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This article is about the civilization in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. For their appearance as a minor native in Age of Empires III, see Maya. |
| “ | Deep in the rainforests of the Yucatan, an intriguing civilization subsisted within the humid climate for centuries before mysteriously vanishing. Establish city-states and crown them with awe-inspiring pyramids, a testament to your rich mythology and the splendor of your rulers. Conquer the jungles with powerful infantry and swift Plumed Archers, deadly marksmen who can elude all but the most mobile enemy troops. Can you build a legacy worthy of your temperamental gods? | ” |
| —Description[1] | ||
The Mayans are a Native American civilization introduced in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. They focus on archers.
The Mayans specialize in foot archers and have a robust economy. Situated in Central America, they were best known for their mysterious disappearance around 900 and their ability to build a great civilization in a tropical rainforest climate. The Mayans were resourceful and were able to utilize a variety of natural resources. Examples include limestone for construction, the obsidian for tools and weapons, jade and quetzal feathers used in the elaborate costumes of Maya nobility as well as marine shells, which were used as trumpets. To reflect this achievement, their resources last longer while their unique technologies El Dorado and Obsidian Arrows boost their Eagle Warriors and Archer line. The main force of the Mayan army was archers, and they used them extensively. As a result, their unique unit is the Plumed Archer, a fast archer with a small attack bonus against infantry as well as featuring superior armor and hit points.
Overview
As a Native American civilization, the Mayans lack any form of cavalry and gunpowder. As a replacement, they get the Eagle Warrior which also gets a massive HP boost with El Dorado. Overall, their archer and infantry departments are strong with access to everything that does not ride a horse or wield a firearm (bar the Champion and Supplies). Their siege weapons miss the Siege Onager, but they get the Siege Ram and Heavy Scorpion. On the water, they have a complete tech tree (apart from the Cannon Galleon, naturally). Their Monks are average. Their defensive structures are overall strong and the same goes for their economy.
Campaign appearances
The Mayan have the Dos Pilas scenario from the Battles of the Forgotten campaign devoted to their civilization. They also appear in:
Montezuma
- Reign of Blood
- Tepanaca
- Xochimilco
- The Triple Alliance
- Texcoco
- Quetzalcoatl
- Tabasco
Characteristics
Unique unit
Plumed Archer: Quick foot archer with high pierce armor
Unique technologies
- Obsidian Arrows: Gives Archers +6 attack against standard buildings and stone defense.
- El Dorado: Gives Eagle Warriors +40 HP.
Civilization bonuses
- Start the game with an Eagle Scout.
- Start the game with +1 Villager, but with -50 food.
- Resources last 15% longer.
- Foot archers are 10%/20%/30% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Team bonus
- Walls are 50% cheaper.
Changelog
The Conquerors
- Start the game with an Eagle Warrior.
- Resources last 20% longer.
- Due to the way this bonus works (lowered work rates are multiplied by higher resource gains), farming is ~2.5% / 5.5% / 2.5% slower with no upgrades / Wheelbarrow / Hand Cart, respectively (slightly lower difference with Heavy Plow researched)[2].
- Plumed Archers cost 46W/46G.
- The upgrade to Elite Plumed Archers costs 500F/1,000W.
The Forgotten
- Now start with an Eagle Scout.
- Obsidian Arrows introduced. It gives Archers +4 attack against standard buildings.
- Plumed Archers now cost 50W/50G.
- The upgrade to Elite Plumed Archers now costs 700F/1,000W.
- Farming is ~14% / 10.5% / 6.5% slower with no upgrades / Wheelbarrow / Hand Cart, respectively.
The African Kingdoms
- Eagle Scouts now become available in the Feudal Age.
- Resources now last 15% longer.
- Initially can research Arrowslits. With patch 4.8, it was removed from the technology tree.
- Obsidian Arrows now gives Archers +6 attack against standard buildings. With patch 4.8, Archers also gain +6 attack against stone defense.
Patch 5.8
- Farming rates restored to The Conquerors state.
