Flint Lock
Flint Lock is a Commerce Age Arsenal technology that raises the hit points of Gunpowder Troopers. The extra durability can help eligible firearm units remain in a fight, but it does not improve their attack or apply to every kind of infantry.
Research profile
- Age
- Commerce Age
- Civilization
- Europeans; Federal Americans; Japanese
- Research location
- Arsenal (Europeans and Federal Americans) ; Golden Pavilion (Japanese)
- Research time
- 30 seconds
- Wood cost
- 200
- Coin cost
- 250
- Effect
- Gunpowder trooper hit points +10%; Pirate hit points +10% (with the "Letter of Marque" Home City Card)
Effect
Research takes 30 seconds and costs 200 Wood and 250 Coin. Gunpowder Troopers gain 10% hit points. Pirates also gain 10% hit points while the Letter of Marque Home City Card is active. Access is listed at the Arsenal for Europeans and Federal Americans, and at the Golden Pavilion for Japanese.
Research condition
Available in the Commerce Age at Arsenal (Europeans and Federal Americans) , Golden Pavilion (Japanese). Research time: 30 seconds. Cost: 200 wood, 250 coin. Civilization-specific building access can vary.
Research decision
It is most useful when the army contains enough eligible gunpowder units to justify the cost and those units will be exposed to return fire. Check the Letter of Marque condition before counting Pirates as beneficiaries, and compare the upgrade with adding immediate reinforcements.
Which units receive the durability increase
Flint Lock adds 10% hit points to Gunpowder Troopers; it does not increase their range, rate of fire or attack damage. This makes the technology a survivability investment for a force expected to remain under fire, rather than a direct damage upgrade. Pirates receive the same listed hit-point increase only while the Letter of Marque Home City Card is active. Check that condition before including Pirates in the value calculation, and remember that the technology's benefit is limited to the eligible unit classes rather than every firearm or infantry unit.
Research timing and access
At 200 Wood and 250 Coin with a 30-second research time, Flint Lock competes with additional units and other Commerce Age investments. Research it when the army already contains eligible troops or when a planned production wave will use the effect soon. Europeans and Federal Americans access it through the Arsenal, while the Japanese use the Golden Pavilion. Because access is civilization-specific, a missing Arsenal option does not by itself mean the technology is unavailable to every civilization.