This article is about the technology in Age of Empires II. For the technology in Age of Empires IV, see Chemistry (Age of Empires IV). |
Chemistry is a technology in Age of Empires II available at the University upon reaching the Imperial Age. It increases the attack of most projectile (e.g. archers) and siege units (except rams) as well as Castles, Town Centers, and towers by +1.
Furthermore, it enables the creation of gunpowder units (it does not increase their attack) to all civilizations except for the Aztecs, Cumans, Huns, Incas, Mayans, and Romans.
Chemistry is available to all civilizations.
Strategy[]
While not all civilizations can use the unlocked gunpowder units, the technology is equivalent in cost to Bracer and will eventually become worthwhile if investing in ranged units in general.
Gunpowder units cost a lot of gold, so those units may be situationally dependent on the availability of that resource in the match (e.g. map generation and availability of trade). If they are not required and resources are low, then the extra range from Bracer may be a higher priority.
Researching Chemistry is not required to create the gunpowder unique units in Castles (such as Janissaries, Conquistadors, Organ Guns, and Hussite Wagons).
Civilizations bonuses[]
- Bohemians: Chemistry is available in the Castle Age.
- Chinese: Chemistry is 15% cheaper.
- Italians: Chemistry is 33% cheaper.
- Spanish: Receive 20 gold after researching Chemistry.
- Turks: Chemistry is free.
Team bonuses[]
- Malians: Researching Chemistry is 80% faster.
- Portuguese: Chemistry is researched 25% faster.
Changelog[]
The Age of Kings[]
- Chemistry does not affect Castles and Town Centers.
- Chemistry gives Scorpions +2 attack.
- Chemistry affects all arrows fired.
- Chemistry slows down projectile speed by 20% for the Mangonel line.
The Conquerors[]
- Chemistry now gives Scorpions +1 attack.
- Hand Cannon and the Bombard Cannon technology were removed from the game, and Hand Cannoneers and Bombard Cannons become available as soon as Chemistry is researched.
The Forgotten[]
- Chemistry now affects Castles and Town Centers.
- Chemistry only affects the first arrow fired.
- Chemistry no longer slows down Mangonel projectiles.
Definitive Edition[]
- Fixed the issue with Chemistry not increasing the attack of secondary Castle arrows.
- Malay: With update 36906, Harbors now (properly) receive the benefits of Chemistry.
- Portuguese: With update 42848, all technologies are researched 30% faster.
Lords of the West[]
- Italians: With update 44725, Chemistry is 33% cheaper.
- Since update 47820, Cannon Galleons no longer require their own technology to be available; now, they are available just by researching Chemistry.
Return of Rome[]
- With update 87863, (Elite) Arambai are affected by Chemistry.
History[]
“ | The science of chemistry was very crude during the Middle Ages and devoted almost entirely to finding ways to convert base metals into gold. This study was called alchemy and practitioners were called alchemists. Alchemists occasionally stumbled upon useful chemicals by accident. The most significant result of chemistry experiments was the European acquisition of gunpowder, which had been invented many centuries earlier by the Chinese. | ” |
Trivia[]
- Chemistry gives a flaming effect to most affected projectiles, exceptions being the bullets of a Persian Castle with Citadels researched and the cannonballs of Bombard Towers.
- The icon of the technology depicts a test tube in a test tube stand, and a volumetric flask, both of which were invented in the modern era, after the 1800s.