Westernization
Westernization is an Age of Empires III technology available to Russians from the Fortress Age, researched at Church. It Grants Veteran upgrade for Strelet, Rekrut*, Poruchik*, Cossack, and Grenadier.
Research profile
- Age
- Fortress Age
- Civilization
- Russians
- Research location
- Church
- Home City Card
- Reformist Tsar
- Research time
- 15 seconds
- Wood cost
- 400
- Coin cost
- 400
- Next technology
- Petrine Reforms
Effect & research conditions
Available to Russians from the Fortress Age. Research it at Church. Effect: Grants Veteran upgrade for Strelet, Rekrut*, Poruchik*, Cossack, and Grenadier. Research costs 400 wood, 400 coin. Research takes 15 seconds. Further research: Petrine Reforms.
Research condition
Available to Russians from the Fortress Age. Research it at Church.
When to research
Choose Westernization when its stated effect addresses an upcoming army, economy or map-control need: Grants Veteran upgrade for Strelet, Rekrut*, Poruchik*, Cossack, and Grenadier. Verify the required access and have the relevant units or buildings ready before spending resources. Use the Church for research. Research takes 15 seconds and costs 400 wood, 400 coin.
Research follow-up and unit coverage
Westernization costs 400 Wood and 400 Coin and takes 15 seconds. It provides Veteran upgrades to Strelet, Rekrut, Poruchik, Cossack, and Grenadier, and lists Petrine Reforms as a further research. Prioritize the unit lines actually present in the Russian army; unused upgrades do not strengthen other troops. The Church location also means the structure must be available and protected.
Veteran upgrades for five Russian unit lines
Westernization grants the Veteran upgrade to Strelet, Rekrut, Poruchik, Cossack and Grenadier. It does not improve every Russian unit, so its immediate value depends on which of those lines are in the army or about to be trained. The Fortress Age Church research costs 400 Wood and 400 Coin and takes 15 seconds. If the army is concentrated in a different unit group, compare the cost with a production batch that can affect the current matchup instead of researching it automatically.
Plan the later research path
Petrine Reforms is listed as further research after Westernization. Treat that as an unlock in the technology chain, not an effect delivered by Westernization itself. The player still needs to meet the follow-up's own Age, cost and building conditions. A Church is also required and can be vulnerable if placed forward. Start the upgrade when the protected economy can afford it, then check which Veteran improvements have actually been applied before judging the army's performance.