Can Intercept Aircraft (30% Chance)Starts with Medic I, Sentry
Requires Power Projection
Requires Flight
Requires Uranium
History
Carriers can carry three Biplanes, Fighters or Jet Fighters.
The aircraft carrier first came into widespread use during World War II. Carriers act as floating airfields, carrying fighters far from friendly territory to be launched against enemy targets. This allows an air strike against targets on both land and sea that would otherwise be far out of range.
The range of the aircraft launched from carriers forever changed the methodology of naval battles. Opposing fleets could now engage in battle without either fleet ever entering the other's visual range, ending the dominance of the battleship as the strongest vessel on the sea.
Galley
Naval Unit, 2 4 40
Requires
SeafaringCan Create Harvest BoatsEnables on CoastCan Train GalleyEnables Amphibious
100
Abilities
Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here , Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Waka (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Polynesians
Replaces Galley
2, 6Cargo Space: 1Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Create Fishing Boats, Create Harvest Boats, Create Ocean Fishery, Create Whaling BoatsCan Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)
Requires Seafaring
Cog (Naval Units)
5, 4Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Guilds
Requires Shipbuilding
History
Galleys have two cargo spaces, cannot enter Ocean, cannot pass Capes until Compass and can withdraw from combat.
The galley was the first ship designed for war. Introduced by the Greeks, galleys were powered by banks of oars on each side, manned by well-trained oarsmen. These oarsmen were highly paid professionals or patriotic citizens, not slaves and prisoners as depicted in fiction. A huge, bronze "beak" mounted at the bow of the ship was used to ram and sink enemy ships. Because of its long, narrow hull, the galley was very unstable in all but the calmest waters, and as a consequence its crew rarely ventured out of sight of land for long periods of time, lest the ship be caught in a storm and sunk.
Cog
Naval Unit, 5 4 60
Requires
Guilds
Obsoletes The ColossusCan Train CogCan Construct Grocer, Monolithic Church, Saint Sophia's Cathedral
650ShipbuildingCan Train War Galley, Heavy Galley, CogCan Construct Harbor, The Great Cothon
120
Abilities
Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter OceanOcean+1Cannot build cities here , Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Dharani (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Dravidians
Replaces Cog
6, 6Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)2 First StrikesCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Artisanry
Requires Shipbuilding
Dhow (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Swahilis
Replaces Cog
5, 6Cargo Space: 2Cannot Enter Ocean, Cape (until Compass)Can Withdraw from Combat (50% Chance)
Requires Guilds
Requires Shipbuilding
Galleon (Naval Units)
8, 6Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Exploration
Requires Gunpowder
History
Cogs have two cargo spaces, cannot enter Ocean, cannot pass Capes until Compass and can withdraw from combat.
A cog is a flat-bottomed ship of Northern European design, ancestral to many modern sailing ship designs. A cog can carry a reasonably large volume of goods for its tonnage. Its flat bottom and relatively high sides are suitable for being towed into or over a sandbank into difficult harbors and through coastal waters. The cog is seaworthy enough to survive Atlantic weather, although not well suited for journeys far away from the coast. It can also be modified with large 'castles' at the bow and stern for defense in naval combat, although these tend to make the cog more unstable in bad weather.
The cog was a common workhorse of the medieval period at sea, until being supplanted by types such as the hulk, the galleon, and the fluyt.
Galleon
Naval Unit, 8 6 80
Requires
Exploration
Obsoletes Temple of KukulkanEnables ColonialismCan Train Galleon, PrivateerCan Construct El EscorialRequired for the spread of Trading Company
1100Gunpowder
Obsoletes The ParthenonCan Train Bombard, Galleass, Caravel, Galleon, Privateer, FrigateCan Construct The Kremlin
900
Abilities
Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Fluyt (Naval Units)
Unique Unit for The Dutch
Replaces Galleon
10, 6Cargo Space: 4Can Explore Rival TerritoryCan Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Exploration
Requires Gunpowder
Steamship (Naval Units)
12, 8Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Thermodynamics
Requires Coal
History
Galleons have three cargo spaces and can withdraw from combat.
By the late 15th century, oar-powered vessels had all but disappeared from the world's oceans, to be replaced by sailing vessels of various types. The galleon was one such vessel. Galleons were three- or four-masted ships, built high in both the forecastle and the stern. Developed in the 15th and 16th century, these versatile ships were mainly used as cargo vessels, although they were sometimes outfitted as light warships as well. Ships of this type served European nations well into the 1700s.
Steamship
Naval Unit, 12 8 100
Requires
Thermodynamics
Obsoletes El EscorialReveals OilCan Train Steamship, Ironclad, Torpedo BoatCan Construct Abbey MillsRequired for the spread of Textile Industry
3200Coal+1Revealed by Geology
Abilities
Cargo Space: 3Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
Transport (Naval Units)
16, 10Cargo Space: 4Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Requires Infrastructure
Requires Oil or Uranium
History
Steamships have three cargo spaces and can withdraw from combat.
