In the vast landscape of Age of Empires 2 – AoE2, most civilizations are highly specialized, excelling in one or two unit classes—such as Archers, Cavalry, or Siege. However, a select few rise above, offering a wealth of strategic flexibility. These are the versatile civilizations, defined by having the highest number of viable options available throughout the game.
In this deep dive, based on the analysis by expert player Hera, we count down the Top 5 Most Versatile Civilizations in AoE2, ranking them from solid all-rounders to the ultimate jack-of-all-trades.
5.
The Italians
While often labeled an archer and naval civilization, the Italians’ true strength lies in their strategic depth, especially in the late game.
Why They Are Versatile:
- ⚓ Naval Supremacy: The Italians boast one of the best navies in the game. They receive dock upgrades at a minus 33% cost and their fishing ships are cheaper. They possess a fantastic tech tree, only missing heavy demolition ships.
- 🏹 Powerful Foot Archers: They have fully upgraded Arbalests, Hand Cannoneers, and Elite Skirmishers. Notably, their foot archers and unique unit, the Condottiero, receive +1 melee and +1 pierce armor from the start of the game.
- 🏇 Anti-Cavalry Mastery: Their unique unit, the Genoese Crossbow, is a potent anti-cavalry archer, dealing massive damage to mounted units like Paladins.
- 💣 Gunpowder Synergy: Italian gunpowder units cost minus 20%. Their Imperial Age unique tech, Golden Crown, boosts the Hand Cannoneer, giving it 15% pass-through damage and increased accuracy. This bonus also applies to Bombard Cannons and Cannon Galleons.
- 🤺 The Condottiero Option: The Condottiero is a fast, well-rounded unique infantry unit (available as a team bonus in 1v1) that specializes in countering gunpowder due to taking less damage from and dealing more damage to gunpowder units.
- 🔝 Utility: They have fully upgraded Hussar and Cavalier lines, Champions, Pikemen, Bombard Towers, and Keeps.
4.
The Berbers
The Berbers are fundamentally a strong cavalry and naval civilization, but they possess an array of highly efficient and unique options that push them high up the versatility rankings.
Why They Are Versatile:
- 🏇 Elite Cavalry Economy: Stable units receive a significant discount (15% in Castle Age and 20% in Imperial Age). They field fully upgraded Hussars, Cavaliers, and Heavy Camel Riders (though they miss Paladin).
- ⚓ Speedy Navy: Their naval tech tree is complete, missing nothing. All Berber ships move 10% faster, including fishing ships (which provides a nice eco bonus on water maps). This speed makes their Heavy Demolition Ships exceptionally potent.
- 🏇 Unique Mounted Skirmishers: The Genitour is effectively a mounted skirmisher that moves considerably faster than foot units. This unit allows for great map control and efficient hit-and-run trades against enemy archers and skirmishers.
- 🏹 Specialized Anti-Cavalry Archers: The Camel Archer is a specialized cavalry archer that deals bonus damage against other mounted archers, making it effective against civs fielding units like the Mangudai.
- ⚙️ Siege & Support: Unlike the Italians, the Berbers get access to Siege Engineers, along with Hand Cannoneer, Bombard Cannon, Heavy Scorpion, and Onager. They also field fully upgraded Champions and Pikemen (missing only Gambeson).
3.
The Saracens
If you are looking for a wide-open tech tree, the Saracens are often the “go-to civ”. Described as a Camel and Naval civilization, their strength lies in their capacity to field fully upgraded common units alongside powerful unique options.
Why They Are Versatile:
- 🐪 Tanky Camels: Their unique bonus grants their Camels plus 25% HP. This means a Heavy Camel Rider can reach 170 HP in Imperial Age, making the Camel Rider a major force.
- 🏹 Complete Archer Line: The Saracens possess the full Archery Range tech tree—including fully upgraded Arbalests, Hand Cannoneers, Elite Skirmishers, Heavy Cavalry Archers, and Parthian Tactics. Their foot archers and skirmishers also benefit from a team bonus that grants +2 attack versus buildings.
