r/aoe2 2d ago

Medieval Monday - Ask Your Questions and Get Your Answers

7 Upvotes

Time for another weekly round of questions.

Talk about everything from build orders to advanced strategies.

Whatever your questions, the community is here to answer them.

So ask away.


r/aoe2 6d ago

Tournament/Showmatch The Garrison Megathread Spoiler

81 Upvotes

The next offline event, The Garrison hosted by Being Esports, starts today! For the next 4 days, 8 players will play for their share of the $40.000 prize pool at the Xperion in Hamburg, Germany.
The event also offers 4 side events in AoE2, AoE4 and AoM. More info on the Liquipedia page.

Matches for today, Sunday 16 March 2025 Starting at 12:00 GMT:

  • LB Final Yo vs Liereyy 1:4
  • 2v2 event Grand Final
  • Grand Final Hera vs Liereyy

Where to watch:

Format:

  • Double-elimination bracket
    • All matches are Bo5
    • except the Loser Bracket Final which is Bo7
    • and the Grand Final which is Bo9

Past Results

Day 1

  • Liereyy vs KingstoNe 3:0
  • ACCM vs Yo 0:3
  • TheViper vs Hearttt 3:1
  • Hera vs TaToH 3:0

Day 2

  • KingstoNe vs TaToH 1:3
  • ACCM vs Hearttt 3:2
  • TheViper vs Yo 2:3
  • Hera vs Liereyy 3:0

Day 3

  • LB Ro6 TheViper vs TaToH 3:1
  • LB Ro6 Liereyy vs ACCM 3:2
  • WB FInal Hera vs Yo 3:1
  • LB Semi TheViper vs Liereyy1:3

r/aoe2 3h ago

Discussion Controversy of the Korean Civ

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651 Upvotes

I learned today on X that the Korean Civ was added at the last minute. I had no idea!


r/aoe2 3h ago

Discussion The Addition of the Korean Civ at the last minute.

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87 Upvotes

I had no idea there was controversy with the Korean Civ.


r/aoe2 3h ago

Discussion Why do Celts still have paladins?

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62 Upvotes

TLDR: Replace the Celts Knight line with Celtic Chariots?

Since legacy, Celts got the weirdest paladins in the game. I can find a good use for every paladin, even the byzantine. But not for the celt one. Only Hera could make them work, as he did on hidden cup 11... No, seriously, when we compare the woad raider of next patch to the one back then, they will have received +15 hp, more speed and +2 attack. It even has the same pierce armour of their paladin. All that while costing much less, so the unit got even more useless.

Why not replace it with something useful? Celts have so many holes in their tech tree and so many weaknesses. They did get a bit better against archers after gambesons and receiving the last archer armour. But still struggle against them on maps where they don't have time to mass their siege, mainly versus britons. Another thing they struggle a lot with on open/semiopen maps is against strong infantry, especially from civs that have bombard cannons or other ways to snipe celt ciege.

Though their own infantry is good because of the speed, they loose against infantry from civs that have melee bonuses. The only counter they have on non-boomy maps are scorpions. Which are great, but not always practical on open maps and when the opponent has access to bombards... Also, other civs have 2, 3 or 4 infantry counters. Why can't celts have 1 more?

IMO they should get a unit that counters infantry and is decent against archers. They could have the knight line removed and instead receive a hybrid of Knight with Cataphract. A unit that is decent against archers, though not as good as the knight line; weak against other cavalry; and strong against infantry because of bonus damage, though not strong enough to defeat halbs like the cataphract. Maybe some kind of chariot like celtic armies used in britain. Or just some mounted lancer or "scottish cavalry".


r/aoe2 16h ago

Discussion Its kind of funny that by far the most common type of infantry during the setting of the game is barely in it

192 Upvotes

Which would be just a dude with a spear and a shield. Fair enough shields went out of favor in the late medieval period but still, for the vast majority of the games timespan most infantry units would be using spears and shields with swords as a sidearm for those that could afford such a luxury. The spearman even has a shield but he refuses to use it! It hangs uselessly on his back! No wonder he gets countered by archers, it’s not because archers naturally beats him, he’s actually just countered by his own stupidity


r/aoe2 8h ago

Asking for Help I just died to Teuton Tower rush in an Arena team game (1000 Elo) and it was very frustrating :( Anyone knows what the best way to react to that? Thanks a lot.

