Hakkapelit
Hakkapelit is Swedes, Finland ranged cavalry in Age of Empires III, available from the Fortress Age; Revolution (Finland); obtained through Stable, Fort, Galleon.
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age; Revolution (Finland) · Stable; Fort; Galleon
- Training
- 40 sec · 2 population · 19 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 215 hit points · 15% ranged resistance · 7.25 speed · 14 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 24 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 1.5x vs. Heavy cavalry; 1.5x vs. Artillery; 1.2x vs. Hand shock trooper; 0.75x vs. Villager; 0.75x vs. Infantry
- Ranged attack
- 20 damage · 2-10 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 2.5x vs. Heavy cavalry; 2.0x vs. Artillery; 2.0x vs. Hand shock trooper; 0.75x vs. Villager; 0.75x vs. Infantry
- Siege attack
- 14 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
- Trample attack
- 20 base damage · attack interval 2.0 · area of effect 3 · bonus damage: Same as hand attack
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Stable, Fort, or Galleon. It has 215 hit points and 15% ranged resistance. It moves at 7.25 speed and uses 2 population. Training costs 90 Food and 100 Coin; it takes 40 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 24 damage. Ranged attack deals 20 damage. Siege attack deals 14 damage. Trample attack: 20 damage; every 2.0 seconds; area of effect 3. Hand attack bonuses: 1.5× against Heavy cavalry, 1.5× against Artillery, 1.2× against Hand shock trooper, 0.75× against Villager, and 0.75× against Infantry. Ranged attack bonuses: 2.5× against Heavy cavalry, 2.0× against Artillery, 2.0× against Hand shock trooper, 0.75× against Villager, and 0.75× against Infantry.
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Heavy cavalry (1.5×), Artillery (1.5×), Hand shock trooper (1.2×). Ranged attack is especially effective against Heavy cavalry (2.5×), Artillery (2×), Hand shock trooper (2×). Its reduced multipliers against Villager (0.75×), Infantry (0.75×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Heavy cavalry, Artillery, and Hand shock trooper before they can close; hold the melee attack for Heavy cavalry, Artillery, and Hand shock trooper when they enter contact. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Swedish cavalry with a short-range area shot
The Hakkapelit replaces the Dragoon for the Swedes in Definitive Edition and is available in the Fortress Age from a Stable, Fort or Galleon. It costs 90 Food and 100 Coin, trains in 40 seconds and uses two population. The current profile has 215 hit points, 15% ranged resistance, speed 7.25 and line of sight 14. Its ranged attack deals 20 damage at range 2–10 every three seconds in an area of 1. That attack has a 2.5 multiplier against Heavy Cavalry, 2.0 against Artillery and hand Shock Troops, and 0.75 against Villagers and Infantry. The short range and area damage are designed for a fast cavalry engagement, not long-distance kiting. Its 24-damage hand attack fires every 1.5 seconds and has 1.5 multipliers against Heavy Cavalry and Artillery, 1.2 against hand Shock Troops and 0.75 against Villagers and Infantry. The trample attack deals 20 damage every two seconds in an area of 3 and uses the hand attack’s modifiers. A separate 14-damage siege attack at range 6 every three seconds is secondary. The combination gives the Hakkapelit both a ranged opening and a strong melee option, unlike a Dragoon that relies mainly on its ranged attack. Its speed is useful for catching artillery or pressuring heavy cavalry, but it should not remain in melee against Heavy Infantry or Light Ranged Cavalry. The unit’s close firing range requires deliberate positioning. Approach behind a screen, fire at a cavalry or artillery target, then move before enemy infantry can surround the group. The area attack rewards targeting compact formations, while its 0.75 modifiers against Infantry and Villagers discourage spending the unit on routine raids into defended settlements. Against an artillery line, coordinate with another unit that can occupy the infantry protecting it. Against a heavy cavalry push, the 2.5 ranged multiplier and 1.5 hand multiplier make the Hakkapelit a useful response, provided it is not pinned down. Upgrades and cards can improve the Swedish cavalry, but the unit’s base role remains specialized. Its 2-population cost and 90/100 resource mix make a mass possible only when Food and Coin production support replacement. Preserve units with low health; a Hakkapelit that escapes can later use its mobility against another exposed target. The Hakkapelit is distinct from the Hackapell mercenary in the original release. Use the Definitive Edition unit page for its current Swedish profile, and use the older mercenary article only for the different unit and game version. Patch history has changed health, ranged resistance, attack, range, speed and modifiers. Current values include 215 hit points, 15% ranged resistance, 7.25 speed, 20 ranged damage at range 2–10, and 24 hand damage. Earlier guides may describe a much heavier melee attack or a different ranged profile. The current unit is a flexible cavalry counter with area damage, but it is not a substitute for general-purpose heavy cavalry or a ranged infantry line.
Finland revolution and Swedish availability
The Hakkapelit is the Swedish Fortress Age Dragoon replacement, while Finland can access it after the revolution. Both routes use the same recognizable role but depend on different match timing: Sweden can build toward the unit in a standard game, whereas the Finnish route commits the economy and army to a revolution. Do not assume Finland’s access is available before the political transition. The unit’s short-ranged attack hits in an area of 1, so tightly packed enemies can take splash damage, but the group must enter range 10 first. Its trample stance deals 20 damage in area 3 every two seconds and shares hand attack multipliers; use it when several units are already engaged and the cavalry can avoid being surrounded. The 15% ranged resistance can help on approach, but heavy infantry and light ranged cavalry remain dangerous. Maintain a safe retreat path and reserve population for the infantry or artillery needed to cover the Hakkapelit’s counters.
Preserve its mobility against infantry
A Hakkapelit’s 10 range is shorter than many ranged cavalry attacks, so it must approach before firing. Use terrain or a friendly screen to cross that distance and keep a retreat route open. The 0.75 Infantry multiplier and low ranged resistance make prolonged exchanges poor; target heavy cavalry or artillery, then disengage as the enemy infantry turns toward the unit.
Swedish Dragoon replacement with area damage
The Hakkapelit replaces the Dragoon for the Swedes. Its ranged attack has slightly shorter range, but area damage makes it effective against Heavy Cavalry and hand Shock troops. It also has a stronger hand attack than many ranged Cavalry, giving it a useful response when enemies close. The Hakkapelit is therefore a distinct Swedish unit rather than a simple Dragoon reskin.
Use the splash attack without losing mobility
Hakkapelits can damage clustered targets and help protect Swedish Caroleans or artillery, but light infantry and anti-Cavalry units remain dangerous. Keep them moving around the edge of the fight, focus a mounted threat and withdraw if the opponent commits counters. Their range and area damage should guide target selection; do not send them to trade into Skirmishers or a fortified position without support.
How its role changed across balance updates
Hakkapelit is a Swedish ranged cavalry unit whose current profile is built around fast movement and strong bonuses against Heavy Cavalry and Artillery. Its present 7.25 speed was 6.75 before update 13.27885, while ranged attack speed is now 3.0 seconds rather than 2.0 seconds before that update. The ranged attack now deals 20 damage, down from 26; its maximum range is 10, compared with 6 before update 13.27885. The range band was later adjusted as well: the current minimum is 2, whereas it was 3 before update 19.18309. Hit points have passed through several balance states: 215 now, 210 before patch 15.59076, 205 before update 19.18309, 230 before update 9476 and 240 before update 13.38085. Older guides therefore may describe a more durable but slower or differently ranged unit. Its current hand attack deals 24 damage, compared with 40 before update 13.27885 and 30 before update 13.38085; the current hand matchup values should be used when planning against Infantry or Villagers.