Civilization (Age of Empires)

This article is about the civilizations in Age of Empires. For the civilizations in the other games of the series, see Civilization.

The civilizations in Age of Empires and its expansions, The Rise of Rome and Return of Rome, are based on the major civilizations of the ancient world, and includes those whose story unfolded from the Neolithic to those whose came to prominence only in Classical Antiquity.

The original Age of Empires release contained twelve civilizations based on the prominent civilizations and states of the ancient world. The original twelve civilizations were divided into four groups based on their assigned architecture styles: East Asian (called simply Asian in the game files), Egyptian, Greek, and Mesopotamian (called Babylonian in the game files).

Each civilization in the game has its own technology tree, being prohibited certain units and technologies, and each of them also has their own bonuses which affect their military, economy, and overall playstyle. The bonuses are meant to be utilized by the player and can prove advantageous in certain strategies, such as the Palmyrans being one of the best booming civilizations due to their Villager gather bonus, and the Babylonians excelling in turtling due to the stone gathering bonus and increased hit points of walls and towers.

The first expansion, The Rise of Rome, alongside adding new technologies, units, and various gameplay changes, introduced four new civilizations based on the Roman Empire and its neighbors, and introduced the Roman-styled architecture set which was assigned to all four of the new civilizations: the Carthaginians, the Macedonians, the Palmyrans, and the titular Romans.

The Return of Rome expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition added Age of Empires as a game mode within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, and its civilizations received new unique features, such as music themes and jingles, civilization crests/icons, team bonuses, and user interface artwork. It also added one new civilization to the roster, the Lac Viet.

Listed below are all 17 civilizations and their associated focuses and bonuses as of Return of Rome. Focus doesn't mean the civilization is limited to the given playstyle, but that its specific bonuses usually support these specific playstyles more than others.

Contents[]

Assyrians[]

Focus[]

Archers, Siege

Architecture[]

Egyptian

Civilization bonuses[]

Villagers move 10% faster.
Archers fire 11%/22%/33% faster in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Siege units upgrades cost -50%.*

Team bonus[]

Siege Workshops work 20% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Bronze Shield, Nobility, Architecture, City Watch, Aristocracy

Missing units[]

Slinger, Improved Bowman, Heavy Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Scythe Chariot, War Elephant, Phalangite, Catapult Trireme

Babylonians[]

Focus[]

Defense

Architecture[]

Mesopotamian

Civilization bonuses[]

Stone miners work 20% faster and carry +2 stone.
Market technologies cost -30%.*
Walls and towers have +60% hit points.
Priests rejuvenate 30% faster.
Chariot units have +1 pierce armor.*

Team bonus[]

Builders work 10% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Iron Shield

Missing units[]

Heavy Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Heavy Cavalry, War Elephant, Phalangite, Ballista, Trireme, Catapult Trireme

Carthaginians[]

Focus[]

Elephant units, Camel units, Navy

Architecture[]

Roman

Civilization bonuses[]

Start the game with +50 of all resources*.
Academy units and elephant units have +25% hit points, Camel Riders have +15% hit points.
Fire Galleys have +25% attack.
Transport ships move 25% faster.
Nobility free (requires Government Center).*

Team bonus[]

Academies work 20% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Metallurgy, Chain Mail Infantry, Chain Mail Archers, Chain Mail Cavalry, Fortified Wall, Siegecraft, Astrology, Monotheism, Fanaticism

Missing units[]

Legionary, Composite Bowman, Chariot Archer, Heavy Horse Archer, Chariot, Cataphract, Catapult, Catapult Trireme

Choson[]

Focus[]

Infantry, Tower

Architecture[]

East Asian

Civilization bonuses[]

Axemen, Short/Broad/Long Swordsmen and Legionaries have +5/+15/+20/+60/+80 hit points.
Storage Pit technologies cost -40%.*
Towers have +2 range.
Priests cost -32%.

Egyptians[]

Focus[]

Chariots, Priests

Architecture[]

Egyptian

Civilization bonuses[]

Farms cost -20%.*
Gold Miners work 20% faster and carry +2 gold.
Chariot units have +33% hit points.
Priests have +2/+3 range in the Bronze/Iron Age.

Team bonus[]

Priests have +1 pierce armor.

Missing technologies[]

Bronze Shield, Siegecraft, City Watch*

Missing units[]

Broad Swordsman, Horse Archer, Cavalry, Armored Elephant, Catapult, Ballista, Phalangite, Fire Galley

Greeks[]

Focus[]

Infantry, Navy

Architecture[]

Greek

Civilization bonuses[]

Town Centers work 10% faster starting from Tool Age.*
Academy units move 30% faster and cost -20%.
Ships move 20% faster.
Polytheism and Astrology free (requires Temple).*

Team bonus[]

Markets cost -50%.

