Inca

A vast South American empire known for the power of its walls and smart administration.

Huayna Capac is as shrewd and dynamic a ruler as he was in life. He prefers a balance between economy and military, and is especially keen on quickly establishing Tambos on Native settlements and Trade Routes to speed his expansion.

Civilization Bonuses

• Kancha Houses produce food.
• Receives a free Chasqui each age who can construct Tambos; powerful Trading Posts which villagers can garrison in.
• Military units can garrison in Kallankas and Strongholds.
• Priestesses can convert enemies and work at the Community Plaza.

Unique Units

War Chief The Inca War Chief is an infantry unit with a high attack, a lot of hitpoints, and no range. He wields a halberd in battle, making him especially effective against enemy cavalry units. As the Inca War Chief does damage in melee combat, he is vulnerable to ranged attacks as he moves in close. The primary bonus for the Inca War Chief is that all Native warriors near him gain additional hitpoints and attack. Additionally, he has a special attack mode, Condor Eye, that can be used once every couple of minutes to launch a javelin into enemy forces, dealing damage within a small area.

Chasqui The Chasqui Scout is a unique Inca infantry unit available starting in the Commerce Age. It can be trained at the Town Center, the Tambo, and at the Native Embassy. Chasqui Scouts are swift units that can also utilize the Stealth mode, allowing them to sneak undetected past enemy units at the cost of speed. They can receive Home City Shipments after The Messenger is selected when advancing in age, construct Tambos, and collect Treasures. They are particularly effective against Treasure Guardians and mercenary units, and, unlike most other units, are not slowed down when receiving damage. Each time that the Incas advance in age, a Chasqui Scout will spawn at the Town Center and their build limit will increase by one.

Plumed Spearman The Plumed Spearman replaces the Pikeman and is unique to the Incas. It is available from the War Hut and the Stronghold starting in the Commerce Age and, like the Pikeman, is particularly effective against cavalry units and buildings. The Plumed Spearman costs more food than a Pikeman, but is sturdier and deals more damage as well.

Chimu Runner The Chimu Runner is a mace-wielding infantry unit that is unique to the Incas. It is available from the War Hut and the Stronghold starting in the Commerce Age. As a fast counter to archers that also excels against light infantry and artillery, Chimu Runners fill a role similar to that of Hussars. They have relatively low hitpoints but rather high attack, however, and unlike most other units, Chimu Runners are not slowed down when receiving damage.

Jungle Bowman The Jungle Bowman is a unique Inca archer that can be trained at the War Hut and the Stronghold starting in the Commerce Age. Jungle Bowmen are strong against infantry and are the only unit in the game to deal additional poison damage, which continues to affect enemy units shortly after they are struck by a Jungle Bowman’s arrow. This makes Jungle Bowmen particularly deadly against units attempting to flee a fight.

Bolas Warrior The Bolas Warrior is unique to the Incas and is available from the Kallanka and the Stronghold starting in the Fortress Age. It is a relatively tough infantry unit with a strong attack. As the Bolas Warrior does its damage at range, it is good to maintain this range whenever possible. Its attack has a couple of notable features: it deals area damage, affecting several units in the vicinity of where the bolas are thrown, and it slows enemy units down temporarily, preventing them from reaching their targets. Bolas Warriors are particularly effective against cavalry at range, but are vulnerable to melee attacks.

Huaraca The Huaraca is an Inca unique unit available at the Kallanka and the Stronghold starting in the Fortress Age. It is armed with a sling and hurls incendiary stones from a long range. While effective against buildings, artillery, ships, and infantry due to their high attack and siege damage, Huaracas are extremely vulnerable to melee attacks due to their poor armor and long reloading time. When fielded in numbers, Huaracas can be particularly deadly.

Maceman The Maceman is an Inca unique unit that is available from the Kallanka and the Stronghold starting in the Fortress Age. It can also be spawned at the Community Plaza by the Supay Ceremony. Macemen are expensive but deadly, with many hitpoints and a high attack that affects all enemy units in its path. They deal crushing blows with their two-handed maces that annihilate groups of infantry and cavalry alike and can swiftly destroy buildings, but are vulnerable to fast ranged infantry and artillery at range due to their slow speed.

Priestess The Priestess replaces the Healer and is unique to the Incas. It is available to the Incas starting in the Commerce Age and can be spawned by the Healers Ceremony at the Community Plaza or if The Wise Woman is chosen when advancing in age. Priestesses can commune at the Community Plaza, an action at which they are particularly effective, they can heal allied units, and they have the unique ability to convert enemy units with the exception of heroes, ships, and buildings.

Chincha Raft The Chincha Raft is a ship unique to the Incas and is available from the Dock starting in the Commerce Age. As the only Inca warship, it fills many roles and is easy to mass due to its relatively low cost. Due to their great size, Chincha Rafts are sturdier than many warships and hold a large crew, making them effective both at fishing and in battle. The crew of a Chincha Raft fires incendiary projectiles that are particularly deadly to other ships as well as land units and buildings, making them both formidable and versatile.

Unique Buildings

Kallanka The Kallanka is a building unique to the Incas that is available in the Fortress Age. Unlike the War Hut, it cannot attack enemy units, but it can garrison military units. Units garrisoned inside of the Kallanka do not count against the Inca player’s population limit. The Kallanka is also where the elite units of the Inca military are trained and upgraded, starting in the Fortress Age.

Stronghold The Stronghold replaces the Fort and is unique to the Incas. Just like the Fort, the Stronghold is a formidable structure whose fortifications unleash heavy fire on nearby enemy objects. Since Stronghold fire is effective against enemy units and particularly deadly to ships, it is wise to attack Strongholds with units that outrange them or deal a lot of siege damage. Artillery, especially Mortars, and Monitors are excellent at leveling Strongholds. Strongholds can only be built by the Inca War Chief or by a Stronghold Travois, which can be sent from the Home City or acquired by selecting The Chief as a politician for advancing to the Industrial or the Imperial Age. The Incas can initially build only a single Stronghold, but can increase the build limit by advancing in age or through Home City Shipments. Like Forts, Inca Strongholds can train military units and be upgraded with technologies or Home City Shipments. However, they have the unique ability to garrison military units, increasing the Stronghold’s attack value.

Kancha House The Kancha House replaces the House and is unique to the Incas. Kancha Houses are necessary to support the expanding population of a growing colony. Most units that you can train take up a specific amount of population spaces or population slots. Each Kancha House or Town Center that you build raises the number of slots that you have available, allowing you to train more and more units. There is a limit on the number of Kancha Houses that you can build in a single game. Kancha Houses support more population than normal Houses, however, and also provide Inca players with a small trickle of food income, which can be improved through the Home City.

Tambo The Tambo replaces the Trading Post and is unique to the Incas. Just like the Trading Post, the Tambo can only be built on certain places on a given map. These places are special sites located near Native American settlements, Asian religious sites, or along Trade Routes. A War Chief, Chasqui Scout, or Villager can build the Tambo on one of these pre-placed sites. If built at a Native settlement, it establishes an alliance with the tribe there. If built near a Trade Route, it establishes a post where the passing trade unit–a Travois, Stage Coach, Rickshaw, or Train–delivers goods as it passes. The Tambo can also train Chasqui Scouts, receive Home City Shipments, and garrison Villagers for increased attack. In the Industrial Age, the Tambo can be upgraded to the Mighty Tambo, which is stronger.

Unique ceremonies

Moon Ceremony Perform a Moon Ceremony to generate Wood over time.

Supay Ceremony Perform a Supay Ceremony to spawn mighty Macemen.

Cuzco, the Inca Home City in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition