Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309

Most cost-effective units

Each of the 114 regular units fought against every other for the same resources; ranked by the share of those fights it wins. Base stats, no upgrades or cards.

Infantry

Unit	Wins	Cost	Age
1Veteran Halberdier	99% of 111	5070	III
2Jaguar Prowl Knight	95% of 111	9030	III
3Maceman	95% of 111	100100	III
4Desperado	89% of 111	90	II
5Pistolero	89% of 111	90	II
6Poruchik	88% of 111	7050	II
7Levied Gunner	86% of 111	90	I
8Tomahawk	86% of 111	7520	II
9Soldado	77% of 111	9080	II
10Cetan Bowman	75% of 111	6535	II
11Samurai	75% of 111	9595	II
12Levied Spearman	74% of 111	65	I
13Puma Spearman	74% of 111	4545	II
14Strelet	73% of 111	5010	II
15Bandido	71% of 111	110	II
16Levied Bowman	71% of 111	70	I
17Longbowman	71% of 111	6040	II
18Renegado	71% of 111	110	II
19Sentinel	71% of 111	6040	II
20Aenna	70% of 111	100	II
21Club Warrior	69% of 111	5040	II
22Desert Warrior	68% of 111	3075	II
23Rodelero	68% of 111	6535	II
24Carolean	66% of 111	6040	II
25Musketeer	65% of 111	7525	II
26Plumed Spearman	65% of 111	10020	II
27Rekrut	65% of 111	7525	II
28Regular	63% of 111	5550	II
29Otontin Slinger	62% of 111	4035	II
30Pikeman	62% of 111	4040	II
31Gascenya	61% of 111	7030	II
32Rajput	60% of 111	9035	II
33Pavisier	58% of 111	4540	II
34Crossbowman	57% of 111	4040	II
35Elite Mantlet	57% of 111	8080	III
36Janissary	56% of 111	9025	II
37Desert Archer	54% of 111	3075	II
38Sepoy	54% of 111	9030	II
39Maigadi	53% of 111	190	II
40Hospitaller	52% of 111	12080	II
41Fulani Archer	51% of 111	7035	II
42Abus Gunner	50% of 111	50105	II
43Veteran Cassador	50% of 111	8035	III
44Ashigaru Musketeer	49% of 111	8040	II
45Insurgente	49% of 111	70	II
46Doppelsoldner	48% of 111	75125	II
47Piechur	47% of 111	7040	II
48State Militia	46% of 111	5040	II
49Yumi Archer	46% of 111	5550	II
50Skirmisher	41% of 111	5065	III
51Wakina Rifleman	41% of 111	6040	III
52Sharpshooter	40% of 111	4075	III
53Azap	39% of 111	6040	II
54Salteador	39% of 111	6060	II
55Gurkha	38% of 111	7050	II
56Fire Thrower	33% of 111	7550	II
57Bolas Warrior	31% of 111	7545	III
58Neftenya	31% of 111	6565	III
59Forest Prowler	30% of 111	5065	III
60Arrow Knight	25% of 111	5580	III
61Huaraca	24% of 111	9030	III
62Bersagliere	23% of 111	5075	IV
63Jungle Bowman	19% of 111	8025	II
64Humbaraci	15% of 111	11080	II
65Grenadier	7% of 111	12060	II
66Flamethrower	0% of 0	170170	II

