Cuatrero
Cuatrero is Mexicans, Mexico* ranged cavalry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; Revolution (Mexico); obtained through Saloon, Tavern, Hacienda (with the "Rancheros" card). Its listed ability is Gathers food from animals.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 130 Coin
- Available
- Commerce Age; Revolution (Mexico) · Saloon; Tavern; Hacienda (with the "Rancheros" card)
- Training
- 40 sec · 5 population · 26 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 225 hit points · 20% ranged resistance · 7.25 speed · 16 line of sight
- Ranged attack
- 20 base damage · range 12 · attack interval 3.0 · bonus damage: 3.0x vs. Heavy cavalry; 2.2x vs. Hand shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Artillery; 0.5x vs. Villager
- Siege attack
- 12 base damage · range 6 · attack interval 3.0
- Hand attack
- 11 base damage · attack interval 1.5 · bonus damage: Same as ranged attack
- Big Game Hunting (charged)
- 18 base damage · range 12 · attack interval 1.5 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: Same as ranged attack · recharge 30
- Ability
- Gathers food from animals
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Saloon, Tavern, or Hacienda (with the "Rancheros" card). It has 225 hit points and 20% ranged resistance. It moves at 7.25 speed and uses 5 population. Training costs 130 Coin; it takes 40 seconds to train. Attack profile: Ranged attack: 20 damage at range 12; every 3.0 seconds. Siege attack: 12 damage at range 6; every 3.0 seconds. Hand attack: 11 damage; every 1.5 seconds. Big Game Hunting (charged): 18 damage at range 12; every 1.5 seconds; area of effect 1. Special ability or role: Gathers food from animals.
Matchup & timing
Use Cuatreros to combine ranged-cavalry pressure with their food-gathering and livestock abilities when the match provides suitable animals. Their 20-damage ranged attack at range 12 is strongest against Heavy cavalry, Hand shock troops and Artillery, but weak against Villagers. They come from outlaw or Mexican routes, so check the revolution, Hacienda card or Saloon access before planning production.
Big Game Hunting and animal gathering
The Cuatrero is a Mexican outlaw cavalry unit that is also available to Mexico under its revolution rules. It costs 130 Coin, takes 40 seconds, uses five population and has 225 hit points, 20% ranged resistance, speed 7.25 and line of sight 16. Its ranged attack deals 20 damage at range 12 every three seconds, with 3× damage against Heavy Cavalry, 2.2× against Hand Shock troops and 2× against Artillery; damage against Villagers is reduced to 0.5×. The 11-damage hand attack follows the same target profile. A 12-damage siege attack helps against buildings, while Big Game Hunting is a charged attack that deals 18 ranged damage at range 12 and area one. The charge and high mobility let the Cuatrero threaten a key target and reposition, but five population and Coin-only cost make each unit expensive. Avoid treating it as a general raider or sending it into a large formation. It is available through the Saloon or Tavern, and a Hacienda can train it with the Rancheros card. Sonora Cuatreros enables its special Food gathering from animals, giving a force that survives after the initial fight a limited economic role. Use that option when animals are safely accessible rather than exposing the outlaw on the map. Cuatreros can benefit from Mexican Standoff and other outlaw upgrades, and their attack values changed in Definitive Edition patches. Check whether the current player is using Mexicans or Mexico and whether the relevant card is active before relying on the animal-gathering ability. The unit’s combination of ranged cavalry and outlaw status makes it distinct from standard Dragoons.
Field use and upgrade support
Because the Cuatrero occupies five population, a small group can use population that would otherwise support several infantry units. Its 7.25 speed helps it choose the engagement, but the 40-second training time and Coin-only price mean the player should plan the queue before the attack. Use the charged Big Game Hunting attack against a high-priority target when the timing is right, then rely on the regular ranged attack while the ability recharges. The unit’s anti-Heavy Cavalry and anti-Artillery multipliers provide specific value; against Villagers it deals only half damage, so direct worker raids are inefficient. Keep it in a ranged cavalry formation with allies that can screen anti-cavalry and punish Light Infantry. The Sonora Cuatreros card adds Food gathering from animals and changes the unit’s role after combat. That gathering requires safe access to animals and should not be attempted under enemy fire. Saloon or Tavern access and the Rancheros Hacienda option are version and card dependent. Review the Mexican Standoff and outlaw upgrades when building the deck, especially if a Baja California revolt will make Cuatreros part of a wider outlaw army.
Target priorities
The Cuatrero’s strongest targets are Heavy Cavalry, Hand Shock troops and Artillery. Its charged attack provides a timed burst, but it should not be wasted on low-priority targets. Keep the unit screened, use speed to choose the approach and switch to animal gathering only when the Sonora Cuatreros condition is active and the area is safe.
Outlaw Dragoon role in the early Ages
The Cuatrero is a Mexican outlaw that fills a Dragoon-like role in the early Ages. It is effective against Cavalry and Shock troops, and has more hit points than a Dragoon in the documented comparison, but deals less attack damage. Its outlaw access can provide mobile ranged Cavalry before a standard Stable line is ready.
Protect it from light infantry
Light Infantry is a major danger to Cuatreros. Use their speed to engage mounted threats, support a raid or protect artillery, then retreat when Skirmishers arrive. Outlaw costs, population and limits depend on the Saloon or relevant Home City Card, so check the Mexican political state before planning a mass. Their higher health helps them survive, but does not remove the need for a screen.
Mexican Outlaw attack modes
Cuatrero is a Mexican Outlaw with several attack modes, including hand, ranged and area attacks; their values should not be collapsed into one damage number. It currently costs 130 Coin and takes 40 seconds to train. Older entries list 140 Coin before update 13.18214 and 120 Coin before an unspecified update; training previously took 60 seconds before an unspecified update. Training and kill Experience are now 26 each, compared with 28 before update 13.18214. Its third hand attack deals 11 damage, up from 9 before update 13.27885; the first ranged attack deals 20 rather than 19. Its fourth attack currently deals 18 damage with area 1; before update 19.18309 it dealt 20 with area 2, and before update 13.27885 the area was 3. These distinct profiles make it useful to check which attack is active before judging its damage or area coverage.