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ā€œCuman unique cavalry archer with rapid-fire attack.ā€
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition description

The Kipchak is the unique unit of the Cumans in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. It is a mounted archer that fires multiple arrows in a single volley.

Only the first arrow does full damage and is affected by damage upgrades, though. All the other arrows fired deal 3 pierce damage and 0 melee damage (the latter is very helpful when battling rams). A regular Kipchak fires three arrows per burst, and an Elite Kipchak fires four.

Kipchaks can be upgraded to Elite Kipchaks in the Imperial Age.

Tactics[]

Kipchaks are great harassers, especially if massed, as their extra arrows enables hit-and-run arrow volleys. They perform exceptionally well against slow-moving units. As their secondary arrows deal 0 melee damage (in addition to their regular 3 pierce damage), they are a great counter against rams and Monks.

Unlike other cavalry archers, and in a similar fashion to the Chu Ko Nu, they can still fare fairly well against archer-resistant units. This is because archer-resistant units (such as Skirmishers and Huskarls) can survive archer fire due to their pierce armor. But due to the high number of arrows fired, the Kipchak still deals a considerable amount of damage since the minimum damage is 1 for each projectile. Kipchaks become really effective vs high-pierce armor units like buildings, siege weapons (especially Hussite Wagons), Huskarls, Eagle Warriors, and Armored Elephants.

They should still try to avoid anti-archer units in general. They are also weak against camels, especially the Berber Camel Archer, and other anti-cavalry units such as Kamayuks and Halberdiers, but they can hit-and-run them if properly microed.

Cuman players should prefer the Kipchak over the regular Cavalry Archer in most circumstances, unless the player does not have enough Castles to produce a sizable army of them. Not only do they have a better attack against high-pierce armor units, but Kipchaks also cost less gold than regular Cavalry Archers. However, Cavalry Archers have more hit points and attack 9% faster than Kipchaks, and may be used in circumstances in which the player need to soak damage instead of harassing the opponent, like against archers. Also, they are affected by Steppe Husbandry which boosts their creation speed, while the Kipchaks are not affected.

Like all mounted archers, Kipchaks work well if they are paired with Light Cavalry (which only cost food, so the wood and gold can be spent on Kipchaks, and Light Cavalry can be used as "cannon fodder" for the front lines, as well as being affected by Steppe Husbandry) or Steppe Lancers.

Mercenary Kipchak[]

Elite Kipchaks can be considered a semi-shared unique unit and a "semi-trash" unit, since they become available at the Castle for free to every allied player after a Cuman player researches Cuman Mercenaries, but limited to 5 of them per Castle for the player or ally, including Castles built later. Naturally, if an allied civilization has further bonuses and unique upgrades for mounted units or mounted archers, those will apply to their Elite Kipchaks.

Regular Elite Kipchaks and Elite Kipchaks obtained from Cuman Mercenaries have the same statistics in combat. However, they are created much faster, are available in any Age, and do not cost resources. Cumans themselves can also enjoy the mercenary Kipchaks, which means that the technology is not useless for them.

Cuman Mercenaries stacks up, so it can facilitate the production of the Elite Kipchak even on a team entirely composed by Cumans. In free-for-all games or 1vs1 matches, it may be preferable to just train Kipchaks the regular way in several circumstances, unless the player needs Elite Kipchaks at the ready (not the regular ones) and has not researched the elite upgrade or if player has less than 3 Castles.

Comparison in the Castle Age[]

Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer Kipchakicon Kipchak
Training Cost 40 wood, 60 gold 60 wood, 35 gold
Training Time 34 seconds 20 seconds
Hit Points 50 40
Pierce Attack 6 4 + 2
Attack Bonus +2 vs Spearman +1 vs Spearman
Range 4 4
Rate of Fire 2
TR - 1.8
2.2
TR - 1.87
Attack Delay 0.9 0.5
Armor 0/0 0/0
Movement Speed 1.5435 1.5435
Line of Sight 5 6
Upgrade Cost
and Time
900 food, 500 gold
50 seconds
1,100 food, 1,000 wood
65 seconds
Other Can be trained 100% faster Additional projectiles have 0 melee attack and 3 pierce attack which helps against Rams and Monks

Comparison in the Imperial Age[]

Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer Kipchakicon Elite Kipchak
Training Cost 40 wood, 60 gold 60 wood, 35 gold
Training Time 27 seconds 20 seconds
Hit Points 60 45
Pierce Attack 7 5 + 3
Attack Bonus +2 vs Spearman +1 vs Spearman
Range 4 4
Rate of Fire 1.8 1.87
Attack Delay 0.88 0.5
Armor 1/0 0/0
Movement Speed 1.621 1.621
Line of Sight 6 6
Other Can be trained 100% faster Additional projectiles have 0 melee attack and 3 pierce attack which helps against Rams and Monks

