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Italian and Maltese home cities

Welcome, trailblazers, and get ready for even more info about the newest civs coming with Knights of the Mediterranean! You might ask what new units are available? What are those cool new buildings? What civs? Wait no more! Get all that and more below!

Italians

Fabulously wealthy merchant republics, kingdoms, duchies, and even the Papacy had driven the Renaissance and dominated the trade networks of the Mediterranean. However, when the Italian polities were not engaged in conflicts abroad, they fought each other nearly incessantly, until the Risorgimento gave rise to the new Kingdom of Italy.

Image of venice with turquoise and gold buildings plus some small boats

Unite a wealthy but splintered Italy while new Settlers flock to your booming empire with every technological breakthrough, and Architects construct buildings for free!

Invest at the Lombard to optimize your economy and turn a quick profit, or construct a towering Basilica and send Papal soldiers to strengthen and complement your army!

Use shielded Pavisiers to lure opponents into an ambush of Bersaglieri, or let Elmetti lower their lances and carry the day with a thundering charge!

Civilization Features

Image of the Italian flag
  • Home City: Venice (customizable!)
  • Starts with an Explorer and an Architect.
  • Receives a free Settler with every technology and economic buildings can research them in any age.
  • Can send Basilica units to spawn at any military shipment point.

Starting Units

  • Explorer
  • Architect
  • 5 Settlers
  • 3 Crates of Food
  • 1 Cord of Wood
  • 1 Chest of Wood

Unique Buildings

Image of the Italian style basilica for the Italian civ
Basilica (I, 200w 200c)
Basilica UI with Basilica building stats

The Basilica ships powerful Papal allies and boosts nearby building construction speed.

  • Papal Guards
  • Schiavoni
  • Papal Lancers
  • Papal Zouaves
Lombard (I, 100w 100c)
Image of the Italian civ's lombard building in game

The Lombard trains Outlaws and Mercenaries, but is also host to a unique investment mechanic, allowing the conversion of resources for free, but over time.

Lombard UI with Lombard building stats

Unique Units

The Italians have access to a wide range of unique units in various buildings.

Architect
Architect UI menu with stats

Inspired by the original plans for an Italian civilization, Italians have a unique civilian unit called Architect.

  • Can build free, but very slowly.
  • Can pay for foundations to build very fast.
  • Partly built free foundations can be converted into paid foundation for part of the cost, to finish construction quickly, including with normal Villagers.
Pavisier
Pavisier UI menu and stats

Instead of normal Crossbowmen, Italians have access to the unique Pavisier, which can change its armor with different stances.

Schiavone
Schiavone UI menu and stats

Specialized Light Infantry that only counters other Light Infantry, but does so very effectively.

Papal Guard
Papal Guard UI menu and stats

Papal hand infantry that protects nearby allies by absorbing some of the inflicted damage. Can hook enemies with his halberd to slow them down.

Papal Lancer
Papal Lancer UI menu with stats

Papal heavy cavalry that absorbs some of the damage inflicted to nearby allies. Counters ALL Infantry.

 Papal Zouaves
Papal Zouave UI menu and stats

Papal ranged infantry with high hitpoints that absorbs some of the damage inflicted to nearby allies. Performs well against all units. Countered by Artillery.

Papal Bombard
Papal Bombard UI menu and stats

Papal Artillery that absorbs some of the damage inflicted to nearby allies. Good against Infantry.

Home City Cards

The Italians have access to a variety of new cards that will aid you on your path to unity and victory!

  • Around 50 unique cards tailored to the Italian civilization.
  • “Company” Cards that send complementing combinations of Natives, Mercenaries, or other European allies.

We’ve picked a few noteworthy examples for cards with a variety of unique behaviors.

Italian Unique Cards

TEAM Marco Polo Voyages:

card with image featuring a renaissance garbed man standing next to a globe

TEAM Marco Polo Voyages: Arrives fast! TEAM Explores the black areas of the map and doubles the resource rewards granted by treasures. Any resources already looted are granted to your team again.

image for the arsenal in age iii with an anchor over it

Venetian Arsenal: Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon. Docks work much faster when an Arsenal is nearby.

image of machiavellian-type man in a pose as if plotting

Machiavellianism: Arrives fast! Improves your Italian Explorer in combat, enables him to pick up Treasures nearly instantly and gives him a powerful canine companion.

image of 4 flags with a coin in the middle

Merchant Republics: Ships 1 Trading Post Wagon. Grants resources for past and future control of Trading Routes.

