Age of Empires II Civilizations

Age of Empires II is by far the most successful entry in the series, and even after AoE 4 was released, AoE 2 still has a far larger player population! The massive number of civilizations in AoE 2 plays a big role in its success, and we’ll be diving deeper into each one of them with this guide.

The game has seen many expansions and remasters since its initial 1999 release, and a wealth of new civilizations added with each one! More specifically:

• The Conquerors Expansion added the Aztecs, Huns, Koreans, Mayans & Spanish.
• The HD Edition remake of 2013 released 3 separate DLCs:
  • The Forgotten, adding Incas, Indians, Italians, Magyars & Slavs.
  • The African Kingdoms, adding Berbers, Ethiopians, Malians & Portuguese.
  • Rise of the Rajas, adding Burmese, Khmer, Malay & Vietnamese.
• The Definitive Edition remaster of 2017 added Bulgarians, Cumans, Lithuanians & Tatars, and also released 3 separate DLCs adding even more civilizations:
  • Lords of the West, adding Burgundians & Sicilians.
  • Dawn of the Dukes, adding Bohemians & Poles.
  • Dynasties of India, adding Bengalis, Dravidians & Gurjaras.

Therefore, after initially releasing with 13 civilizations, the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition offers 35 civilizations to boot, and 7 more through DLC, for a grand total of 42 civilizations!

Aztecs

Aztecs, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry and Monk civilization

• Villagers carry +3
• Military units created 11% faster
• +5 Monk hit points for each Monastery technology
• Start with +50 gold

Unique Unit:

• Jaguar Warrior (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Atlatl (Skirmishers +1 attack, +1 range)
• Garland Wars (+4 infantry attack)

Team Bonus:

• Relics generate +33% gold

Bengalis

Only available with the Dynasties of India DLC.

 

Elephant and Naval civilization

• Elephant units receive 25% less bonus damage and are more resistant to conversion
• Town Centers spawn 2 Villagers when the next Age is reached
• Ships regenerate 15 HP per minute
• Monks +3/+3P armor

Unique Unit:

• Ratha (cavalry archer/cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Paiks (Rathas and elephant units attack 20% faster)
• Mahayana (Villagers take 10% less population space)

Team Bonus:

• Trade units yield 10% food in addition to gold

Berbers

Berbers, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry and Naval civilization

• Villagers move 10% faster
• Stable units cost -15% in Castle, -20% in Imperial Age
• Ships move 10% faster

Unique Units:

• Camel Archer (cavalry archer)
• Genitour (mounted skirmisher)

Unique Techs:

• Kasbah (team castles work 25% faster)
• Maghrebi Camels (Camel units regenerate)

Team Bonus:

• Genitour available in the Archery Range starting in the Castle Age

Bohemians

Only available with the Dawn of the Dukes DLC.

 

Gunpowder and Monk civilization

• Blacksmiths and Universities cost -100 wood
• Chemistry and Hand Cannoneer available in Castle Age
• Spearman-line deals +25% bonus damage
• Fervor and Sanctity affect Villagers
• Mining Camp technologies free

Unique Units:

• Hussite Wagon (siege weapon)
• Houfnice (bombard cannon)

Unique Techs:

• Wagenburg Tactics (Gunpowder units move 15% faster)
• Hussite Reforms (Monks and Monastery technologies have their gold cost replaced by food)

Team Bonus:

• Markets work 80% faster

Britons

Britons, Age of Empires II Civilization

Foot Archer civilization

• Town Centers cost -50% wood starting in the Castle Age
• Foot archers (except skirmishers) +1 range in Castle and Imperial Age (+2 total)
• Shepherds work 25% faster

Unique Unit:

• Longbowman (archer)

Unique Techs:

• Yeomen (+1 foot archer range +2 tower attack)
• Warwolf (Trebuchets do blast damage)

Team Bonus:

• Archery Ranges work 20% faster

Bulgarians

Bulgarians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry and Cavalry civilization

• Militia-line upgrades free
• Town Centers cost -50% stone
• Blacksmith and Siege Workshop technologies cost -50% food
• Can build Krepost

Unique Unit:

• Konnik (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Stirrups (Cavalry attack 33% faster)
• Bagains (Militia-line gains +5 armor)

Team Bonus:

• Blacksmiths work 80% faster

Burgundians

Only available with the Lords of the West DLC.

