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This article is about the technology in Age of Empires. For other uses, see Ballistics.

Ballistics improves the accuracy of all ranged units by enabling them to hit moving targets more precisely. It can only be researched from the Government Center and is needed to develop the technology that upgrades Guard Towers to Ballista Towers. However, the only unit that is precise without researching this technology is the Mirror Tower. It is available to every civilization.

Gameplay[]

The "improved accuracy" works by making an archer, siege unit, warship or Tower fire at where a unit is going to be (assuming they continue moving in the same way) rather than where they are. So if an archer tries to fire at a cavalry unit moving in a straight line past him where each shot would ordinarily miss, each shot would hit instead. This is particularly useful against the enemy AI. With Ballistics, the unit being targeted may still be able to dodge the projectiles, if the player controlling it would maneuver and change the unit's movement pattern instead. This would require great micromanagement skills, though.

Affected units[]

Team bonuses[]

  • Palmyrans AoE Palmyrans: Researching Ballistics is 30% faster.

Changelog[]

ReturnRome-AoEIcon Age of Empires[]

Age of Empires Definitive Edition icon Definitive Edition[]

AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome[]

History[]

The use of missile weapons for war presented challenges that hunting with the bow did not.  Hunters stalked game and shot ideally at a stationary target.  War targets were often armored, partially shielded, or moving.  Effective use of the bow and other missile weapons required tactics and training.  Bowmen of low skill were taught to fire in barrages at an area rather than at specific targets.  Better- trained archers learned to shoot for specific parts of the target, including the horses of chariots or cavalry.  Ballistics, the study of projectile flight, was derived from the name of an ancient missile weapon, the Ballista.
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Technologies in Age of Empires
Economic technologies
WoodWoodworking Woodworking · Artisanship Artisanship · Craftsmanship Craftsmanship
FoodDomestication Domestication · PlowAOE Plow · Irrigation AOE Irrigation
GoldGold Mining Gold Mining · Coinage Coinage
StoneStone Mining Stone Mining · Siegecraft Siegecraft
MiscellaneousWheelicon Wheel · Jihad Zealotry
Military technologies
GeneralBallistics Ballistics · Alchemy Alchemy · RoR Conscription Conscription
InfantryToolworking Toolworking · Metalworkingicon Metalworking · Metallurgyicon Metallurgy
Leatherarmorinfantryicon Leather Armor Infantry · Scalearmorinfantryicon Scale Armor Infantry · Chainmailinfantryicon Chain Mail Infantry
Bronzeshieldicon Bronze Shield · Ironshieldicon Iron Shield · Towershieldicon Tower Shield
Logistics Logistics
Aristocracy Aristocracy
Slinger-0 SlingerStone Mining Stone Mining · Siegecraft Siegecraft
Bronzeshieldicon Bronze Shield · Ironshieldicon Iron Shield · Towershieldicon Tower Shield
Logistics Logistics
CavalryToolworking Toolworking · Metalworkingicon Metalworking · Metallurgyicon Metallurgy
Leatherarmorcavalryicon Leather Armor Cavalry · Scalearmorcavalryicon Scale Armor Cavalry · Chainmailcavalryicon Chain Mail Cavalry
NobilityIcon Nobility
ArcherWoodworking Woodworking · Artisanship Artisanship · Craftsmanship Craftsmanship
Leatherarmorarchersicon Leather Armor Archers · Scalearmorarchersicon Scale Armor Archers · Chainmailarchersicon Chain Mail Archers
7 Scout Ship Scout ShipWoodworking Woodworking · Artisanship Artisanship · Craftsmanship Craftsmanship
SiegeEngineering Engineering
AoE2 DE priest icon PriestAstrology Astrology · Mysticism Mysticism · Polytheism Polytheism · Afterlife Afterlife · Monotheism Monotheism · Fanaticism Fanaticism · Medicine Medicine · RoR Theocracy Theocracy
BuildingArchitecture aoe Architecture · RoR City Watch City Watch · RoR Urbanization Urbanization
Miscellaneous technologies
Writing Writing
Unit/Building unlocking/upgrade technologies
IndividualBattle Axe Battle Axe · Catapult Trireme technology Catapult Trireme · Research Small Wall Small Wall · Research Watch Tower Watch Tower
SeriesAoe improved bow icon Improved Bow · Aoe composite bow icon Composite Bow
Broad Sword Broad Sword · Long Sword Long Sword
Unused or removed technologies
Martyrdom Sacrifice · RoR City Watch Scouting · Short Sword Short Sword · Mathematics Mathematics
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