  • Delivers 1 Trading Post Wagon.
  • Trade Routes: 20% of ALL resources you have earned so far are granted to you again.
  • Trade Routes: Future income improved by +30%. 
military uniformed officer on horse with sword drawn

Guardia di Finanza: The financial police collects Coin for each enemy unit you have defeated so far.     

Company Cards
knight holding a lance on horse with another military guard in the background

Broken Lance Company: Ships a number of Papal Lancer and Stradiots.

image of three knights hospitaller

Maltese Company: Ships a number Fire Throwers, Hospitallers, and Inquisitors.

image of two knights, and one of them has a gun drawn

Black Company: Ships a number of Black Riders and Armored Pistoleers.

And many more…

Home City Customization

Italy homecity showing venice, gondolas, and st mark's cathedral
New World Trading Company
Italian New World Trading Company in home city
  • Torchy – An entertainer who performs tricks with fire.
  • Juggler – A juggling performer.
  • Vendor Cart – A store on wheels hawking goods of all kinds.
  • Home City Chatter – Enable this to show comments made by citizens strolling through this city.
  • Custom House (Green) – The green version of the Custom House.
  • Custom House (Blue) – The blue version of the Custom House.
  • Custom House Stalls – Red and green stalls set up around the Custom House.
  • Crates – These crates might be ready for Shipment to the New World.
  • Gondolas – Gondolas cruising around the river banks.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo in Italian home city
  • Night Lighting – The city at night.
  • Foggy Night Lighting – The City on a foggy night.
  • Stormy Night Lighting – The city on a story night.
  • Palazzo Party (Formal) – Citizens of Italy gather at Palazzo Ducale before the party.
  • Palazzo Party (Celebration) – Citizens of Italy celebrating at Palazzo Ducale.
  • Basic Street Lamps – Simple technology to make streets just a little safer at night.
  • Palazzo Ducale (Italy) – The Italian themed version of the Palazzo Ducale.
  • Palazzo Ducale (Blue and Gold) – The blue and gold version of the Palazzo Ducale.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Musician – A strolling entertainer.
  • The Reverend – A street preacher sharing the good news.
  • Basilica (Red) – The red brick version of the Basilica.
  • Basilica (Gold) – The golden tiled version of the Basilica.
  • Basilica Mooring – Mooring posts installed in front of the Basilica.
  • Venetian Flag – Display Venetian flags on this building.
  • Venetian Flag (Pole) – Display Venetians flags on the poles in front of this building.
  • Campanile (Italy) – The Italian themed version of the Campanile.
  • Campanile (Blue) – The blue and golden version of the Campanile.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
Rialto
Rialto in Italian home city
  • The Artist – An artist who sets up his easel and paints.
  • Thug – A brutish and unpleasant fellow.
  • Rialto (White) – The white version of the Rialto.
  • Rialto (Italy) – The Italian themed version of the Rialto.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
Harbor
Harbor In Italian home city
  • Drunk – A sailor who has overindulged in adult beverages.
  • Nice Lady – A woman in a red dress.
  • Fisherman – A man who would rather be fishing.
  • Harbor (Red) – The red version of the Harbor.
  • Harbor (Green) – The green version of the Harbor.
  • Venetian Flag – Display Venetian flags on this building.
  • Harbor Mooring – Mooring posts installed in front of the Harbor.
  • Boats – Trading and fishing boats docked by the waterfront harbor.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.


Maltese

One of the Mediterranean’s epitomes of a melting pot, Malta was strategically and financially important, and thus most of the surrounding powers coveted it, becoming a stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller.

image of malta with mud buildings and a very busy port with a fort to one side

Guard the Mediterranean against incursions with unique fortifications, don shining armor to fend off attacks, and shell opponents from afar with Fixed Guns.