 

Cavalry civilization

• Economic upgrades available one age earlier and cost -40% food
• Stable technologies cost -50%
• Cavalier upgrade available in Castle Age
• Gunpowder units +25% attack

Unique Units:

• Coustillier (cavalry)
• Flemish Militia (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Burgundian Vineyards (Farmers slowly generate gold in addition to food)
• Flemish Revolution (Upgrades all existing Villagers to Flemish Militia; create Flemish Militia at Town Centers)

Team Bonus:

• Relics generate both Gold & Food

Burmese

Burmese, Age of Empires II Civilization

Monk and Elephant civilization

• Lumber Camp technologies free
• Infantry +1 attack per age (starting in the Feudal Age)
• Battle Elephants +1/+1P armor
• Monastery technologies cost -50%

Unique Unit:

• Arambai (ranged cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Howdah (Battle Elephants +1/+1P armor)
• Manipur Cavalry (Cavalry +5 attack vs. archers)

Team Bonus:

• Relics visible on the map at the start of the game

Byzantines

Byzantines, Age of Empires II Civilization

Defensive civilization

• Buildings +10% HP Dark, +20% Feudal, +30% Castle, +40% Imperial Age
• Camel Riders, Skirmishers, Pikemen, Halberdiers cost -25%
• Fire ships attack 25% faster
• Advance to Imperial Age costs -33%
• Town Watch, Town Patrol free

Unique Unit:

• Cataphract (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Greek Fire (Fire Ships +1 range)
• Logística (Cataphracts cause trample damage)

Team Bonus:

• Monks +100% heal speed

Celts

Celts, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry and Siege civilization

• Infantry move 15% faster (starting in the Feudal Age)
• Lumberjacks work 15% faster
• Siege weapons fire 25% faster
• Can steal sheep, and sheep within one Celt unit’s LoS cannot be stolen

Unique Unit:

• Woad Raider (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Stronghold (Castles and towers fire 25% faster)
• Furor Céltica (Siege Workshop units +40% HP)

Team Bonus:

• Siege Workshops work 20% faster

Chinese

Chinese, Age of Empires II Civilization

Archer civilization

• Start with +3 villagers, -50 wood, -200 food
• Technologies cost -10% Feudal, -15% Castle, -20% Imperial Age
• Town Centers support 10 population and +5 LOS
• Demolition ships +50% hit points

Unique Unit:

• Chu Ko Nu (archer)

Unique Techs:

• Great Wall (Walls and towers +30% HP)
• Rocketry (Chu Ko Nu +2, scorpions +4 attack)

Team Bonus:

• Farms +10% food

Cumans

Cumans, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry civilization

• Additional Town Center can be built in the Feudal Age
• Siege Workshop and Battering Ram available in the Feudal Age; Capped Ram upgrade available in Castle Age
• Archery Ranges and Stables cost -75 wood
• Cavalry 5% faster each age (starting in Feudal Age)

Unique Unit:

• Kipchak (cavalry archer)

Unique Techs:

• Steppe Husbandry (Light Cavalry, Steppe Lancers and Cavalry Archers trained 100% faster)
• Cuman Mercenaries (team members can create 5 free Elite Kipchaks per Castle)

Team Bonus:

• Palisade Walls +33% HP

Dravidians

Only available with the Dynasties of India DLC.

 

Infantry and Naval civilization

• Receive +200 wood when advancing to the next age
• Fishermen and Fishing Ships carry +15
• Barracks technologies cost -50%
• Skirmishers and Elephant Archers attack 25% faster

Unique Units:

• Urumi Swordsman (infantry)
• Thirisadai (warship)

Unique Techs:

• Medical Corps (Elephant units regenerate 20 HP per minute)
• Wootz Steel (Infantry and cavalry attacks ignore armor)

Team Bonus:

• Docks provide +5 population room

Ethiopians

Ethiopians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Archer civilization

• Archers fire 18% faster
• Receive +100 gold, +100 food when advancing to the next age
• Pikeman upgrade free

Unique Unit:

• Shotel Warrior (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Royal Heirs (Shotel Warriors train nearly instantly)
• Torsion Engines (increases blast radius of Siege Workshop units)

Team Bonus:

• Towers and Outposts +3 line of sight

Franks

Franks, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry civilization

• Castles cost -25%
• Cavalry +20% hit points starting in Feudal Age
• Mill technologies free
• Foragers work 15% faster

Unique Unit:

• Throwing Axeman (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Bearded Axe (+1 Throwing Axemen range)
• Chivalry (Stables work 40% faster)

Team Bonus:

• Knights +2 line of sight

Goths

Goths, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry civilization

• Infantry cost -20% in Dark, -25% in Feudal, -30% in Castle, -35% in Imperial Age
• Infantry +1 attack vs. buildings per age (starting from Feudal Age)
• Villagers +5 attack vs. wild boar; hunters carry +15 meat
• Loom can be researched instantly
• +10 population in Imperial Age

Unique Unit:

• Huskarl (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Anarchy (create Huskarls at Barracks)
• Perfusion (Barracks work 100% faster)

Team Bonus:

• Barracks work 20% faster

Gurjaras

Only available with the Dynasties of India DLC.

