Multiplier
An attack multiplier changes how much base attack a unit deals to a target carrying a specified tag. Age of Empires III combines applicable multipliers multiplicatively, then accounts for the target’s resistance; a counter can therefore come from damage bonuses, speed, health, or positioning.
How damage bonuses work
The unit information panel lists its attack types and multipliers. For example, a 2× bonus doubles that attack against the matching tag, while a 0.5× value halves it. When a target has multiple relevant tags, the applicable factors combine, so the result can differ from reading one matchup label alone.
Matchup decisions
Inspect the attacker’s panel and the target’s tags before committing a specialist unit. Use multipliers to identify efficient counters, but also compare range, resistance, health, formation, and cost because a bonus alone does not decide every fight.
Read the full tag matchup, not one bonus in isolation
A unit can carry multiple tags, and attacks may match more than one. Applicable factors combine multiplicatively before the target’s resistance is applied. Check the attack type, target tags, and resistance when comparing damage; a 2× bonus against one class does not mean the same damage against every unit in that class if another tag also applies.
Calculate counters using the full attack profile
Start with the attack’s base damage, apply every multiplier matching the target’s tags, and then account for resistance. Hand, ranged, siege, and special attacks can use different factors. A unit that resists one damage type may still be vulnerable to another, so compare the complete attack profile rather than a single class bonus.
Apply combined bonuses to the right target tags
A damage multiplier modifies an attack against a unit carrying the matching class tag. If several of a target’s tags match, applicable factors can combine; resistance is then applied to the resulting attack. For example, an attack with 10 base damage and a 2.5× bonus against Light Infantry that also has a 0.6× factor against another matching tag results in 15 damage before resistance (10 × 2.5 × 0.6). This explains why an attack that looks strong against a broad unit class may perform differently against a specific unit. Read the attack type and every tag in the target’s profile before judging the matchup.
Compare attacks separately
Hand, ranged, Siege, Trample and charged attacks can have different base damage, target modifiers and areas of effect. A unit may counter one target with its ranged attack but be vulnerable in melee; resistance may also apply differently to different damage types. Check the active attack’s rate of fire, area, range and multiplier rather than relying on the unit’s headline role. Upgrades can change some values, and civilization or card effects may add another modifier. Use the unit’s profile for the exact numbers and treat the full tag matchup as the basis for a counter decision.