Priest (Age of Empires)

This article is about the unit in Age of Empires. For the Priest in other games of the series, see Priest.

Template:AoEUnitsPriests are trained from the Temple and are able to heal friendly units and convert enemy ones, but are slow-moving and possess low HP. A Priest cannot attack, but when an enemy units closes in to the Priest, he will attempt to convert them. When there are wounded units of your side nearby, the Priest will automatically heal them. Priests are able to heal all infantry, cavalry, and siege units, but not ships or buildings (the latter two require Villagers to repair). After a successful conversion, the enemy unit will switch colors to the team whose priest converted him and be under control by its player. After a conversion, a Priest may not again attempt to convert until his rejuvenation meter has regained back to its fullest, at 100%.

Upgrades

• Astrology allows Priests to convert faster​
• Mysticism doubles Priest hit points
• Polytheism makes Priests move 40% faster
• Fanaticism allows Priests to rejuvenate from a conversion 50% faster
• Monotheism enables Priests to convert enemy Priests and Buildings
• Afterlife increases conversion range by +3
• Medicine increases healing rate
• Martyrdom enables priest to instantly convert an enemy unit (not buildings or enemy priests) by sacrificing his life.

Civilization Bonuses

• Egyptian: Priests have +3 more Range
• Babylonian: Priests have 30% faster rejuvenation rate
• Choson: Priests are 30% cheaper

Note: Of all the Civilizations, only the Macedonians lack Priests, since they are unable to build Temples.

Trivia

• Sometimes when a unit attacks the enemy near an elephant within the vicinity of an enemy priest, there is a glitch that may occasionally occur where a priest will attempt to convert the elephant instead of the attacking unit. The conversion will be unsuccessful and the priest may perish to the attacking player's advantage. This glitch only applies if the enemy is controlled by the computer.
• There is a cheat code that grants Priests 600 HP and absurdly fast movement by typing HOYOHOYO into the chat box. Note that these statistics can be further improved to 1200 HP and even greater speed by activating the cheat code prior to researching Mysticism and Polytheism.
• The sound of the priest's chant ("wololo") has since become an Internet meme.
• The Priest in Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms is identical the Priest from Age of Empires.

History

The acceptance of gods and goddesses associated with complex religions required the provision of priests (and priestesses) who acted as representatives of the gods among the people. Priests developed and conducted rituals, interpreted the demands of gods, taught and enforced the religious laws, and sought new believers. Particularly effective priests, or those representing a potent religion, were thought capable of healing.