| “ | Units converted by an enemy Monk (or Missionary) die instead of changing to the enemy's color. | ” |
| —In-game description | ||
Heresy is a technology in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors that can be researched at the Monastery. Once researched, it causes own units that have been converted by an enemy Monk or Missionary to die instead of joining the opposing player. Converted buildings are destroyed.
Heresy is very useful, as it prevents the player's converted units from being able to attack and distract remaining troops. The technology helps minimize losses. Players should research Heresy if they anticipate an enemy attempt to Monk rush.
Given its high cost, especially for the Castle Age, however, it is not recommended to research Heresy if opposing players do not regularly use Monks for conversion purposes.
Availability chart[]
 Available |  Unavailable
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|---|---|
Civilizations[]
The following civilizations can research technologies or have bonuses related to Heresy:
Unique technologies[]
Bohemians: Hussite Reforms gold cost of Heresy replaced with food.
Civilization bonuses[]
- Aztecs: Heresy gives Monks +5 hit points.
- Spanish: Receive 20 gold after researching Heresy.
Team bonuses[]
- Lithuanians: Researching Heresy is 20% faster.
- Portuguese: Researching Heresy is 25% faster.
History[]
| “ | As the Middle Ages progressed, Christianity in Europe faced a number of challenges, including heresy. This word came into use in the 13th century to define an opinion or doctrine that was contrary to church dogma. New opinions popped up at an alarming rate. Philosophers studying the Bible suggested new interpretations. Contact with pagan beliefs led to distortions of dogma in the hinterlands. Anyone who attempted to newly interpret the lessons of the Bible risked being accused of heresy. Coming to believe in a heretical position was seen by church leaders as a supreme sin, and many people condemned as heretics were burned at the stake. | ” |
| —The Conquerors manual | ||
Trivia[]
- Heresy is notably absent from the technology trees of most elephant civilizations, with the sole exception of the Malay (whose Battle Elephants are the weakest) and Gurjaras (who lack Faith and Battle/War Elephants).
- The fact that most civilizations with elephant units lack Heresy is most likely for balance purposes, but could be a reference to how elephants would often panic in battle and trample soldiers on their own side.
- As said by Sandy Petersen in his video about the design of all unique units (upto The Conquerors since he worked on the game till that expansion only), the developers wanted the dynamic between Monks and War Elephants to work the same as that between the Priest and War/Armored Elephant in Age of Empires.
- Conversely, nearly all civilizations with Paladins have access to Heresy, with also only two exceptions: the Burgundians and the Persians (who have the Paladin-like Savar), the latter of which lacks due to having the War Elephant.
- With Heresy researched, the Bulgarian Konnik dies when converted, but still turns into a Dismounted Konnik that belongs to the original owner instead of the converting player.
- Heresy's icon says "[De] plurimis claris selectisque mulieribus opus prope divinum [novissime] congestum", which is the full title of a book of biographies in Latin written by Giovanni Boccaccio that roughly translates to 'Concerning many famous and select women, a nearly divine work very recently gathered.'
- Neither of the two civilizations introduced in Lords of the West have Heresy. Conversely, all of the civilizations introduced in The African Kingdoms have access to Heresy.
- All of the civilizations using the Mesoamerican and African architecture sets have access to Heresy.
