Axeman (Age of Empires)

This article is about the unit in Age of Empires. For the unit in Age of Mythology, see Axeman (Age of Mythology).

Axeman
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Light Infantry
Age	Tool Age
Training
Trained at	Barracks
Food	50
Training time	26 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	50
Attack	5 melee
Rate of Fire	1.5
Melee armor	0
Pierce armor	0
Speed	1.2
Line of Sight	4
Unit evolution
Upgraded from	Clubman

The Axeman is an infantry unit in Age of Empires. It is an upgrade of the Clubman and is statistically among the strongest units of the Tool Age. The Clubman is upgraded to Axeman by researching Battle Axe.

Strategy

In large numbers they can be effective, although in the Bronze and Iron Age they are easily outclassed by other Barracks and Academy units.

They are not effective against Bowmen because they move too slowly to approach before being killed. However, they are very effective against Villagers and later siege weapons. They tend to dominate the Tool Age for offensive capabilities but are quickly overpowered later in the game, and are best used as trash units in multiplayer games that exceed 75 population.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Villagers
Weak vs.	Archers, cavalry
Upgrades
Attack	Toolworking (+2)  Metalworking (+2)  Metallurgy (+3)
Armor	Leather Armor Infantry (+2/+0)  Scale Armor Infantry (+2/+0)  Chain Mail Infantry (+2/+0)  Bronze Shield (+0/+1)  Iron Shield ((+0/+1)  Tower Shield ((+0/+1)
Cost	Logistics (-0.5 population usage)

Civilization bonuses

• Choson: Axemen have +5 hit points.
• Macedonians: Axemen have +2 Line of Sight and are four times more resistant to conversion.

History

“	The increasing population and wealth of the earliest civilizations made it possible to support standing armies available at all times for defense and attacking neighbors. The first professional armies were probably built in Sumeria and Egypt. These early civilizations had much to protect and were sufficiently wealthy to provide protection. Sumerian artwork from around 2500 BC provides evidence of an early army, in this case lines of soldiers, possibly in formation, equipped with identical armor, helmets, and weapons.	”
—The Age of Empires manual

Gallery

Axemen from all eight players

A group of Axemen in-game

Two Axemen attacking a Villager in the Definitive Edition

An Axeman in the Definitive Edition

Barracks Tree
Stone Age Barracks Clubman Tool Age Axeman Slinger Bronze Age Short Swordsman Broad Swordsman Iron Age Long Swordsman Legion