Fire Throwers and greatswords win battles, but the superior logistics of your Commandery win wars. Luckily, you can have both!

Fighting at sea with Order Galleys may wet the gunpowder, but your Arbalesters won’t mind. You can always restock at a Gunpowder Depot, or blow it up when an enemy army marches past!

Civilization Features

Maltese flag with red background and white hospitaller cross
  • Home City: Valletta (customizable!)
  • Starts with a Grand Master.
  • Maltese units gain additional hitpoints with each shipment and heal overtime when idle.

Starting Units

  • Grand Master
  • 5 Settlers
  • 4 Crates of Food
  • 2 Cord of Wood
  • 1 Chest of Wood

Unique Buildings

image of blue tents as the hospital in game
Hospital (II, 100w)
hospital ui menu with stats

Trains Maltese infantry. Heals idle units.

image of the commandery in game for the maltese
Commandery (II, 250w 100c)
commandery UI menu with stats

Units that can be garrisoned may be deployed from ANY other Commandery. Trains powerful foreign allies from around Europe who pledge their allegiance to the Knights of St John.

image of the maltese depot in game
Depot (II, 50w 50c)
depot UI menu with stats

Depot filled to the brim with gunpowder. Boosts attack speed of nearby Gunpowder Units, Artillery and Buildings. Will EXPLODE if destroyed, damaging ALL units.

image of a huge matlese cannon in a fixed position
Fixed Gun (III, 100w 600c)
fixed gun UI menu with stats

Powerful stationary artillery.

Unique Units

The Maltese have access to a wide range of unique units in various buildings.

Grand Master
grandmaster ui menu and stats

The hero of your civilization. Explores, fights, builds Fortifications and Trading Posts. Cannot die. If he falls unconscious, he can be rescued.

Hospitaller
hospitaller UI menu with stats

Hand infantry. Absorbs damage. Faster near Buildings.

 Sentinel
sentinel ui menu and stats

Defensive Musketeer that may construct Outposts. Stronger near Buildings, especially Fortifications.

Fire Thrower
fire thrower ui menu and stats

Light Infantry that attacks with incendiary weapons which inflict burning damage. Counters Heavy Infantry and Light Cavalry.

Home City Cards

The Maltese have access to a variety of new cards that will aid you on your path to unity and victory!

  • Around 65 unique cards tailored to the Maltese civilization.
  • “Tongue” Cards that send units from other European nations in support of your cause.
Maltese Unique Cards
image of a ship firing fire onto another ship

Greek Fire: Enables Docks to construct Fire Ships. Explosive vessels stowed with Greek fire, a secret incendiary mixture which inflicts considerable damage upon contact.

image of a tower firing fire from its top

Fire Towers: Researches Frontier Outposts and enables an additional powerful short-ranged fire attack.

image of a watchtower card with french and swiss flags in the background

Wignacourt Constructions: Settlers gather natural resources significantly faster when nearby a Town Center or Outpost.

4 knights around a round table with swords pointed towards the middle

TEAM Knights of the Round Table: The Knights of the Round Table ship 1 Hospitaller to each TEAM member for each Town Center they have on the map. Also grants +2% hitpoints to all Units on your team, unlike your other TEAM cards.

knight shooting fire from a gun

Fire Throwers: Equips Fire Throwers with a Flamethrower, a powerful charged attack that inflicts considerable Burning Damage in close-range combat.  

Tongue Cards
image of hospitaller cross on italian flag

Italian Tongue: Ships a Commandery Wagon and a number of powerful Order Schiavoni. Enables Commanderies to recruit more.

hospitaller cross on a french flag

French Tongue: Ships a Commandery Wagon and a number of powerful Order Cuirassiers. Enables Commanderies to recruit them.

hospitaller cross on a german flag

German Tongue: Ships a Commandery Wagon and a number of Settler Wagons. Enables Commanderies to recruit them.   

