Carolean
The Carolean is Swedish gunpowder infantry and a central frontline unit. It can use ranged and melee attacks, changing its response as opponents approach, so it can fill more than one engagement distance.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · European Barracks; Blockhouse; Fort; Galleon; American Citadel
- Training
- 33 sec · 1 population · 10 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 150 hit points · 20% hand resistance · 4.25 speed · 16 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 20 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 0.8x vs. Light infantry
- Ranged attack
- 19 damage · 3-12 range · 2.5 attack interval · bonuses: 1.5x vs. Heavy cavalry; 1.3x vs. Hand shock trooper
- Siege attack
- 20 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role & counters
Caroleans are trained through Swedish military production and benefit from the civilization’s economy. Their versatility does not remove class counters: artillery and specialist ranged units can punish a dense formation. Leather Cannons can provide artillery support while Caroleans protect them from close attackers.
When to field it
Use Caroleans to hold the line and contest ground, changing attack mode as the enemy closes. Add cavalry or ranged support when the opponent is prepared to counter Heavy Infantry. Keep the formation spaced if enemy artillery is present, and protect the Leather Cannons behind the frontline.
Recruitment and basic profile
The Carolean is Swedish Heavy infantry in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. It is trained at the Barracks, Fort, or Galleon from the Commerce Age. The current profile costs 60 Food and 40 Coin, takes 33 seconds to train, uses one population, and has 150 hit points and speed 4.25. It has a hand attack of 20 and a ranged attack of 19, with the ranged attack firing faster than a standard Musketeer. Its ranged shot has a variable range from 3 to 12 and carries bonuses against Heavy cavalry and Hand shock troops. The Carolean can switch between ranged and melee modes, so the player can choose to shoot from a distance or move into a close fight. It costs less Food and more Coin than a typical European Musketeer and moves slightly faster, but its durability is modest for a frontline unit.
Carolean Charge and mode switching
Carolean Charge increases Carolean speed by one for eight seconds and locks the units into Melee Mode. The ability has a 90 second cooldown shared across all Caroleans, so several groups cannot use it independently. Activate the charge when the extra movement will close a gap, catch a retreating unit, or create a surprise attack against Light infantry. Because the units are locked into melee mode during the effect, the charge can also expose them to anti-cavalry or heavy melee counters. Use it deliberately rather than as an automatic movement boost. After the charge ends, switch back to ranged mode if the opponent's formation is not safe to engage. The unit's strong hand damage does not carry a bonus against Cavalry or Shock troops; its ranged bonuses provide the counter role instead.
Upgrades and Home City Cards
Caroleans become especially effective in the Fortress and Industrial Ages because their Home City deck can improve their range, attack, and durability. Snaplock raises their ranged range by three in the current patch, reaching 15, while Platoon Fire improves bonus damage against Heavy cavalry. Svea Lifeguard adds hit points and changes the unit's hand resistance to ranged resistance, affecting how it survives different attacks. Arsenal improvements can also benefit eligible infantry classes. These cards make the Carolean a strong late game musketeer type unit, but they compete with other shipments and do not remove the need for an army screen. Choose the upgrades that match the opponent: range helps the unit fire before contact, while health and resistance improve how long it remains in the line. Confirm current card values because older versions granted different range and multipliers.
Matchups and formation
The Carolean's rapid ranged fire makes it useful against Heavy cavalry and other listed targets, while its melee mode can pressure units that are vulnerable at close range. It should not be treated as a universal counter: artillery can punish a dense infantry line, and anti-infantry units can exploit its low base hit points. Keep the Caroleans in formation with artillery or cavalry support, and use ranged mode while approaching threats that could win in melee. Carolean Charge can help close onto exposed Light infantry or chase a retreat, but avoid running the whole line into Pikemen or a prepared counter. Since it occupies one population, it can be massed more easily than many specialized units, but Wood and Coin are still needed for supporting artillery and upgrades.
Patch and edition changes
Caroleans were introduced with the Swedes in Definitive Edition. Update 5208 changed their hand damage and added Carolean Charge; update 3552 improved the ranged attack and revised its class multipliers. Update 13088 changed range behavior and removed some former bonuses, update 20322 raised line of sight to 16, and update 23511 tagged Caroleans as Musket infantry. The African Royals patch changed their negative hand modifier target from Rifle infantry to Light infantry, while The Baltic Powers set their Food cost at 60. Older guides may therefore list higher or lower attack, range, or cost values. Use the current profile for a modern match and read upgrade cards according to the selected patch.
Mode and firing range decisions
Ranged mode is the safer default when approaching an army because the Carolean can use its class bonuses without entering melee. Its range is variable from 3 to 12, so keep the line organized and avoid letting faster melee units close from several directions. Melee mode is useful when a target is already pinned, when Carolean Charge can reach an exposed group, or when ranged fire would be inefficient against a nearby opponent. The charge's global cooldown affects every Carolean group; coordinate the activation with the main army instead of using it on a small detached patrol. Range upgrades can extend the line to 15, allowing it to engage earlier, but the unit still needs a screen against artillery and cavalry. Use the ability to choose a favorable moment, then return to ranged formation as soon as the close engagement ends.
Economy and replacement
The current 60 Food and 40 Coin price suits a sustained infantry line, but Coin is also needed for age advancement and upgrades. Keep enough Villagers on Coin before queueing a large batch, and use shipments to add the specific range or durability improvement the army needs. One population per Carolean makes the line efficient to mass, yet food and production queues can still become limiting.
Swedish one-population musket Infantry
The Carolean is a Commerce Age Swedish heavy ranged Infantry unit trained at a European Barracks, Blockhouse, Fort or eligible ship. It costs 60 Food and 40 Coin, takes 33 seconds to train and uses one population. It has 150 hit points, 20% hand resistance, speed 4.25 and sight 16. Its ranged attack deals 19 damage at range 3–12 every 2.5 seconds, with bonuses against Heavy Cavalry and Hand Shock troops. The 20-damage hand and Siege attacks give it further options when the enemy closes or the army reaches a building. The one-population cost lets Sweden field a large line, but it still needs support against units its attack profile does not favor.
Carolean Charge and formation use
Carolean Charge is the unit’s special ability and can change how it engages at close range. Use the Caroleans as a flexible musket line: fire at approaching Cavalry, hold a position with supporting ranged units, and use the charge when the formation needs to close. Their ranged minimum distance of three means point-blank units can interrupt normal firing, so keep a screen and avoid letting opponents surround the line. The Blockhouse provides both production and defense, allowing Sweden to reinforce a protected position, while Forts and ships offer other map-specific access. Keep the army mixed; a Carolean mass alone can struggle against artillery and specialized ranged counters.