Rise of Nations/Units

There are over 200 different types units in Rise of Nations, ranging from the Ancient Age Hoplite to the Information Age Attack Helicopter. All military units are created from military buildings, including the barracks, stable, siege factory|factory, dock, airfield, missile silo and fortress. All unit types, such as Light Infantry, Heavy Infantry, and Ranged Cavalry, are upgraded as the player advances through the ages. These upgrades usually represent revolutionary changes in their particular field; for example, the Arquebusier of the Gunpowder Age becomes the Musketeer of the Enlightenment Age, representing the great advantage of flintlock muskets over the earlier matchlock muskets and shown by increased attack power and reload speed. Also, each nation gets its own set of unique units; the Greeks get the Companion Cavalry and the Russians get the Cossack. Because of the wide variety of units in the game, the strategy factor becomes more diverse, allowing the player to make more choices and decisions regarding units. Units in Rise of Nations are very heavily balanced against each other, each having its own counter and a roughly equal cost, although perhaps in different resources discouraging any great diversity in armies. Units scale in cost as well, increasing in cost as their numbers increase. This, too, discourages diversity and is maligned by many players.

Barracks

Barracks units usually provide the backbone of most armies, requiring, as they do, food, the easily acquired and contantly produced resources, and because barracks are possible of being built in the first age.

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age
Light Infantry	Slingers	Javelineers	Elite Javelineers	Arquebusiers	Musketeers	Riflemen	Infantry	Assault Infantry
Heavy Infantry	Hoplites	Phalanx	Pikemen	Elite Pikemen	Fusiliers	Anti-Tank Rifle	Bazooka	Anti-Tank Missile
Ranged Infantry	Bowmen	Archers	Crossbowmen	-same-	(Upgrades into Musketeers)
Scouts	Scout	-same-	Explorer	-same-	-same-	Commando	Special Forces	Elite Special Forces
Machine Guns						Machine Gun	Heavy Machine Gun	Advanced Machine Gun
Flamethrowers						Flamethrower	-same-	-same-

Stable or Auto Plant

Stable units are often found in early Commando|raiding armies and are often to be found flanking an enemy. Their speed is their most valuable attribute, and they provide flexibility to armies.

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age
Light Cavalry		Light Horse	Light Cavalry	Elite Light Cavalry	Hussar	Armoured Car	Armoured Scout Car	Armoured Cavalry
Heavy Cavalry		Cataphract	Knight	Heavy Knight	Cuirassier	Light Tank	Tank	Main Battle Tank
Ranged Cavalry		Horse Archer	Heavy Horse Archer	Dragoon	Carabineer	(Upgrades into Armoured Car)

Siege Factory or Factory

Siege units are integral to any invading force, providing the heavy backup needed to secure key positions in enemy territory, allowing units to capture and hold cities, and destroy fortresses. The Siege Factory also provides Supply Wagons, needed to feed and clothe troops in enemy territory, minimizing the effects of attrition.

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age
Artillery		Catapult	Trebuchet	Bombard	Cannon	Artillery	Howitzer	Rocket Artillery
Anti-Aircraft						Anti-Aircraft Gun	Anti-Aircraft Battery	Anti-Aircraft Missile
Supply Wagons			Supply Wagon	-same-	-same-	Supply Truck	-same-	-same-

Dock, Anchorage or Shipyard

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age
Light Ships	Bark	Dromon	Caravel	Corvette	Sloop	Destroyer	Cruiser	Missile Cruiser
Heavy Ships	Trireme	Galley	Carrack	Frigate	Man o' War	Dreadnought	Battleship	Advanced Battleship
Fireships		Fire Raft	Heavy Fire Raft	Fireship	Heavy Fireship	Submarine	-same-	Attack Submarine
Aircraft Carriers							Aircraft Carrier	-same-
Bombardment Ships				Bomb Vessel	Bomb Ketch	(Upgrades into Dreadnought)
Fishermen	Fishermen	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-

Airfield

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Bombers							Bomber	Strategic Bomber	Stealth Bomber
Fighters						Biplane	Fighter	Jet Fighter	Advanced Fighter
Helicopters							Helicopter	Attack Helicopter	-same-

Fortress

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Generals		General	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-
Spies			Spy	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-

City

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Citizens	Citizen	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-
Militia*		Militia	-same-	-same-	Minutemen	-same-	-same-	Partisan	-same-

• Must be accompanied by 'Milita' research at the tower; Citizens then gain a 'To Arms' button on their Control palette

Market

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Caravan	Caravan	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-
Merchant	Merchant	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-

Patriot Units

- The Despot

- The Senator

- The Monarch

- The President

- The CEO

- The Comrade

Unique Units

Each nation can produce exclusive units which are more powerful than the line of units they replace.

