Plate Mail Armor

Plate Mail Armor
Availability
Introduced in	Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Civilization	See table
Age	Imperial Age
Research
Researched at	Blacksmith
Prerequisite(s)	Chain Mail Armor
Food	300
Gold	150
Research time	70 seconds
Effect
Infantry armor +1/+2

Plate Mail Armor is a technology in Age of Empires II that can be researched at the Blacksmith once the Imperial Age is reached. Once researched, it increases infantry armor and pierce armor by +1/+2.

Despite not having access to Champions, the Bulgarians have the Militia line with the highest melee armor, thanks to the Imperial Age unique technology Bagains that increases the melee armor by +5, ending with 9 melee armor. They are followed by the Teutons, who have a civilization bonus that increases the melee armor of Barracks units by +1 /+2 in the Castle/Imperial Age, resulting in 6 melee armor. Unlike Bulgarians, the Teutons have access to Champions, and their Halberdiers get up to 5 melee armor.

The Malians have the Barracks units with the highest pierce armor thanks to their civilization bonus that gives +1/+2/+3 pierce armor to Barrack units in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age, resulting in Champions having 8 pierce armor. The Malians lack access to the Halberdier, but their Pikemen get the highest pierce armor of all with 7.

Incan Elite Eagle Warriors get the highest armor of all thanks to the Imperial Age unique technology Fabric Shields that grants +1/+2 armor, so ending with 4/10 armor.

Despite lacking Plate Mail Armor, the Romans have a civilization bonus giving their infantry units double the effect from Scale Mail Armor and Chain Mail Armor, more than compensating the fact that they cannot research the technology.

Availability chart

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

Civilization bonuses

• Bulgarians: Plate Mail Armor costs -50% food.
• Chinese: Plate Mail Armor is 15% cheaper.
• Incas: Plate Mail Armor benefits Villagers.
• Malay: Plate Mail Armor is free.
• Spanish: Plate Mail Armor costs no gold. Receive 20 gold after researching Plate Mail Armor.

Team bonuses

• Bulgarians: Researching Plate Mail Armor is 80% faster.
• Portuguese: Researching Plate Mail Armor is 25% faster.

Changelog

Definitive Edition

• With update 42848:
  • Bulgarians: Initially, the team bonus makes Plate Mail Armor research 50% faster. With the update, Plate Mail Armor is researched 80% faster. Plate Mail Armor costs -50% food.
  • Portuguese: Plate Mail Armor is researched 30% faster as a civilization bonus.

Dynasties of India

• Portuguese: With update 73855, Plate Mail Armor is researched 25% faster as a team bonus.
• Malay: With update 81058, Plate Mail Armor is free.

History

“	Armor made of large metal plates was the best defense obtainable against missiles and hand weapons. It was stronger and absorbed more energy. Large sheets of hammered steel were fashioned to fit the wearer's body. Making plate mail armor became an important craft. Specialists in Italy received orders for armor from all over Europe. The booty from battle or tournaments included valuable armor. Armor required regular oiling to prevent rust and this was the duty of squires indentured to knights. Plate mail armor appears ponderous today but was actually reasonably light and well designed for mobility. Athletic knights could perform handstands wearing armor. Knights could mount their horses without much difficulty and did not require cranes for a lift.	”
—Age of Empires II manual