- means that the civilization cannot fully upgrade its Knights in the Castle Age. The technologies being considered here are Bloodlines and Husbandry.
+ means that the civilization receives some civilization or team bonus or a unique technology that benefits the combat strength of the Knight in the Castle Age.
If a Native American civilization gets a Stable (either by conversion, by triggers, or starts with one in maps like MegaRandom), they can train a Xolotl Warrior from the Castle Age onwards, which has exactly the same stats as the Knight. However, due to the lack of further upgrades (Cavalier, Paladin) and important technologies (like Bloodlines, Husbandry, and Blacksmith cavalry armor technologies), these tend to lose their charm in the Imperial Age. The only bonus this unit receives is the creation speed bonus of the Aztecs. Technologies affecting this unit are Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace.
The Knight, being the primary shock unit of most armies, is one of the most effective units used to disrupt enemy villages, destroy colonies, or diminish an enemy garrison. With its high attack, hit points, and natural armor, it can easily stand up against most opposition. Its ferocity can only be matched in terms of both attack power and speed by the Camel Rider, though a line of Pikemen could also serve as a good defense, provided they can catch them. Monks are also a threat, mostly because Knights are very expensive and strong enough to be a primary targets for enemy Monks while not having any conversion resistance, unlike scout units. It is advised to pair Archers with Knights to counter these three types of units.
Knights are best used in the early Castle Age, when they have few effective counters. Their presence weakens as the economy develops, when unique units, Pikemen, Heavy Camel Riders, and siege weapons come into play. This is also when Crossbowmen are able to reach a critical mass and will be able to stand up against Knights. Also, their enormous gold cost means that, in the long run, infantry gradually becomes easier to produce en masse, and can outnumber the Knights. Still, they and their upgraded counterparts play a significant role in the late game.
Cumans: Initially, Knights move 10% faster. With update 34055, the bonus was staggered to 10%/15% in the Castle/Imperial Age and Cumans lost access to Husbandry.
Lithuanians: initially, Knight gains +1 attack for each Relic garrisoned in a Monastery with a limit of +5. With update 34055, the limit was reduced to +4.
Portuguese: With update 42848, technologies that benefit Knights are researched 30% faster.
Teutons: With update 36906, Knights get +1/+2 melee armor in the Castle/Imperial Age.
The knight was a heavily armored and mounted warrior who have achieved certain minimums in training and position in Middle Age society. When made a knight, a warrior was often given land to support his military expenses in return for a pledge to serve his lord on campaign for so many weeks each year. By parceling out land in this manner, a high lord controlled a hierarchy of soldiers that could be called upon when needed. Knights spent most of their time fighting or training for fighting. They practiced war in tournaments, competing for prizes and honors. Because few others could afford the equipment and training for war, knights dominated Middle Age battlefields for centuries. The evolution of new tactics featuring pikemen, longbowmen, crossbowmen and primitive handguns brought the dominance of heavy cavalry to an end.
”
—Age of Empires II manual
Trivia[]
Although all trainable knights wield swords in-game, historically knights wielded a variety of weapons (swords, axes, polearms, etc. as depicted in gallery). Initially, the Knight-line horsemen had been conceived as using lances, before lances were replaced with swords (a render of the lance-wielding Knight is seen in the gallery below).
Knights indeed used lances with handguards for charges; however, those lances were often restricted to one-time use as they often did not survive the charge's impact.
Despite being first available in the Castle Age, the Knight's shield resembles the Feudal Age's logo, and his armor design is closer to the Feudal Man-at-Arms than the Castle Age's Long Swordsman.
The statistics of the Knight and Xolotl Warrior are identical.
None of the new civilizations introduced in Dynasties of India have access to the Knight line. As a result, the South Asian civilizations do not have access to the Knight line at all.
Before the Definitive Edition, the Knight line was one of only four units to not have an innate attack bonus (the other three being the Militia, the Turtle Ship, and the Boyar).
The base statistics of the Knight has never received changes since the game's first release.
Available
Unavailable
Hit points
Bloodlines (+20)
Forging (+1)
Iron Casting (+1)
Blast Furnace (+2)
Farimba (+5, 
Malians only)
Manipur Cavalry (+4 vs. archers, 
Burmese only)
Romans only)
Scale Barding Armor (+1/+1)
Chain Barding Armor (+1/+1)
Plate Barding Armor (+1/+2)
Sicilians only)
Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
Heresy (die upon getting converted)
Attack speed
Bulgarians only)
Movement speed
Husbandry (+10%)
Poles only)
Georgians only)
Conscription (+33%)
Franks only)
Regeneration
Lithuanians (+1 per Relic garrisoned, max +4)
Tatars (+20% from elevation)
Teutons (+1/0 in Castle Age, +2/0 in Imperial Age)
Cumans (+10/15% in Castle/Imperial Age)
Berbers (-15%/20% in the Castle/Imperial Age)
Portuguese (-20% gold)
Persians (+2 vs. archers)
Huns (+20%)
Bulgarians: Blacksmith technologies that benefit Knights cost -50% food.
