This article is about the building in Age of Empires. For the similar building in other games in the series, see Barracks.
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Used to train infantry and Slingers. Required to build Archery Range and Stables.
”
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition
The Barracks is the earliest military building available in Age of Empires. It becomes available in the Stone Age and allows players to train infantry for combat.
Trained units can be garrisoned inside by setting the building's rally point to itself. Once a unit is ejected, it cannot be regarrisoned.
The Barracks is the training building for light on-foot military units, mostly melee, which are relatively cheap and can be fielded in double numbers with the Logistics technology. Constructing a Barracks is also necessary to unlock all of the other land military buildings: the Archery Range and the Stable, which in turn unlock the Siege Workshop and Academy. These units are available here, depending on the faction and researched technologies:
The Clubman line: the Clubman is the only military unit available in the Stone Age, so is used for early raids. The Axeman upgrade adds a bonus against mounted units, making it particularly effective for defending against Scouts. From the Bronze Age onwards this line is of little use unless gold is extremely scarce.
The Swordsman line: these are the core, generalist melee troops. Medium speed, medium power, medium durability, and very cheap to train.
Slinger: the only ranged unit available at the Barracks, Slingers are a counter to early foot archers, and can be a support unit against fortifications. They're also the only military unit that requires stone to train.
Palmyrans: Technologies at and benefiting the Barracks are researched 30% faster.
History[]
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When the first armies came into being, places were needed eventually to make weapons, store weapons, drill troops, and house troops. The Barracks in Age of Empires represents these places.
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—Age of Empires manual
Gallery[]
Barracks in the Stone Age and Tool Age
All Barracks in the Bronze Age. Top row: Egyptian, Mesopotamian. Middle: Roman. Bottom row: Greek, East Asian.
All Barracks in the Iron Age. Top row: Egyptian, Greek. Middle: Roman. Bottom row: Mesopotamian, East Asian.
Barracks in the Stone Age (Definitive Edition)
Barracks in the Bronze Age (Definitive Edition). Top row: Greek, Mesopotamian. Middle: Egyptian. Bottom row: East Asian, Roman.