Tomahawk
Tomahawk is Haudenosaunee Heavy infantry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; obtained through War Hut, Fort, American Citadel.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · War Hut; Fort; American Citadel
- Training
- 28 sec · 1 population · 10 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 150 hit points · 20% hand resistance · 4.0 speed · 16 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 14 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Cavalry; 2.5x vs. Shock troops
- Ranged attack
- 19 damage · 12 range · 3.0 attack interval
- Siege attack
- 20 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
Production is available through War Hut, Fort, or American Citadel. It has 150 hit points. It moves at 4.0 speed and uses 1 population. Training costs 75 Food and 20 Wood; it takes 28 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 14 damage. Ranged attack deals 19 damage. Siege attack deals 20 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 3.0× against Cavalry and 2.5× against Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Cavalry (3×), Shock troops (2.5×). Hold the melee attack for Cavalry and Shock troops when they enter contact. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Current statistics and ranged infantry role
The Tomahawk is a Commerce Age Haudenosaunee heavy infantry unit produced at the War Hut. It costs 75 food and 20 wood, trains in 28 seconds, uses one population, and has 150 hit points with 20% hand resistance. It moves at speed 4.0 and sees 16 range. Its ranged attack deals 19 damage at range 12 every 3 seconds; its hand attack deals 14 every 1.5 seconds with a 3.0 multiplier against cavalry and 2.5 against shock troops. The siege attack deals 20 damage at range 6 every 3 seconds. Like a Musketeer, the Tomahawk can fight at range but retains a strong anti-cavalry melee attack. It is relatively inexpensive to mass, though its short range and slower rate of ranged fire make positioning important.
Matchups and formation use
Tomahawks are most dependable against cavalry and shock troops, which they can damage with both their ranged and melee attacks. The short 12 range encourages them to stay close to the army rather than act as a long-range skirmisher. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, and artillery are dangerous because they can attack from outside its reach or punish a slow infantry formation. Keep Tomahawks in a compact screen for ranged units and let cavalry or other fast troops chase skirmishers. They can also bodyblock a cavalry charge for Aenna or other ranged support. A mixed Commerce Age force of Tomahawks with Aenna or Kanya Horsemen covers more threats than a pure Tomahawk mass.
Lacrosse and upgrade sequence
Lacrosse is a distinctive Haudenosaunee improvement because it increases Tomahawk range by two and line of sight by two, bringing the ranged attack to 14. The extra range makes it easier to contribute in crowded fights and helps the unit approach without immediately entering melee. Elite Tomahawks is researched in the Fortress Age for 200 wood and 100 coin, increasing hit points and damage by 25%. Champion Tomahawks costs 400 wood and 200 coin in the Industrial Age and adds another 25%, requiring Elite. Legendary Tomahawks costs 1,500 food and 1,500 coin in the Imperial Age and adds 50% after Champion. This progression can preserve the unit's early role, but later-age ranged infantry and artillery become increasingly important threats.
Haudenosaunee deck and unit combinations
The Haudenosaunee have extensive Home City support for infantry, including attack, health, range, and training-time improvements. Haudenosaunee Lacrosse increases attack, while Lacrosse separately improves range and sight. These upgrades can turn the low baseline ranged attack into a stronger early force. In the Fortress Age, Musket Riders generally provide a more specialized role, so Tomahawks are often used as a durable screen alongside Mantlets or Forest Prowlers rather than as the sole damage source. In the Industrial Age, Light Cannon adds siege pressure from range. Choose cards that support the role the army needs—more resilience when holding a line, or more attack and range when Tomahawks are the primary Commerce Age unit.
Version and access notes
The Tomahawk was introduced in The WarChiefs and is unique to the Haudenosaunee. It can be trained at a War Hut, Fort, or American Citadel. Definitive Edition updates changed its wood cost and training time; the current values are 20 wood and 28 seconds, whereas an earlier version used 25 wood and 30 seconds. Its unit type now includes Musket Infantry from update 23511. These changes affect older build orders, but the main identity remains a short-ranged heavy infantry unit with a ranged attack and a strong melee cavalry multiplier.
Commerce Age pressure and later transitions
The Tomahawk's low 20-wood price and one-population use make it practical to combine a large infantry line with Haudenosaunee cavalry or archers. Its role is to stop charges and protect ranged allies while it deals damage at short range. Lacrosse increases the firing distance and sight, helping the unit keep pace with a skirmishing army, but its ranged attack remains slower than its hand attack. Use the range increase to approach safely, then let the cavalry multiplier punish enemy units that close. In the Fortress Age, Musket Riders often take over the heavy anti-cavalry role; Tomahawks remain useful as a bodyblock with Mantlets or Forest Prowlers. By the Industrial Age, Light Cannon gives the army more decisive siege and ranged pressure, so retain Tomahawks where their health and cavalry bonus still matter rather than making them the entire army.
Protecting the ranged line
Tomahawks have 20% hand resistance but no special defense against ranged fire, so do not leave them under artillery or concentrated skirmisher attack. Their 150 hit points make them a sturdy first line, not an invulnerable one. Use terrain and allied buildings to reduce the number of angles from which they can be shot, and keep a reserve of Kanya Horsemen to threaten enemy ranged units. If the opponent pulls away, let Aenna or cavalry pursue instead of walking the whole Tomahawk formation into the open.
Upgrade investment
The Elite and Champion steps are comparatively inexpensive in coin but require wood, while the Legendary upgrade asks for large food and coin reserves. Research them when Tomahawks remain the main anti-cavalry screen; if the opponent has already moved to artillery and long-range infantry, the same resources may be better spent on Light Cannon and supporting cavalry.
Haudenosaunee Musketeer equivalent
The Tomahawk is Haudenosaunee ranged Heavy Infantry and fills a role similar to the Musketeer. Its ranged attack provides a front line, while a strong hand-attack bonus against Cavalry punishes mounted units that reach it. The documented profile costs 75 Food, has 150 hit points, 20% hand resistance, speed 4.0 and uses one population. Its hand attack is stronger than many Musketeer-type units, making it a common unit in Haudenosaunee armies.
Mass affordably, then support the ranged line
Tomahawks are relatively affordable and can be massed, but they remain vulnerable to light infantry and artillery. Use them to screen Cetan Bowmen, Wakina Rifles or siege, and add a dedicated ranged counter when the opponent builds Skirmishers. Their War Hut access and Haudenosaunee upgrades differ from European Musketeers, so do not assume every European card or technology applies.