Wakina Rifle
Wakina Rifle is Lakota ranged infantry in Age of Empires III, available from the Fortress Age; obtained through War Hut, Fort, American Citadel. Its listed ability is Builds Teepees (with the "Nomadic Expansion" card) ; Builds War Huts and Corrals (with the "Aggressive Policy" card).
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age · War Hut; Fort; American Citadel
- Training
- 29 sec · 1 population · 10 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 85 hit points · 30% ranged resistance · 4.0 speed · 24 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 7 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.0x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.75x vs. Cavalry; 0.75x vs. Shock troops
- Ranged attack
- 16 damage · 2-18 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 2.5x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.5x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.6x vs. Cavalry; 0.6x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 12 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 1.5x vs. Resource enclosure; 1.5x vs. AbstractWall
Role, availability & values
Production is available through War Hut, Fort, or American Citadel. It has 85 hit points and 30% ranged resistance. It moves at 4.0 speed and uses 1 population. Training costs 60 Food and 40 Coin; it takes 29 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 7 damage. Ranged attack deals 16 damage. Siege attack deals 12 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 2.0× against Light ranged cavalry, 2.0× against Ranged shock trooper, 2.0× against Heavy infantry, 0.75× against Cavalry, and 0.75× against Shock troops*. Ranged attack bonuses: 2.5× against Light ranged cavalry, 2.5× against Ranged shock trooper, 2.0× against Heavy infantry, 0.6× against Cavalry, and 0.6× against Shock troops*. Siege attack bonuses: 1.5× against Resource enclosure and 1.5× against AbstractWall. Special ability or role: Builds Teepees (with the "Nomadic Expansion" card) ; Builds War Huts and Corrals (with the "Aggressive Policy" card).
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Light ranged cavalry (2×), Ranged shock trooper (2×), Heavy infantry (2×). Ranged attack is especially effective against Light ranged cavalry (2.5×), Ranged shock trooper (2.5×), Heavy infantry (2×). Siege attack is especially effective against Resource enclosure (1.5×), AbstractWall (1.5×). Its reduced multipliers against Cavalry (0.75×), Shock troops (0.75×), Cavalry (0.6×), Shock troops (0.6×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Light ranged cavalry, Ranged shock trooper, and Heavy infantry before they can close; hold the melee attack for Light ranged cavalry, Ranged shock trooper, and Heavy infantry when they enter contact; reserve the siege attack for Resource enclosure and AbstractWall. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Profile and Lakota access
The Wakina Rifle is a Lakota ranged infantry unit from The WarChiefs, trained at the War Hut from the Fortress Age. It costs 60 Food and 40 Coin, takes 29 seconds to train, uses one population, and has 85 hit points, 30 percent ranged resistance, speed 4, and line of sight 24 in the current profile. Its attack deals 16 damage at a range from 2 to 18 every three seconds. The unit has only 7 hand damage, so it should not be left in melee. The long line of sight and range let it fire before many opponents can answer, while its low hit point total makes it vulnerable to Cavalry and Artillery. It is a key Lakota answer to Heavy infantry and Light cavalry, but needs protection to remain on the field.
Combat role and target bonuses
The Wakina Rifle serves as a Lakota Skirmisher with a stronger ranged shot and shorter range than many European equivalents. Its class bonuses make it useful against Heavy infantry and Light cavalry; later updates also add meaningful bonuses against Ranged shock troops. It is weak against ordinary Cavalry and Shock troops and deals reduced damage to those categories, so keep Club Warriors or mounted units nearby to intercept them. The Wakina's low hit points mean even a modest cavalry charge can be decisive. Use the Lakota War Chief's speed aura or the Wind Runner Home City Card to reposition the line, firing on approaching targets while retreating. Focus fire so the 16 damage attack removes one unit at a time rather than spreading shots across the enemy army.
