| “ | Filled with explosives. Self-destructs when used. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
The Demolition Raft is a ship in Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms that can be trained at the Dock once the Feudal Age is reached. Demolition Rafts are automatically upgraded to Demolition Ships when the War Galley upgrade is researched.
Demolition Rafts are packed with explosives that blow up against enemy ships, Docks, land units caught in shallows, and anything too close to the shore.
Both the Demolition Raft and the Fire Galley were introduced in The African Kingdoms to make the naval battle in the Feudal Age more versatile. Before their introduction, the only military vessel available in the Feudal Age was the Galley, so battle was very linear.
Demolition Rafts are available to all civilizations except for the Koreans and Romans.
Tactics[]
Demolition Rafts are the fastest military vessels in the Feudal Age and can chase down enemy ships easily. Their low hit points and armor, however, make them vulnerable to any kind of attack. They are best used against groups of Galleys, Fire Galleys, or to destroy enemy Docks.
Demolition Rafts are best used as a complementary unit, rather than the basis of a naval force. This is because they can deal a lot of damage to groups bigger than their numbers, but come at the cost of destroying themselves in the process. A strategy based around them is therefore poor, as they will neutralize themselves winning an engagement, leaving no units to benefit from the water control gained. When used with other units, the Demolition Rafts can deal heavy damage and let the other units finish off the weakened ships.
Due to the absence of strong and long-ranged land units, Demolition Rafts are very effective when used against them in the shallows.
Further statistics[]
| Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Transport Ships, Fishing Ships, Fire Galleys, buildings in the shoreline, melee units in the shallows |
| Weak vs. | Towers, ranged units on the shoreline |
| Upgrades | |
| Armor |  Careening (+0/+1) Carrack (+1/+1, Portuguese only)
|
| Speed |  Dry Dock (+15%)
|
| Conversion defense |  Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted) First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max, Sicilians only)
|
| Creation speed |  Shipwright (+54%)
|
| Train cost | Shipwright (-20%)
|
| Blast radius | Cilician Fleet (+20%, Armenians only)
|
| Upgrades |  Demolition Ship (requires  War Galley)
|
Civilization bonuses[]
Aztecs: Demolition Rafts are created 11% faster.- Berbers: Demolition Rafts move 10% faster.
- Burmese: Researching Devotion and Faith is 50% cheaper.
- Celts: Demolition Rafts can convert herdable animals even if enemy units are next to them.
- Chinese: Technologies that benefit Demolition Rafts are 10%/15% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age. Demolition Rafts have +50% HP.
- Georgians: Demolition Rafts receive -20% (-40% instead of -25%) damage on higher elevations.
- Italians: Researching Careening, Dry Dock, and Shipwright is 33% cheaper. Upgrading to Demolition Ship is 33% cheaper.
- Persians: Demolition Rafts are created 10%/15%/20% faster in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. Careening and the upgrade to the Demolition Ship are researched 15%/20% faster in the Castle/Imperial Age. Dry Dock is researched 20% faster.
- Portuguese: Demolition Rafts have +10% HP and cost 20% less gold.
- Spanish: Researching technologies that benefit Demolition Rafts provides 20 gold each.
- Vikings: Demolition Rafts are 15%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Team bonuses[]
- Lithuanians: Researching Heresy, Devotion, and Faith is 20% faster.
- Portuguese: Upgrades that benefit Demolition Rafts are researched 25% faster.
- Teutons: Demolition Rafts are more resistant to conversion.
Changelog[]
The African Kingdoms[]
- Demolition Rafts have 50 HP, 3 pierce armor, and 1.5 blast radius with 100% effect.
- Initially, Demolition Rafts move at a speed of 1.6. With patch 4.8, the speed was reduced to 1.5.
- Aztecs: Initially cannot build Demolition Rafts. With patch 4.8, the Demolition Raft was added to the Aztecs' technology tree. Demolition Rafts are created 18% faster.
- Portuguese: Demolition Rafts cost 15% less gold.
- Vikings: Demolition Rafts are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Rise of the Rajas[]
- Demolition Rafts have 45 HP, 2 pierce armor, and 2.5 blast radius with radially decreasing effect.
- Vikings: With patch 5.5, Demolition Rafts are 15%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Definitive Edition[]
- Aztecs: With update 37650, Demolition Rafts are created 11% faster.
- Portuguese: With update 39284, Demolition Rafts cost 20% less gold. With update 42848, technologies which benefit Demolition Rafts are researched 30% faster.
Dynasties of India[]
- With update 61321, siege units and ships are now resistant to armor-ignoring attacks similarly to buildings.
Trivia[]
- Demolition Rafts, Fire Galleys, and Galleys are the only units in the game sharing an upgrade.
- Despite being introduced in The African Kingdoms, the Demolition Raft is shown with a The Conquerors icon in the Scenario Editor.
Gallery[]