Aztec

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry	Atl-Atl	Royal Atl-Atl	Xopilli Atl-Atl				Jaguar Infantry	Jaguar Assault Infantry	-same-

Bantu

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry	Umpakati	Yangombi Umpakati	Impi Umpakati
Fighter Aircraft							Hawk Fighter	Eagle Fighter

British

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry					Highlanders	Black Watch
Foot Archers		Longbow	King's Longbow	King's Yeomanry
Bomber Aircraft							Lancaster Bomber

Chinese

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry			Fire Lance	Heavy Fire Lance	Manchu Musketeer	Manchu Riflemen	Manchu Infantry

Egyptians

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Cavalry		Light Camel	Camel Warrior	Elite Camel Warrior
Cavalry Archers		Chariot	Heavy Chariot	Mameluke	Royal Mameluke

French

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Cavalry		Chevalier	Heavy Chevalier	Horse Grenadier	Horse Guard Grenadier

Germans

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry							Volksgrenadiers
Heavy Infantry	Solduri	Barbarian	Vandal	Landsknecht
Heavy Cavalry							Tiger Tank	Leopard Tank	-same-
Machine Gun							MG 42

Greeks

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Cavalry		Companion Cavalry	Royal Companion Cavalry	Stratiotai	Royal Stratiotai

Inca

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry		Inti Clubmen	Royal Inti Macemen
Artillery					Inca Mortar	Inca Siege Mortar

Japanese

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Infantry	Ashigaru Spearmen	Bushi	Elite Bushi	Samurai	Gun Samurai

Koreans

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Foot Archers	Hwarang	Elite Hwarang	Royal Hwarang	Elite Royal Hwarang
Artillery		Flaming Arrow	Heavy Flaming Arrow

Maya

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry	Balamob Slinger	Royal Balamob Slinger	Eagle Balamob Slinger
Heavy Infantry							Recoiless Gun	Dragon AT Missile

Mongols

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Cavalry Archers		Nomad	Steppe Nomad	Horde	Golden Horde

Nubians

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Foot Archers		Kushite Archer	Royal Kushite Archer	Apedemak Archer
Cavalry Archers		Camel Archer	Heavy Camel Archer	Camel Raider	Camel Corps

Romans

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Infantry		Legion	Caesar's Legion	Praetorian Guard

Russians

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry							Red Guards Infantry	Shock Infantry	-same-
Light Cavalry			Rusiny Lancer	Cossack	Don Cossack
Heavy Cavalry								T-80	-same-
Artillery							Katyusha Rocket

Spanish

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Infantry		Scutari	Royal Scutari	Tercio	Royal Tercio

Turks

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Infantry				Janissary	Royal Janissary
Artillery				Basilica Bombard	Basilica Cannon

Thrones & Patriots Unique Units

Americans

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Gunpowder Infantry					Continental Marines	Marine Riflemen	Marine Infantry	Assault Marine	-same-

Lakota

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Horse Archers		Sunka Wakan	Eagle Feather Horse	Musket Horse	Repeating Rifle Horse

Iroquois

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Scouts	Takohs	-same-	Akweks	-same-	Okwari
Heavy Infantry	Spearmen	Mohawk Spearmen	Heavy Mohawk Spearmen	Elite Mohawk Spearmen

Persians

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Heavy Infantry	Immortal	Anusiya	Athanoi	Arquebus Immortal
Elephants*		War Elephant	Mahout	Gun Mahout	Culverin Mahout

• A unique unit type available to the Persians and Indians at the Stable.

Indians

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Elephants*		War Elephant	Mahout	Gun Mahout	Culverin Mahout				-

• A unique unit type available to the Persians and Indians at the Stable.

Dutch

Unit Type	Ancient Age	Classical Age	Medieval Age	Gunpowder Age	Enlightenment Age	Industrial Age	Modern Age	Information Age	Post-Information Age
Light Ships			Brig	Fluyt	Clipper
Merchant	Armed Merchant	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-
Caravan	Armed Caravan	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-
Supply Wagon			Armed Supply Wagon	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same-	-same