War Galley (Age of Empires II)

For the related Age of Empires unit, see War Galley (Age of Empires). The War Galley is a naval unit featured in Age of Kings. It is an upgrade of the Galley and is available once the Castle Age is reached. The War galley deals more damage and has more hit points than the Galley. Instead of firing arrows like its predecessor, it fires large bolts like a Scorpion siege unit.

Tactics
In Naval battles, quickly advancing to Castle Age and researching War Galley is considered imperative as this upgrade significantly reduces the training time of Galleys. Since it is a relatively weak unit, it is strongly advised to upgrade it to Galleon as soon as possible in death matches whenever possible.

The Galley type units are the backbone of any Naval army, War Galleys and Galleons are a very cost effective way to deal against Cannon galleons and Demolition Ships if the war galleys are properly micromanaged. They are also useful in shoreline combats against enemy units and shoreline buildings with the exception of Towers, Castles, siege units and Town Centers. War Galleys work a lot better in large numbers, and they must be paired with Fire Ships in most cases, and  are excellent escorts for Transport ships.

The War Galley main counter unit is the Fire ship, but also the Demolition ships may be a problem in many circumstances for the war galleys. Longboats and Turtle ships are also a threat to War Galleys (with some exceptions like the saracens war galleys), and siege units like Trebuchets, Onagers and Bombard Cannons can be devastating against an army of War galleys in shoreline combats.

Civilization Bonuses

 * Persians: War Galleys are created 10%/15%/20% faster in Feudal/ Castle / Imperial age.
 * Celtish herdables cannot be stolen within a War Galley's Line of Sight.
 * Chinese: Technologies that benefits War Galleys are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in Feudal/Castle/Imperial age.
 * Aztecs: War Galleys are created 15% faster.
 * Vikings: War Galleys cost -20%.
 * Saracens: War Galleys attack 20% faster
 * Italians: Dock technologies and upgrades that benefits War Galleys are 50% cheaper.
 * Berbers:War Galleys are 10% faster.
 * Portuguese:War Galleys have +10% HP and cost 15% less gold.

Team Bonuses

 * A team containing Japanese: War Galleys have +50% LOS.
 * A team containing Teutons: War Galleys are more resistant to conversion.

Changes in The Forgotten expansion

 * Vikings: War Galleys cost 10%/15%/20% less in Feudal/Castle/Imperial age.

History
''The war galley was a larger and improved fighting ship. It carried a larger contingent of marines and archers. When necessary, the equivalent of a war galley was created by putting fighting towers at the stern and bow of trading ship. These provided better protection and a height advantage for archers when closed with an enemy ship.''

Trivia

 * Men-at-Arms, Long Swordsmen and War Galleys are the only upgraded forms of military soldiers in Age of Empires II and The Conquerors to be available to all civilizations.