And many more…

Home City Customization

Matla homecity showing Fort St. Elmo, Gardens, and the harbor
New World Trading Company
Malta New World Trading Company
  • Torchy – An entertainer who performs tricks with fire.
  • Juggler – A juggling performer.
  • Vendor Cart – A store on wheels hawking goods of all kinds.
  • Morgan Black – Morgan Black roaming around the streets of Malta
  • Old Coot – Old Coot roaming around the streets of Malta.
  • New World Trading Company (Marigold) – The marigold version of the New World Trading Company.
  • New World Trading Company (Orange) – The orange version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish.
  • New World Trading Company (Blue) – The blue version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish.
  • New World Trading Company (Green) – The green version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
  • Cannons – Display Cannons in front of this building.
  • Basic Street Lamps – Simple technology to make streets just a little safer at night.
Fort St. Elmo
Malta Fort St. Elmo at Malta Home City
  • Night Lighting – The city at night.
  • Lizzie – Lizzie roaming around the streets of Malta.
  • Sahin – Sahin roaming around the streets of Malta.
  • Fort St. Elmo (Alternative) – The alternate version of the Fort St. Elmo.
  • Fixed Cannons – Display Fixed Cannons on this Building.
  • Malta Guard – Assign Malta Guards in front of the building.
  • Bone Guard Flag – Display Bone Guard flags on this building.
  • Black Family Flag – Display Black Family flags on this building.
  • Maltese Cross Flag – Display Maltese Cross flags on this building.
  • British Flag – Display British flags on this building.
  • French Flag – Display French flags on this building.
Cathedral
Cathedral at Malta Home City
  • The  Royal Coach – This coach waits upon the whims of royalty.
  • Musician – A strolling entertainer.
  • The Reverend – A street preacher sharing the good news.
  • Alain Magnan – Alain Magnan roaming around the streets of Malta.
  • Malta Crossbowmen – Assign Crossbowmen at the Cathedral building.
  • Cathedral (Ashen Grey) – The Cathedral with an ashen grey roofing finish.
  • Cathedral (Purple) – The Cathedral with a purple roofing finish.
  • Cathedral (Yellow) – The Cathedral with a yellow roofing finish.
  • Cathedral (Green) – The Cathedral with a green roofing finish.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
  • Dusk Lighting – The city at dusk.
  • Night Lighting – The city at night.
Barrakka Gardens
Barrakka Gardens at Malta Home City
  • The Artist – An artist who sets up his easel and paints.
  • Thug – A brutish and unpleasant fellow.
  • Bone Guard – Assign Bone Guard at the Barrakka Gardens.
  • British Pirate – Assign British Pirate at the Barrakka Gardens.
  • Barrakka Gardens (Sand) – The Barrakka Gardens with a sand brick finish.
  • Barrakka Gardens (Red) – The Barrakka Gardens with a red brick finish.
  • Barrakka Gardens (Sienna) – The Barrakka Gardens with a sienna brick finish.
  • Barrakka Gardens (Copper) – The Barrakka Gardens with a copper brick finish.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
  • City Vegetation – Display street vegetation along the streets of the Barrakka Gardens.
  • Cannons – Display Cannons in front of the this building.
Harbor
Harbor at Malta Home City
  • Drunk – A sailor who has overindulged in adult beverages.
  • Nice Lady – A woman in a red dress.
  • Fisherman – A man who would rather be fishing.
  • Maltese Carnival 1 – Citizens of Malta gathering in front of the harbor to party.
  • Maltese Carnival 2 – Citizens of Malta gathering in front of the harbor to party.
  • Harbor (Malta) – The Malta themed version of the Harbor.
  • Harbor (Red) – The red themed version of the Harbor.
  • Harbor (Pistachio) – The pistachio themed version of the Harbor.
  • Harbor (Green) – The green themed version of the Harbor.
  • Patriotic Bunting – The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners.
  • Gold Clock – Good. It’s lit.
  • Cannons – Display Cannons in front of the building.
  • Harbor Hardware – Crates, boats, oars, nets – everything for the disorganized harbor master.
  • Gondolas – Gondolas Cruising around the river banks.

DISCLAIMER
Please note that this list is subject to change and should not be considered a comprehensive list of all the stats and features coming at launch. The above is to give you a glimpse inside the new content in Knights of the Mediterranean.

Pre-Order Now!

Ready to explore and battle it out with all the new things? Knights of the Mediterranean is available now to pre-order from the Microsoft Store and Steam!