Tupi
Tupi is an Age of Empires III minor civilization from South America. It appears on maps including Amazonia, Gran Chaco, Minas Gerais, Pampas, Pampas Sierras. Players can establish an alliance at its settlement to access its local units and research.
Settlement & allied options
A Trading Post at the settlement unlocks the alliance. Inca players use a Tambo for the same purpose. The listed allied roster includes Tupi Blackwood Archer. Its settlement offers these technologies: Tupi Poison Arrow Frogs, Tupi Forest Burning, Tupi Animal Lore. The available roster and technologies can vary with the selected map and release.
When to ally
Scout the map for a Tupi settlement before spending resources on an alliance. Use it when the listed unit or technology fills a need in the army or economy, and protect the Trading Post that provides access.
Practical direction
A practical sequence is to secure the settlement, decide whether the army will rely on Blackwood Archers, then start Poison Arrow Frogs early enough to justify its 60-second research. Range 20 lets the archers fire from behind a screen, but 80 hit points makes exposure costly; poison does not remove their need for protection or good target selection. Forest Burning is a separate economy choice: it reduces Wood prices for buildings and construction wagons but does not accelerate construction, so it matters most before repeated placement. Animal Lore only unlocks Buttercup production and does not send the pet immediately; the Battleship route also needs Brethren of the Coast. Plan population and a safe production site before paying for that option.
Long-range archer with a fragile profile
The Tupi Blackwood Archer has only 80 hit points and 10% ranged resistance, but moves at 4.0 speed and attacks at range 20. It costs 50 Food and 50 Wood and trains in 30 seconds. Its 19 ranged damage arrives every 1.5 seconds and receives bonuses against Light ranged cavalry, Ranged shock troops and Heavy infantry, with reduced damage against Cavalry and Shock troops. Keep it screened and use its reach to pressure suitable targets rather than letting the low hit points absorb return fire.
Poison, building discounts and pet access
Tupi Poison Arrow Frogs costs 150 Wood and 150 Coin and takes 60 seconds; it adds 10% Archer damage and gives Blackwood Archers poison on their ranged attack, increasing that poison damage by 10%. Tupi Forest Burning costs 175 Food and 175 Coin and reduces Wood costs for Buildings and construction wagons by 20%, without changing construction time. Tupi Animal Lore costs 50 Wood and 50 Coin and unlocks Pet Cougar Buttercup at Town Centers and Heroes; Battleships can train Buttercup only after the Brethren of the Coast card. Research poison for an archer army, Forest Burning before building repeatedly, and Animal Lore only when the pet’s additional production access is useful.
Settlement and unit access
A Trading Post, or an Inca Tambo, on a Tupi settlement unlocks allied research; the Native Embassy is another Blackwood Archer training route. Protect the settlement during the 60-second Poison Arrow Frogs research and ensure the archer line can remain in the army long enough to benefit.