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Slow and non-ranged units, rams, Monks
Weak vs. Genoese Crossbowmen, Skirmishers, Genitours, siege weapons, camel units, Rattan Archers
Upgrades
Hit points BloodlinesDE Bloodlines (+20)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Sipahi (+20, Turks only)
Attack FletchingDE Fletching (+1)
BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow (+1)
BracerDE Bracer (+1, allies only)
ChemistryDE Chemistry (+1)
ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics (+2 attack against Spearmen)
UniqueTechImperialDE Recurve Bow (+1, Magyars only)
Range FletchingDE Fletching (+1)
BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow (+1)
BracerDE Bracer (+1, allies only)
UniqueTechImperialDE Recurve Bow (+1, Magyars only)
Firing rate ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring (+18%)
Accuracy ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring (increases accuracy to 100%)
BallisticsDE Ballistics (hit moving targets)
Armor PaddedArcherArmorDE Padded Archer Armor (+1/+1)
LeatherArcherArmorDE Leather Archer Armor (+1/+1)
RingArcherArmorDE Ring Archer Armor (+1/+2)
ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics (+1/+2)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Silk Armor (+1/+1 armor, Tatars only)
Speed HusbandryDE Husbandry (+10%, allies only)
Conversion defense Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
FaithDE Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
HeresyDE Heresy (die upon getting converted)
UniqueTechCastle-DE First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max, Sicilians only)
Creation speed ConscriptionDE Conscription (+33%)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Kasbah (+25%, Berbers and allies only)
Other UniqueTechImperialDE Aznauri Cavalry (-15% population space, Georgians only)
Upgrades EliteUniqueUnitDE Elite Kipchak

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

  • Initially, (Elite) Kipchaks have 45 (50) hit points and 1.8 Rate of Fire. With update 34055, they have 40 (45) hit points and 2.2 Rate of Fire.
  • Initially Elite Kipchaks fire four arrows at once. With update 34055, they fire three arrows at once.
  • Initially, Kipchaks move 10% faster and Cumans had Husbandry. With update 34055, the bonus was staggered to 10%/15% in the Castle/Imperial Age and Cumans lost access to Husbandry.
  • Initially, Kipchaks fire two arrows at once. With update 36202, they fire three arrows at once. Elite Kipchaks again fire four arrows as previous to update 34055.
  • Initially, Kipchaks have an attack delay of 0. With update 42848, it was increased to 0.5.

AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West[]

  • With update 50292, Kipchaks now add the correct amount of extra projectiles to fortifications when garrisoned inside them.

Heroes[]

There is one hero in the game with the appearance of a Kipchak:

Trivia[]

  • This is the first unique unit in Age of Empires II that is based on a unique unit from a mod for the same game: the Cuman Auxiliary from Age of Chivalry: Hegemony. It is a horse archer unit, weak but fast and capable of firing a volley of arrows but, unlike the Kipchak, the Cuman Auxiliary is actually a heavily modified version of the Chu Ko Nu. In Age Of Chivalry: Hegemony, this unit is available to the Austrians (modded from the Mongols) who receive the Cuman Auxiliary after researching the unique technology "Hausmacht".
  • Along with the Plumed Archer and Ratha, the Kipchak is the only Castle unique unit whose Elite upgrade costs no gold.
  • The relationship between Kipchaks and Cumans is unclear. Cumans and Kipchaks might have been two originally distinct peoples who would later join forces and form the Cuman-Kipchak confederation:
    • William of Rubruck asserted that some Cumans were Kipchaks, yet elsewhere he treated them as distinct, "a Commanis et Capchat";
    • Another division of the confederation was the Qanglı (Latin Cangle; possibly Chinese åŗ·ę›·åˆ© KānghĆ©lƬ): According to Kashgari Qanglı was the surname of a Kipchak chief; and according to Rubruck, Qanglı were related to Cumans or some Cumans had been known as Qanglı.
  • Kipchaks are definitely mentioned, as Khipshakh, in Persian ethnographer ibn Khordadbeh's "Book of the Routes and Kingdoms" (written around 840s CE).
    • Though uncertain, Kipchaks might have been named in the 8th-century Moyun Chur inscription as TĆ¼rk-[Kib]čak, being part, for 50 years, of the GƶktĆ¼rk khaganate, which appears in the Bukhara scenario of Battles of the Forgotten.
  • The Kipchak's robe is inspired by an illustration of a Cuman mercenary from the book Byzantine Armies AD 1118ā€“1461. It closely resembles a deel, traditional clothing worn by the Mongols and other nomadic tribes in Central Asia. The Kipchak's hairstyle is a type of line-and-ponytail hairstyle (shaved and braided hairstyles of the Eurasian steppe Turkic and Mongolic peoples) which was typically found among Kazakhs, and was adopted later by the Cossacks.
  • At release, the Kipchak was subject to criticism and controversy due to their rate of fire, hit points and attack delay, also having 10% faster movement speed and access to Husbandry, which made them extremely smooth for hit-and-run tactics. They also received very little damage from fast melee cavalry and Camel Riders, being able to outrun them all, and dealing a high amount of damage due to the extra arrows.
  • Vietnamese Elite Kipchaks benefit from the civilization bonus despite being a Castle unit.
  • The Kipchak is the only unique archer unit that belongs to a civilization that cannot research Bracer.

