Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Info icon
This article is about the technologies in Age of Empires II. For technologies in other games of the series, see Technology.
Forging aoe2de CareeningDE
WheelbarrowDE RedemptionDE

Listed below are all technologies available for research in Age of Empires II.

Building technologies[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
TownWatchDE Town Watch FeudalageDE Town Center 75 food Buildings +4 Line of Sight 25
TownPatrolDE Town Patrol CastleageDE 300 food, 100 gold 40
TreadmillCraneDE Treadmill Crane CastleageDE University 300 food, 200 wood Villagers build 20% faster 50
Masonry aoe2de Masonry CastleageDE University 150 food, 175 wood Buildings +10% hit points, +1/+1 armor, and +3 building armor 50
ArchitectureDE Architecture ImperialageDE 300 food, 200 wood 70
HoardingsDE Hoardings ImperialageDE Castle 400 food, 400 wood Castle HP +21% 75
ConscriptionDE Conscription ImperialageDE Castle 150 food, 150 gold Work rate of military buildings (except Siege Workshop) +33% 60

Economy technologies[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
WheelbarrowDE Wheelbarrow FeudalageDE Town Center 175 food, 50 wood Villager +10% speed, +25% carrying capacity 75
HandcartDE Hand Cart CastleageDE 300 food, 200 wood Villager +10% speed +50%, carrying capacity 55
DoubleBitAxe aoe2DE Double-Bit Axe FeudalageDE Lumber Camp/Mule Cart 100 food, 50 wood Villagers chop wood 20% faster 25
BowSawDE Bow Saw CastleageDE 150 food, 100 wood Villagers chop wood 20% faster 50
TwoManSawDE Two-Man Saw ImperialageDE 300 food, 200 wood Villagers chop wood 10% faster 100
HorseCollarDE Horse Collar FeudalageDE Mill/Folwark 75 food, 75 wood Farms +75 food 20
HeavyPlowDE Heavy Plow CastleageDE 125 food, 125 wood Farms +125 food, Villagers +1 food carry capacity 40
CropRotationDE Crop Rotation ImperialageDE 250 food, 250 wood Farms +175 food 70
GoldMiningDE Gold Mining FeudalageDE Mining Camp/Mule Cart 100 food, 75 wood Villagers mine gold 15% faster 30
GoldShaftMiningDE Gold Shaft Mining CastleageDE 175 food, 75 wood Villagers mine gold 15% faster 75
StoneMiningDE Stone Mining FeudalageDE Mining Camp/Mule Cart 100 food, 75 wood Villagers mine stone 15% faster 30
StoneShaftMiningDE Stone Shaft Mining CastleageDE 175 food, 75 wood Villagers mine stone 15% faster 75
CaravanDE Caravan CastleageDE Market 200 food, 200 gold Trade Carts and Trade Cogs move 50% faster 40
CoinageDE Coinage CastleageDE Market 200 food, 100 gold Tribute fee 20% 70
BankingDE Banking ImperialageDE 300 food, 200 gold Tribute fee 0% 70
GuildsDE Guilds ImperialageDE Market 300 food, 200 gold Trading fee 15% 50
GillnetsDE Gillnets CastleageDE Dock 150 food, 200 wood Fishing Ships work 20% faster 45

Monastery technologies[]

Technology Age Cost Effect Time
RedemptionDE Redemption CastleageDE 475 gold Monks can convert all siege units and most buildings 50
AtonementDE Atonement CastleageDE 325 gold Monks can convert other Monks 40
HerbalDE Herbal Medicine CastleageDE 200 gold Garrisoned units heal 6× faster 35
HeresyDE Heresy CastleageDE 1,000 gold Units converted by enemy Monks die instead of joining them 60
SanctityDE Sanctity CastleageDE 175 gold Monks +15 HP 60
FervorDE Fervor CastleageDE 140 gold Monks +15% speed 50
Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion CastleageDE 100 food, 150 gold Units are harder for enemy Monks to convert 40
FaithDE Faith ImperialageDE 550 food, 750 gold Units are harder for enemy Monks to convert 60
IlluminationDE Illumination ImperialageDE 120 gold Monk rejuvenation speed +87.5% 65
BlockPrintingDE Block Printing ImperialageDE 200 gold Monks +3 conversion range 55
TheocracyDE Theocracy ImperialageDE 200 gold Only one Monk must rest when several convert the same target 75

