This article is about the technology in Age of Empires II. For other uses, see Wheelbarrow. |
Wheelbarrow is a technology in Age of Empires II that can be researched at the Town Center once the Feudal Age is reached. Once researched, it allows Villagers to carry 26.95% more resources and move 10% faster.
To ensure that the actual increase is never rounded down to below 25% (the intended increase), the bonus is 26.95% internally.
Hand Cart is the further upgrade of this technology, available in the Castle Age.
Wheelbarrow is a crucial economical upgrade and should be researched in any game. However, the player should consider that researching it blocks the Town Center for Villager production (the 75 seconds needed for the research equals the training time of three Villagers), so it should only be researched with enough Villagers, particularly Farmers, as they gain the greatest benefit.
Carry capacity comparison table[]
Since civilization bonuses are applied before Wheelbarrow, Aztec Villagers benefit even more from this technology than a generic Villager.
Unupgraded | Wheelbarrow | Hand Cart | |
---|---|---|---|
Villager (generic) | 10 | 13 | 20 |
Villager (Aztecs) | 13 | 17 | 26 |
Fisherman (Dravidians) | 25 | 32 | 48 |
Hunter (generic) | 35 | 44 | 66 |
Hunter (Aztecs) | 38 | 48 | 72 |
Hunter (Goths) | 50 | 63 | 95 |
Civilizations bonuses[]
- Burgundians: Can research Wheelbarrow in the Dark Age. Wheelbarrow costs -33% food.
- Chinese: Wheelbarrow is 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Persians: Researching Wheelbarrow is 10%/15%/20% faster in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Spanish: Receive 20 gold after researching Wheelbarrow.
- Vietnamese: Researching Wheelbarrow is 100% faster and costs no wood.
- Vikings: Wheelbarrow is free.
Team bonuses[]
- Portuguese: Researching Wheelbarrow is 25% faster.
Changelog[]
Rise of the Rajas[]
- Vietnamese: Wheelbarrow costs the regular price.
Definitive Edition[]
- Vietnamese: With update 35584, Wheelbarrow costs no wood.
- Portuguese: With update 42848, Wheelbarrow is researched 30% faster.
Lords of the West[]
- Burgundians: With update 47820, Wheelbarrow costs -50% food.
Dynasties of India[]
- Burgundians: With update 66692, Wheelbarrow costs -40% food. With update 78174, Wheelbarrow costs -33% food.
- Portuguese: With update 73855, Wheelbarrow is researched 25% faster as a team bonus.
Return of Rome[]
- Vietnamese: With update 87863, researching Wheelbarrow is 100% faster.
History[]
“ | The simple wheelbarrow, or one-wheeled hand cart, was a significant invention at a time when most people worked with their hands in an agricultural community. There was little industry in the early part of the Middle Ages. The economy was powered largely by people growing crops, herding livestock, gathering, and building. The wheelbarrow provided an important productivity improvement. | ” |
—Age of Empires II manual |