History[]

The Kipchaks were a people group that lived on the Eurasian Steppe. While they were scattered much of the time, they settled down in places like Georgia and Siberia. While they began as part of the Turkic Khaganate, they later formed a confederacy with the Cumans. The Kipchaks were horse archers like the Mongols, who they and the Cumans were eventually conquered by.

Gallery[]

Video[]

Bugs[]

  • CivIcon-Georgians Georgians: Mercenary Kipchaks DO NOT regenerate 15% hit points per minute.
Units in Age of Empires II
CivilianMaleVillDE Villager Ā· Tradecart aoe2DE Trade Cart Ā· FishingShipDE Fishing Ship Ā· Trade cog aoe2DE Trade Cog Ā· King eu aoe2DE King
ReligiousMonk aoe2DE Monk
InfantryMilitiaDE Militia Ā· Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms Ā· Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman Ā· Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman Ā· Champion aoe2DE Champion
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman Ā· Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman Ā· Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
Eaglescout aoe2DE Eagle Scout Ā· Eaglewarrior aoe2DE Eagle Warrior Ā· EliteEaglewarrior aoe2DE Elite Eagle Warrior
ArcherArcher aoe2DE Archer Ā· Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman Ā· Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher Ā· Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer Ā· Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer Ā· ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
CavalryScoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry Ā· Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry Ā· Hussar aoe2DE Hussar
Knight aoe2DE Knight Ā· Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier Ā· Paladin aoe2DE Paladin
Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider Ā· Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
Battle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant Ā· Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Steppelancericon Steppe Lancer Ā· Elitesteppelancericon Elite Steppe Lancer
Xolotlicon Xolotl Warrior
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant Ā· AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
SiegeBattering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram Ā· Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram Ā· Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel Ā· Onager aoe2DE Onager Ā· Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion Ā· Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet
Petard aoe2DE Petard
Siegetower aoe2DE Siege Tower
War shipTransportship aoe2DE Transport Ship
Galley aoe2DE Galley Ā· War galley aoe2DE War Galley Ā· Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley Ā· Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship Ā· Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
Demoraft aoe2DE Demolition Raft Ā· Demoship aoe2DE Demolition Ship Ā· Heavydemoship aoe2de Heavy Demolition Ship
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon Ā· Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
AoE2 Dromon Dromon
Unique
ReligiousMissionaryIcon-DE Missionary Ā· AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest
InfantryBerserkIcon-DE Berserk Ā· Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower Ā· CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero Ā· Aoe2-icon-flemish-militia Flemish Militia Ā· GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto Ā· Aoe2de Ghulam Ghulam Ā· HuskarlIcon-DE Huskarl Ā· JaguarWarriorIcon-DE Jaguar Warrior Ā· KamayukIcon-DE Kamayuk Ā· Karambitwarrioricon-DE Karambit Warrior Ā· AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary Ā· Aoe2-icon--obuch Obuch Ā· SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai Ā· Aoe2-icon-serjeant Serjeant Ā· Shotelwarrioricon-DE Shotel Warrior Ā· TeutonicKnightIcon-DE Teutonic Knight Ā· ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman Ā· Aoe2de Urumi Urumi Swordsman Ā· AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest Ā· WoadRaiderIcon-DE Woad Raider
ArcherArambaiicon-DE Arambai Ā· CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer Ā· ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu Ā· AoE2 CompositeBowman Composite Bowman Ā· ConquistadorIcon-DE Conquistador Ā· GenitourIcon-DE Genitour Ā· GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman Ā· Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher Ā· JanissaryIcon-DE Janissary Ā· Kipchakicon Kipchak Ā· LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman Ā· MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai Ā· PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer Ā· Aoe2de ratha ranged Ranged Ratha Ā· Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer Ā· SlingerIcon-DE Slinger Ā· WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon
CavalryBallistaelephanticon-DE Ballista Elephant Ā· BoyarIcon-DE Boyar Ā· Aoe2de camel scout Camel Scout Ā· CataphractIcon-DE Cataphract Ā· Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon Centurion Ā· Aoe2-icon-coustillier Coustillier Ā· Flaming camel icon Flaming Camel Ā· ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider Ā· Keshikicon Keshik Ā· Konnikicon Konnik Ā· Leitisicon Leitis Ā· MagyarHuszarIcon-DE Magyar Huszar Ā· MamelukeIcon-DE Mameluke Ā· AoE2 Monaspa Monaspa Ā· Aoe2de ratha melee Melee Ratha Ā· AoE2 Savar Savar Ā· Aoe2de shrivamsha rider Shrivamsha Rider Ā· TarkanIcon-DE Tarkan Ā· WarElephantIcon-DE War Elephant Ā· Aoe2-icon-winged-hussar Winged Hussar
SiegeAoe2-icon--houfnice Houfnice Ā· Aoe2-icon-hussite-wagon Hussite Wagon Ā· OrganGunIcon-DE Organ Gun
War shipCaravelIcon-DE Caravel Ā· LongboatIcon-DE Longboat Ā· Aoe2de Thirisadai Thirisadai Ā· TurtleShipIcon-DE Turtle Ship
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