Definitive Edition
- Since update 34055, Plumed Archers cost 55W/55G.
- Since update 34699, their extra Villager is tied to their initial Town center, so in Nomad type maps, it will appear once the Town Center is finished.
- Initially could research Supplies. With Update 37650, it was removed from their technology tree.
In-game dialogue language
In-game, Mayan units speak K’iche’, a Mayan language spoken in southern Guatemala.
- Chare/chade
- Tabix
- Axike
- Atutz
- Keri
- Utz ca
- Chastimban
- Cha’ - say
- Ecé (axe) sounds like ashé
- Molonel - Harvester
- K’iäqanel - Hunter
- Karunel - Fisherman
- Kasamax - Farmer and Miner
- Axeyak - Builder
- Koxonel - Repairer
- Kayaxé - Attack
- Kokaya - Attack
AI player names
When playing a random map game against the computer, the player may encounter any of the following Mayan AI characters:
- Bird Jaguar: Nickname of several rulers of Yaxchilan, most notably Bird Jaguar IV (Yaxun B'alam IV ), the 17th ruler; lived 709–768.
- Black Serpent: Possibly refers to the Maya legend of Sac-Nicte and Canek. Canek means black serpent, a brave prince with a kind heart.
- Curl Snout: Nickname of Yax Nuun Ahiin, 8th ruler of Tikal; died 404.
- Eighteen Rabbit: Nickname of Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, 13th ruler of Copan; died 738.
- Flint Sky God: Nickname of B'alaj Chan K'awiil, ruler of Dos Pilas; born 625.
- Great Jaguar Paw: Nickname of Chak Tok Ich'aak, 7th ruler of Tikal; died 378.
- King Stormy Sky: Nickname of Siyaj Chan K'awil II, 16th ruler of Tikal; died 456.
- Lady Great Skull Zero: Wife of Bird Jaguar IV
- Shield Jaguar II: Nickname of Itzamnaaj B'alam II, 15th ruler of Yaxchilan; lived 647–742.
- Smoke Imix God: Possibly refers to Chan Imix K'awil, 12th ruler of Copan; died 695.
- Smoke Monkey: Possibly refers to K'ak' Joplaj Chan K'awiil, 14th ruler of Copan; died 749.
- Smoke Shell: Possibly refers to K'ak' Yipyaj Chan K'awiil, 15th ruler of Copan; died 763.
- Smoking Frog: Former nickname of Siyaj K'ak', a prominent Mayan political figure in the Classic Period.
- Smoking Squirrel: Nickname of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Chaak, ruler of Naranjo.
- Waterlily Jaguar: Not the nickname of a Mayan ruler, but rather a Mayan protector deity.
History
The Mayans occupied the Yucatan peninsula, modern Honduras, and modern Guatemala. They date back perhaps to the second millennium BC, but peaked between 600 and 900 AD. Though they lived on lands of marginal agricultural value, they created monuments and ceremonial centers nearly as impressive as those in Egypt. The extent of the ceremonial building is surprising because their religion was relatively simple. Their architecture was also less developed, though undeniably impressive, compared to contemporary advances made elsewhere in the world. They invented a unique written language that is only being deciphered today. Three Mayan books survive to the present, the remnants of a much larger number destroyed by Europeans who feared they contained heresy.
The Mayans were very proficient in mathematics and astronomy. The understanding and predictability of star and planet movements was critical to the calculation of their calendar and the dating of important ceremonies. They lived in small hamlets that have not survived but congregated at their centers for important events. Noble warriors and priests controlled their society.
The Mayans went into decline in the tenth century, perhaps due to earthquake or volcanic eruption. Many of their important ceremonial sites were thereafter abandoned. Warriors from central Mexico then invaded their territory and they broke into small town groupings in the rain forest. The last Mayan center was captured by the Spanish in the 17th century, but as many as two million people of Mayan descent reside in the Yucatan today.[3]
Trivia
- The Mayans' civilization icon is based on a maya glyph.
Gallery