Military technologies[]

Infantry[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
Suplliesicon Supplies FeudalageDE Barracks 75 food, 75 gold Militia line cost -15 food 20
AoE2 Gambesons Gambesons CastleageDE 100 food, 100 gold Militia line +1 pierce armor 25
SquiresDE Squires CastleageDE Barracks 100 food Infantry +10% speed 40
ArsonDE Arson CastleageDE Barracks 150 food, 50 gold Infantry +2 attack vs buildings 25
Forging aoe2de Forging FeudalageDE Blacksmith 150 food Infantry/cavalry +1 attack 50
IronCastingDE Iron Casting CastleageDE 220 food, 120 gold Infantry/cavalry +1 attack 75
BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace ImperialageDE 275 food, 225 gold Infantry/cavalry +2 attack 100
ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor FeudalageDE Blacksmith 100 food Infantry +1/+1 armor 40
ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor CastleageDE 200 food, 100 gold Infantry +1/+1 armor 55
PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor ImperialageDE 300 food, 150 gold Infantry +1/+2 armor 70

Missile / siege[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring CastleageDE Archery Range 300 food, 250 wood Archers fire faster and with 100% accuracy 45
ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics ImperialageDE Archery Range 200 food, 250 gold Mounted archers and Arambai +1/+2 armor and +2 attack vs Spearmen 65
FletchingDE Fletching FeudalageDE Blacksmith 100 food, 50 gold Archers, Galleys, Castles, and Towers +1 range and attack. Town Centers +1 attack and Line of Sight. 30
BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow CastleageDE 200 food, 100 gold 35
BracerDE Bracer ImperialageDE 300 food, 200 gold 40
PaddedArcherArmorDE Padded Archer Armor FeudalageDE Blacksmith 100 food Archers +1/+1 armor 40
LeatherArcherArmorDE Leather Archer Armor CastleageDE 150 food, 150 gold Archers +1/+1 armor 55
RingArcherArmorDE Ring Archer Armor ImperialageDE 250 food, 250 gold Archers +1/+2 armor 70
BallisticsDE Ballistics CastleageDE University 300 wood, 175 gold Archers, Galleys, and defensive structures fire more accurately at moving targets 60
HeatedShotDE Heated Shot CastleageDE University 350 food, 100 gold Towers +125% and Castles +25% attack against ships 30
MurderHolesDE Murder Holes CastleageDE University 200 food, 100 stone Eliminates minimum range of all buildings 35
ArrowSlitsDE Arrowslits ImperialageDE University 250 food, 250 wood Watch Towers/Guard Towers/Keeps/Donjons +1/+2/+3/+3 attack 25
ChemistryDE Chemistry ImperialageDE University 300 food, 200 gold Missile units (including siege) +1 attack
Prerequisite for Hand Cannoneer, Bombard Cannon, Cannon Galleon and Bombard Tower (technology)
100
SiegeEngineersDE Siege Engineers ImperialageDE University 500 food, 600 wood Siege weapons +1 range (except for Rams and Armored Elephants) and +20% attack vs buildings (Petards and Flaming Camels +40%) 45

Cavalry[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
BloodlinesDE Bloodlines FeudalageDE Stable 150 food, 100 gold Mounted units +20 hit points 50
HusbandryDE Husbandry CastleageDE Stable 150 food Mounted units +10% speed 40
Forging aoe2de Forging FeudalageDE Blacksmith 150 food Infantry/cavalry +1 attack 50
IronCastingDE Iron Casting CastleageDE 220 food, 120 gold Infantry/cavalry +1 attack 75
BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace ImperialageDE 275 food, 225 gold Infantry/cavalry +2 attack 100
ScaleBardingArmorDE Scale Barding Armor FeudalageDE Blacksmith 150 food Cavalry +1/+1 armor 45
ChainBardingDE Chain Barding Armor CastleageDE 250 food, 150 gold Cavalry +1/+1 armor 60
PlateBardingArmorDE Plate Barding Armor ImperialageDE 350 food, 200 gold Cavalry +1/+2 armor 75

