Lipka Tatar
Lipka Tatar is ranged cavalry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; obtained through Trading Post or Tambo on a House of Jagiellon palace, Native Embassy.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · Trading Post or Tambo on a House of Jagiellon palace; Native Embassy
- Training
- 35 sec · 13 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 140 hit points · 30% hand resistance · 7.25 speed · 14 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 12.5 damage · 1.25 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Heavy cavalry; 2.25x vs. Hand shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Artillery
- Ranged attack
- 10 damage · 12 range · 1.25 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Heavy cavalry; 2.25x vs. Hand shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Artillery; 0.34x vs. Villager
- Siege attack
- 8 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Trading Post or Tambo on a House of Jagiellon palace or Native Embassy. It has 140 hit points. It moves at 7.25 speed. Training costs 80 Food and 70 Wood; it takes 35 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 12.5 damage. Ranged attack deals 10 damage. Siege attack deals 8 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 3.0× against Heavy cavalry, 2.25× against Hand shock trooper, and 2.0× against Artillery. Ranged attack bonuses: 3.0× against Heavy cavalry, 2.25× against Hand shock trooper, 2.0× against Artillery, and 0.34× against Villager.
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Heavy cavalry (3×), Hand shock trooper (2.25×), Artillery (2×). Ranged attack is especially effective against Heavy cavalry (3×), Hand shock trooper (2.25×), Artillery (2×). Its reduced multipliers against Villager (0.34×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Heavy cavalry, Hand shock trooper, and Artillery before they can close; hold the melee attack for Heavy cavalry, Hand shock trooper, and Artillery when they enter contact. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Native cavalry access and profile
The Lipka Tatar is a Commerce Age ranged Cavalry native warrior introduced with Knights of the Mediterranean. It costs 80 Food and 70 Wood in the current profile, trains in 35 seconds and is limited to ten per House of Jagiellon palace. A Trading Post or Tambo on that palace, or a Native Embassy where available, provides production. The unit has 140 hit points, 30% hand resistance, speed 7.25 and line of sight 14. It moves quickly and has a faster ranged firing rhythm than many ranged Cavalry units, making it well suited to hit-and-run play. The current cost differs from earlier versions, which used less Food and Wood.
Anti-Cavalry and artillery bonuses
The Lipka Tatar’s ranged attack deals three times normal damage against Heavy Cavalry, 2.25 times against hand shock troops and twice against Artillery, with only 0.34× damage against Villagers. The hand attack has the same military bonuses. This gives it a clear role as a mobile counter to heavy mounted units and artillery, but it is not a strong Villager raider despite its speed. Pair it with melee Cavalry such as Hussars when the goal is to remove artillery quickly: the Lipka can pressure from range while the Hussars close. Its limited House of Jagiellon cap encourages focused target selection.
Kiting and counter units
High movement speed and a quick ranged reload let Lipka Tatars fire while repositioning. Use short attacks and retreats to keep distance from Heavy Cavalry, then focus fire rather than splitting their damage across several targets. Their main vulnerability is Light Infantry, including foot archers and Skirmishers, which can attack the ranged Cavalry efficiently. Do not kite through a narrow path where the group can be trapped, and do not rely on 30% hand resistance to survive a melee surround. Keep the Lipkas behind a screen and use their sight and mobility to scout the edge of the enemy force.
Comparison with Cavalry Archers
Lipka Tatars resemble Cavalry Archers but trade some hit points and ranged attack for lower Food cost, Wood rather than Coin, greater speed, a stronger hand attack and faster ranged fire. They are easier to use for hit-and-run attacks but remain fragile against dedicated Light Infantry. Their 3.0× Heavy Cavalry multiplier and 2.25× hand-shock multiplier make them particularly useful when the enemy relies on expensive mounted units. They can also damage Artillery effectively, although a melee Cavalry partner helps finish guns. Native caps and House of Jagiellon access make them a limited support force rather than an unlimited substitute for standard ranged Cavalry.
Polish and native upgrades
The Poles can train Lipka Tatars from the Royal Embassy after sending the relevant Home City card, creating a civilization-specific recruitment route in addition to the native settlement. Native warrior technologies such as Legendary Native Warriors and Czartoryski Patronage can improve the unit, with access depending on civilization and building. Before update 19.18309, the standard cost was 70 Food and 60 Wood; before update 13.27885 the House of Jagiellon limit was fourteen rather than ten. Check the patch era when using older build advice, because both the price and size of a native force have changed.
Spend the limited force on priority targets
A Lipka Tatar’s high multipliers against Heavy Cavalry, hand shock troops and Artillery make focus fire important. Select one expensive target and let the group shoot together instead of spreading damage. The 0.34× Villager multiplier makes a direct raid inefficient even though the unit moves quickly. When workers are exposed, use a Hussar or another raider to attack while Lipkas cover the army against cavalry or artillery. Their ten-per-palace cap means the player should preserve the group and avoid treating it as an unlimited harassment unit.
Native Embassy and Polish access
Native Embassies can train the Lipka Tatar where the alliance rules allow, and the Poles gain a Royal Embassy route after sending the relevant Home City card. That production path is separate from a Trading Post or Tambo built on a House of Jagiellon palace. The Polish card can make the unit part of a deliberate civilization build, while other players depend on map access to the palace. Confirm which route applies before assigning resources to the unit.
Wood-based economy and upgrades
The 80 Food and 70 Wood cost avoids Coin and can fit an economy that has secured forests and Food but wants to reserve Coin for upgrades or age advancement. It still competes with Houses, Trading Posts and artillery for Wood. Native upgrades including Legendary Native Warriors and Czartoryski Patronage can strengthen the force, but the research location and availability depend on the civilization. Upgrade a group that will remain in service; if the House of Jagiellon site is likely to fall, building a large force first may leave you unable to replace it.
Avoid foot archers and Skirmishers
The Lipka Tatar’s main counter is Light Infantry. Its speed can create distance, but a group that runs through a narrow route may still be caught. Keep a Hussar or other frontline unit between the Lipkas and foot archers.
Use its speed for short rotations
A speed of 7.25 lets Lipkas shift between flanks and follow a retreating heavy target. Keep the group close enough to return to support when Light Infantry appears, instead of chasing a unit beyond the reach of the rest of the army.
A limited native detachment
The ten-per-palace cap means the Lipka force is a specialist support group. Protect the House of Jagiellon access point and choose heavy targets that reward its strong multipliers.
Remember its Villager penalty
Despite high speed, the Lipka Tatar deals only 0.34× damage to Villagers. Use it to counter heavy targets and let a dedicated raider pressure the economy.
Settlement access governs replacements
A second House of Jagiellon palace can raise the total available group, but losing the settlement stops the ordinary native production route. Keep the Trading Post or Tambo protected.
Mounted archer that pressures Cavalry
The Lipka Tatar is a Commerce Age mounted archer effective against Cavalry and Shock troops. It resembles the Cavalry Archer but uses less Food and Wood instead of Coin, with slightly lower ranged attack and hit points in the documented comparison. That resource mix can suit an economy already spending Coin on upgrades or other units. Use its mobility to protect a flank and punish mounted threats before they reach the back line.
Keep light infantry away
Light infantry such as foot archers and Skirmishers are dangerous to Lipka Tatars. Their reduced durability makes a head-on ranged exchange costly, so screen them with Heavy Infantry and withdraw when the opponent’s formation turns toward them. A Lipka group is most effective when it can maneuver and focus on Cavalry; it is less useful when confined behind buildings or forced to attack a prepared gun line. Check the current civilization and version for exact cost and multipliers.