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Civilization units are trained at Castles starting in the Castle Age. These are some of the best units in the entire game, all with powerful special abilities. These units are normally a large part of any civilization's play style.

Britons[]

Longbowman[]

Longbowmen- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

The Longbowman is an archer unit with immense firepower. While their stats already look impressive, their power really comes from their Volley skill, which adds +50% to their attack. This means an unupgraded Longbowman regularly has an attack of 338. This attack is 56% higher than the Archer, but they are only 44% more expensive. Also, Longbowmen are archers, not Crossbowmen, so they can move and shoot in the same turn, making them great for tactical maneuvers. Longbowmen are the most fragile of all unique units, and they should be protected at all times.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Type: Ranged
  • Food cost: 185
  • Gold cost: 80
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 7
  • Attack: 225
  • Defense: 150
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 3
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special abilities

  • Volley- If this unit is over 50% health, then it adds an additional 50% to its attack power.

Elite Longbowman[]

Elite Longbowmen- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

With their volley ability, Elite Longbowmen have a base attack of 412, which is already 27% higher than even Hand Cannoneers. In addition, they can move and shoot in a single turn. Since Elite Longbowmen attack from afar, it is likely that they will survive long enough to obtain high veterancy, which can bring their attack to 536. If used correctly, Elite Longbowmen are one of the most cost-effective units in the game.

Stats

  • Age: 4
  • Type; Ranged
  • Food cost: 245
  • Gold cost: 95
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 7
  • Attack: 275
  • Defense: 200
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 3
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special abilities

  • Volley- If this unit is over 50% health, then it adds an additional 50% to its attack power.

Franks[]

Throwing Axeman[]

Throwing Axemen- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Throwing Axemen are an interesting combination of swordsmen and Skirmishers. Throwing Axemen also get a bonus when fighting in forest terrain, so it is important to arrange combat near forests to maximize their potential. Throwing Axemen are great to use to soak up damage from other units, since when standing in a forest combined with their skirmish skill, they achieve a defence of 382 and will attack first in melee encounters, adding to their survivability.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Type: Infantry
  • Food cost: 210
  • Gold cost: 70
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 7
  • Attack: 225
  • Defense: 250
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: +33 damage to siege, +33 damage to buildings

Special abilities

  • Skirmish- When this unit is attacked in melee combat, this unit will attack first.
  • Woodsman- This unit increases its attack and defence by +33% when fighting on forest terrain.

Elite Throwing Axemen[]

Elite Throwing Axemen- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Elite Throwing Axemen are powerful units that are perfect for hit-and-run tactics or forest flanking maneuvers. They are very difficult to take down when in forest terrain, as their defence reaches 459 (without upgrades or veterancy). These are one of the only units that can be considered safe to be left alone in enemy lines. They are masters of disrupting or blocking important locations.

Stats

  • Age: 4
  • Type: Infantry
  • Food cost: 280
  • Gold cost: 80
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 10
  • Attack: 275
  • Defense: 300
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: +33 damage to siege, +33 damage to buildings.

Special abilities

  • Skirmish- When this unit is attacked in melee combat, this unit will attack first.
  • Woodsman- This unit increases its attack and defence by +33% when fighting on forest terrain.

Saracens[]

Mameluke[]

Mamelukes- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Mamelukes are the least unique of the unique units, since they are essentially just improved Camels in the Castle Age, but that alone makes them an excellent unit. Mamelukes quickly destroy other cavalry due to their scare horses ability. While they are great on the desert terrain, they are still strong on other terrain types.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Type: Cavalry
  • Food cost: 190
  • Gold cost: 80
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 10
  • Attack: 250
  • Defense: 200
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

  • Desert Charge- When fighting on desert or desert road terrain (not desert hills), this unit will add 33% to its attack. If the opposing unit also has desert charge activate, then both effects are cancelled. Please note, the tile of the battle is considered to be the one the enemy getting attacked is currently standing on.
  • Scares Horses- this unit does 33% damage to horse cavalry. This does not affect horse archers or Scout Cavalry.

Elite Mameluke[]

Elite Mamelukes- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Elite Mamelukes continue to be a strong cavalry option in the Imperial Age. With their large attack and scare horses ability, they are actually effective at defeating Paladins. Being trained from Castles also means that Elite Mamelukes will be available instantly when needed.

Stats

  • Age: 4
  • Type: Cavalry
  • Food cost: 295
  • Gold cost: 60
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 10
  • Attack: 300
  • Defense: 250
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

  • Desert Charge- When fighting on desert or desert road terrain (not desert hills), this unit will add 33% to its attack. If the opposing unit also has desert charge activate, then both effects are cancelled. Please note, the tile of the battle is considered to be the one the enemy getting attacked is currently standing on.
  • Scares Horses- this unit does 33% damage to horse cavalry. This does not affect horse archers or Scout Cavalry.