Dock technologies[]

Technology Age Cost Effect Time
CareeningDE Careening CastleageDE 250 food, 150 gold Ship +1 pierce armor, Transport Ship +5 capacity 50
DryDockDE Dry Dock ImperialageDE 600 food, 400 gold Ship +15% speed, Transport Ship +10 capacity 60
ShipwrightDE Shipwright ImperialageDE 1,000 food, 300 gold Ships cost -20% wood and are created +54% faster 60

Unique technologies[]

Main article: Unique technology

While all other technologies are available to multiple different or even all civilizations, unique technologies are only available to one single civilization. They were introduced in The Conquerors, where every civilization got one (two for the Goths) unique technology that was available for research at the Castle in the Imperial Age. The Forgotten gave every civilization a second unique technology (except the Goths) so that every civilization now has one in the Castle Age and one in the Imperial Age.

Miscellaneous technologies[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time
LoomDE Loom DarkageDE Town Center 50 gold Villager +15 hit points, +1/+2 armor 25
FeudalAgeIconDE Feudal Age DarkageDE Town Center 500 food Advance to Feudal Age 130
CastleAgeIconDE Castle Age FeudalageDE 800 food, 200 gold Advance to Castle Age 160
ImperialAgeIconDE Imperial Age CastleageDE 1,000 food, 800 gold Advance to Imperial Age 190
SpiesDE Treason ImperialageDE Castle 400 gold See enemy Kings for a short time (Regicide only)
Can be researched multiple times
1
SapperDE Sappers ImperialageDE Castle 400 food, 200 wood Villagers +15 attack vs buildings, +15 vs stone defense, +3 vs rams 10
SpiesDE Spies ImperialageDE Castle 200 gold per enemy Villager
Min 200 gold, Max 30,000 gold
See enemy Line of Sight 1
BombardTower aoe2DE Bombard Tower ImperialageDE University 800 food, 400 wood Requiring Chemistry, it grants the constructing of Bombard Towers once researched 60

Removed technologies[]

Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time Comments
Huntingdogs Hunting Dogs DarkageDE Mill 40 food, 25 wood Hunters and Fishermen work 25% faster 15 Available only in the Forgotten mod, scrapped entirely
TrackingDE Tracking FeudalageDE Barracks 50 food Increases the Line of Sight of all infantry units by +2 35 Made free
Cartography aoe2de Cartography FeudalageDE Market 100 food, 100 gold Grants the player their shared allies' Line of Sight 60 Made free from start of the game on standard settings and free from the construction of Market elsewhere.
Handcannon Hand Cannon ImperialageDE Archery Range 450 food, 200 gold Requiring Chemistry, it grants the training of Hand Cannoneers once researched 50 Made free
CannongalleonresearchDE Cannon Galleon ImperialageDE Dock 400 food, 500 wood Requiring Chemistry, it grants the training of Cannon Galleons once researched 50 Made free
Bombardcannonresearch Bombard Cannon ImperialageDE Siege Workshop 500 food, 250 gold Requiring Chemistry, it grants the training of Bombard Cannons once researched 100 Made free

