Masonry

This article is about the technology in Age of Empires II. For the technology in Age of Mythology, see Masons.

Masonry
Availability
Introduced in	Age of Empires II
Civilization	All except Aztecs, Byzantines, and Vietnamese
Age	Castle Age
Research
Researched at	University
Required for	Architecture
Food	150
Wood	175
Stone	0
Research time	50 seconds
Effect
Buildings +10% HP, +1 armor, +1 pierce armor, +3 building armor

Masonry is a technology in Age of Empires II available at the University. Once researched, it strengthens all buildings (except walls, Gates, Farms and Fish Traps) by providing +10% hit points, +1 melee armor, +1 pierce armor, and +3 All Buildings armor, making every building stronger, particularly against attacks from infantry and cavalry units.

Note that building armor does not protect against all kinds of bonus damage against buildings. It reduces the bonus damage from siege weapons, ships, Villagers, Tarkans, Battle Elephants, and War Elephants, but not from infantry units, foot archers, or Camel Riders.

The Byzantines, in spite of lacking Masonry, have building hit point bonuses that increase with each Age, mostly compensating for their inability to research Masonry or Architecture.

Architecture is the further upgrade of this technology.

Further statistics

Civilization bonuses
Resource cost	Chinese (-10%/-15% in the Castle/Imperial Age) Italians (-33%) Jurchens (-75% wood)
Research speed	Jurchens (+100%)
Other	Spanish (receive 20 gold after researching Masonry)

Team bonuses
Research speed	Malians (+80%) Portuguese (+25%)

Changelog

The Age of Kings

• Masonry costs 175 wood, 150 stone.

The Conquerors

• With patch 1.0b, Masonry costs 150 food, 175 wood.

Definitive Edition

• Portuguese: With update 42848, Masonry is researched 30% faster as a civilization bonus.

Lords of the West

• Italians: With update 44725, Masonry is 33% cheaper.

Dynasties of India

• Portuguese: With update 73855, Masonry is researched 25% faster as a team bonus.

History

“

Europeans of the Dark Ages and later had to relearn the techniques of masonry exhibited by the Roman ruins that surrounded them. Roman bridges and aqueducts stood for many centuries after the Roman Empire was gone, but the barbarian immigrants could not repair or duplicate these structures. The craft of masonry was gradually reclaimed and then advanced. The great achievements of European masonry in the Middle Ages were the cathedrals that appeared across the region.

”