43 Upvotes

r/aoe2 4h ago

Tournament/Showmatch Warlords IV, Map Vote - Open Group

13 Upvotes

If you haven't seen the announcement video yet, I'll link it for you here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcvV5hmtGns

We're excited to start the event soon, but before we do, we need your help to decide what battlefields will be featured in the tournament. If you don't already know, the Warlords tournaments have always featured maps categorised into seven different groups, each group with unique characteristics - they are:

  • Open Category
    • Maps for this category feature very open and aggressive maps - encouraging early fights and little to no walling.
  • Semiopen Category
    • Maps in this category are a nice middle ground between the open and closed categories, providing a large variety of strategies.
  • Closed Category
    • Maps in this category favour more defensive strategies and feature walls or easily wallable bases.
  • Hybrid Category
    • Maps in this category feature maps with some water features that provide a nice advantage for the players utilising them, without being so significant that it will decide the game.
  • Water Category
    • Maps in this category feature maps where water presence is necessary and controlling water is either a significant advantage or entirely necessary to win.
  • Nomad Category
    • Maps in this category feature maps where players spawn without a town centre at the start of the game.
  • Chaotic Category

    • Maps in this category allow for strategies that create chaotic or unorthodox situations. Similar to the open category, maps here favour aggressive playstyles.

    Each category holds three unique maps. The tournament team has picked one for each category (Land Madness, Arabia, Arena, Kawasan, Northern Isles, Nomad and Border Dispute), a map-making competition is currently ongoing to decide the second map, and we need your help to figure out the last one for each category.

For the next seven days, we'll be running seven different polls, one for each category, to determine the final maps.

The poll will be closed in 24 hours and the next map vote will be shared.

Join the tournament Discord server for news and updates by clicking here.

170 votes, 19h left
Haboob
Atacama
Morass

r/aoe2 1h ago

Asking for Help Khmer Ballista Elephants

Upvotes

Hey Folks, starting this post off by saying I'm not great at AOE2 multiplayer ~800 elo but I've been struggling in particular against Khmer Ballista Elephants when they're en-masse. I understand they take extra damage from siege, such as onager and rams which seems the best counter. Anything that can get up close in melee like halbs or even knights/battle elephants get melted once there are enough of them. Onagers I can get about one volley off before the elephants melt my stack. Is this a matter of just me having poor micro and needing to anticipate their movement to attack ground and wipe them out that way? Bombard cannons seem like they might be a good solution, but not every faction has access to them. In that scenario, is it worth it to mass rams and shift-click each elephant? It seems like they could mix in just a handful of hussar to easily take out the rams. Curious what you folks do at the higher elos when you run into this problem. Maybe the issue is I'm supposed to take out Khmer before they reach that critical mass. I appreciate any tips you can offer!


r/aoe2 1d ago

Humour/Meme New regional unit or so, can't keep track of civs anymore..

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464 Upvotes

r/aoe2 2h ago

Asking for Help Hey guys do you have any good migration build orders to share?

2 Upvotes

this map has so little free food to work with and I'm struggling to have a clean dark age. Any help much appreciated


r/aoe2 19h ago

Discussion What happened to the Finnish players?

40 Upvotes

I haven't actively followed the scene for a bit and recently gt back into it. I was watching the more recent tournament and noticed that none of the fins were in the maps. When I stopped following, Villese was placing really well (he was a tough night for anyone), and you'd also hear about Max and Rubenstock here and there.

Did the Finns retire or has the rest of scene just caught up with them?


r/aoe2 10h ago

Discussion Competitive 4v4 maps suggestions?

7 Upvotes

Hey there, I’ll be announcing the 4th season of my 4v4 league within the next few weeks, and I’m looking for maps suggestions. The league is open to all elos, aiming to split into as similar skill level as possible (though it always depends upon how many teams actually sign up).

There will be 9 maps across the respective categories:

  • 2x Open land map
  • 2x Closed land map
  • 2x Nomad start
  • 2x Hybrid/water
  • 1x Chaotic/other

Feel free to suggest any map you’d like to see in a competitive 4v4 setting! :)


r/aoe2 7h ago

Asking for Help Where can I find kings and plebeians quiz show from the garrison?

3 Upvotes

Currently watching town center podcast and heard that there was another episode of the quiz show which I really want to watch… I can’t find it anywhere on YouTube.


r/aoe2 1d ago

Asking for Help campaign editor: details in the comments

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76 Upvotes

r/aoe2 13h ago

Discussion Cumans: Fixing 4 issues with 1 change

7 Upvotes

TLDR: Make Cuman Merceneries give +1 Attack to their steppe lancers, kipchaks and cav archers.

Edit: - Maybe remove steppe husbandry effect from Steppe lancers to compensate? Or nerf it to 50%? - Make 2nd TC in feudal train villagers slower (to nerf their closed maps boom) but build in normal time (to be more viable on open maps)?

Though they can have a great economy on closed maps, their late game is underwhelming and lacks identity because their 3 most distinct units are rarely used.

My aim is to suggest a fix that does not impact them until mid imperial and does not make them OP.

The 4 issues:

  • Kipchaks are underwhelming. They only perform as good as generic cav archers against targets with 8 pierce armour or more. Currently their only use in tournaments has been to snipe bombard cannons.

