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

Worked out · AoE3: DE 100.19.18309

Maltese builds

For the Maltese in AoE3: Definitive Edition 100.19.18309, the Fortress Age army that answers the most enemy units for the same resources is Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet: between them they beat 97% of the 119 regular units of all civilizations out by then (average edge ×1.88). Colonial rush (Colonial Age): Pikeman and Sentinel, 77%. Boom (Industrial Age): Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet, 97%. Treaty (Imperial Age): Crossbowman, Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet, 97%.

This section as JSON: /raw/builds.json

Quick answers (4)
What is the best Maltese army in AoE3?
Colonial Age: Pikeman and Sentinel (beats 77% of 77 units); Fortress Age: Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet (beats 97% of 119 units); Industrial Age: Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet (beats 97% of 123 units); Imperial Age: Crossbowman, Pikeman, Sentinel and Falconet (beats 97% of 123 units) — base stats, AoE3: Definitive Edition 100.19.18309.
What beats the Maltese Fortress Age army?
Jaguar Prowl Knight (its best answer, Sentinel, is at ×0.66), Maceman (its best answer, Pikeman, is at ×0.8), Veteran Halberdier (its best answer, Sentinel, is at ×0.85), Levied Gunner (its best answer, Falconet and is at ×0.92).
Which cards should the Maltese send first?
For the fast fortress: 3 Settlers, 2 Settlers, 7 Semi-fattened Cows and Archaic Soldier Attack.
Which Maltese age-ups hand over the most?
to the Colonial Age: The Naturalist (≈ 500 resources); to the Fortress Age: The Sergeant at Arms (≈ 800 resources).

Colonial rush · Colonial Age

Army

Beats 77% of the 77 regular units out by the Colonial Age (average edge ×1.34), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 300 net
  2. 2.I2 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 200 net
  3. 3.II9 Phanar AlliesArmy · hands over ≈ 760 net
  4. 4.IIHire CranequiniersArmy · hands over ≈ 660 net
  5. 5.II8 CrossbowmenArmy · hands over ≈ 640 net
  6. 6.IIArchaic Soldier AttackUpgrade · helps Pikeman
  7. 7.IIArchaic Soldier HitpointsUpgrade · helps Pikeman
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 SettlersI2 SettlersII9 Phanar AlliesIIHire CranequiniersII8 CrossbowmenIIArchaic Soldier AttackIIArchaic Soldier HitpointsIV4 FalconetsIV24 CrossbowmenIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIII9 Fire ThrowersIII7 Phanar AlliesIIIHire PandoursIII5 HospitallersIII8 Fire ThrowersIIIHire Giant GrenadiersII8 PikemenII7 Hanover AlliesII3 HospitallersII5 SentinelsIDistributivismIEstablish IronmongerIExotic HardwoodsIFurrier
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Fast Fortress · Fortress Age

Army

Beats 97% of the 119 regular units out by the Fortress Age (average edge ×1.88), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Sergeant at Arms≈ 800

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 300 net
  2. 2.I2 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 200 net
  3. 3.II7 Semi-fattened CowsEconomy · hands over ≈ 1,050 net
  4. 4.IIArchaic Soldier AttackUpgrade · helps Pikeman
  5. 5.III9 Fire ThrowersArmy · hands over ≈ 1,125 net
  6. 6.III7 Phanar AlliesArmy · hands over ≈ 1,040 net
  7. 7.IIIHire PandoursArmy · hands over ≈ 1,035 net
  8. 8.IIIArchaic Soldier CombatUpgrade · helps Pikeman
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 SettlersI2 SettlersII7 Semi-fattened CowsIIArchaic Soldier AttackIII9 Fire ThrowersIII7 Phanar AlliesIIIHire PandoursIIIArchaic Soldier CombatIV4 FalconetsIV24 CrossbowmenIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIV13 Fire ThrowersIII5 HospitallersIII8 Fire ThrowersIIIHire Giant GrenadiersIII12 CrossbowmenII9 Phanar AlliesIIHire CranequiniersII8 CrossbowmenII8 PikemenII7 Hanover AlliesIDistributivismIEstablish IronmongerIExotic Hardwoods
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Boom · Industrial Age