Unit

Wins

Cost

Age

Civilizations

Veteran Halberdier

99% of 111

III

Jaguar Prowl Knight

95% of 111

III

Maceman

95% of 111

100

III

Desperado

89% of 111

Pistolero

89% of 111

Poruchik

88% of 111

Levied Gunner

86% of 111

86% of 111

77% of 111

75% of 111

75% of 111

74% of 111

74% of 111

73% of 111

71% of 111

110

Levied Bowman

71% of 111

Longbowman

71% of 111

Renegado

71% of 111

110

Sentinel

71% of 111

Aenna

70% of 111

100

69% of 111

68% of 111

68% of 111

66% of 111

65% of 111

Plumed Spearman

65% of 111

100

65% of 111

63% of 111

62% of 111

62% of 111

61% of 111

60% of 111

58% of 111

57% of 111

57% of 111

III

56% of 111

54% of 111

54% of 111

53% of 111

190

Hospitaller

52% of 111

120

Fulani Archer

51% of 111

Abus Gunner

50% of 111

105

Veteran Cassador

50% of 111

III

Ashigaru Musketeer

49% of 111

Insurgente

49% of 111

Doppelsoldner

48% of 111

125

47% of 111

46% of 111

46% of 111

41% of 111

III

Wakina Rifleman

41% of 111

III

Sharpshooter

40% of 111

III

39% of 111

39% of 111

38% of 111

33% of 111

31% of 111

III

Neftenya

31% of 111

III

Forest Prowler

30% of 111

III

Arrow Knight

25% of 111

III

Huaraca

24% of 111

III

Bersagliere

23% of 111

Jungle Bowman

19% of 111

Humbaraci

15% of 111

110

Grenadier

7% of 111

120

Flamethrower

0% of 0

170

Cavalry

Unit	Wins	Cost	Age
1Uhlan	67% of 111	50100	II
2Retainer	65% of 111	9050	II
3Cossack	64% of 111	7575	II
4Kanya Horseman	60% of 111	10075	II
5Deli	59% of 111	11090	II
6Comanchero	59% of 111	130	II
7Cuatrero	59% of 111	130	II
8Hussar	59% of 111	12080	II
9Desert Raider	56% of 111	50130	II
10Lifidi Knight	55% of 111	110110	III
11Veteran Oprichnik	55% of 111	9060	III
12Chinaco	54% of 111	11090	II
13Veteran Lancer	54% of 111	11090	III
14Oromo Warrior	50% of 111	120120	III
15Bow Rider	50% of 111	10075	II
16Naginata Rider	50% of 111	100100	II
17Axe Rider	49% of 111	15050	II
18Cavalry Archer	49% of 111	10060	III
19Raider	48% of 111	10045	II
20Javelin Rider	46% of 111	6550	II
21Sowar	46% of 111	8080	II
22Missionary	45% of 111	5050	II
23Winged Hussar	43% of 111	130150	II
24Veteran War Wagon	41% of 111	150150	III
25Cuirassier	41% of 111	150150	III
26Mahout Lancer	37% of 111	400250	III
27Ruyter	35% of 111	3075	III
28Rifle Rider	34% of 111	12090	III
29Carbine Cavalry	33% of 111	8080	III
30Musket Rider	32% of 111	55100	III
31Tashunke Prowler	32% of 111	12575	III
32Flail Elephant	30% of 111	125125	II
33Dragoon	25% of 111	9090	III
34Zamburak	23% of 111	6060	II
35Hakkapelit	21% of 111	90100	III
36Howdah	18% of 111	250350	III
37Yabusame Archer	17% of 111	60150	III

Unit

Wins

Cost

Age

Civilizations

Uhlan

67% of 111

100

Retainer

65% of 111

Cossack

64% of 111

Kanya Horseman

60% of 111

100

Deli

59% of 111

110

Comanchero

59% of 111

130

Cuatrero

59% of 111

130

Hussar

59% of 111

120

Desert Raider

56% of 111

130

Lifidi Knight

55% of 111

110

III

Veteran Oprichnik

55% of 111

III

Chinaco

54% of 111

110

Veteran Lancer

54% of 111

110

III

Oromo Warrior

50% of 111

120

III

Bow Rider

50% of 111

100

Naginata Rider

50% of 111

100

Axe Rider

49% of 111

150

Cavalry Archer

49% of 111

100

III

Raider

48% of 111

100

46% of 111

46% of 111

45% of 111

43% of 111

130

150

Veteran War Wagon

41% of 111

150

III

Cuirassier

41% of 111

150

III

Mahout Lancer

37% of 111

400

250

III

Ruyter

35% of 111

III

Rifle Rider

34% of 111

120

III

Carbine Cavalry

33% of 111

III

Musket Rider

32% of 111

100

III

Tashunke Prowler

32% of 111

125

III

Flail Elephant

30% of 111

125

Dragoon

25% of 111

III

Zamburak

23% of 111

Hakkapelit

21% of 111

100

III

Howdah

18% of 111

250

350

III

Yabusame Archer

17% of 111

150

III

Artillery

Unit	Wins	Cost	Age
1Falconet	47% of 111	400100	III
2Horse Artillery	45% of 111	500100	IV
3Flaming Arrow	41% of 111	300100	III
4Light Cannon	27% of 111	300100	IV
5Leather Cannon	24% of 111	300100	II
6Hand Mortar	8% of 111	5090	III
7Culverin	7% of 111	400100	III
8Siege Elephant	6% of 111	350300	III
9Gatling Gun	3% of 111	250100	III
10Organ Gun	1% of 111	300100	III
11Sebastopol Mortar	0% of 0	1,000	IV

Unit

Wins

Cost

Age

Civilizations

Falconet

47% of 111

400

100

III

Horse Artillery

45% of 111

500

100

Flaming Arrow

41% of 111

300

100

III

Light Cannon

27% of 111

300

100

Leather Cannon

24% of 111

300

100

Hand Mortar

8% of 111

III

Culverin

7% of 111

400

100

III

Siege Elephant

6% of 111

350

300

III

Gatling Gun

3% of 111

250

100

III

Organ Gun

1% of 111

300

100

III

Sebastopol Mortar

0% of 0

1,000

How this is worked out

A win: the unit's army is stronger than the other's when both spend the same resources, by Lanchester's square law (strength = (resources ÷ cost)² × damage per second × hit points), with each hit = damage × matching multipliers × (1 − resist). The same model as Counters.

It favours units that are strong up close: range and speed (shooting while the enemy walks in, running away) are not modelled, so skirmishers and archers rank lower than they play. Area damage is counted on one target.