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

Boiling Oil was a technology in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten that was unique to the Persians and could be researched at the Castle. Once researched, it gave Castles +9 attack against rams (effectively resulting in 6-8 additional damage, depending on the type of ram). It only affected the first arrow; all additional ones still dealt only the minimum damage of 1.

In the Definitive Edition, this technology was replaced by Kamandaran, which changed the cost of the Archer line from 25 wood, 45 gold to 50 wood (60 since update 34699).

Strategy[]

As buildings, Castles are weak against siege units like rams, which have an immense attack bonus against them. Boiling Oil enables Persian Castles to defend slightly better against them, though any more than one Ram still requires the attention of melee units. Bombard Cannons and Trebuchets of course still outrange Castles and remain a heavy threat, but unpacked Trebuchets do get the bonus damage from Boiling Oil. University technologies should be researched to increase the efficiency, especially Murder Holes since without it, as soon as the rams get beneath the Castle, Boiling Oil becomes useless. Blacksmith technologies also add range to the Castle and should be researched, as they increase the time to apply the extra damage.

Changelog[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Boiling Oil is removed from the game.

Trivia[]

  • Before its removal and replacement in the Definitive Edition, Boiling Oil was considered one of the weakest unique technologies (along with Atheism and Nomads) and almost never saw any use in multiplayer matches, and with no known instances of being researched in the competitive scene.
    • Part of the effect eventually returned with the new Imperial Age unique technology introduced for the Persians in The Mountain Royals, Citadels, alongside other effects as well to make it worthwhile to research.
  • It cannot be said that the employ of boiling oil in siege warfare was invented by the Persians, or that it was even especially adopted by them. Its first recorded use was 67 AD in Yodfat (or Jotapata, located in northern Israel) against Vespasian's legions. Beyond that, the lack of evidence shows that the use of boiling oil for defense was rarely seen through history; in the Middle Ages, use of boiling water and hot sand were considerably more common defense techniques.[1]

References[]

Unique technologies in Age of Empires II
Civilization Castle Age Imperial Age Civilization Castle Age Imperial Age
Britons Yeomen Warwolf Byzantines Greek Fire Logistica
Celts Stronghold Furor Celtica Chinese Great Wall Rocketry
Franks Bearded Axe Chivalry Goths Anarchy Perfusion
Japanese Yasama Kataparuto Mongols Nomads Drill
Persians Kamandaran Citadels Saracens Bimaristan Counterweights
Teutons Ironclad Crenellations Turks Sipahi Artillery
Vikings Chieftains Bogsveigar Aztecs Atlatl Garland Wars
Huns Marauders Atheism Koreans Eupseong Shinkichon
Maya Hul'che Javelineers El Dorado Spanish Inquisition Supremacy
Inca Andean Sling Fabric Shields Italians Silk Road Pirotechnia
Magyars Corvinian Army Recurve Bow Slavs Detinets Druzhina
Berbers Kasbah Maghrebi Camels Ethiopians Royal Heirs Torsion Engines
Malians Tigui Farimba Portuguese Carrack Arquebus
Burmese Manipur Cavalry Howdah Khmer Tusk Swords Double Crossbow
Malay Thalassocracy Forced Levy Vietnamese Chatras Paper Money
Bulgarians Stirrups Bagains Cumans Steppe Husbandry Cuman Mercenaries
Lithuanians Hill Forts Tower Shields Tatars Silk Armor Timurid Siegecraft
Burgundians Burgundian Vineyards Flemish Revolution Sicilians First Crusade Hauberk
Bohemians Wagenburg Tactics Hussite Reforms Poles Szlachta Privileges Lechitic Legacy
Bengalis Paiks Mahayana Dravidians Medical Corps Wootz Steel
Gurjaras Kshatriyas Frontier Guards Hindustanis Grand Trunk Road Shatagni
Romans Ballistas Comitatenses Armenians Cilician Fleet Fereters
Georgians Svan Towers Aznauri Cavalry Jurchens Fortified Bastions Thunderclap Bombs
Khitans Lamellar Armor Ordo Cavalry Shu Coiled Serpent Array Bolt Magazine
Wei Tuntian Ming Guang Armor Wu Red Cliffs Tactics Sitting Tiger
Revised technologies
Couriers · Manipur Cavalry · Paper Money · Royal Heirs
Removed technologies
Boiling Oil · Camelry · Madrasah · Obsidian Arrows · Orthodoxy · Panokseon · Pavise
Berserkergang · Mahouts · Scutage · Zealotry