Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Thumb Ring is a technology in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors available at the Archery Range upon reaching the Castle Age. Once researched, all archers are able to fire faster and with 100% accuracy at an immobile target.

This technology is different from Ballistics (researched at the University), which improves targeting against moving targets.

Technology availability
Available Unavailable

Affected units

All units listed below benefit from Thumb Ring. The Longbowman (denoted with a *) does too, but the Britons do not get Thumb Ring. Hence, this is only relevant in games with Full Tech Tree checked.

Archer unit Rate of Fire increase Accuracy increase
Archer aoe2DE Archer +18% yes
Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman +18% yes
Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester +18% yes
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher no yes
Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher no yes
Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher no yes
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer +11% yes
Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer +11% yes
LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman* +18% yes
LongbowmanIcon-DE Elite Longbowman* +18% yes
ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu +25% yes
ChukoNuIcon-DE Elite Chu Ko Nu +25% yes
MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai +18% yes
MangudaiIcon-DE Elite Mangudai +18% yes
WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon +11% no
WarWagonIcon-DE Elite War Wagon +11% no
PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer +18% yes
PlumedArcherIcon-DE Elite Plumed Archer +18% yes
SlingerIcon-DE Slinger no yes
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer +18% no
ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer +18% no
GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman +18% no
GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Elite Genoese Crossbowman +18% no
CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer +18% yes
CamelArcherIcon-DE Elite Camel Archer +18% yes
GenitourIcon-DE Genitour no yes
GenitourIcon-DE Elite Genitour no yes
Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer +18% yes
Rattanarchericon-DE Elite Rattan Archer +18% yes
Kipchakicon Kipchak +11% yes
Kipchakicon Elite Kipchak +11% yes

Civilization bonuses

  • Chinese: Thumb Ring is 15%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.

Team bonuses

  • A team containing Britons: Researching Thumb Ring is 20% faster.

Changelog

The Forgotten

  • Incas: Cannot research Thumb Ring.

The African Kingdoms

  • Incas: Thumb Ring added to their technology tree.

History

โ€œThe typical archer of the Middle Ages drew the bowstring back to his chest to fire. English longbowmen had the ability to draw back to their cheek, increasing the power and distance of their shots. Archers from Asia developed a thumb ring that made it possible to draw back to their ear or beyond. When this improvement was added to their already very powerful composite bows, their weapons proved quite effective.โ€
The Conquerors manual
Technologies in Age of Empires II
Economic technologies
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerWheelbarrowDE Wheelbarrow ยท HandcartDE Hand Cart
Aoe2de food FoodHorseCollarDE Horse Collar ยท HeavyPlowDE Heavy Plow ยท CropRotationDE Crop Rotation
GillnetsDE Gillnets
Aoe2de wood WoodDoubleBitAxe aoe2DE Double-Bit Axe ยท BowSawDE Bow Saw ยท TwoManSawDE Two-Man Saw
Aoe2de gold GoldGoldMiningDE Gold Mining ยท GoldShaftMiningDE Gold Shaft Mining
CaravanDE Caravan
Aoe2de stone StoneStoneMiningDE Stone Mining ยท StoneShaftMiningDE Stone Shaft Mining
Civilian shipsDryDockDE Dry Dock ยท ShipwrightDE Shipwright
Market aoe2DE MarketCoinageDE Coinage ยท BankingDE Banking
GuildsDE Guilds
Military technologies
GeneralConscriptionDE Conscription
HeresyDE Heresy ยท Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion ยท FaithDE Faith
Melee unitsForging aoe2de Forging ยท IronCastingDE Iron Casting ยท BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace
CavalryBloodlinesDE Bloodlines ยท HusbandryDE Husbandry
ScaleBardingArmorDE Scale Barding Armor ยท ChainBardingDE Chain Barding Armor ยท PlateBardingArmorDE Plate Barding Armor
InfantrySuplliesicon Supplies ยท AoE2 Gambesons Gambesons ยท SquiresDE Squires ยท ArsonDE Arson
ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor ยท ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor ยท PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor
Ranged unitsBallisticsDE Ballistics ยท ChemistryDE Chemistry
FletchingDE Fletching ยท BodkinArrowDE Bodkin Arrow ยท BracerDE Bracer
ArchersPaddedArcherArmorDE Padded Archer Armor ยท LeatherArcherArmorDE Leather Archer Armor ยท RingArcherArmorDE Ring Archer Armor
ThumbRingDE Thumb Ring ยท ParthianTacticsDE Parthian Tactics
SiegeSiegeEngineersDE Siege Engineers
ShipCareeningDE Careening ยท DryDockDE Dry Dock
ShipwrightDE Shipwright
WarGalleyDE War Galley
BuildingTownWatchDE Town Watch ยท TownPatrolDE Town Patrol
Masonry aoe2de Masonry ยท ArchitectureDE Architecture
HeatedShotDE Heated Shot ยท ArrowSlitsDE Arrowslits ยท MurderHolesDE Murder Holes ยท TreadmillCraneDE Treadmill Crane ยท HoardingsDE Hoardings ยท BombardTower aoe2DE Bombard Tower
HerbalDE Herbal Medicine
MonkRedemptionDE Redemption ยท AtonementDE Atonement ยท SanctityDE Sanctity ยท FervorDE Fervor ยท IlluminationDE Illumination ยท BlockPrintingDE Block Printing ยท TheocracyDE Theocracy
MaleVillDEFEMALEVILLDE VillagerLoomDE Loom ยท SapperDE Sappers
Miscellaneous technologies
SpiesDE Spies ยท SpiesDE Treason ยท Unique tech aoe2de mixed Unique technologies
Removed/cut generic technologies
Bombardcannonresearch Bombard Cannon ยท CannongalleonresearchDE Cannon Galleon ยท Cartography aoe2de Cartography ยท Handcannon Hand Cannon ยท Huntingdogs Hunting Dogs ยท Revetments ยท TrackingDE Tracking
Advertisement