Mongols[]

Mangudai[]

Mangudai- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Mangudai are the famous horse archers of the Mongol empire. At first glance, they may seem to be the same as regular horse archers, but their strength comes from their first strike ability. Attacking first before every encounter is an effective defense, since the attacking units are weakened and thus have a lower damage output. This survivability of Mangudai allow them to take greater risks to attack key targets than the normally fragile horse archers.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Type: Ranged
  • Food cost: 190
  • Gold cost: 80
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 10
  • Attack: 150
  • Defense: 150
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 2
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special abilities

  • First Strike- When being attacked, this unit will inflict their regular attack damage before their opponent can attack. If both units have first-strike, they both cancel out and combat continues as normal.

Elite Mangudai[]

Elite Mangudai- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Elite Mangudai have the same stats as the heavy horse archers of the Imperial Age, but their first strike ability gives them a huge advantage. Elite Mangudai now compete with a lot of very dangerous +3 ranged siege and archer units, making them and their first strike ability less effective.

Stats

  • Age: 4
  • Type: Ranged
  • Food cost: 250
  • Gold cost: 95
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 10
  • Attack: 200
  • Defense: 200
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 2
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special abilities

  • First Strike- When being attacked, this unit will inflict their regular attack damage before their opponent can attack. If both units have first-strike, they both cancel out and combat continues as normal.

Mongol Chieftain[]

Mongol Chieftain Model- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

In the second Mongol campaign scenario, Genghis Khan must defeat (or convert using Monks) three Mongol Chieftains of similar rank to himself. If these chieftains are converted to the player's side, they immediately leave the battlefield peacefully, and thus the player cannot control them ever. They are listed as having a movement rank of 0, which means they always remain in the same same spot every turn, making them easy to surround. These units are essentially the same Mangudai, but they actually have a unique model, not just a renamed base unit like most other enemy heroes in the game.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Food cost: N/A
  • Gold cost: N/A
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 0
  • Attack: 150
  • Defence: 150
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 2
  • Attack Bonus: -50% damage to buildings

Special Abilities

  • First Strike- When being attacked, this unit will inflict their regular attack damage before their opponent can attack. If both units have first-strike, they both cancel out and combat continues as normal.

Civilization discounts or premiums- Not applicable for this unit

Japanese[]

Samurai[]

Samurai- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Samurai are an immensely powerful infantry unit, superior to Longswordsmen. They have great attack and defence and an impressive movement range of 9, meaning they can quickly exploit gaps in enemy formations. The seasoned veteran ability means this unit will quickly gain veterancy, further improving their stats.

Stats

  • Age: 3
  • Type: Infantry
  • Food cost: 215
  • Gold cost: 70
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 9
  • Attack: 250
  • Defense: 250
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

  • Seasoned Veteran- This unit reaches each level of veterancy one battle earlier (first level- 2 battles, second level-4 battles, third level- 6 battles). This unit only requires 6 battles to reach full veterancy rank.

Elite Samurai[]

Elite Samurai- (Age of Empires- Age of Kings)

Elite Samurai are likely the best infantry unit in the game. They are only slightly more expensive than Champions, have identical attack and defense, but Elite Samurai have better movement range and rise in veterancy rankings quicker. Being trained at the Castle is also generally more useful than having to be trained and moved from a town. They do not require any additional research technologies compared to Champions.

Stats

  • Age: 4
  • Type: Infantry
  • Food cost: 280
  • Gold cost: 85
  • Health: 100
  • Movement: 9
  • Attack: 300
  • Defense: 300
  • Sight: 7
  • Attack range: 1
  • Attack bonus: -50% damage to buildings, +33 damage to infantry, +33 damage to ranged units.

Special abilities

  • Seasoned Veteran- This unit reaches each level of veterancy one battle earlier (first level- 2 battles, second level-4 battles, third level- 6 battles).
Age of Empires: The Age of Kings
Gameplay elementsBuilding ยท Unit ยท Terrain ยท Map object ยท Technology tree
CivilizationsBritons ยท Franks ยท Japanese ยท Mongols ยท Saracens
Unit typesInfantry ยท Archer ยท Cavalry ยท Siege ยท Unique ยท Mercenary ยท Hero ยท Non-combatant
CampaignsJoan of Arc ยท Minamoto Yoshitsune ยท Genghis Khan ยท Saladin ยท Richard the Lionheart
CategoriesImages
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