Campaign-only technologies[]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it.
Technology Age Building Cost Effect Time Comments
UniqueTechImperialDE Marakkalam Vessels CastleageDE Dock 500 food, 400 gold Ships traveling in the deep sea no longer suffer attrition 70 Available only in Rising Star
UniqueTechImperialDE Commoner Promotions CastleageDE Town Center 800 food, 600 gold +20 population cap [What?] Available to the Oda in Nobunaga
UniqueTechImperialDE Battlefield Trophies CastleageDE Town Center 800 food, 800 wood Killing enemy units generates gold. [What?] Available to the Takeda in Nobunaga
UniqueTechImperialDE Kuruma Gakari CastleageDE Town Center 600 food, 400 gold Elite Samurai move faster [What?] Available to the Uesugi in Nobunaga
UniqueTechCastle-DE True Pure Land CastleageDE Town Center 600 food, 400 gold Each Town Center (maximum 5) spawns 5 lkko Ikki. Units have more conversion resistance. [What?] Available to the Mori in Nobunaga
UniqueTechImperialDE Portuguese Traders CastleageDE Town Center 1,000 food, 1,000 gold Feitoria generate double resources [What?] Available to the Otomo in Nobunaga
UniqueTechImperialDE Industrious Peasants CastleageDE Town Center 1,000 wood, 500 gold Farmer work rate doubled [What?] Available to the Chosokabe in Nobunaga
Suplliesicon Trade for Supplies DarkAgeIconDE Mill and Longhouse 425 gold Exchange gold for food at an equal rate [What?] Available to the Player in Ragnar
UniqueTechCastle-DE Dane Axes DarkAgeIconDE Aoe2de pagan shrine icon Pagan Shrine 700 food, 500 gold, 4 stone Infantry get attack bonus vs cavalry and additional gold from civilian units. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE Leidangr DarkAgeIconDE 700 food, 200 gold, 2 stone Norse Warrior gold cost is replaced by additional food cost. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE River Raids DarkAgeIconDE 900 food, 500 gold, 8 stone Norse Warriors move 30% faster. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE Wolf Cloaks DarkAgeIconDE 900 food, 500 gold, 6 stone Night attack bonus is doubled to +4 attack at night. [What?]
UniqueTechCastle-DE Bearded Axes DarkAgeIconDE 900 food, 500 gold, 8 stone Throwing Axemen and Jarls have +1 range. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE Bogsveigar DarkAgeIconDE 850 food, 500 gold, 8 stone Archer-line and Longboats receive +1 attack. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE Shield Wall DarkAgeIconDE 1,200 food, 500 gold, 10 stone Infantry damage adjacent units. [What?]
UniqueTechImperialDE Ulfberht Swords DarkAgeIconDE 1,200 food, 750 gold, 12 stone Infantry have +4 attack. [What?]

Availability grid[]

The following tables show the availability of the technologies for every civilization. Technologies that are available to all civilizations are not shown in the table. The last two columns indicate the total available research count.

= Available
= Unavailable
= Unavailable, but fully covered by a civilization bonus

Economic, building, and Monastery technologies[]