Missing technologies[]

Metallurgy, City Watch, Conscription, Monotheism, Zealotry

Missing units[]

Broad Swordsman, Improved Bowman, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Chariot, Cataphract, War Elephant, Camel Rider

Hittites[]

Focus[]

Archers, Siege

Architecture[]

Egyptian

Civilization bonuses[]

All archers have +1 attack.
Stone Thrower, Catapult, and Heavy Catapult have +50% hit points.
War ships (except Fire Galley) have +1/+2/+3 range in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Wheel -50% cost and research time.*

Team bonus[]

Towers provide +4 population room.

Missing technologies[]

Irrigation, Architecture, Urbanization, Mysticism, Polytheism, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry, Medicine

Missing units[]

Slinger, Long Swordsman, Improved Bowman, Heavy Cavalry, Ballista, Centurion, Fishing Ship, Trireme, Catapult Trireme

Lac Viet[]

Focus[]

Archers

Architecture[]

East Asian

Civilization bonuses[]

Foragers work 15% faster.
Military units are created 25% faster.
Archery Range units and Ballistae have +2 armor.

Team bonus[]

Houses and Farms are built 50% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Missing units[]

Macedonians[]

Focus[]

Infantry

Architecture[]

Roman

Civilization bonuses[]

All non-ranged units have +2 line of sight.
Academy units have +1 pierce armor in the Bronze Age, +2 in the Iron Age.
Siege Workshop units cost -25%.
All units are 4 times more resistant to conversion.

Team bonus[]

Houses have +50 hit points.

Missing technologies[]

Fortified Wall, Craftsmanship, Siegecraft, Nobility, Engineering, Conscription, Temple*

Missing units[]

Long Swordsman, Chariot Archer, Elephant Archer, Chariot, Camel Rider, Heavy Catapult, Helepolis, Juggernaut, Fire Galley, Priest*

Minoans[]

Focus[]

Archers, Navy

Architecture[]

Greek

Civilization bonuses[]

Ships cost -15%/-20%/-25%/-30% in the Stone/Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Improved Bowman-line +1/+2 range in the Bronze/Iron Age.
Farmers work 10% faster.*

Team bonus[]

Docks cost -20%.

Missing technologies[]

Fortified Wall, Guard Tower, Urbanization, Astrology, Mysticism, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry

Missing units[]

Legionary, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Chariot, Heavy Cavalry, War Elephant, Fire Galley

Palmyrans[]

Focus[]

Camel units, Trade

Architecture[]

Roman

Civilization bonuses[]

Villagers cost 75 food (+50%), but have armor (+1/+1) and work 25% faster.
Start the game with +75 food.
Camel Riders move 25% faster.
Tributes are not taxed.
Trade units return +20% gold.*

Team bonus[]

Technologies researched 30% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Metallurgy, Tower Shield, Craftsmanship, Irrigation, Logistics, Aristocracy, Engineering, Mysticism, Polytheism, Monotheism, Medicine*

Missing units[]

Long Swordsman, Elephant Archer, Cataphract, Helepolis, Centurion, Catapult Trireme*

Persians[]

Focus[]

Elephant units, Navy

Architecture[]

Mesopotamian

Civilization bonuses[]

Hunters work 30% faster and carry +3 food.
Elephant units move 25% faster.
Scout Ship line fires 18%/25%/33% faster in the Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Walls cost -20%.*

Team bonus[]

Stables work 20% faster.

Missing technologies[]

Academy, Ballista Tower, Craftsmanship, Siegecraft, Irrigation, City Watch, Aristocracy

Missing units[]

Chariot Archer, Chariot, Heavy Catapult, Ballista, Fire Galley

Phoenicians[]

Focus[]

Elephant units, Navy

Architecture[]

Greek

Civilization bonuses[]

Woodcutters work 15% faster and carry +2 wood.
Elephant units cost -25%.
Catapult Trireme and Juggernaut fire 33% faster.
Docks have +150 hit points, +4 line of sight.*

Team bonus[]

Archers have +2 line of sight.

Missing technologies[]

Metallurgy, Chain Mail Infantry, Chain Mail Archers, Chain Mail Cavalry, Siegecraft, Architecture, Urbanization

Missing units[]

Horse Archer, Heavy Cavalry, Catapult, Ballista, Fire Galley

Romans[]

Focus[]

Infantry

Architecture[]

Roman

Civilization bonuses[]

Buildings cost -10% (except for towers, walls and Wonders).
Towers cost -40%.
Swordsmen attack 50% faster.^{[note 1]}
Ballistae and Helepolises have +1 range.*

Team bonus[]

Priests +50% heal speed.

Missing technologies[]

Guard Tower, Irrigation, Alchemy, Conscription, Astrology, Afterlife

Missing units[]

Composite Bowman, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Heavy Cavalry, War Elephant, Camel Rider, Fire Galley

Shang[]

Focus[]

Economy, Cavalry

Architecture[]

East Asian

Civilization bonuses[]

Villagers cost 40 food (-20%).
Start the game with -40 food.
Walls have +60% hit points.
Cavalry-line attacks 10% faster.

