AoE3 DatabaseAoE3: DE 100.19.18309 · read from the game files · unofficial

Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309

French builds

For the French in AoE3: Definitive Edition 100.19.18309, the Fortress Age army that answers the most enemy units for the same resources is Veteran Halberdier, Hussar and Falconet: between them they beat 98% of the 119 regular units of all civilizations out by then (average edge ×2.1). Colonial rush (Colonial Age): Musketeer and Hussar, 87%. Boom (Industrial Age): Veteran Halberdier, Hussar and Falconet, 98%. Treaty (Imperial Age): Veteran Halberdier, Dragoon, Hussar and Falconet, 98%.

This section as JSON: /raw/builds.json

Quick answers (4)
What is the best French army in AoE3?
Colonial Age: Musketeer and Hussar (beats 87% of 77 units); Fortress Age: Veteran Halberdier, Hussar and Falconet (beats 98% of 119 units); Industrial Age: Veteran Halberdier, Hussar and Falconet (beats 98% of 123 units); Imperial Age: Veteran Halberdier, Dragoon, Hussar and Falconet (beats 98% of 123 units) — base stats, AoE3: Definitive Edition 100.19.18309.
What beats the French Fortress Age army?
Jaguar Prowl Knight (its best answer, Veteran Halberdier and is at ×0.78).
Which cards should the French send first?
For the fast fortress: 3 Coureurs, 2 Coureurs, 7 Semi-fattened Cows and Cent-Suisses.
Which French age-ups hand over the most?
to the Colonial Age: The Naturalist (≈ 500 resources); to the Fortress Age: The Gentleman Pirate (≈ 800 resources).

Colonial rush · Colonial Age

Army

Beats 87% of the 77 regular units out by the Colonial Age (average edge ×1.5), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 360 net
  2. 2.I2 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 240 net
  3. 3.II7 Huron AlliesArmy · hands over ≈ 670 net
  4. 4.IIHire CranequiniersArmy · hands over ≈ 660 net
  5. 5.II8 CrossbowmenArmy · hands over ≈ 640 net
  6. 6.IIHand Cavalry HitpointsUpgrade · helps Hussar
  7. 7.IIRanged Infantry HitpointsUpgrade · helps Musketeer
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 CoureursI2 CoureursII7 Huron AlliesIIHire CranequiniersII8 CrossbowmenIIHand Cavalry HitpointsIIRanged Infantry HitpointsIV4 CulverinsIV24 CrossbowmenIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIII12 SkirmishersIII2 FalconetsIIIHire Giant GrenadiersIIIHire Hessian JaegersIIIHire Landsknecht MercenariesIII8 SkirmishersII3 HussarsIIHire Irish BrigadiersIIHire GallowglassesIIRoyal Fencing SchoolIColbertismIDistributivismIEconomic TheoryIExotic Hardwoods
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Fast Fortress · Fortress Age

Army

Beats 98% of the 119 regular units out by the Fortress Age (average edge ×2.1), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Gentleman Pirate≈ 800

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 360 net
  2. 2.I2 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 240 net
  3. 3.II7 Semi-fattened CowsEconomy · hands over ≈ 1,050 net
  4. 4.IICent-SuissesUpgrade · helps Veteran Halberdier
  5. 5.III12 SkirmishersArmy · hands over ≈ 1,380 net
  6. 6.III2 FalconetsArmy · hands over ≈ 1,000 net
  7. 7.IIIHire Giant GrenadiersArmy · hands over ≈ 1,000 net
  8. 8.IIICavalry CombatUpgrade · helps Hussar
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 CoureursI2 CoureursII7 Semi-fattened CowsIICent-SuissesIII12 SkirmishersIII2 FalconetsIIIHire Giant GrenadiersIIICavalry CombatIV4 CulverinsIV24 CrossbowmenIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIV6 CuirassiersIIIHire Hessian JaegersIIIHire Landsknecht MercenariesIII8 SkirmishersIIIHire Swiss PikemenII7 Huron AlliesIIHire CranequiniersII8 CrossbowmenII3 HussarsIIHire Irish BrigadiersIColbertismIDistributivismIEconomic Theory
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Boom · Industrial Age

Army

Beats 98% of the 123 regular units out by the Industrial Age (average edge ×2.13), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Gentleman Pirate≈ 800
  3. IVThe Engineer≈ 1,000

