Tusk Swords is a technology in Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas that is unique to the Khmer and can be researched at the Castle. Once researched, it gives +3 attack to Battle Elephants.
Strategy[]
As the Khmer already have faster Battle Elephants, Tusk Swords furthers the offensive capabilities of them. They also have full Blacksmith upgrades for them, plus Bloodlines and Husbandry. Due to its cost and the value it offers, Tusk Swords should be researched as soon as possible if the player is really committing to Battle Elephants and owns a Castle already, and may even be prioritized over Iron Casting. However, in most circumstances, the defensive upgrades are still preferable to research first.
In more aggressive, open maps like Arabia, Tusk Swords might be too costly due to resources and idle villager time required for building a Castle; thus, with no other option than researching the Blacksmith upgrades first, and delay the research of this unique technology until late Castle Age or the Imperial Age.
This technology enables Khmer Elite Battle Elephants to effectively kill villagers in one less hit (from 3 to 2). Combined with the 10% faster movement speed bonus, this makes them useful at raiding.
Team bonuses[]
- Portuguese: Researching Tusk Swords is 25% faster.
History[]
Tusk swords are a pair of blades specifically designed to be attached to elephant tusks. These weapons, combined with elephant body armor, made elephants more fearsome in battle. It is believed that hundreds or even thousands of tusk swords have existed in the past. But today, only few of them remain and can be seen in museums.[1]
Changelog[]
Rise of the Rajas[]
Definitive Edition[]
- With update 42848, Tusk Swords costs 300 wood, 450 gold.