Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309
Best age-up per age
For each age, every civilization's age-up choices ranked by what they hand over in resources: shipped units at their cost, livestock and crates at what they hold, resources at face value.
To the Colonial Age
| # | Name | Hands over | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Wise Woman (Lakota) | 3,000 | 375% of its price |
| 2 |  The Naturalist (Danes) | 700 | 88% of its price |
| 3 |  The Naturalist (Poles) | 700 | 88% of its price |
| 4 |  The Wise Woman (Inca) | 600 | 75% of its price |
| 5 |  The Naturalist (British) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 6 |  The Naturalist (Dutch) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 7 |  The Naturalist (French) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 8 |  The Naturalist (Germans) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 9 |  The Naturalist (Ottomans) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 10 |  The Naturalist (Portuguese) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 11 |  The Naturalist (Russians) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 12 |  The Naturalist (Spanish) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 13 |  The Naturalist (Swedes) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 14 |  The Philosopher Prince (Italians) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 15 |  The Naturalist (Maltese) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 16 |  The Warrior (Aztecs) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 17 |  Karni Mata (Indians) | 500 | |
| 18 |  Hausa (Hausa) | 500 | 63% of its price |
| 19 |  The Wise Woman (Haudenosaunee) | 400 | 50% of its price |
| 20 |  Confucian Academy (Chinese) | 340 | |
| 21 |  Golden Pavilion (Japanese) | 315 | |
| 22 |  Habesha (Ethiopians) | 300 | 38% of its price |
| 23 |  Delaware (United States) | 300 | 43% of its price |
To the Fortress Age
To the Industrial Age
To the Imperial Age
How this is worked out
Hands over = shipped units × their train cost (food + wood + coin + influence) + livestock and crates × what each holds + resources given. Each civilization's best choice per age.
Assumptions: Choices whose payoff is a bonus rather than goods show no value and are not listed.