Civilizations (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 playable civilizations in Age of Empires and its expansion, Rise of Rome, are based on major ancient civilizations during the classical period.

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 gameplay.

The bonuses are meant to be exploited by the player and can be proved advantageous in certain strategies, such as Palmyrans being one of the best booming civilizations due to their Villager gather bonus, and Babylonians excelling in turtling due to the increased hit points of walls and towers and stone gathering bonus.

Listed below are all civilizations and their associated bonuses in Age of Empires and its expansion.

Age of Empires

The original Age of Empires release introduced twelve civilizations based on the prominent civilizations and nations of the ancient world. The original twelve civilizations were divided into four groups, Greek, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Asian. Below is the list of all civilizations of the original release and their bonuses.

Assyrians

• -25% Archer reload time.
• +10% Villager Speed.
• Missing technologies: Bronze Shield, Nobility, Architecture, Aristocracy, Alchemy *
• Missing units: Slinger, Improved Bowman, Heavy Horse Archer, War Elephant, Elephant Archer, Phalanx, Heavy Transport, Catapult Trireme

Babylonians

• Wall and tower +60% hit points.
• Stone mining +20% and carry +2 stone.
• Priest rejuvenation +30%.
• Market technologies cost -30% less.
• Missing technologies: Chain Mail, Iron Shield, Tower Shield *
• Missing units: Heavy Horse Archer, Heavy Cavalry, War Elephant, Elephant Archer, Phalanx, Ballista, Heavy Transport, Trireme, Catapult Trireme

Choson

• Short/Broad/Long Swordsmen and Legion have +15/20/60/80 HP respectively.
• Axeman +5 HP.
• All towers have increased range by 2 points.
• Priests cost 32% less.
• Storage Pit technologies are 40% cheaper to research (since update 38862).
• Missing technologies: Chain Mail, Iron Shield, Aristocracy, Alchemy, Engineering *
• Missing units: Chariot, War Elephant, Camel Rider, Composite Bowman, Chariot Archer, Heavy Horse Archer, Elephant Archer, Phalanx, Catapult, Heavy Transport, Catapult Trireme

Egyptians

• Gold Miners work 20% faster and carry +2 gold.
• +33% Chariot, Chariot Archer, and Scythe Chariot hit points.
• +3 Priest range.
• Farms are 20% cheaper.
• Missing technologies: Bronze Shield, Broad Sword, Siegecraft *
• Missing units: Broad Swordsman, Cavalry, Horse Archer, Phalanx, Catapult, Ballista

Greeks

• Academy units have +30% speed and are 20% cheaper.
• Ships have +20% speed.
• Town Centers work 10% faster starting in the Tool Age.
• Missing technologies: Metallurgy, Broad Sword, Monotheism, Zealotry, Sacrifice
• Missing units: Broad Swordsman, Chariot, Cataphract, War Elephant, Camel Rider, Improved Bowman, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer

Hittites

• Archery Units have +1 damage.
• Stone Thrower, Catapult, and Heavy Catapult have +50% hit points.
• War Galleys and Scout Ships have +2 Range in the Tool Age and +3 Range in the Bronze/Iron Age.
• Missing technologies: Long Sword, Mysticism, Polytheism, Medicine, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry, Sacrifice, Irrigation*, Architecture*
• Missing units: Long Swordsman, Heavy Cavalry, Improved Bowman, Slinger, Ballista, Fishing Ship, Heavy Transport, Trireme, Catapult Trireme, Centurion*

Minoans

• -30% ship cost.
• +2 Composite Bowman range.
• +60 Food for Farms.
• Missing technologies: Fortified Wall, Guard Tower, Astrology, Mysticism, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry, Sacrifice
• Missing units: Legion, Chariot, Heavy Cavalry, War Elephant, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer

Persians

• Trireme reload time decreased by 25%.
• Elephant units move 25% faster.
• Villagers hunt food 30% faster and carry +3 Food.
• Cannot build Academies.
• Missing technologies: Siegecraft, Aristocracy,Plow Ballistics *
• Missing units: Chariot, Chariot Archer, Hoplite, Heavy Catapult, Ballista

Phoenicians

• -25% War Elephant, Armored Elephant, and Elephant Archer cost
• Woodcutters work 15% faster and carry +2 wood.
• Catapult Trireme/Juggernaught reload time decreased by 24%.
• Missing technologies: Metallurgy, Chain Mail, Siegecraft, Architecture
• Missing units: Heavy Cavalry, Horse Archer, Catapult, Ballista

Shang

• Villagers cost 40 instead of 50 Food.
• Start Game with -40 Food.
• All walls have +60% hit points.
• Missing technologies: Long Sword, Siegecraft, Aristocracy, Alchemy, Ballistics, Engineering *
• Missing units: Long Swordsman, War Elephant, Elephant Archer, Phalanx, Heavy Catapult, Heavy Transport, Trireme, Catapult Trireme

Sumerians

• +15 Villager hit points.
• -30% Stone Thrower, Catapult, and Heavy Catapult reload time.
• Farms +125 food.
• Missing technologies: Metallurgy, Iron Shield, Craftsmanship, Astrology, Afterlife, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry *
• Missing units: Legion, Cavalry, Improved Bowman, Elephant Archer, Ballista, Merchant Ship, Heavy Transport, Catapult Trireme

Yamato

• +20% Ship hit points.
• +10% Villager speed.
• -15% cavalry units and Horse Archers cost.
• Missing technologies: Tower Shield, Astrology, Mysticism, Fortified Wall, Guard Tower, Broad Sword, Medicine, Polytheism, Monotheism, Fanaticism, Zealotry, Sacrifice
• Missing units: Broad Swordsman, Chariot, War Elephant, Camel Rider, Chariot Archer, Elephant Archer, Catapult, Ballista

The Rise of Rome

The Rise of Rome expansion, aside from adding various technologies, units, and various gameplay changes, introduced four new civilizations based on the Roman Empire and its neighbors and introduced Roman style architecture.

Carthaginians

• +25% transport ship speed.
• +25% attack for Fire Galleys.
• +25% Elephant and Academy units hit points.
• Camel Riders +15% HP.
• Start with +50 of each resource.
• Missing technologies: Metallurgy, Chain Mail, Fortified Wall, Siegecraft, Astrology, Polytheism, Fanaticism
• Missing units: Chariot, Chariot Archer, Catapult Trireme, Legion, Catapult, Cataphract, Heavy Horse Archer, Composite Bowman

Macedonians

• Academy units have increased armor from missile damage by 1 point in the Bronze Age and 2 points in the Iron Age.
• Units with no range +2 line of sight.
• All siege units are 25% cheaper.
• Units 4 times more resistant to conversion.
• Cannot build Temples.
• Missing technologies: Fortified Wall, Long Sword, Craftsmanship, Siegecraft, Nobility, Engineering *
• Missing units: Camel Rider, Elephant Archer, Priest *

Palmyrans

• Free Tribute.
• Camel Riders move 25% faster.
• Gold received per Trade Ship doubled.
• Villagers work 25% faster and have armor.
• Villagers cost 50% more food.
• Start the game with +75 food.
• Missing technologies: Metallurgy, Tower Shield, Long Sword, Craftsmanship, Mysticism, Polytheism, Medicine, Monotheism, Sacrifice, Logistics, Aristocracy, Engineering *
• Missing units: Elephant Archer

Romans

• -10% building cost except Towers, Walls and Wonders.
• -40% tower building cost.
• Swordsmen reload time -33%.
• Missing technologies: Guard Tower, Irrigation, Astrology, Afterlife, Alchemy
• Missing units: War Elephant, Camel Rider, Chariot Archer, Horse Archer, Elephant Archer

External links

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