Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309
Best Fast Fortress civilizations
No. 1: Chinese (average edge ×2.23), then Spanish (×2.12) and Dutch (×2.1). All 24 civilizations ranked by their best three-unit Fortress Age army against every regular unit out by the Fortress Age.
| # | Name | Average edge | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chinese | ×2.23 | Arquebusier + Qiang Pikeman + Steppe Rider; beats 91% of 119 |
| 2 |  Spanish | ×2.12 | Pikeman + Veteran Lancer + Falconet; beats 89% of 119 |
| 3 |  Dutch | ×2.1 | Veteran Halberdier + Hussar + Falconet; beats 98% of 119 |
| 4 |  French | ×2.1 | Veteran Halberdier + Hussar + Falconet; beats 98% of 119 |
| 5 |  Italians | ×2.1 | Veteran Halberdier + Hussar + Falconet; beats 98% of 119 |
| 6 |  Danes | ×2.1 | Veteran Halberdier + Hussar + Falconet; beats 98% of 119 |
| 7 |  Portuguese | ×2.04 | Veteran Cassador + Veteran Halberdier + Hussar; beats 98% of 119 |
| 8 |  Hausa | ×2.03 | Levied Gunner + Levied Spearman + Raider; beats 96% of 119 |
| 9 |  Haudenosaunee | ×2.01 | Aenna + Tomahawk + Kanya Horseman; beats 98% of 119 |
| 10 |  Ethiopians | ×1.98 | Levied Gunner + Levied Spearman + Desert Raider; beats 96% of 119 |
| 11 |  Aztecs | ×1.97 | Jaguar Prowl Knight + Otontin Slinger + Puma Spearman; beats 95% of 119 |
| 12 |  Germans | ×1.96 | Pikeman + Uhlan + Falconet; beats 87% of 119 |
| 13 |  Lakota | ×1.94 | Cetan Bowman + Club Warrior + Axe Rider; beats 98% of 119 |
| 14 |  Mexicans | ×1.93 | Bandido + Soldado + Chinaco; beats 98% of 119 |
| 15 |  Russians | ×1.91 | Poruchik + Strelet + Cossack; beats 99% of 119 |
| 16 |  British | ×1.91 | Pikeman + Hussar + Falconet; beats 87% of 119 |
| 17 |  Swedes | ×1.91 | Pikeman + Hussar + Falconet; beats 87% of 119 |
| 18 |  United States | ×1.9 | Pistolero + Renegado + Hussar; beats 98% of 119 |
| 19 |  Poles | ×1.9 | Pikeman + Retainer + Falconet; beats 87% of 119 |
| 20 |  Maltese | ×1.88 | Pikeman + Sentinel + Falconet; beats 97% of 119 |
| 21 |  Indians | ×1.74 | Rajput + Sepoy + Sowar; beats 84% of 119 |
| 22 |  Ottomans | ×1.72 | Janissary + Deli + Falconet; beats 94% of 119 |
| 23 |  Japanese | ×1.71 | Samurai + Naginata Rider + Flaming Arrow; beats 92% of 119 |
| 24 |  Inca | ×1.59 | Jungle Bowman + Maceman + Plumed Spearman; beats 96% of 119 |
How this is worked out
Each civilization's best army of 3 of its own regular units out by the Fortress Age (the Fast Fortress plan on /builds): against every regular unit of every civilization out by then, the best unit of the army counts, by its edge for the same resources (Lanchester's square law: strength = (resources ÷ cost)² × damage per second × hit points; edge = √ of the strength ratio, held between ×¼ and ×4). The score is the geometric mean of those edges.
Assumptions: Base stats: no upgrades, cards or civilization bonuses. Only the army counts: economy, timing, bonuses and cards are not in it. Range, speed and area damage are not modelled.