Civilization TwoManSawDE CropRotationDE GoldShaftMiningDE StoneShaftMiningDE GuildsDE TreadmillCraneDE Masonry aoe2de ArchitectureDE HoardingsDE RedemptionDE AtonementDE HerbalDE HeresyDE SanctityDE FervorDE FaithDE IlluminationDE BlockPrintingDE Theocracy C T
CivIcon-Armenians Armenians 14 32
CivIcon-Aztecs Aztecs 14 28
CivIcon-Bengalis Bengalis 16 34
CivIcon-Berbers Berbers 15 34
CivIcon-Bohemians Bohemians 17 31
CivIcon-Britons Britons 14 32
CivIcon-Bulgarians Bulgarians 11 28
CivIcon-Burgundians Burgundians 17 28
CivIcon-Burmese Burmese 16 32
CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines 16 32
CivIcon-Celts Celts 11 27
CivIcon-Chinese Chinese 13 31
CivIcon-Cumans Cumans 12 26
CivIcon-Dravidians Dravidians 10 26
CivIcon-Ethiopians Ethiopians 14 31
CivIcon-Franks Franks 13 27
CivIcon-Georgians Georgians 15 32
CivIcon-Goths Goths 12 25
CivIcon-Gurjaras Gurjaras 15 29
CivIcon-Hindustanis Hindustanis 13 27
CivIcon-Huns Huns 10 24
CivIcon-Incas Incas 15 30
CivIcon-Italians Italians 17 35
CivIcon-Japanese Japanese 14 33
CivIcon-Khmer Khmer 13 29
CivIcon-Koreans Koreans 13 30
CivIcon-Lithuanians Lithuanians 18 33
CivIcon-Magyars Magyars 13 31
CivIcon-Malay Malay 14 30
CivIcon-Malians Malians 17 32
CivIcon-Mayans Mayans 16 28
CivIcon-Mongols Mongols 9 24
CivIcon-Persians Persians 13 31
CivIcon-Poles Poles 12 28
CivIcon-Portuguese Portuguese 16 34
CivIcon-Romans Romans 12 24
CivIcon-Saracens Saracens 15 34
CivIcon-Sicilians Sicilians 11 30
CivIcon-Slavs Slavs 13 29
CivIcon-Spanish Spanish 16 35
CivIcon-Tatars Tatars 10 26
CivIcon-Teutons Teutons 16 32
CivIcon-Turks Turks 14 34
CivIcon-Vietnamese Vietnamese 13 30
CivIcon-Vikings Vikings 12 29
Civilization TwoManSawDE CropRotationDE GoldShaftMiningDE StoneShaftMiningDE GuildsDE TreadmillCraneDE Masonry aoe2de Architecture HoardingsDE RedemptionDE AtonementDE HerbalDE HeresyDE SanctityDE Fervor FaithDE IlluminationDE BlockPrintingDE Theocracy C T

Military and ship technologies[]

Civilization SquiresDE Suplliesicon AoE2 Gambesons BlastFurnaceDE ChainMailArmorDE PlateMailArmorDE BloodlinesDE HusbandryDE ScaleBardingArmorDE ChainBardingDE PlateBardingArmorDE ThumbRingDE ParthianTacticsDE BracerDE LeatherArcherArmorDE RingArcherArmorDE HeatedShotDE ArrowSlitsDE SiegeEngineersDE DryDockDE ShipwrightDE SapperDE C T
CivIcon-Armenians Armenians 17 33
CivIcon-Aztecs Aztecs 14 28
CivIcon-Bengalis Bengalis 19 34
CivIcon-Berbers Berbers 18 34
CivIcon-Bohemians Bohemians 14 31
CivIcon-Britons Britons 19 32
CivIcon-Bulgarians Bulgarians 17 28
CivIcon-Burgundians Burgundians 12 28
CivIcon-Burmese Burmese 16 32
CivIcon-Byzantines Byzantines 16 31
CivIcon-Celts Celts 16 27
CivIcon-Chinese Chinese 18 31
CivIcon-Cumans Cumans 14 26
CivIcon-Dravidians Dravidians 16 26
CivIcon-Ethiopians Ethiopians 17 31
CivIcon-Franks Franks 14 28
CivIcon-Georgians Georgians 17 32
CivIcon-Goths Goths 13 25
CivIcon-Gurjaras Gurjaras 14 29
CivIcon-Hindustanis Hindustanis 14 27
CivIcon-Huns Huns 14 24
CivIcon-Incas Incas 14 30
CivIcon-Italians Italians 18 35
CivIcon-Japanese Japanese 19 32
CivIcon-Khmer Khmer 15 29
CivIcon-Koreans Koreans 17 30
CivIcon-Lithuanians Lithuanians 13 33
CivIcon-Magyars Magyars 18 31
CivIcon-Malay Malay 16 31
CivIcon-Malians Malians 15 32
CivIcon-Mayans Mayans 12 28
CivIcon-Mongols Mongols 15 24
CivIcon-Persians Persians 18 31
CivIcon-Poles Poles 15 28
CivIcon-Portuguese Portuguese 18 34
CivIcon-Romans Romans 12 24
CivIcon-Saracens Saracens 19 34
CivIcon-Sicilians Sicilians 19 31
CivIcon-Slavs Slavs 16 29
CivIcon-Spanish Spanish 19 35
CivIcon-Tatars Tatars 16 26
CivIcon-Teutons Teutons 16 33
CivIcon-Turks Turks 20 34
CivIcon-Vietnamese Vietnamese 18 30
CivIcon-Vikings Vikings 16 29
Civilization SquiresDE Suplliesicon Gambesons BlastFurnaceDE ChainMailArmorDE PlateMailArmorDE BloodlinesDE Husbandry ScaleBardingArmorDE ChainBardingDE PlateBardingArmorDE ThumbRingDE ParthianTacticsDE BracerDE LeatherArcherArmorDE RingArcherArmorDE Heated Shot ArrowSlitsDE SiegeEngineersDE DryDockDE ShipwrightDE SapperDE C T

