Fuchuan
Fuchuan is Chinese naval unit in Age of Empires III, available from the Fortress Age; obtained through Asian Dock. Its listed ability is Transports land units; Trains War Academy banner armies (only if owned by a Chinese player and is close to shore).
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age · Asian Dock
- Training
- 40 sec · 120 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 2,500 hit points · 75% ranged resistance · 7.5 speed · 34 line of sight
- Ranged attack
- 90 base damage · range 28 · attack interval 2.0 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: 0.5x vs. Artillery
- Broadside attack
- 50 (5) base damage · range 28 · attack interval 0.05 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: 2.0x vs. Ship
- Ability
- Transports land units; Trains War Academy banner armies (only if owned by a Chinese player and is close to shore)
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Asian Dock. It has 2,500 hit points and 75% ranged resistance. It moves at 7.5 speed. Training costs 450 Wood and 750 Coin; it takes 40 seconds to train. Attack profile: Ranged attack: 90 damage at range 28; every 2.0 seconds; area of effect 1. Broadside attack: 50 damage (5) at range 28; every 0.05 seconds; area of effect 1. Special ability or role: Transports land units; Trains War Academy banner armies (only if owned by a Chinese player and is close to shore).
Matchup & timing
Use this transport for a planned crossing or landing rather than sending it alone into contested water. Its listed speed is 7.5, so load the army before the route becomes unsafe and allow time for the return trip. The page also records a ranged attack at 28 range; use that profile as support, not as a substitute for a protected landing. Unload where the force has room to form up, keep an escort near the ship, and protect the shore while the last units disembark.
Warship, transport and banner production
The Fuchuan combines several roles in the Chinese navy. It costs 450 Wood and 750 Coin, takes 40 seconds to train, is limited to two and has 2,500 hit points, 75% ranged resistance and speed 7.5. Its line of sight is 34 and its transport capacity is 75, allowing it to carry a large land force across water. The ordinary ranged attack deals 90 siege damage at range 28 every two seconds, with reduced damage against Artillery. Its broadside attack deals 50 damage in five projectiles, has a 2× multiplier against Ships and recharges every 60 seconds. Use the regular attack to support a naval engagement or siege target and reserve the broadside for an important ship fight. The Fuchuan can also train War Academy banner armies when it belongs to a Chinese player and is close to shore. That creates a useful reinforcement route but ties its production to the ship’s position. The combination of transport and combat makes it more flexible than a dedicated transport, but the high Coin cost and two-ship limit mean it cannot replace a whole fleet. Escort it on crossings and unload land troops at a shore where they can regroup; a ship with a full garrison becomes a valuable target. Its 75% ranged resistance helps against some incoming fire but does not make it invulnerable to siege attacks. Chinese players can use it from the Fortress Age at an Asian Dock in The Asian Dynasties and Definitive Edition. It has roles comparable to a Galleon and Frigate combined, but its availability and War Academy function are unique to China.
Safe transport and naval positioning
The ship’s 75-unit transport capacity can move a substantial army, but unloading order and destination matter. Use the 34 line of sight to inspect the approach, bring an escort and choose a shore with enough space for the troops to reform. Its 7.5 speed supports repositioning, yet the high Coin cost makes it expensive to lose. A Fuchuan near shore can train Chinese War Academy banner armies, so its position also affects land reinforcement. Keep it close enough for that function when producing an army, then move it with naval protection rather than leaving it exposed after the troops land. Broadside damage is strongest against ships; the 90-damage regular attack is suitable for other naval and siege targets. A limit of two encourages the player to protect each ship and support it with other vessels.
Protecting the army in transit
A transport with a large garrison can become the most valuable target on the water. Escort the Fuchuan, unload at a shore where the troops can regroup and avoid exposing the vessel to a stronger fleet. Its War Academy production option is specific to a Chinese-owned ship close to shore.
Production and firing cadence
The 60-second broadside cooldown gives the Fuchuan a clear burst window against Ships. Use it when the enemy vessel cannot escape the range-28 approach, then rely on the 90-damage regular attack. Preserve the ship for transport or banner production after the naval exchange.
Large Chinese warship with a two-ship limit
The Fuchuan is a powerful Chinese naval unit with 2,500 hit points in the documented profile and a build limit of two, lower than the usual Frigate limit. It is expensive but is among the strongest readily available ships in Age of Empires III. Use it to contest enemy warships and protect a major landing or fishing area; its limit means every loss is difficult to replace.
Commit the fleet with support
Fuchuans are valuable fleet anchors, but a small number can be surrounded or focused by several enemy ships. Keep other vessels nearby, repair at a Dock and avoid sailing into a defended harbor alone. The ship’s cost competes with land production and Chinese infrastructure, so build it when water control changes the match. Check the current Chinese naval cards and age access for exact availability.