Unique unit (Age of Empires II)

A unique unit is a unit only available to a single civilization in Age of Empires II.

Overview Edit

Each civilization in the game has one unique unit that can only be trained at the Castle in the Castle Age, but eight civilizations have access to a second unique unit that is trained at another building.

Before Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms was released, a Castle was required to train the second unique unit. Since that was changed, the civilizations with two unique units gain the advantage of instant access to a unique unit once the Castle Age is reached.

There are roughly three categories of unique units: Castle units, non-Castle units and shared units. As the name suggests, a Castle unit can only be trained at a Castle (except Huskarl, Tarkan and Konnik - see the list below), while non-Castle units are created elsewhere (Longboat, Turtle Ship, Missionary, Slinger, Imperial Camel Rider, and Caravel).

Shared units, however, fill a different and broader niche since their nature means that they can be used by other civilizations in addition to their own by simply allying with their native factions. A team containing an Italian, Berber, or Vietnamese player will have access to the Condottieri, Genitours, or Imperial Skirmishers, respectively. Shared unique units are team bonuses.

Apart from the Imperial Camel Rider, Condottiero, and Imperial Skirmisher, all unique units are available in the Castle Age.

All but five (Slinger, Condottiero, Imperial Camel Rider, Missionary, Imperial Skirmisher) unique units have an Elite version that possesses overall superior statistics. The upgrade is always available in the Imperial Age.

It is worth noting that the Samurai possesses an attack bonus against all unique units (including itself) but the Imperial Camel Rider and the Imperial Skirmisher, which are technically just unique upgrades. It is the only unit that has an attack bonus against unique units.

List of unique units Edit

All in all, there are 44 unique units:

• 15 Archers (including 8 cavalry archers)
• 12 Infantry
• 10 Cavalry
• 3 Gunpowder units
• 3 Ships
• 1 Special unit

The Age of Kings Edit

Civilization	Unique unit	Trained at	Description and specialties
Britons	Longbowman	Castle	Archer with long range
Byzantines	Cataphract	Castle	Anti-infantry cavalry, resistant to attack bonuses
Celts	Woad Raider	Castle	Fast-moving, anti-building infantry
Chinese	Chu Ko Nu	Castle	Archer that fires a volley of arrows
Franks	Throwing Axeman	Castle	Infantry with ranged melee attack
Goths	Huskarl	Castle / Barracks*	Anti-archer infantry
Japanese	Samurai	Castle	Fast attacking, anti-unique unit infantry
Mongols	Mangudai	Castle	Fast attacking, anti-siege cavalry archer
Persians	War Elephant	Castle	Slow yet strong anti-building elephant
Saracens	Mameluke	Castle	Anti-cavalry camel with ranged melee attack
Teutons	Teutonic Knight	Castle	Slow, heavily armored infantry with powerful attack
Turks	Janissary	Castle	Hand cannoneer with high attack
Vikings	Berserk	Castle	Regenerating infantry
	Longboat	Dock	Warship that fires multiple arrows

Note: The Goths can train Huskarls at the Barracks after researching Anarchy.

The Conquerors Edit

Civilization	Unique unit	Trained at	Description and specialties
Aztecs	Jaguar Warrior	Castle	Anti-infantry infantry
Huns	Tarkan	Castle / Stable*	Anti-building cavalry
Koreans	War Wagon	Castle	High-armored cavalry archer
	Turtle Ship	Dock	Warship with very high attack
Mayans	Plumed Archer	Castle	Cheap, fast moving, archer with high hit points
Spanish	Conquistador	Castle	Mounted hand cannoneer with high damage
	Missionary	Monastery	Mounted Monk