This article is about the infantry units in Age of Empires II. For the armor class, see Armor class: Infantry. For infantry units in other games of the series, see Infantry. |

Infantry in Age of Empires II is one of the four combat forces on land, the other ones being archers, cavalry, and siege weapons.
General information[]

Champions destroying a Siege Workshop.
Infantry units are (with a few exceptions) non-ranged foot soldiers, who in general have comparatively low armor and hit points and are relatively slow. Weak at first glance, they can be extremely important since they are the cheapest unit branch, are available very early in the game, are created quickly, and usually hold a medium to high attack.
Regular infantry units are trained at the Barracks only. The Militia is the first available unit there and the only military unit available in the Dark Age.
Unique infantry units are trained at the Castle. There are four exceptions: Huskarls can also be trained at the Barracks after researching Anarchy, Condottieri are only available at the Barracks as a team bonus, Serjeants can also be trained at the Donjon and Flemish Militia are only available at the Town Center after researching Flemish Revolution.

The Pikeman, the no. 1 cavalry counter
All infantry units cost food and gold, with the lone exceptions being the Spearman line, which costs food and wood, and the Malay Militia line (after researching Forced Levy), which only costs food.
While inferior in general to archers and cavalry when pitched against each other, infantry units have two advantages: Firstly, their low cost (especially in terms of gold) makes casualties more forgiving and secondly, there is no cheap counter to easily mass against infantry as opposed to archers, which are easily countered with Skirmishers, and cavalry, which are usually countered with Pikemen.
Due to their low speed and no range, most infantry units will struggle against Monks.
Units that excel at battle against infantry include Hand Cannoneers, Cataphracts, Slingers, Teutonic Knights, Jaguar Warriors, and Plumed Archers.
List of infantry units[]
Marked with yellow background are unique units.
Infantry unit | B | A | HP | At | MA | PA | Ra | ROF | LOS | Sp | F | W | G | TT | Ci |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Barracks | 40 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 20 | 21 | 42 | |
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Barracks | 45 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 20 | 21 | 42 | |
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Barracks | 60 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 4 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 20 | 21 | 42 | |
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Barracks | 60 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 20 | 21 | 41 | |
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Barracks | 70 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 20 | 21 | 33 | |
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Barracks | 45 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 22 | 42 | |
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Barracks | 55 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 22 | 40 | |
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Barracks | 60 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 25 | 0 | 22 | 32 | |
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Barracks | 50 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 1.1 | 20 | 0 | 50 | 35 | 3 | |
Barracks | 55 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 1.15 | 20 | 0 | 50 | 35 | 3 | ||
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Barracks | 60 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2.0 | 6 | 1.3 | 20 | 0 | 50 | 20 | 3 | |
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Castle | 65 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.38 | 65 | 0 | 25 | 10 | 1 | |
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Castle | 80 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 1.38 | 65 | 0 | 25 | 10 | 1 | |
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Castle | 60 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2.0 | 5 | 1 | 55 | 0 | 25 | 17 | 1 | |
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Castle | 70 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2.0 | 6 | 1 | 55 | 0 | 25 | 17 | 1 | |
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Castle / Barracks | 60 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.05 | 80 | 0 | 40 | 16 | 1 | |
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Castle / Barracks | 70 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 1.05 | 80 | 0 | 40 | 16 | 1 | |
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Castle | 70 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.9 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 1 | |
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Castle | 80 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.9 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 1 | |
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Castle | 80 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 0.8 | 85 | 0 | 40 | 12 | 1 | |
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Castle | 100 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 0.8 | 85 | 0 | 40 | 12 | 1 | |
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Castle | 54 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.05 | 65 | 0 | 25 | 14 | 1 | |
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Castle | 62 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 1.05 | 65 | 0 | 25 | 12 | 1 | |
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Castle | 65 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 20 | 1 | |
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Castle | 75 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 20 | 1 | |
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Castle | 70 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.0 | 4 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 10 | 1 | |
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Castle | 80 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.0 | 5 | 1 | 60 | 0 | 30 | 10 | 1 | |
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Barracks | 80 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.9 | 6 | 1.2 | 50 | 0 | 35 | 18 | 42 | |
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Castle | 45 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.2 | 50 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 1 | |
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Castle | 50 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.2 | 50 | 0 | 35 | 8 | 1 | |
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Castle | 35 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2.0 | 6 | 1.25 | 50 | 0 | 40 | 17 | 1 | |
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Castle | 45 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2.0 | 7 | 1.25 | 50 | 0 | 40 | 17 | 1 | |
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Castle | 30 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.2 | 25 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 1 | |
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Castle | 40 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 3 | 1.2 | 25 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 1 | |
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Castle / Krepost | 45 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.4 | 5 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 70 | 3 | 1 | |
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Castle / Krepost | 50 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.4 | 5 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 70 | 3 | 1 | |
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Donjon / Castle | 45 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 35 | 20/12 | 1 | |
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Donjon / Castle | 65 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 35 | 20/12 | 1 | |
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Donjon / Castle | 85 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 35 | 20/12 | 1 | |
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Town Center | 75 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.9 | 60 | 0 | 25 | 14 | 1 | |
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80 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.9 | 55 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 1 | ||
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Castle | 95 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.9 | 55 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 1 | |
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Castle | 55 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.05 | 65 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 1 | |