A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships came into practical usage during the early 1800s; however, there were exceptions that came before. Steamships usually use the prefix designations of "PS" for paddle steamer or "SS" for screw steamer (using a propeller or screw). As paddle steamers became less common, "SS" is assumed by many to stand for "steam ship". Ships powered by internal combustion engines use a prefix such as "MV" for motor vessel, so it is not correct to use "SS" for most modern vessels.
As steamships were less dependent on wind patterns, new trade routes opened up. The steamship has been described as a "major driver of the first wave of trade globalization (1870-1913)" and contributor to "an increase in international trade that was unprecedented in human history".
The steamship was preceded by smaller vessels designed for insular transportation, called steamboats. Once the technology of steam was mastered at this level, steam engines were mounted on larger, and eventually, ocean-going vessels. Becoming reliable, and propelled by screw rather than paddlewheels, the technology changed the design of ships for faster, more economic propulsion.
Paddlewheels as the main motive source became standard on these early vessels. It was an effective means of propulsion under ideal conditions but otherwise had serious drawbacks. The paddle-wheel performed best when it operated at a certain depth, however when the depth of the ship changed from added weight it further submerged the paddle wheel causing a substantial decrease in performance.
Transport
Naval Unit, 16 10 125
Requires
InfrastructureCan Build a HighwayCan Train TransportCan Construct Public Transportation, Golden Gate BridgeRequired for the spread of Automobile IndustryEnables Blitz
7000Oil+1Revealed by Thermodynamics
Unhealthy: +1(with Industrial Park)
Healthy: +2(with Public Transportation) or UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Abilities
Cargo Space: 4Can Withdraw from Combat (25% Chance)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Transports have four cargo spaces and can withdraw from combat.
The troop transport ship, which in peacetime serves as a cargo or passenger vessel, is the principle means used by modern powers to move large quantities of military equipment and personnel over long distances. Because transports lack offensive weaponry, they require armed vessels as escorts during times of war. A properly escorted transport can move large military forces to a new area quickly to act as reinforcements or as an attacking force.
Guided Missile
40 4 60
Requires
LaserCan Train SAM Infantry, Guided MissileCan Construct Diagnostics Center, Iron DomeCan Create Strategic Defense Initiative
10000RocketryCan Train Anti-Tank, SAM Infantry, Mobile SAM, Guided MissileCan Construct BunkerCan Create Ballistic MissileEnables Ambush
9000
Abilities
Can Evade Interception (100% Chance)Can Destroy Tile Improvements and Bomb City Defenses (-16%/Turn)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
Guided Missiles are immune to interception, can destroy improvements, bomb city defenses and damage enemy units.
Artillery was the only option for long-range, earthborn destruction until the creation of the Guided Missile. Created by German scientists during WWII, the first Guided Missile, the V, was essentially a long-range flying bomb. The V Missile, and the technology behind it, was rapidly upgraded during the Cold War, and later missiles became more precise with more formidable ranges. Capable of carrying a nuclear or conventional explosive payload, modern Guided Missiles fill a wide range of defense needs.
ICBM
0 1 600
Requires
Nuclear PowerCan Scrub FalloutCan Train Nuclear Submarine, ICBMCan Construct Nuclear Plant, Atomium
12000UraniumRevealed by Radio
Healthy: +2(with Diagnostics Center)
Nuclear PlantCan turn 1 Citizen into ScientistRequired to Train ICBMProvides clean Power (
) with UraniumRequired to Build ITER
Requires Factory
Requires Nuclear Power
400
Abilities
Can Nuke Enemy Lands
Requires Ballistic MissileBallistic MissileTeam Project (1 Allowed)Enables ICBMFirst to complete receives a free Great Engineer
Required to Create First Satellite
800
Requires The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan ProjectWorld Project (1 Allowed)Enables Nuclear Attacks (For all Players)Enables Bomb Shelter (For all Players)First to complete receives a free Nuclear Bomber
Required for Anyone to Create Strategic Defense Initiative
2000 (Double Production Speed with Uranium)
Replacements and Upgrades
History
ICBMs can nuke enemy lands and cannot be moved from the city it is constructed in.
The use of atomic bombs at Nagasaki and Hiroshima at the end of World War II changed the world's standards for measuring military power. Nuclear weapons can eradicate ground forces and armored divisions, and flatten cities with their awesome explosive power. In the years following World War II, arsenals of nuclear weapons were rapidly built by opposing nations, each fearing the capabilities of the other. This massive arms buildup has acted as a deterrent to full-scale war, since all the governments involved are aware of the consequences should such a war take place. The threat imposed by the huge nuclear arsenals of the world powers may one day be eradicated by the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, a system designed to destroy enemy missiles in flight before they can reach their targets.