Level 1
Level 1 groups the starting neutral trade units that travel Age III Trade Routes, including the Travois, Barter Merchant, Rickshaw, Trader, Oceanic Carrack, Scholar and River Trader. It describes route progression rather than a military or railroad unit.
Recorded values
- Durability & mobility
- 240 hit points · 90% ranged resistance · 4.0 speed · 15 line of sight
Role, availability & values
These neutral traders follow assigned Trade Routes and deliver resources or Experience at Trading Posts. The shared profile lists 240 hit points, 90% ranged resistance, 4.0 speed and 15 line of sight. Route upgrades replace the starting trader with a higher-level Stagecoach or Train where supported.
Matchup & timing
Build a Trading Post on the route to receive deliveries and reveal the passing trader’s surroundings. Upgrade the route when its shipment or resource benefit can repay the investment; the trader itself cannot be commanded as a combat unit.
Age III trade units and route roles
Level 1 groups the starting trade units used in Age of Empires III: the Travois on North American routes, Barter Merchant in Central and South America, Rickshaw in Asia, Trader in Africa and the Middle East, Oceanic Carrack at sea, Scholar on European land routes, and River Trader on European rivers. The listed shared profile is 240 hit points, 90% ranged resistance, 4.0 speed and 15 line of sight. These neutral units travel along their assigned routes and cannot be trained as a civilization’s army. Their movement triggers route deliveries at Trading Posts; route upgrades replace the initial Level 1 trader with higher-tier units such as Stagecoaches or Trains, depending on the map. The first trader is therefore an economic objective and a source of route vision, not a combat unit. Build on a route site to receive its delivery and reveal nearby terrain as it passes, then research the route upgrade when the additional shipment or resource income can repay the investment. The Age III trade-unit variants depend on geography and expansion content, so a map may not use every listed trader type.
Route deliveries and upgrades
Level 1 trade units provide route deliveries only while the route is active; the available reward may be Experience, Food, Wood or Coin according to the route setup. They are unattackable neutral traders and do not generate the other resources listed for a different route type. Trade Route Trading Posts can receive their deliveries, and route upgrades at the Trading Post replace the starter tier with a faster Stagecoach and later a Train where that map supports those stages. The shared profile is therefore a map economy mechanic rather than a player unit that can be micro-managed.
The first Trade Route upgrade
Level 1 is the initial upgrade tier for Trade Route units in Age of Empires III. As a Trade Route socket is activated, its route unit advances along the line and later tiers improve the value of the reward at each stop. Trade units are visually and mechanically adapted to their region: land routes can use a Trade Travois, Barter Merchant, Rickshaw, Trader, Scholar or River Trader, while Oceanic Carracks serve sea routes. Their common role is to travel a fixed route and generate the route’s reward rather than gather resources like Villagers.
Route progression and protection
A Trade Route can provide Experience or resources as its units pass route posts, and a player may improve the route by constructing a Trading Post at an available socket. The first tier is the starting point, not a separate combat unit the player directs freely. Route units are difficult to attack under ordinary rules and have high ranged resistance, but control of sockets still matters because opponents can contest the line and its posts. Inspect the route’s displayed rewards and nearby settlement options before investing, then protect the posts that support the planned shipment and economy timing.