 

Cavalry and Camel civilization

• Start with 2 Forage Bushes
• Can garrison Mills with livestock to produce food
• Mounted units deal +20% bonus damage Feudal, +30% Castle, +40% Imperial Age
• Can garrison Docks with Fishing Ships

Unique Units:

• Chakram Thrower (infantry), Shrivamsha Rider (cavalry), Camel Scout (camel rider)

Unique Techs:

• Kshatriyas (Military units cost -25% food)
• Frontier Guards (Camel Riders and Elephant Archers +4 melee armor)

Team Bonus:

• Camel and elephant units created 25% faster

Hindustanis

Hindustanis, Age of Empires II Civilization

Camel and Gunpowder civilization

• Villagers cost -10% Dark, -15% Feudal, -20% Castle, -25% Imperial Age
• Camel Riders attack 20% faster
• Gunpowder units +1/+1P armor
• Can build Caravanserai in Imperial Age

Unique Units:

• Ghulam (infantry)
• Imperial Camel Rider (camel rider)

Unique Techs:

• Grand Trunk Road (All gold income 10% faster)
• Shatagni (Hand Cannoneers +2 range)

Team Bonus:

• Camel and light cavalry units +2 attack vs. buildings

Huns

Huns, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry civilization

• Do not need houses, but start with -100 wood
• Cavalry Archers cost -10% Castle, -20% Imperial Age
• Trebuchets +30% accuracy

Unique Unit:

• Tarkan (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Marauders (Create Tarkans at stables)
• Atheism (+100 years Relic, Wonder victories; enemy relics generate -50% resources)

Team Bonus:

• Stables work 20% faster

Incas

Incas, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry civilization

• Start with a free Llama
• Villagers affected by Blacksmith upgrades starting in the Castle Age
• Houses support 10 population
• Buildings cost -15% stone

Unique Units:

• Kamayuk (infantry)
• Slinger (archer)

Unique Techs:

• Andean Sling (Skirmishers and Slingers no minimum range)
• Fabric Shields (Kamayuks, Slingers, Eagles +1/+2P armor)

Team Bonus:

• Spearmen and Skirmishers +2 line of sight

Italians

Italians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Archer and Naval civilization

• Advancing to the next age costs -15%
• Dock and University technologies cost -33%
• Fishing Ships cost -15%
• Gunpowder units cost -20%

Unique Units:

• Genoese Crossbowman (archer)
• Condottiero (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Pavise (foot archers and Condottieri +1 armor/+l pierce armor)
• Silk Road (trade units cost -50%)

Team Bonus:

• Condottiero available in the Barracks in Imperial Age

Japanese

Japanese, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry civilization

• Fishing Ships 2x hit points; +2P armor; work rate +5% Dark, +10% Feudal, +15% Castle, +20% Imperial Age
• Mill, Lumber/Mining Camps cost -50%
• Infantry attack 33% faster starting in Feudal Age

Unique Unit:

• Samurai (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Yasama (Towers shoot extra arrows)
• Kataparuto (Trebuchets fire, pack faster)

Team Bonus:

• Galleys +50% line of sight

Khmer

Khmer, Age of Empires II Civilization

Siege and Elephant civilization

• No buildings required to advance to the next age or to unlock other buildings
• Farmers don’t require Mills/Town Centers to drop off food
• Battle Elephants move 10% faster
• Villagers can garrison in Houses

Unique Unit:

• Ballista Elephant (mounted scorpion)

Unique Techs:

• Tusk Swords (Battle Elephants +3 attack)
• Double Crossbow (Ballista Elephants and Scorpions fire two projectiles)

Team Bonus:

• Scorpions +1 range

Koreans

Koreans, Age of Empires II Civilization

Defensive and Naval civilization

• Villagers +3 line of sight
• Stone miners work 20% faster
• Tower upgrades free (Bombard Tower requires Chemistry)
• Archer armor upgrades free
• Military units (except siege weapons) cost -20% wood

Unique Units:

• War Wagon (cavalry archer)
• Turtle Ship (war ship)

Unique Techs:

• Eupseong (Watch Towers, Guard Towers and Keeps +2 range)
• Shinkichon (Mangonel-line +1 range)

Team Bonus:

• Mangonel-line minimum range reduced

Lithuanians

Lithuanians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry and Monk civilization

• Start with +150 food
• Spearman-line and Skirmishers move 10% faster
• Each garrisoned relic gives +1 attack to Knights and Leitis (maximum +4)

Unique Units:

• Leitis (cavalry)
• Winged Hussar (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Hill Forts (Town Centers +3 range)
• Tower Shields (Spearman-line and Skirmishers +2P armor)

Team Bonus:

• Monasteries work 20% faster

Magyars

Magyars, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry civilization

• Villagers kill wolves with 1 strike
• Forging, Iron Casting, Blast Furnace free
• Scout Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Hussar cost -15%

Unique Unit:

• Magyar Huszar (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Corvinian Army (Magyar Huszars cost no gold)
• Recurve Bow (Cavalry archers +1 range, +1 attack)

Team Bonus:

• Foot archers +2 line of sight

Malay

Malay, Age of Empires II Civilization

Naval civilization

• Advancing to the next age 66% faster
• Fish Traps cost -33% and provide 3X food
• Battle Elephants cost -30% in Castle, -40% in Imperial Age

Unique Unit:

• Karambit Warrior (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Thalassocracy (upgrades Docks to Harbors, which fire arrows)
• Forced Levy (Militia-line gold cost is replaced by additional food cost)

Team Bonus:

• Docks +100% line of sight

Malians

Malians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry civilization

• Buildings cost -15% wood
• Barracks units +1P armor per age (starting from Feudal Age)
• Gold Mines last 30% longer

Unique Unit:

• Gbeto (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Tigui (Town Centers fire arrows when ungarrisoned)
• Farimba (Cavalry +5 attack)

Team Bonus:

• Universities work 80% faster

Mayans

Mayans, Age of Empires II Civilization

Archer civilization

• Start with +1 villager, but -50 food
• Resources last 15% longer
• Archers cost-10% Feudal,-20% Castle,-30% Imperial Age

Unique Unit:

• Plumed Archer (archer)

Unique Techs:

• Hul’che Javelineers (Skirmishers throw a second projectile)
• El Dorado (Eagle Warriors have +40 hit points)

Team Bonus:

• Walls cost -50%

Mongols

Mongols, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry Archer civilization

• Cavalry archers fire 25% faster
• Light Cavalry, Hussars, Steppe Lancers +30% hit points
• Hunters work 40% faster

Unique Unit:

• Mangudai (cavalry archer)

Unique Techs:

• Nomads (lost houses do not decrease population headroom)
• Drill (Siege Workshop units move 50% faster)

Team Bonus:

• Scout Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Hussar +2 line of sight

Persians

Persians, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry civilization

• Start with +50 wood, food
• Town Center, Dock 2x hit points; work rate +10% Feudal, +15% Castle, +20% Imperial Age

Unique Unit:

• War Elephant (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Kamandaran (Archer-line gold cost is replaced by additional wood cost)
• Mahouts (War Elephants 30% faster)

Team Bonus:

• Knights +2 attack vs. Archers

Poles

Only available with the Dawn of the Dukes DLC.

 

Cavalry civilization

• Villagers regenerate 5 HP per minute in Dark, 10 in Feudal, 15 in Castle, 20 in Imperial Age
• Folwark replaces Mill
• Stone Miners generate gold in addition to stone

Unique Units:

• Obuch (infantry)
• Winged Hussar (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Szlachta Privileges (Knights cost -60% gold)
• Lechitic Legacy (Light Cavalry deals trample damage)

Team Bonus:

• Scout Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Hussar +1 attack vs. Archers

Portuguese

Portuguese, Age of Empires II Civilization

Naval and Gunpowder civilization

• All units cost -20% gold
• Foragers generate wood in addition to food
• Ships +10% HP
• Can build Feitoria in Imperial Age

Unique Units:

• Organ Gun (siege)
• Caravel (war ship)

Unique Techs:

• Carrack (Ships +1/+1 armor)
• Arquebus (gunpowder units more accurate)

Team Bonus:

• Technologies researched 25% faster

Saracens

Saracens, Age of Empires II Civilization

Camel and Naval civilization

• Market trade cost only 5%
• Markets cost -100 wood
• Transport Ships 2x hit points, 2x carry capacity
• Galleys attack 25% faster
• Camel units +10 hit points

Unique Unit:

• Mameluke (camel rider)

Unique Techs:

• Zealotry (Camel units +20 hit points)
• Counterweights (Trebuchets and Mangonel-line +15% attack)

Team Bonus:

• Foot archers +2 attack vs. buildings

Sicilians

Only available with the Lords of the West DLC.