Army

Beats 97% of the 123 regular units out by the Industrial Age (average edge ×1.9), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Sergeant at Arms≈ 800
  3. IVThe Engineer≈ 1,000

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.I3 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 300 net
  2. 2.I2 SettlersEconomy · hands over ≈ 200 net
  3. 3.IDistributivismEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  4. 4.II7 Semi-fattened CowsEconomy · hands over ≈ 1,050 net
  5. 5.IICigar RollerEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  6. 6.IISilversmithEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  7. 7.IIArchaic Soldier AttackUpgrade · helps Pikeman
  8. 8.IIIRefrigerationEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  9. 9.IIIArchaic Soldier CombatUpgrade · helps Pikeman
  10. 10.IV4 FalconetsArmy · hands over ≈ 2,000 net
  11. 11.IV24 CrossbowmenArmy · hands over ≈ 1,920 net
The full deck (25 cards)
I3 SettlersI2 SettlersIDistributivismII7 Semi-fattened CowsIICigar RollerIISilversmithIIArchaic Soldier AttackIIIRefrigerationIIIArchaic Soldier CombatIV4 FalconetsIV24 CrossbowmenIEstablish IronmongerIExotic HardwoodsIFurrierIGerman TongueIIIRoyal MintIVSicilian SupplyIISpice TradeIISustainable AgricultureIIITextile MillIIWignacourt ConstructionsIV24 PikemenIV25 Bourbon AlliesIII9 Fire ThrowersIII7 Phanar Allies
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Treaty · Imperial Age

Army

Beats 97% of the 123 regular units out by the Imperial Age (average edge ×1.91), training the right one of them against each.

Weak against

Age-ups

  1. IIThe Naturalist≈ 500
  2. IIIThe Sergeant at Arms≈ 800
  3. IVThe Engineer≈ 1,000
  4. VEl Presidente≈ 2,000

Cards to send, in order

  1. 1.IDistributivismEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  2. 2.IEstablish IronmongerEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  3. 3.IICigar RollerEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  4. 4.IIArchaic Soldier AttackUpgrade · helps Crossbowman, Pikeman
  5. 5.IIArchaic Soldier HitpointsUpgrade · helps Crossbowman, Pikeman
  6. 6.IIIArchaic Soldier CombatUpgrade · helps Crossbowman, Pikeman
  7. 7.IIISovereign Order of MaltaUpgrade · helps Sentinel
  8. 8.IIISteel BoltsUpgrade · helps Crossbowman
  9. 9.IIIRefrigerationEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  10. 10.IIIRoyal MintEconomy · gathering or trickle bonus
  11. 11.IVFlintlock RocketsUpgrade · helps Sentinel
The full deck (25 cards)
IDistributivismIEstablish IronmongerIICigar RollerIIArchaic Soldier AttackIIArchaic Soldier HitpointsIIIArchaic Soldier CombatIIISovereign Order of MaltaIIISteel BoltsIIIRefrigerationIIIRoyal MintIVFlintlock RocketsIExotic HardwoodsIFurrierIRum DistilleryIVSicilian SupplyIISilversmithIISpice TradeIISustainable AgricultureIIITextile MillIIWignacourt ConstructionsIIIAssassinsIVDignitariesIVTEAM Improved BuildingsISawmillsITEAM Frugal Constructions
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What to train against the most common units

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

Enemy unitTrainEdge
UhlanSentinel×1.72
CulverinPikeman×3.66
FalconetPikeman×1.29
Gatling GunPikeman×3.3
Horse ArtilleryPikeman×1.39
HussarSentinel×1.91
DragoonPikeman×3.32
PikemanSentinel×1.45
GrenadierFalconet×1.91
MusketeerFalconet×1.44
Carbine CavalryPikeman×3.06
CrossbowmanFalconet×1.7
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.

Maltese: bonuses, units and every cardMaltese deck builder← All civilizations' builds