Husbandry (Age of Empires II)

This article is about the technology in Age of Empires II. For other uses, see Husbandry.

Husbandry
Availability
Introduced in	Age of Empires II
Civilization	See table
Age	Castle Age
Research
Researched at	Stable
Food	150
Research time	40 seconds
Effect
Mounted units move 10% faster

Husbandry is a technology in Age of Empires II that can be researched at the Stable once the Castle Age is reached. Once researched, it increases the movement speed of Missionaries, cavalry, and mounted archers by +10%.

Even though the Cumans cannot research Husbandry, they have the most mobile cavalry units in the game, thanks to their civilization bonus which increases cavalry movement speed by +5%/+10%/+15% in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. The Khmer have the most mobile Battle Elephants thanks to their civilization bonus that increases their speed by 10%, while also having access to Husbandry.

Availability chart

Available	Unavailable
Armenians Bengalis Berbers Bohemians Britons Bulgarians Burgundians Burmese Byzantines Celts Chinese Dravidians Ethiopians Franks Georgians Goths Gurjaras Hindustanis Huns Italians Japanese Jurchens Khitans Khmer Koreans Lithuanians Magyars Malay Malians Mongols Persians Poles Portuguese Romans Saracens Shu Sicilians Slavs Spanish Tatars Turks Vietnamese Wei Wu	Aztecs Cumans✝ Inca Maya Teutons Vikings

⁺ The Cumans had access to Husbandry in the past. Currently, they have a civilization bonus which compensates for the missing technology.

Tactics

Husbandry is good to research once it is available, as it makes mounted units even better at evading archer fire and cover distances more quickly - traits essential for both closing a gap with an enemy and scouting. Researching Husbandry is an absolute must for cavalry-focused civilizations like the Berbers, Franks, Huns, Lithuanians, Poles, or Saracens.

Civilizations bonuses

• Burgundians: Husbandry is 50% cheaper.
• Chinese: Husbandry is 10%/15% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
• Spanish: Receive 20 gold after researching Husbandry.

Team bonuses

• Huns: Researching Husbandry is 20% faster.
• Portuguese: Researching Husbandry is 25% faster.

Changelog

The Age of Kings

• Husbandry costs 250 food and takes 50 seconds to research.

The Conquerors

• Spanish: Missionaries do not benefit from Husbandry.

The African Kingdoms

• With patch 4.8, Husbandry costs 150 food and takes 40 seconds to research.

Rise of the Rajas

• Vietnamese: Cannot research Husbandry.

Definitive Edition

• Cumans: Initially can research Husbandry. With update 34055, it was removed from their technology tree.
• Portuguese: With update 42848, as a civilization bonus, Husbandry is researched 30% faster.
• Spanish: Missionaries benefit from Husbandry.
• Vietnamese: Husbandry is added to their technology tree.

Dynasties of India

• Dravidians: Cannot research Husbandry.
• Portuguese: With update 73855, as a team bonus, Husbandry is researched 25% faster.

Chronicles: Battle for Greece

• Dravidians: With update 141935, Husbandry is added to their technology tree.

History

“	In an age dominated for centuries by Knights, the breeding and provision of horses, a branch of animal husbandry, became an important skill. Knights needed heavy chargers to carry them into battle but also dependable lighter horses with stamina for campaigning in the country. Scouts and light cavalry needed fast and nimble horses when traveling cross-country in enemy territory. Horse breeders of the Middle Ages selected for these traits, and horses of different abilities were the result.	”
—The Age of Kings manual