Upgrades[]

Main article: Upgrade (Age of Empires II)
Technologies in Age of Empires II
Economic technologies
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerWheelbarrowDE Wheelbarrow · HandcartDE Hand Cart
Aoe2de food FoodHorseCollarDE Horse Collar · HeavyPlowDE Heavy Plow · CropRotationDE Crop Rotation
GillnetsDE Gillnets
Aoe2de wood WoodDoubleBitAxe aoe2DE Double-Bit Axe · BowSawDE Bow Saw · TwoManSawDE Two-Man Saw
Aoe2de gold GoldGoldMiningDE Gold Mining · GoldShaftMiningDE Gold Shaft Mining
CaravanDE Caravan
Aoe2de stone StoneStoneMiningDE Stone Mining · StoneShaftMiningDE Stone Shaft Mining
Civilian shipsDryDockDE Dry Dock · ShipwrightDE Shipwright
Market aoe2DE MarketCoinageDE Coinage · BankingDE Banking
GuildsDE Guilds
Military technologies
GeneralConscriptionDE Conscription
HeresyDE Heresy · Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion · FaithDE Faith
Melee unitsForging aoe2de Forging · IronCastingDE Iron Casting · BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace
CavalryBloodlinesDE Bloodlines · HusbandryDE Husbandry
ScaleBardingArmorDE Scale Barding Armor · ChainBardingDE Chain Barding Armor · PlateBardingArmorDE Plate Barding Armor
InfantrySuplliesicon Supplies · AoE2 Gambesons Gambesons · SquiresDE Squires · ArsonDE Arson
ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor · ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor · PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor
Ranged unitsBallisticsDE Ballistics · ChemistryDE Chemistry
FletchingDE Fletching · BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow · BracerDE Bracer
ArchersPaddedArcherArmorDE Padded Archer Armor · LeatherArcherArmorDE Leather Archer Armor · RingArcherArmorDE Ring Archer Armor
ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring · ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics
SiegeSiegeEngineersDE Siege Engineers
ShipCareeningDE Careening · DryDockDE Dry Dock
ShipwrightDE Shipwright
WarGalleyDE War Galley
BuildingTownWatchDE Town Watch · TownPatrolDE Town Patrol
Masonry aoe2de Masonry · ArchitectureDE Architecture
HeatedShotDE Heated Shot · ArrowSlitsDE Arrowslits · MurderHolesDE Murder Holes · TreadmillCraneDE Treadmill Crane · HoardingsDE Hoardings · BombardTower aoe2DE Bombard Tower
HerbalDE Herbal Medicine
MonkRedemptionDE Redemption · AtonementDE Atonement · SanctityDE Sanctity · FervorDE Fervor · IlluminationDE Illumination · BlockPrintingDE Block Printing · TheocracyDE Theocracy
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerLoomDE Loom · SapperDE Sappers
Miscellaneous technologies
SpiesDE Spies · SpiesDE Treason · Unique tech aoe2de mixed Unique technologies
Removed/cut generic technologies
Bombardcannonresearch Bombard Cannon · CannongalleonresearchDE Cannon Galleon · Cartography aoe2de Cartography · Handcannon Hand Cannon · Huntingdogs Hunting Dogs · Revetments · TrackingDE Tracking
Advertisement