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Castle | 65 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.05 | 65 | 0 | 20 | 9 | 1 | |
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Castle | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1.15 | 65 | 0 | 30 | 15 | 1 | |
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Castle | 50 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1.15 | 65 | 0 | 30 | 15 | 1 | |
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Castle | 65 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.15 | 30 | 0 | 45 | 12 | 1 | |
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Castle | 75 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1.2 | 30 | 0 | 45 | 12 | 1 |
The following infantry units are only available in the Scenario Editor:
Infantry unit | HP | At | Ar | PA | Ra | ROF | LOS | Sp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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75 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.95 |
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45 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.1 |
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60 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.9 |
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75 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 |
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75 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.9 |
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60 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.9 |
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75 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.9 |
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65 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ? |
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50 | 9 | 1 | ? | 0 | 1.8 | 4 | 1.1 |
Technologies[]
Listed below are all technologies that benefit infantry units. Marked with yellow background are unique technologies. This list does not contain unit upgrades.
Technology | Researched at | Age | Civilization | Effect |
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Barracks | All | Increases Line of Sight by +2 | |
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Barracks | 31 | Reduces Militia line food cost by 15. | |
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Barracks | 37 | Increases speed by +10% | |
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Barracks | 41 | Increases attack vs standard buildings by +2 | |
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Blacksmith | All | Increases attack by +1 | |
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Blacksmith | All | Increases attack by +1 | |
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Blacksmith | 36 | Increases attack by +2 | |
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Blacksmith | All | Increases armor by +1/+1 | |
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Blacksmith | 41 | Increases armor by +1/+1 | |
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Blacksmith | 34 | Increases armor by +1/+2 | |
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Monastery | 38 | Garrisoned units heal 6x faster | |
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Monastery | 24 | Converted units die instead of changing color | |
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Monastery | 38 | Increases conversion resistance | |
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Castle | All | Increases creation speed by +33% | |
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Castle | Aztecs | Increases attack by +4 | |
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Castle | Berbers | Castle production and research is 25% faster | |
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Castle | Bulgarians | Militia line +5 armor | |
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Castle | Burgundians | All Villagers transform into Flemish Militias; Flemish Militia can be trained at the Town Center | |
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Castle | Dravidians | Infantry attacks ignore armor | |
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Castle | Ethiopians | Creation speed of Shotel Warriors doubled | |
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Castle | Franks | Throwing Axeman range increased by +1 | |
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Castle | Goths | Huskarls can be created at Barracks | |
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Castle | Goths | Work rate for Barracks units doubled | |
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Castle | Gurjaras | Infantry units cost -25% food | |
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Castle | Incas | Increases Kamayuk and Eagle Warrior line armor by +1/+2 | |
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Castle | Italians | Increases Condottiero armor by +1/+1 | |
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Castle | Lithuanians | Spearman line gain +2 pierce armor | |
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Castle | Malay | Militia line gold cost replaced with food cost | |
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Castle | Mayans | Eagle Warrior hit points increased by +40 | |
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Castle | Sicilians | Trains 7 Serjeants per Town Center, in up to 5 Town Centers; Infantry units are more resistant to conversion | |
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Castle | Slavs | Infantry does Area of Effect damage in 0.5 tile radius | |
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Castle | Teutons | Garrisoned infantry fires arrows | |
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Castle | Vikings | Infantry attack against cavalry and camels increased by +5 and +4, respectively | |
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Castle | Vikings | Berserk regeneration rate doubled |
Civilizations[]
Many civilizations rely on a strong infantry. The Aztecs, Burmese, Dravidians, Goths, Japanese, Sicilians, Slavs, and Vikings arguably have the strongest infantry of all civilizations.
The Bulgarians, Celts, Franks, Incas, Malay, Malians, Poles, and Teutons also have very prominent infantry.
On the other hand, the Persians and Tatars have the most lackluster infantry units, being the only civilizations that can't upgrade their Long Swordsmen to Two-Handed Swordsmen, and research Chain Mail Armor, respectively. While the Turks and Gurjaras are the only civilizations that cannot upgrade their Spearmen to Pikemen.
The Incas are the only civilization to have access to all infantry units and technologies.
Civilization bonuses[]
The following civilizations have bonuses that benefit infantry units:
- Aztecs: Infantry units are created 11% faster.
- Bulgarians: Militia-line units are upgraded for free; Blacksmith upgrades that benefit infantry units cost -50% food.
- Burmese: Infantry units have +1/+2/+3 attack in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age; Faith is 50% cheaper.
- Byzantines: Spearman-line units are 25% cheaper.
- Celts: Infantry units move 15% faster starting from the Feudal Age.
- Chinese: Technologies that benefit infantry units are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Dravidians: Barracks technologies cost -50%.
- Ethiopians: The Pikeman upgrade is free.
- Goths: Infantry units are 20%/25%/30%/35% cheaper in the Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age and get +1/+2/+3 attack against standard buildings in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Japanese: Infantry units attack 33% faster (starting in the Feudal Age).
- Koreans: Spearman-line units cost -20% wood.
- Lithuanians: Spearman-line units move 10% faster.
- Malians: Barracks units have +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Magyars: Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace are free.
- Portuguese: Infantry units cost -20% gold; technologies that benefit infantry units are researched 30% faster.
- Sicilians: Infantry units receive -50% bonus damage.
- Slavs: Supplies is free.
- Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit infantry units cost no gold.
- Tatars: Infantry units deal +50% damage when attacking from hills (instead of +25%).
- Teutons: Barracks units get +1/+2 melee armor in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Vietnamese: Conscription is free.
- Vikings: Infantry units have +20% HP (starting in the Feudal Age).
Team bonuses[]
The following civilizations have bonuses that benefit infantry units:
- Bulgarians: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit infantry units are researched 80% faster.
- Goths: Barracks work 20% faster.
- Italians: Condottiero available at Barracks.
- Lithuanians: Faith and Heresy are researched 20% faster.
- Teutons: Infantry units are more resistant to Conversion.