Team bonus[]

Town Centers provide +4 population room.

Missing technologies[]

Ballista Tower, Siegecraft, Aristocracy, Alchemy, Engineering, Conscription*

Missing units[]

Long Swordsman, Elephant Archer, War Elephant, Heavy Catapult, Phalangite, Trireme, Catapult Trireme*

Sumerians[]

Focus[]

Economy, Siege

Architecture[]

Mesopotamian

Civilization bonuses[]

Villagers have +15 hit points.
Stone Thrower, Catapult, and Heavy Catapult fire 45% faster.
Farms provide +125 food.
Camels have +1 pierce armor.

Team bonus[]

Town Centers cost -25%.

Missing technologies[]

Metallurgy, Iron Shield, Craftsmanship, Astrology, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry

Missing units[]

Legionary, Improved Bowman, Elephant Archer, Cavalry, Armored Elephant, Ballista, Catapult Trireme

Yamato[]

Focus[]

Cavalry, Navy

Architecture[]

East Asian

Civilization bonuses[]

Fishing Boats work 20% faster.*
Mounted units cost -15%.
Ships have +10%/+15%/+20%/+25% hit points in the Stone/Tool/Bronze/Iron Age.
Stable and Archery Range upgrades cost -30%.*

Team bonus[]

Stables and Archery Ranges cost -33% wood.

Missing technologies[]

Fortified Wall, Guard Tower, Tower Shield, Conscription, Urbanization, Astrology, Mysticism, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry, Medicine

Missing units[]

Broad Swordsman, Chariot Archer, Elephant Archer, Chariot, Camel Rider, War Elephant, Catapult, Ballista, Fire Galley

Language[]

All units of all civilizations speak the same voice lines, which is not identified to any existing or historical language. Some of the decipherable words are:

Aissa
Aikhe
Alamas
Data ee
Epartada
Erectus
Glaa ray
Homus
Oklama
Papadackus
Plurbis
Roggan
Rudkin
Somas
Ungus
Uri
Wololo (Priest)
Yair winnie
Zokanta

Before Return of Rome, the lines that are spoken upon actions have no correlation with the tasks. Since its release, certain lines are spoken only for certain actions.

Gallery[]

Notes[]

↑ As of DE CU11, the bonus actually makes every second blow of Short Swordsmen line commence twice as fast, as if the rate of fire (RoF) was 0.75 seconds instead of 1.5 seconds like a generic Short Swordsman; however, every first attack's RoF is set to normal 1.5 sec. It also counts in the attack delay (AD) of a Short Swordsman (0.75 sec., unchanged for Romans), so the first two blows of the initial attack (after the AD) are dealt with RoF of 0.75 sec. Thus, Roman Short Swordsman, after reaching its target (the animation of the attack has just started), deals damage with the following cooldowns (every "→" means the damage is dealt): 0.75 sec. delay because of AD → 0.75 sec. delay due to increased RoF mitigating AD → 0.75 sec. because of increased RoF bonus → 1.5 sec. generic delay → 0.75 sec. → 1.5 sec. → 0.75 sec, which combines for 5.25 sec.; generic civilization would have 8.25 sec. instead. This lead to a slightly higher actual bonus RoF for the first blows.

Map[]

Civilizations on the world map with icons placed at (one of) their capital locations as mentioned in the game manuals, and Lac Viet at Cổ Loa.

External links[]

Age of Empires units Telcontar's Empire of the Ages
Civilization attributes Telcontar's Empire of the Ages

v • d • e Civilizations in Age of Empires categorised by architecture set
East Asian architecture	Choson · Lac Viet · Shang · Yamato
Egyptian architecture	Assyrians · Egyptians · Hittites
Greek architecture	Greeks · Minoans · Phoenicians
Mesopotamian architecture	Babylonians · Persians · Sumerians
Roman architecture	Carthaginians · Macedonians · Palmyrans · Romans

[1] As of DE CU11, the bonus actually makes every second blow of Short Swordsmen line commence twice as fast, as if the rate of fire (RoF) was 0.75 seconds instead of 1.5 seconds like a generic Short Swordsman; however, every first attack's RoF is set to normal 1.5 sec. It also counts in the attack delay (AD) of a Short Swordsman (0.75 sec., unchanged for Romans), so the first two blows of the initial attack (after the AD) are dealt with RoF of 0.75 sec. Thus, Roman Short Swordsman, after reaching its target (the animation of the attack has just started), deals damage with the following cooldowns (every "→" means the damage is dealt): 0.75 sec. delay because of AD → 0.75 sec. delay due to increased RoF mitigating AD → 0.75 sec. because of increased RoF bonus → 1.5 sec. generic delay → 0.75 sec. → 1.5 sec. → 0.75 sec, which combines for 5.25 sec.; generic civilization would have 8.25 sec. instead. This lead to a slightly higher actual bonus RoF for the first blows.

[note 1]