Mobility, cards, and construction abilities
The Wakina Rifle has an unusual support role through Home City cards. Nomadic Expansion allows it to build Teepees in Definitive Edition, and Aggressive Policy allows it to build War Huts and Corrals. These abilities let a military unit help expand Lakota production and support structures, but construction takes the unit away from combat and exposes it while stationary. Use them after securing an area rather than during a direct fight. Wind Runner increases mobility, which strengthens the unit's ability to kite and retreat. The Lakota War Chief's nearby speed aura can also help the line avoid being caught. These tools do not increase the unit's basic durability, so keep a screen in place and do not rely on speed if the opponent has cavalry positioned on both sides.
Upgrades and class tags
Wakina Rifles improve with age and Lakota upgrades. Legendary Wakina Rifles receive an additional point of range in the current upgrade profile. Lakota cards, ceremonies, and Arsenal access can improve the unit, though the civilization does not have the same Counter Infantry Rifling access as standard European armies except through specific card interactions. Its class tags changed over time: Definitive Edition introduced a Rifle infantry tag, while update 13.9057 also classified it as Light infantry. This affects which technologies and counter bonuses apply. The current target profile should be checked when using a particular patch, since old guides describe different cavalry and shock troop multipliers. Do not assume that a displayed weapon name determines its class behavior; the tags control class based effects.
Army composition and practical use
Wakina Rifles work best behind a screen of Club Warriors, Axe Riders, or other Lakota units that can stop enemy Cavalry from reaching the line. Their long range can pressure infantry while mounted units move around the flank. Against artillery, avoid a direct advance across open ground; use Lakota cavalry or a siege unit to clear the guns instead. The 24 line of sight supports scouting and gives the player warning of an approach, but trees and terrain can still block an attack. Keep the units in a compact formation, use hit and run movement, and protect the route back to a Teepee or Town Center. The Wakina's value comes from its range and matchup role, not from surviving a front line engagement.
Why the line is fragile
At 85 hit points, Wakina Rifles have far less durability than their long line of sight might suggest. They can fire at range 18, but a cavalry unit that reaches the formation can remove them quickly. Keep the group behind a defensive line and use the Lakota War Chief's speed aura to reposition when the enemy changes direction. If the opponent fields artillery, do not stack all the Rifles in one clump; spread the line and use mobile units to reach the guns. A small number of surviving Wakinas can continue pressuring Heavy infantry, while a large group that is caught by cavalry may be lost at once. Use their speed cards to kite, not to rush them into melee.
Building a Lakota force around Wakinas
A Lakota army can use Wakina Rifles as the ranged infantry core while Club Warriors and mounted units cover their weaknesses. Club Warriors can intercept Cavalry, while Rifle Riders or Axe Riders threaten artillery and ranged units that approach the line. Teepees improve nearby support and give the player a useful rally location, but the Wakina itself is not a durable structure defender. If Nomadic Expansion is active, the Rifle can build a Teepee in a secured area; if Aggressive Policy is active, it can help establish a War Hut or Corral. These construction tasks should happen before contact with the enemy, since removing Rifles from the firing line during a battle reduces the army's ranged damage. Keep a reserve group near the objective and rotate units into the frontline as health falls.
Lakota Skirmisher with distinctive range
The Wakina Rifle fills the Skirmisher role in the Lakota roster. It has relatively few hit points and weak hand damage, but a stronger ranged attack than a standard comparison unit, with shorter range and a 24 Line of Sight in the documented profile. It retains the familiar bonuses against Heavy Infantry and light Cavalry, making it a critical ranged component of a Lakota army. Use its sight and damage to focus targets before they reach the line.
Keep the riflemen out of melee
Wakina Rifles are especially vulnerable to Cavalry and artillery. Their shorter range means they cannot always trade safely against another Skirmisher mass, so use terrain, mobility and a front line to control the approach. Add anti-Cavalry units before the opponent can reach them and retreat when artillery takes aim. The unit’s improved ranged damage is most effective when protected long enough to fire repeatedly; do not judge it as a stand-alone army or send it to siege buildings.