Maya Cotton Armor
Maya Cotton Armor is a technology researched at a Trading Post or Tambo on a Maya settlement. It increases the durability of two infantry classes.
Research profile
- Research location
- Trading Post or Tambo on a Maya settlement
- Research time
- 10 seconds
- Wood cost
- 250
- Coin cost
- 250
- Effect
- Hand infantry and Foot archer (Age of Empires III) [[hit points +20%
Effect & research conditions
Research costs 250 Wood and 250 Coin and takes 10 seconds. It increases hit points of Hand infantry by 20%; since update 14.43676, Foot archers also receive the hit point bonus.
Research condition
Exploration Age technology researched at a Trading Post or Tambo on a Maya settlement. Current cost: 250 Wood and 250 Coin; research time: 10 seconds. It grants +20% hit points to Hand Infantry and, since Definitive Edition update 14.43676, Foot Archers as well.
When to research
Ally with the Maya when the army will include Hand infantry or Foot archers that can benefit from the health increase. Compare the technology cost with the units and upgrades needed for the next fight.
Protect the infantry that will use the bonus
The settlement upgrade costs 250 Wood and 250 Coin and takes ten seconds. It adds 20% hit points to Hand Infantry and, since update 14.43676, also applies to Foot Archers. Check the active version and unit classes before researching. It improves durability rather than attack, so the investment is strongest when those troops make up a meaningful portion of the army.
Which units benefit
The bonus follows unit class tags, so check that a planned unit is classified as Hand Infantry or Foot Archer rather than relying on a broad label such as “infantry.” The source lists strong applications including Spanish Rodeleros and Pikemen, Dutch Halberdiers, Japanese Samurai and the Aztec Coyote Runner, along with other eligible units. Extra hit points make these troops more likely to survive while closing, holding a settlement or reaching a siege target; the technology does not add attack or resistance. Its cost has changed over time: it was 300 Wood and Coin in the original game, 250 in the Definitive Edition launch profile, 175 after update 14.43676, then returned to 250 in update 15.30007. The current value is therefore 250 of each resource, and older guides may show a different price.