Age of Empires II continues to evolve, and with the upcoming DLC, players can look forward to five new civilizations that promise to shake up the gameplay. Officially launching on May 6th, this DLC introduces the Jurchens, Khitans, Shu, Wei, and Wu. Let’s dive into each civilization and explore their unique features, tech trees, and strategies.
Jurchens: The Cavalry and Gunpowder Civilization
The Jurchens are characterized as a cavalry and gunpowder civilization, bringing a range of intriguing mechanics to the table. One of their standout bonuses is that hunted and livestock animals do not decay. This means that players can take their time gathering resources without worrying about spoilage. Imagine having a deer in the middle of the battlefield that you can utilize without it disappearing!
In the Feudal Age, mounted units and fire lancers attack 20% faster, enhancing their offensive capabilities significantly. They also have access to siege engineers in the castle, allowing for upgraded range on manganels, a crucial advantage during sieges.
- Unique Unit: The Jurchens have two unique units: the Iron Pagod, a cavalry unit, and the Grenadier, a gunpowder unit. The Grenadier deals blast damage, making it effective against infantry.
- Unique Techs: Fortified Bastions allow fortifications to regenerate 500 HP per minute, while Thunderclap bombs create additional explosions when certain units are defeated.
- Team Bonus: Gunpowder units gain an additional two line of sight, enhancing their scouting and positioning capabilities.
However, the Jurchens do face some limitations. Their archery range lacks critical upgrades, and their barracks only allow for basic infantry units. Still, the Fire Lancer, a unique gunpowder shock infantry unit, compensates for this by being strong against cavalry and buildings.
Khitans: Innovators of Food Production
The Khitans introduce a fascinating twist with their unique pasture system instead of traditional farms. Pastures allow shepherds and herders to generate an additional 10% food, making early game resource management crucial. Their bonuses include faster training times for spearmen, skirmishers, and scout cavalry, making them formidable opponents in the early game.
- Unique Unit: The Liao Dao, an infantry unit that wounds enemies over time, and the Mounted Trebushe, a siege cavalry, add versatility to their military.
- Unique Techs: Lamellar Armor reflects 25% melee damage back to attackers, which can be a game-changer in battles.
- Team Bonus: Infantry units receive a +2 attack against ranged soldiers, enhancing their combat effectiveness.
While they lack certain cavalry upgrades, their unique units and techs provide interesting strategies for players willing to adapt their play style.
Shu: Masters of Archery and Siege
The Shu civilization is all about archers and siege warfare. They boast a unique ability where lumberjacks generate food alongside wood, giving them an economic edge. The cost of archery unit technologies is reduced by 25%, allowing players to develop a strong ranged army quickly.
- Unique Units: The White Feather Guard infantry can slow down enemies temporarily, and the War Chariot siege weapon adds a new dynamic to their siege capabilities.
- Unique Techs: Coiled Serpent Array grants additional HP to spearmen and White Feather Guards when near each other, providing synergy in battles.
- Team Bonus: Foot archers gain +2 line of sight, enhancing their scouting ability.
Despite their strengths, the Shu's cavalry options are limited, so players must rely heavily on their archers and siege units to dominate the battlefield.
Wei: The Cavalry Civilization
Wei focuses on cavalry and boasts impressive bonuses. Players receive a free villager for each mill, lumber, and mining camp technology researched. This provides a significant economic boost, allowing for rapid expansion and resource gathering.
- Unique Units: The Tiger Cavalry gains HP and attack when defeating enemy military units, making it a snowball unit in battles.
- Unique Techs: Tunden Soldiers passively produce food, which can create interesting strategic options for players.
- Team Bonus: Cavalry units gain +2 attack with siege weapons, enhancing their siege capabilities.
Although their infantry tech tree is somewhat lacking, the Wei's cavalry units can be devastating in the right hands, especially when combined with their unique advantages.
Wu: The Infantry and Naval Civilization
The Wu civilization strikes a balance between infantry and naval warfare. Their military production buildings provide a substantial food boost, making it easier to train armies quickly. Infantry units regenerate HP gradually, adding sustainability to their forces.
- Unique Units: The Fire Archer is a foot archer that fires multiple arrows at units and has a long-range attack against buildings.
- Unique Techs: Red Cliff's Tactics allows demolition ships and fire archers to deal fire damage, while Sitting Tiger enhances traction trebushets and luchuan's firepower.
- Team Bonus: Houses are built 100% faster, facilitating rapid expansion and defense.
Despite some limitations in their cavalry options, the Wu's unique units and naval capabilities make them a versatile and engaging civilization to play.
Conclusion: A New Era for Age of Empires II
The introduction of these five new civilizations in the upcoming DLC for Age of Empires II brings exciting possibilities for players. Each civilization offers unique strengths and weaknesses that can be leveraged for various strategies. Whether you prefer cavalry, archers, or siege warfare, there’s something for everyone in this expansion. As we await the release on May 6th, the anticipation is palpable. Prepare to dive into new adventures and conquer your opponents with these fresh civilizations!
Stay tuned for more updates and strategies as we delve deeper into the mechanics of these new civilizations!