 

Infantry and Cavalry civilization

• Start with +100 stone
• Castles and Town Centers built 100% faster
• Land military units (except siege weapons) receive 33% less bonus damage
• Farm upgrades provide +100% additional food
• Donjon replaces Watch Tower-line

Unique Unit:

• Serjeant (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• First Crusade (Each Town Center (maximum 5) spawns a onetime batch of 7 Serjeants; units more resistant to conversion)
• Hauberk (Knights +1/+2P armor)

Team Bonus:

• Transport Ships +5 line of sight and cost -50%

Slavs

Slavs, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry and Siege civilization

• Farmers work 10% faster
• Supplies free
• Siege Workshop units 15% cheaper

Unique Unit:

• Boyar (cavalry)

Unique Techs:

• Detinets (Replaces 40% of Castles’ and Towers’ stone cost with wood)
• Druzhina (Infantry damage adjacent units)

Team Bonus:

• Military buildings provide +5 population room

Spanish

Spanish, Age of Empires II Civilization

Gunpowder and Monk civilization

• Builders work 30% faster
• Blacksmith upgrades don’t cost gold
• Cannon Galleons benefit from Ballistics (fire faster, more accurately)
• Gunpowder units fire 18% faster

Unique Units:

• Conquistador (mounted hand cannoneer)
• Missionary (mounted Monk)

Unique Techs:

• Inquisition (Monks convert faster)
• Supremacy (Villagers stronger in combat)

Team Bonus:

• Trade units generate +25% gold

Tatars

Tatars, Age of Empires II Civilization

Cavalry Archer civilization

• Villagers gather +50% food from herdables
• New Town Centers spawn 2 Sheep starting in the Castle Age
• Units deal +25% damage when fighting from higher elevation
• Thumb Ring, Parthian Tactics free

Unique Units:

• Keshik (raiding cavalry)
• Flaming Camel (petard)

Unique Techs:

• Silk Armor (Light Cavalry, Steppe Lancers and Cavalry Archers receive +1/+1P armor)
• Timurid Siegecraft (Trebuchets +2 range, enables Flaming Camels)

Team Bonus:

• Cavalry Archers +2 line of sight

Teutons

Teutons, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry civilization

• Monks healing range 2x
• Towers garrison 2x units
• Murder Holes, Herbal Medicine free
• Farms cost -40%
• Town Center garrison +10
• Barracks and Stable units +1 armor in Castle and Imperial Age (+2 total)

Unique Unit:

• Teutonic Knight (infantry)

Unique Techs:

• Ironclad (siege weapons extra melee armor)
• Crenellations (+3 range Castles garrisoned infantry fire arrows)

Team Bonus:

• Units resist conversion

Turks

Turks, Age of Empires II Civilization

Gunpowder civilization

• Gunpowder units +25% hit points; researching gunpowder technologies costs -50%; Chemistry free
• Gold miners work 20% faster
• Scout Cavalry, Light Cavalry, Hussar +1P armor
• Light Cavalry and Hussar upgrades free

Unique Unit:

• Janissary (hand cannoneer)

Unique Techs:

• Sipahi (Cavalry Archers +20 HP)
• Artillery (+2 range Bombard Towers, Bombard Cannons, Cannon Galleons)

Team Bonus:

• Gunpowder units created 25% faster

Vietnamese

Vietnamese, Age of Empires II Civilization

Archer civilization

• Enemy positions are revealed at the start of the game
• Economic upgrades cost no wood
• Archery Range units +20% HP
• Conscription free

Unique Units:

• Rattan Archer (archer)
• Imperial Skirmisher (skirmisher)

Unique Techs:

• Chatras (Battle Elephants +100 HP)
• Paper Money (Lumberjacks slowly generate gold in addition to wood)

Team Bonus:

• Imperial Skirmisher upgrade available in the Imperial Age

Vikings

Vikings, Age of Empires II Civilization

Infantry and Naval civilization

• Warships cost -15% Feudal Age, -15% Castle Age, -20% Imperial Age
• Infantry +20% hit points starting in Feudal Age
• Wheelbarrow, Hand Cart free

Unique Units:

• Berserk (infantry)
• Longboat (warship)

Unique Techs:

• Chieftains (infantry deal bonus damage to cavalry)
• Berserkergang (Berserks regenerate faster)

Team Bonus:

• Docks cost -15%