Harpooner
Harpooner is Heavy infantry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; obtained through Tavern (Europeans), Monastery (Asians), Lombard (Italians). Its listed ability is Blubber Buster.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 120 Coin
- Available
- Commerce Age · Tavern (Europeans) ; Monastery (Asians) ; Lombard (Italians)
- Training
- 40 sec · 4 population · 22 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 210 hit points · 30% hand resistance · 4.0 speed · 22 line of sight
- Ranged attack
- 20 base damage · range 2-14 · attack interval 3.0 · area of effect 0.25 · bonus damage: 2.0x vs. Cavalry; 2.0x vs. Shock troops; 0.5x vs. Heavy infantry
- Siege attack
- 14 base damage · range 6 · attack interval 3.0
- Hand attack
- 14 base damage · attack interval 2.0 · bonus damage: 2.0x vs. Cavalry; 2.0x vs. Shock troops
- Blubber Buster
- 14.4 base damage · range 14 · attack interval 3.0 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: 0.25x vs. Artillery
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Tavern (Europeans), Monastery (Asians), or Lombard (Italians). It has 210 hit points. It moves at 4.0 speed and uses 4 population. Training costs 120 Coin; it takes 40 seconds to train. Attack profile: Ranged attack: 20 damage at range 2-14; every 3.0 seconds; area of effect 0.25. Siege attack: 14 damage at range 6; every 3.0 seconds. Hand attack: 14 damage; every 2.0 seconds. Blubber Buster: 14.4 damage at range 14; every 3.0 seconds; area of effect 1. Special ability or role: Blubber Buster.
Matchup & timing
Use the Harpooner’s ranged attack against Cavalry or Shock troops and activate Blubber Buster when its special conditions make a stronger shot worthwhile. Its area of effect is small, so do not treat it as artillery against a packed formation. Keep it in the infantry line; Heavy Infantry receive only half ranged damage, so retarget rather than feeding volleys into them.
Use the Blubber Buster against suitable targets
The Harpooner costs 120 Coin, uses four population, and takes 40 seconds to train. It has 210 hit points and a ranged attack of 20 at range 2–14, plus the Blubber Buster ability. Its Tavern, Monastery, or Lombard access depends on the civilization. The high population cost calls for deliberate production; use its special ability where it provides value and keep the heavy infantry screened.
Damage profile and Blubber Buster
The Harpooner’s 20-damage ranged attack has a 2.0× bonus against Cavalry and Shock troops and deals half damage to Heavy infantry. Its Blubber Buster is a separate 14.4-damage attack at range 14 with a 3.0-second interval and an area of effect of one; the listed damage against Artillery is only 0.25×. The ordinary ranged shot is therefore the relevant tool against Cavalry, while the ability should not be mistaken for a general-purpose artillery counter. Its four population and 120 Coin cost make target selection important.