War Wagon
The War Wagon is Germany’s Fortress Age ranged cavalry: a durable gun platform built to punish enemy cavalry and support a German infantry line. Its baseline profile has 500 hit points, speed 6, a 16-range attack for 42 damage, and three population cost. The long range and high health help it keep firing while the battle shifts, but its slow training and large population footprint make every loss expensive. South African revolutionary versions and campaign War Wagons have separate access rules, so the standard German unit is the reference profile.
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age; Revolution (South Africa) · Stable; Fort; Galleon; Fluyt (South Africa) ; Steamer (Gran Colombia)
- Training
- 60 sec · 3 population · 30 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 500 hit points · 20% hand resistance · 6.0 speed · 22 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 21 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: Same as ranged attack
- Ranged attack
- 42 damage · 16 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Heavy cavalry; 2.25x vs. Hand shock trooper; 2.0x vs. Artillery; 0.5x vs. Villager
- Siege attack
- 30 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role & counters
A German War Wagon costs 150 Food and 150 Coin, trains in 60 seconds, and occupies three population. Its ranged attack deals 3× damage to Heavy cavalry, 2.25× to Hand shock troops, and 2× to Artillery, but only half damage to Villagers. The 42-damage shot reloads every three seconds at range 16; the 21-damage hand attack uses the same target bonuses. Keep wagons behind a frontline so they can focus valuable mounted targets without being pinned by Heavy infantry. Their siege attack is useful as support, but artillery or dedicated siege should handle a defended structure.
When to field it
Build War Wagons when scouting shows meaningful Heavy cavalry, Hand shock troops, or Artillery for them to answer and the German economy can afford both Food and Coin. A small group already consumes substantial population, so stop adding wagons when the opponent shifts to counters they do not punish. Keep Musketeers or another screen near them, and use their range to fire into cavalry before it reaches vulnerable units. German Bank income can support the long-term cost, but a 60-second replacement queue means surviving wagons are often more valuable than a risky chase.
German access and statistics
The War Wagon is German ranged gunpowder cavalry available from the Fortress Age at the Stable, Fort, or Galleon. The standard unit costs 150 Food and 150 Coin, takes 60 seconds to train, uses three population, and has 500 hit points and speed 6. Its ranged attack deals 42 damage at range 16, while its hand attack deals 21 damage. It has a high hit point pool for ranged cavalry, but the three population cost and long train time limit how quickly it can be massed. John Black's Mercenaries can also use War Wagons in the campaign, with their upgrade capped at Guard level. A South Africa revolution card can create another special access route with its own shipment cost and training rules.
Mounted counter and firepower
War Wagons serve as the German mounted counter-cavalry line. Their high single target ranged damage can punish enemy Cavalry at medium range, while their durability lets them remain in a fight longer than many light ranged cavalry units. They cost as much as a major cavalry investment, so use them against valuable targets rather than sending them after every unit. Their range 16 is longer than a Musketeer's, giving the wagon room to fire before an infantry line closes. Keep them away from Heavy infantry and anti-cavalry units that can trap them, and add infantry or artillery to support the engagement. The unit's main attack is ranged; its melee mode changes how it behaves and allows a rare ranged hand strike with three range, but it remains vulnerable when caught in close combat.
Population and economy tradeoff
A War Wagon uses three population, which means a small group takes significant army space. It also requires both Food and Coin and trains for a full minute. The German Bank and settler economy can support that price in a longer match, but the player must decide whether the durability and attack justify the investment compared with cheaper ranged cavalry. Use War Wagons when the opponent fields enough cavalry to make their counter role matter. If the enemy shifts to Heavy infantry or artillery, add units that can handle those threats rather than continuing to produce wagons. Preserve damaged units and let them recover near a safe position; replacing one during active combat is slow and costly.
Upgrades and revolutionary variants
German Home City cards and cavalry technologies can improve the War Wagon's health and attack. The unit may be included in mercenary or revolution shipments depending on the civilization and card. South Africa's Wagon Warfare card allows the revolution to train War Wagons instead of Dragoons or Ruyters under the stated British or Dutch routes; the card costs 1,000 Wood and takes 60 seconds to arrive. These War Wagons have an upgrade cap that differs from ordinary units, and patch history changed the exact maximum rank. Do not use the revolutionary card as if it were ordinary German Stable production. Check the civilization, revolution, and shipment before planning a War Wagon force.
Formation and map use
War Wagons are slower to produce than a standard Dragoon and occupy more population, so keep them in a group with a clear retreat route. Their 500 hit points support a durable firing line, but a large wagon formation can block friendly units and become an easy artillery target. Use open terrain where the cavalry can reposition and avoid narrow passages that prevent the wagons from turning. On a water map, a Galleon can provide production close to a landing, but the ship and shoreline need protection. Focus on enemy cavalry, withdraw from melee counters, and let the rest of the army handle buildings and infantry.
Melee mode and close engagements
War Wagons can switch to Melee mode, where the unit uses a 21 damage hand attack with a three range reach. This is unusual for cavalry and lets a wagon strike targets that are nearby without moving directly onto them. Do not confuse the mode with a safe melee role: the War Wagon still uses three population and can be countered by units designed to defeat cavalry. Switch modes when a target is already engaged or when the wagon can hit artillery without entering a dense anti-cavalry line. Return to ranged fire when distance is available.
Repair and preservation
A damaged War Wagon represents a large resource and population investment. Pull it away from artillery and Heavy infantry, then let it recover near a safe base or healing support before returning to the front. Because the Stable train time is 60 seconds, keeping one veteran wagon alive can be more efficient than replacing it during a push.
When to produce War Wagons
A War Wagon is worth its high cost when the enemy fields several Heavy cavalry units or when the German army needs durable ranged cavalry. Against infantry or artillery focused opponents, compare it with a unit that has a better direct counter. The population and training time make unnecessary wagons costly.
Balancing the cavalry line
War Wagons work alongside German infantry and artillery, but their cost can limit the size of the rest of the army. Add only enough wagons to answer the enemy cavalry, then use the remaining resources to protect them. If the opponent stops producing cavalry, shift investment toward units that handle infantry or structures.
Formation depth
Keep War Wagons one rank behind the infantry rather than placing them at the edge of the group. Their range 16 lets them fire from safety, and their high health means they can remain in formation without needing to lead the charge. If artillery appears, spread them enough to avoid a single area attack while maintaining mutual support.
Attacking after the screen
Wait for friendly infantry to occupy the enemy before sending War Wagons around the flank. Their ranged fire can then target cavalry without crossing the main anti-cavalry line.
Retreat route
Before committing the wagons, identify a route back to a Fort or Stable where the army can regroup.
Preserve the high-population ranged cavalry
The War Wagon’s listed German profile costs 150 Food and 150 Coin, takes 60 seconds to train and uses three population. Its 500 hit points and ranged resistance make it sturdy for ranged Cavalry, but the three-population cost means a small force occupies army capacity quickly. The ranged attack deals 42 damage at range 16 every three seconds, with 3× damage against Heavy Cavalry, 2.25× against Hand Shock Troops and 2× against Artillery; Villagers receive half damage. This makes the unit a focused answer to several dangerous targets rather than a general-purpose raider. Keep it with infantry that can stop enemy Skirmishers from concentrating fire, and avoid spending its volleys on targets that its profile handles poorly. The South African revolutionary version has separate access and card interactions; do not apply those Revolution rules to the ordinary German Stable unit.