Customized Merc Weapons
Customized Merc Weapons is an Age of Empires III technology available to John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice) from the Fortress Age, researched at Church. It increases mercenary damage by 30%; Building cost +30%.
Research profile
- Age
- Fortress Age
- Civilization
- John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice)
- Research location
- Church
- Home City Card
- Royal Decree to Claim the New World
- Research time
- 15 seconds
- Effect
- Mercenary damage +30%; Building cost +30%
Effect & research conditions
Available to John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice) from the Fortress Age. Research it at Church. Effect: Mercenary damage +30%; Building cost +30%. Research takes 15 seconds.
Research condition
Available to John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice) from the Fortress Age. Research it at Church.
When to research
This Fortress Age campaign technology is worthwhile when John Black’s force can make repeated use of its 30% mercenary damage bonus. Research it before the mercenaries enter the main fight, and account for the listed 30% building-cost increase before laying out the next base. It is tied to Act II: Ice and the Church, not a general multiplayer upgrade.
Campaign mercenary damage upgrade
Customized Merc Weapons belongs to John Black’s Mercenaries in Act II: Ice. In the Fortress Age, the faction can research it at the Church after sending the Royal Decree to Claim the New World Home City Card. It takes 15 seconds and raises Mercenary damage by 30%, but also raises building costs by 30%. The construction penalty applies to the colony’s buildings, making the military gain an economic trade-off.
Choose an offensive window
Research it when the Mercenary army can use the damage increase to win a near-term fight or complete a mission objective. The higher building cost can slow new production and expansion, so avoid taking the penalty before a scenario requires extensive construction. It is specific to the campaign faction and should not be generalized to ordinary German or United States play. If a mission’s objective is mostly defensive, compare the value of stronger Mercenaries with the infrastructure the colony still needs to build.