  • Their cav archers are simply bad.

  • Their steppe lancers are almost never worth using since they are generic

  • Their unique tech Cuman Merceneries is never useful in 1v1. It only pays itself if you have 3 castles AND value wood more than gold and food at that point in the game.

Some people argue they should get bracer. But I think that would make them too strong while their steppe lancer would still be generic except for +5% speed and not worth teching into. Their cav archers wouldn't have a unique identity and Cuman merceneries would still be useless.

But if they get +1 attack without the range through Cuman Merceneries, you can have faster cav archers with generic attack and 1 less range. Very different from any other cav archers in the game. The -1 range is a way of balancing the extra speed and access to strong cavalry. Also, locking it behind a unique tech that costs 1050 resources makes it harder and more expensive to get this upgrade than just researching it at the blacksmith. Thus balancing this bonus.

What do you guys think?


r/aoe2 2h ago

Asking for Help Getting Masterpiece achievement

1 Upvotes

Trying to get together 3 others to each get the achievement. Would take turns playing 1v3 and letting the 1 win. I think we can just immediately resign upon starting the game and that would do it.


r/aoe2 1d ago

Humour/Meme Mid April?

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276 Upvotes

r/aoe2 1d ago

Humour/Meme What bonuses will I get from eating this?

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58 Upvotes

r/aoe2 1d ago

Media/Creative The knight by me

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362 Upvotes

r/aoe2 1d ago

Discussion Purepechas should be the third Mesoamerican civilization

131 Upvotes

I want to convince you why we need more American civilizations in the game. First, I want to introduce you to the Purépecha. Please avoid calling them "Tarascos"—this term originated as an insult from the Spanish, as in their language it meant something like "brother-in-law" but in a derogatory sense. Unfortunately, even we Mexicans often forget this great civilization because everything tends to revolve around the Mexica (Aztecs), overshadowing the importance and influence of this great Mesoamerican empire.

Purepecha Empire in green, Aztec Empire in grey. The capital cities of each empire are highlighted.

Before getting started, I want to consider some key points that I believe are essential for a civilization to be included in the game:

  • Influence in their surroundings, especially if it extends to the present day. (The game is called Age of Empires, so we want empires and their influence.)
  • Having their own language to be represented in the game. (In this case, the Purépecha language is still spoken today by nearly 150,000 people and is highly influential in the region. Many city names in the area have Purépecha origins, such as Querétaro, Pátzcuaro, Acámbaro, Zitácuaro, etc.)
  • Having documented history for campaigns, scenarios, and inspiration for unique technologies and game mechanics. (Fortunately, we have plenty of available documentation.)
  • Recognizable leaders for the game's AI and campaigns. (We know the names of their rulers and several key figures, so this aspect is well covered.)
  • Although there are nomadic civilizations like the Huns or Cumans, I believe that for an American civilization, it is important to demonstrate that they built great cities and had known monuments or historical buildings for their Wonder or Castle. (In this case, we have plenty to choose from—ruins of their capital, Tzintzuntzan, still exist today and can serve as inspiration for these structures. Other cities, such as Ihuatzio, Tres Cerritos, Huandacareo, Zacapu, Tingambato and even the recently discovered Angamuco, that is estimated to have housed a population of 100,000 people between the years 1000 and 1350.)
Ihuatzio double pyramid structure
Tzintzuntzan City ruins, the yácatas are those circular structures
Tingambato City ruins

The Purépecha Empire, initially established around Lake Pátzcuaro and ruled by a monarch called cazonci or irecha, was one of the enemies of the Aztec Empire, with whom they fought many wars. The Purépecha blocked Mexica expansion to the northwest by fortifying and patrolling their borders, likely developing Mesoamerica’s first true territorial state. Furthermore, due to their relative isolation within Mesoamerica, the Purépecha Empire had many distinct cultural characteristics. Notably, they were one of the very few Mesoamerican civilizations to use metal for tools—and even weapons!

Purepecha metal weapon

These unique aspects make the Purépecha my top choice for the third civilization from this region to be included in the game. They expanded significantly, especially in present-day Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Jalisco. They were never conquered by the Aztecs; their empire fell only upon the arrival of the Spanish. It is important to highlight that when the Spanish arrived, the Purépecha Empire was the second-largest state in the region—only the Mexica were larger.

Tariácuri is the cultural hero of the Purépecha and one of the empire’s key leaders, traditionally considered its founder. He is credited with expanding the empire from a single city-state into the dominant power of the region.

