Schiavone
Schiavone is Italians ranged infantry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; obtained through Basilica, American Citadel.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · Basilica; American Citadel
- Training profile
- 35 sec · 1 population · 12 XP per unit
- Durability & mobility
- 120 hit points · 30% ranged resistance · 4.0 speed · 26 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 16 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 0.75x vs. Heavy cavalry; 0.75x vs. Hand shock trooper
- Ranged attack
- 13.5 damage · 2-18 range · bonuses: 2.5x vs. Light infantry; 2.5x vs. Counter-skirmishers; 1.25x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.6x vs. Heavy cavalry; 0.6x vs. Hand shock trooper
- Siege attack
- 12 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
- Experience bounty
- 12 XP for defeating the unit
Role, availability & values
The Schiavone is available from the Commerce Age through the Italian Basilica and from the American Citadel under its applicable rules. At the Basilica, order a shipment of seven for 300 Food, 300 Wood and 300 Coin; it arrives in 55 seconds and does not use an available Home City shipment card. The unit profile separately lists one population and a 35-second training time. Its 13.5-damage ranged attack reaches 18 and deals 2.5× damage against Light infantry and Counter-skirmishers, but only 0.6× against Heavy cavalry and Hand shock infantry. Use the group to answer ranged infantry, and pair it with units that can handle Cavalry and Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Ranged attack is especially effective against Light infantry (2.5×), Counter-skirmishers (2.5×), Heavy infantry (1.25×). Its reduced multipliers against Heavy cavalry (0.75×), Hand shock trooper (0.75×), Heavy cavalry (0.6×), Hand shock trooper (0.6×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Light infantry, Counter-skirmishers, and Heavy infantry before they can close. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Anti-light-infantry role
The Schiavone is Italian ranged infantry available from the Commerce Age through the Basilica, with American Citadel access in eligible rosters. It uses one population, has 120 hit points, 30% ranged resistance, speed 4 and a notably long 26 line of sight. Its ranged attack deals 13.5 damage from range 2–18 and has a 2.5× multiplier against Light Infantry and Counter-skirmishers, plus 1.25× against Heavy Infantry. This makes it an answer to enemy ranged units that normally threaten heavier infantry. The attack is penalized against Heavy Cavalry and Hand Shock troops, so keep the Schiavone behind a screen rather than expecting it to stop a charge in melee. The hand strike deals 16 damage but has only 0.75× against those cavalry and shock classes. Its 12 siege damage can assist against a structure once the field is clear. Because it fires from long range and has substantial ranged resistance, it can hold a firing line, but it is not immune to artillery or cavalry. Use focus fire against Light Infantry and pull back if the opponent reaches the line.
Italian production and army placement
The 35-second training time means the Schiavone can reinforce a Commerce Age force without a long artillery-style queue, but a group must still be planned around the opponent’s roster. Build from the Basilica or, where available, the American Citadel and protect the production site so the unit remains accessible during pressure. Its 26 line of sight can help reveal approaching units while the army advances, though it does not replace an Explorer or dedicated scout. Place Schiavone behind units that can hold ground and let their range punish counter-skirmishers. Their strength is a matchup specialization: against heavy cavalry and hand shock troops, their attack modifiers make trading poor, so add a suitable Italian melee screen and reposition rather than standing still. Use them to protect artillery and other ranged infantry from light units. The Schiavone’s one-population cost can make it attractive in a large formation, but its modest hit points and 4.0 speed reward careful spacing. Move them with the army and avoid splitting the group into isolated skirmishes.
Reading the matchup before training
The Schiavone’s long range and high resistance are most valuable when the opponent relies on light ranged troops. Scout the enemy composition before committing Italian resources: against counter-skirmishers, the 2.5× bonus can turn a losing ranged exchange into a favorable one; against heavy cavalry, its 0.75× hand modifier makes it a poor emergency stop. Keep a separate unit ready to intercept cavalry and use the Schiavone’s range to pressure the opponent from behind that screen. The 26 line of sight can expose a flank early, but do not let a small group drift away from support just because it sees farther. If an enemy artillery piece appears, move the group out of its bombard lane and answer with the appropriate counter. Its one-population capacity supports a large formation, but a dense group is still vulnerable to area attacks. Spread the line enough to reduce incoming area damage while keeping focus fire on valuable Light Infantry.
Protect the unit’s favorable targets
The Schiavone can remain in a ranged formation because its 30% ranged resistance reduces incoming ranged damage, but it has no special protection from siege. Keep the unit behind the infantry that can intercept cavalry, and do not let the high line of sight tempt it into a forward position alone. If the opponent switches away from Light Infantry and Counter-skirmishers, reassess the investment rather than continuing to trade into unfavorable units. Its strength comes from its matchup bonuses and range, not from winning every fight.
Italian counter-skirmisher from the Basilica
The Schiavone is a Commerce Age Italian ranged Infantry unit trained at the Basilica or American Citadel. It takes 35 seconds to train, uses one population and has 120 hit points, 30% ranged resistance, speed four and sight 26. Its ranged attack deals 13.5 damage at range 2–18 every three seconds. It has 2.5× damage against Light Infantry and Counter-skirmishers and 1.25× against Heavy Infantry, while Heavy Cavalry and Hand Shock troops receive reduced damage. The attack profile makes the Schiavone a specialized response to enemy ranged Infantry rather than a general frontline musketeer. Its one-population cost lets it form a broad firing line, but its low health means keep it behind a screen.
Select targets and protect the long-range line
Use Schiavones to focus Light Infantry or opposing Counter-skirmishers while allied units keep Cavalry and Shock troops away. The 18-range maximum and 26 sight give them a long reach, but their three-second reload leaves time for opponents to close. Their short-range minimum of two also means a unit that reaches point-blank distance can disrupt the formation. Keep them spaced enough to avoid area damage, but within support range of heavier troops. Because access is tied to Italian production and the Basilica, production timing differs from an ordinary Barracks unit. Build them when the opponent’s ranged composition justifies their bonuses and add a separate answer for Cavalry rather than expecting their low-damage matchup modifiers to hold the line alone.