- 🎄 Near-Full Tech Trees: They field all Barracks units except the Halberdier. Their Siege is stunning, featuring a full tech tree (missing only Heavy Scorpion), with an Imperial unique tech that gives their Siege Rams and Mangonel line plus 15% extra attack.
- 🐪 Anti-Cavalry Powerhouse: The Elite Mameluke is an extremely strong unique anti-cavalry unit and an overall powerhouse in the late game.
- ⚓ Unique Naval Advantage: While missing Shipwright and Fast Fire Ships, their Galleons attack 25% faster. Their Transport Ships also have 100% extra HP and can carry up to 40 units, allowing for “really nice surprise attacks”.
- 🕌 Monk Utility: Their Monk tech tree is fully teched out. Furthermore, their unique tech allows Monks to passively heal multiple nearby units—an effective Area of Effect (AOE) healing ability.
- Key Caveat: They are the only civ in the game that misses Cavalier but has Knights.
2.
The Byzantines
The Byzantines make this list not because they have the single strongest tech tree, but because their versatility is outstanding in practice. Described as a defensive civilization (all buildings get extra HP), they are defined by their efficiency in unit switching.
Why They Are Versatile:
- 🪙 Economy of Choice: Three major unit lines—Camel Riders, Skirmishers, and the Spear line—all cost minus 25%. This makes it extremely efficient to switch compositions based on the opponent.
- 🎯 Strong Counter Kit: The Byzantines are uniquely equipped to counter almost every unit in the game:
- 🏹⛔ Anti-Archers: Cheap Elite Skirmishers.
- 🏇⛔ Anti-Cavalry: Cheap Halberdiers and cheap Camel Riders.
- ⚔️⛔ Anti-Infantry: Their unique unit, the Elite Cataphract, is a strong, well-rounded cavalry unit. Once the Logistica tech is researched, it deals trample damage, serving as the final piece in their counter kit.
- ⚓Naval Strength: They miss the Cannon Galleon, but they receive the Dromon in its place. Their Fire Ships and Dromons attack 25% faster. The unique tech Greek Fire also gives their Fire Ships +1 range.
- 🧱 Building Durability: Their buildings are extra tanky without needing separate techs. They get access to Keep and Bombard Tower.
- Support: They have access to Paladins (though they miss Bloodlines) and fully upgraded Champions and Halberdiers. Monks heal 100% faster as a team bonus.
1.
The Spanish
The Spanish are Hera’s choice for the Most Versatile Civilization in Age of Empires 2. While they have one major hole—they are missing the Crossbow/Arbalest—their abundance of fully upgraded units and unique options make up for this gap exponentially.
Why They Are Versatile:
- 🔝 Complete Power Unit Access: They field fully upgraded Paladin, Champion, and Halberdier. They also have fully upgraded Hand Cannoneers and Heavy Cavalry Archers.
- ⚒️ Perfect Utility: Their Blacksmith and Monk tech trees are fully upgraded. Crucially, their Dock has every single upgrade.
- 💣 Gunpowder Expertise: Spanish gunpowder units attack 18% faster. Their Cannon Galleons also fire more accurately at moving targets.
- 🏇 The Conquistador: This unique unit is a mounted gunpowder unit (the only one in the game). It serves as a strong, tanky, all-purpose backline DPS unit in both Castle and Imperial Ages.
- ⛪ The Missionary Monster: The Missionary is a mounted monk that benefits from stable technologies like Husbandry and Bloodlines. The unique tech Inquisition gives Monks and Missionaries faster conversion, and grants the Missionary +1 range, resulting in an 11-range mounted monk.
- ✊ The “Supremacy” Option: The “coolest option” on the list is the late-game strategy unlocked by the Supremacy tech, which gives villagers a “crazy stat line”. This makes rushing with only villagers a viable late-game composition that can kill units and buildings.
Conclusion: Diversity is Key
Hera concludes that while most civilizations offer specialized pathways, these top five demonstrate an unparalleled ability to adapt, switch compositions efficiently, and cover all possible battlefield situations. Whether through unique units like the Conquistador or cost bonuses like the Byzantines’ 25% discount, these civilizations ensure you always have an answer for your opponent’s strategy.
Did Hera miss a civilization? Do you agree with the ranking of the Spanish as number one? Let us know in the comments below!