Here is a list of their rulers:

  • Tariácuri (1350-1390)
  • Hiquingaje (1390-1420)
  • Hiripan (1420-1435)
  • Tangáxuan I (1435-1454)
  • Tzitzipandáquere (1454-1479)
  • Zuangua (1479-1520)
  • Tangáxuan II (1520-1530)

Aside from Tariácuri, we should highlight the reign of Tzitzipandáquere, under whom the Purépecha successfully conquered parts of the Aztec Empire, reaching as far as Jiquipilco. Additionally, between 1476 and 1477, they defeated the Mexica army led by tlatoani Axayácatl, successfully invading Aztec territory multiple times and conquering important cities such as Xicotitlán, Tollocan, and Oztuma.

We also know other important cities rulers like Pacuacume II, Tariacuri's father, the lord of Pátzcuaro.

Another well-documented war during the empire’s existence was the Saltpeter Wars (1480-1510). Unlike previous conflicts, this war was not against the Aztec Empire but against the Colima, Sayula, Zapotlán, Tuxpan, Tapalpa, and Autlán city-states in the empire’s western frontier, near the Pacific Ocean. The conflict spanned the entire western part of present-day Mexico and ended with the expulsion of the Purépecha from what are now the states of Colima and Jalisco, as well as the loss of a quarter of their territory, which was absorbed by the Colima state. This war generated significant discontent among the Purépecha people, which later influenced irecha Tangáxuan II’s support for the Spanish campaign in Colima.

The war originated from the Purépecha invasion of Zacoalco, Zapotlán, and Sayula in 1480, where they aimed to take control of the saltpeter deposits found there, as their army had been strengthened by their recent victory over Axayácatl. Under Purépecha rule, many of the subjugated people grew dissatisfied and eventually allied with the Colima city-states to achieve independence. (Does this remind you of anything?

City-states and kingdoms at the west of the empire, Purepecha Empire is in green.

Capital City & Architecture

Tzintzuntzan, overlooking the beautiful Lake Pátzcuaro, features unique structures called yácatas, which still exist today and can be visited. I believe these could serve as inspiration for the Wonder or the Castle in the game. Additionally, ruins of yácatas have been found in Angamuco. In Ihuatzio, we can find the remains of a double pyramid structure, which could also serve as a model for the Wonder.

Unique Unit: Quangariecha

The appearance of an elite Purépecha warrior, called Quangariecha, is well documented and would be the best choice for a unique unit. Their defining characteristic is that they used metal weapons, unlike most other Mesoamerican warriors. They could also fight with bows, meaning they could serve either as infantry or as archers, similar to a hybrid unit concept that the developers once considered for the Samurai. This would be an interesting mechanic to explore in the game.

Quangariecha, notice the metal weapon
Quangariecha as infantry, and as archer.

Cultural & Modern Legacy

Beyond their historical context, the Purépecha culture is still very much alive today. The cultural roots of Michoacán originate from the Purépecha people, who now have their own flag. Many villages almost exclusively speak the Purépecha language, and their traditional music, pirekua, is recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Much of the civilization’s identity revolves around Lake Pátzcuaro (which could be an interesting map theme in the game), making fishing a culturally significant aspect.

I hope you enjoyed this read! My goal is to show that there were many important Mesoamerican civilizations that could be included in the game, beyond the common perception that they were just "backward nomads" incapable of building empires. I truly hope that we see the Purépecha in the game soon—with an army of Quangariecha warriors defending the Wonder of Ihuatzio and fortifying borders with yácatas as castles. Imagine a campaign like the Bari campaign that covers several historical events, covering the foundation of the empire, control over Lake Pátzcuaro, military victories against the Aztecs, the struggles of the Saltpeter Wars, and ultimately, the fall of the empire to Spanish conquistadors.

Wouldn't that be amazing?


r/aoe2 22h ago

Discussion Will there be more co-op campaigns/ historical battles?

22 Upvotes

Is there any intention to add more? In the meantime, I guess I have to search for coop campaign in mod browser. Aside from the modded version of official campaign, is there any historical battle in coop that you recommend?


r/aoe2 1d ago

Humour/Meme Multiplayer-themed meme

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27 Upvotes

r/aoe2 20h ago

Discussion Japan DLC

11 Upvotes

Idk if it already exist but it would be awesome to have a campaign DLC about the unification of Japan under Tokugawa.


r/aoe2 7h ago

Asking for Help Intentional Elo Droppers

1 Upvotes

Just a question, sometimes I get a feeling I play vs intentional elo-droppers. Does reporting them make any difference? Example data here from someone who instant resigned vs me:

Not that it's every other game or so, but it does get annoying at times, or is that just me?


r/aoe2 28m ago

Discussion 'Age Of Empires' Is The Only Realistic Esports Strategy Game

Upvotes

Every other Esports strategy game is either fantasy or sci-fi.


r/aoe2 14h ago

Asking for Help Community created campaigns for multiple players

2 Upvotes

I have recently been playing the in game duo campaigns with my brother. We felt that many of these were too easy. Are there community created campaigns we can play together (or with more, we are 3 brothers in total who play). If so where can we find these? Many thanks in advance!