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 360 net
  2. 2.I2 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 240 net
  3. 3.IColbertismEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  4. 4.II7 Semi-fattened CowsEconomy · hands over ≈ 1,050 net
  5. 5.II4 CoureursEconomy · hands over ≈ 480 net
  6. 6.IICigar RollerEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  7. 7.IICent-SuissesUpgrade · helps Veteran Halberdier
  8. 8.IIIRefrigerationEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  9. 9.IIICavalry CombatUpgrade · helps Hussar
  10. 10.IV4 CulverinsArmy · hands over ≈ 2,000 net
  11. 11.IV24 CrossbowmenArmy · hands over ≈ 1,920 net
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 CoureursI2 CoureursIColbertismII7 Semi-fattened CowsII4 CoureursIICigar RollerIICent-SuissesIIIRefrigerationIIICavalry CombatIV4 CulverinsIV24 CrossbowmenIV10 CoureursIDistributivismIEconomic TheoryIExotic HardwoodsIFurrierIIIRoyal MintIISilversmithIISpice TradeIISustainable AgricultureIIITextile MillIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIII12 SkirmishersIII2 Falconets
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Treaty · Imperial Age

Army

Beats 98% of the 123 regular units out by the Imperial Age (average edge ×2.14), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Gentleman Pirate≈ 800
  3. IVThe Engineer≈ 1,000
  4. VEl Presidente≈ 2,000

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.IColbertismEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  2. 2.IDistributivismEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  3. 3.IICigar RollerEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  4. 4.IIRiding SchoolUpgrade · helps Dragoon, Hussar
  5. 5.IICent-SuissesUpgrade · helps Veteran Halberdier
  6. 6.IIEngineering SchoolUpgrade · helps Falconet
  7. 7.IIICavalry CombatUpgrade · helps Dragoon, Hussar
  8. 8.IIIRefrigerationEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  9. 9.IIIRoyal MintEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  10. 10.IVThoroughbredsUpgrade · helps Dragoon, Hussar
  11. 11.IVGribeauval SystemUpgrade · helps Falconet
The full deck (25 cards)
IColbertismIDistributivismIICigar RollerIIRiding SchoolIICent-SuissesIIEngineering SchoolIIICavalry CombatIIIRefrigerationIIIRoyal MintIVThoroughbredsIVGribeauval SystemIIHand Cavalry HitpointsIITEAM Hand Cavalry AttackIEconomic TheoryIExotic HardwoodsIFurrierIISilversmithIIITextile MillIIIAssassinsIVImperial Old GuardIIINative WarriorsIVBlood BrothersIVImproved BuildingsIIINaval GunnersIRum Distillery
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What to train against the most common units

The French unit that does best for the same resources against each of the 12 units most civilizations have (any age).

Enemy unitTrainEdge
UhlanVeteran Halberdier×1.81
CulverinCuirassier×4
FalconetHussar×2.83
Gatling GunCuirassier×4
Horse ArtilleryHussar×3.04
HussarVeteran Halberdier×2.01
DragoonVeteran Halberdier×3.38
PikemanVeteran Halberdier×1.71
GrenadierHussar×2.55
MusketeerFalconet×1.44
Carbine CavalryVeteran Halberdier×3.12
CrossbowmanHussar×1.71
How this is worked out

Army: every mix of 2 (Colonial), 3 (Fortress, Industrial) or 4 (Treaty, Imperial) of the civ's own regular units out by that age is tried against every regular unit of every civilization out by then. Against each enemy the best unit of the mix 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 mix with the highest geometric mean of those edges wins; "beats" = the share of enemy units where that edge is above ×1.

Age-ups: on the way, the choice that hands over the most (shipped units at their train cost, livestock and crates at what they hold, resources). Cards: economy first (villagers, crates, livestock, gathering and trickle bonuses), then the shipments of fighting units worth the most net of their price, then cards that raise hit points, damage, resists, range or speed of the army's units or cut their cost or train time. The Treaty plan keeps only cards that last (upgrades, gathering and trickle bonuses, building improvements), no one-off shipments. The deck adds more of the same by value, spread over the ages by the plan (an early plan keeps more early cards), at most 10 per age, 25 cards.

Not modelled: upgrades, civilization bonuses, range and speed (kiting), area damage beyond one target, abilities, maps, timing and the economy behind it. These plans are what the game's numbers favour, not build orders from top players.

French: bonuses, units and every cardFrench deck builder← All civilizations' builds