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Double-Bit Axe is a technology in Age of Empires II that can be researched at the Lumber Camp or Mule Cart once the Feudal Age is reached. Once researched, it allows Villagers to gather wood 20% faster.

Bow Saw is the further upgrade of this technology.

Strategy[]

Double-Bit Axe has been referred to as one of the most important upgrades in the game.[1] Wood is a vital resource used for most purchases in the game (from Farms, to archers, most economic upgrades, and other buildings) and increasing the gather rate for this resource essentially affects the player's whole economy, allowing them to purchase more of everything available to them.

While this upgrade does not provide any direct improvement to a player's power (perhaps like increasing in Age might provide civilization bonuses), due to its relatively low expense and high long-term benefit it is researched as soon as it can be fitted in. At the time period when it becomes available, no additional Town Centers can be built, so there are usually not enough Villagers available to completely satisfy the player's resource needs. Double-Bit Axe can push the player towards even bigger armies or a surplus of resources. Alternatively, it can allow Villagers to be redistributed to other resources of strategic priority while still allowing enough wood to be collected to sustain the player's Farms.

Civilization bonuses[]

  • CivIcon-Armenians Armenians: Double-Bit Axe is 40% more effective.
  • CivIcon-Burgundians Burgundians: Can research Double-Bit Axe in the Dark Age. Double-Bit Axe costs -33% food.
  • CivIcon-Burmese Burmese: Double-Bit Axe is free.
  • CivIcon-Chinese Chinese: Double-Bit Axe is 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
  • CivIcon-Spanish Spanish: Receive 20 gold after researching Double-Bit Axe.
  • CivIcon-Vietnamese Vietnamese: Researching Double-Bit Axe is 100% faster and costs no wood.

Team bonuses[]

  • CivIcon-Portuguese Portuguese: Researching Double-Bit Axe is 25% faster.

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas[]

  • CivIcon-Vietnamese Vietnamese: Double-Bit Axe costs the regular price.

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West[]

AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India[]

AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome[]

  • Vietnamese: With update 87863, researching Double-Bit Axe is 100% faster.

History[]

The double-bit axe had blades, or bits, on both sides. It was a large, heavy axe that speeded the cutting of trees. With two cutting edges, woodcutters could switch bits when one became dull and then sharpen both at the same time. Cutters worked faster and more efficiently with the double-bit axe.

References[]

  1. AoE2: Understanding Economic Upgrades. Harvest Build Destroy. Published 23 Nov 2017. Accessed 11 November 2019
Technologies in Age of Empires II
Economic technologies
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerWheelbarrowDE Wheelbarrow · HandcartDE Hand Cart
Aoe2de food FoodHorseCollarDE Horse Collar · HeavyPlowDE Heavy Plow · CropRotationDE Crop Rotation
GillnetsDE Gillnets
Aoe2de wood WoodDoubleBitAxe aoe2DE Double-Bit Axe · BowSawDE Bow Saw · TwoManSawDE Two-Man Saw
Aoe2de gold GoldGoldMiningDE Gold Mining · GoldShaftMiningDE Gold Shaft Mining
CaravanDE Caravan
Aoe2de stone StoneStoneMiningDE Stone Mining · StoneShaftMiningDE Stone Shaft Mining
Civilian shipsDryDockDE Dry Dock · ShipwrightDE Shipwright
Market aoe2DE MarketCoinageDE Coinage · BankingDE Banking
GuildsDE Guilds
Military technologies
GeneralConscriptionDE Conscription
HeresyDE Heresy · Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion · FaithDE Faith
Melee unitsForging aoe2de Forging · IronCastingDE Iron Casting · BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace
CavalryBloodlinesDE Bloodlines · HusbandryDE Husbandry
ScaleBardingArmorDE Scale Barding Armor · ChainBardingDE Chain Barding Armor · PlateBardingArmorDE Plate Barding Armor
InfantrySuplliesicon Supplies · AoE2 Gambesons Gambesons · SquiresDE Squires · ArsonDE Arson
ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor · ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor · PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor
Ranged unitsBallisticsDE Ballistics · ChemistryDE Chemistry
FletchingDE Fletching · BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow · BracerDE Bracer
ArchersPaddedArcherArmorDE Padded Archer Armor · LeatherArcherArmorDE Leather Archer Armor · RingArcherArmorDE Ring Archer Armor
ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring · ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics
SiegeSiegeEngineersDE Siege Engineers
ShipCareeningDE Careening · DryDockDE Dry Dock
ShipwrightDE Shipwright
WarGalleyDE War Galley
BuildingTownWatchDE Town Watch · TownPatrolDE Town Patrol
Masonry aoe2de Masonry · ArchitectureDE Architecture
HeatedShotDE Heated Shot · ArrowSlitsDE Arrowslits · MurderHolesDE Murder Holes · TreadmillCraneDE Treadmill Crane · HoardingsDE Hoardings · BombardTower aoe2DE Bombard Tower
HerbalDE Herbal Medicine
MonkRedemptionDE Redemption · AtonementDE Atonement · SanctityDE Sanctity · FervorDE Fervor · IlluminationDE Illumination · BlockPrintingDE Block Printing · TheocracyDE Theocracy
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerLoomDE Loom · SapperDE Sappers
Miscellaneous technologies
SpiesDE Spies · SpiesDE Treason · Unique tech aoe2de mixed Unique technologies
Removed/cut generic technologies
Bombardcannonresearch Bombard Cannon · CannongalleonresearchDE Cannon Galleon · Cartography aoe2de Cartography · Handcannon Hand Cannon · Huntingdogs Hunting Dogs · Revetments · TrackingDE Tracking
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