Armenian Civilization Overview (AOE2)
How to play this unique infantry and naval civ
Introduction to the Armenian Civilization
The Armenians, are a captivating Mediterranean civilization featured in "The Mountain Royals" expansion. Drawing inspiration from the historical grandeur of Bagratid Armenia and Cilician Armenia, this civilization offers a unique blend of military and economic prowess, that offer a unique play style.
Unique characteristics of The Armenians
Unique Units: The Armenians boast two distinctive units that set them apart on the battlefield. The Composite Bowman, a formidable foot archer, possesses the unique ability to ignore armor, making it a nightmare for heavily armored foes. Additionally, the Warrior Priest merges is a hybrid of the militia line and monks, capable of fighting, healing allies, and carrying Relics.
Unique Buildings: The Mule Cart is a mobile drop site replacing traditional Lumber and Mining Camps, and the Fortified Church, an advanced Monastery capable of firing arrows when garrisoned, underscoring their adaptability and strategic depth.
Unique Technologies: The Armenians' technological advancements, such as the Cilician Fleet, which enhances their naval strength, and Fereters, boosting infantry vitality and healing speed, reflect their balanced approach to warfare.
Armenian Civilization Bonuses
The Armenians enjoy several civilization bonuses that reinforce their economic and military strategies.
Mule Carts are 25% cheaper, encouraging early game flexibility, while Mule Cart technologies amplify their resource gathering efficiency by 40%.
Their first Fortified Church comes with a free Relic, providing a steady gold income. Notably, their infantry upgrades come one age sooner than other civilizations make their barracks units much more viable in the early game.
Armenian Strategies & Build Orders
The Armenians are a powerhouse in infantry and naval engagements, with a full Barracks lineup (excluding the Eagle Scout line) and unique technologies that bolster their forces.
Their economic bonuses, particularly the cost-effective Mule Carts and the bonus from the first Fortified Church, lay the groundwork for a formidable economy. The Armenians excel on water and hybrid maps, thanks to their enhanced naval units and additional projectiles for the Galley-line and Dromons. However, their siege and late-game cavalry might lag on closed maps, presenting a strategic challenge to overcome.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Armenian strengths lie in their versatile economy and robust infantry, capable of executing early rushes or transitioning smoothly into a powerful mid-game. Their unique units and buildings offer strategic flexibility, making them a formidable opponent in various scenarios. However, their late-game potential may be hindered by the absence of certain key units and technologies, particularly in the cavalry and archery departments, necessitating a strategic approach to overcome these limitations.
Armenian Warrior Priest Rush
Here’s a video from ColinAoC, on how to pull of a Warrior Priest Rush with the Armenians.
Here’s a summary of the strategy:
Dark Age Build Order
First 6 Villagers: Send to sheep.
Next 2 Villagers: Build a lumber camp and chop wood.
Next Villager: Lure the nearest boar.
Next Villager: Build a house, then move to berries to build a mill.
Following 3 Villagers: Send to berries.
Next 3 Villagers: Send to boar (total 4 on boar including the lurer).
Next Villager: Lure second boar.
Next 2 Villagers: Add to wood (total 4 on wood).
Next 2-3 Villagers: Push deer towards TC for additional food.
Scout: Use Scout to find the opponent's location for Warrior Priest aggression.
Transitioning to Feudal Age
Click up to Feudal Age: At 22 villagers (23 population with Scout).
While Advancing:
Do not mine gold yet.
Sell 100 of 200 starting stone for gold.
Reassign villagers from food to wood/gold as needed using Mule Cart for efficiency.
Feudal Age
Upon Reaching Feudal:
Build a blacksmith and market close to the gold pile.
Immediately sell 100 wood for gold at the market.
Research Loom.
Continue to use the Mule Cart to efficiently manage resources.
Build additional farms as necessary but focus resources on advancing to the Castle Age.
Click up to Castle Age:
While Advancing to Castle Age
Use market to adjust resources if necessary.
You should have around 8 on wood, and use market for additional gold.
Build a farm with any spare wood for sustained food income.
Early Castle Age (Warrior Priest Rush)
Upon Reaching Castle Age:
Immediately build a Fortified Church with 200 wood.
Start producing Warrior Priests.
Research armor for Warrior Priests.
Continue to expand economy, focusing on wood and food.
Use Warrior Priests to apply pressure and defend resources.
Mid-Game Strategy
Expand Military Production:
Consider adding a Siege Workshop to pressure opponent further.
Expand Economy:
Use additional stone gathered by Mule Carts to build second Town Center.
Focus on villager production and advancing economy.
Continue to Harass:
Use Warrior Priests and any siege units produced to apply pressure on opponent.
Use fortified Churches for map control and as forward bases to support your push.
Additional Tips
Economy Management: Continuously adjust villager assignments to ensure efficient resource collection.
Scouting: Keep scouting opponent movements and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Map Control: Use Warrior Priests and Fortified Churches to maintain map control and protect key resources.
Optimal Maps for the Armenians in Age of Empires 2: Strategy Insights
Maps where Armenians Shine
Water and Hybrid Maps: Thanks to their superior naval technologies and bonuses, Armenians dominate on water maps such as Islands and Archipelago, and they perform well on hybrid maps. Their Dock technologies, including the enhanced Galley-line and unique naval units, provide a significant advantage in naval confrontations. Coupled with their economic bonuses that bolster an early to mid-game economy, the Armenians can sustain a strong naval presence and control the seas effectively.
Open Maps (e.g., Arabia): Armenians are also adept at handling open maps due to their versatile military strategies and robust early game economy.
They can effectively execute infantry rushes with advanced Barracks units or deploy Composite Bowmen for archer rushes, capitalizing on their economic strengths to apply pressure and secure an early advantage.
The possibility of a Monk rush, utilizing the full suite of technologies available at the Fortified Church, adds another layer to their strategic depth, making them a formidable opponent in open terrains.
Maps where Armenians may struggle
Closed Maps (e.g., Black Forest): While Armenians have a solid foundation for early to mid-game aggression, their capabilities taper off in closed map scenarios where late-game power and siege weaponry become crucial.
Their siege options are notably weaker, and their late-game cavalry options are limited, posing challenges against civilizations that can field powerful siege engines like Siege Onagers and Siege Rams. Additionally, the reliance on infantry and Composite Bowmen can leave them vulnerable to well-prepared enemy defenses and counter-compositions.
How to play Armenians: Tips from a professional AOE2 player
Hera, who is the top pro-player in Age of Empires 2 right now, made this 14-minute breakdown video explaining how to play the Armenians:
And Here’s my quick summary, which covers a lot of what we have already discussed.
The strategy focuses on a Spearman Drush transitioning into a Fast Castle with an emphasis on Relic control. This approach not only disrupts the opponent early on but also sets the stage for a dominant mid-game with substantial economic and military advantages.
Build Order Highlights
Start with Six on Sheep: A standard opening for resource gathering.
Four on Wood: Essential for early walling and Spearman production, diverging from the usual two or three on wood in other strategies.
Early Barracks and Walls: Construction of a barracks followed by strategic walling to protect resources.
Spearmen and Scout Harassment: Utilizing two Spearmen and the Scout to harass opponents, forcing defensive plays.
Economic Management: Transitioning villagers to berries with a mill (since Mule Carts don't cover berries), maintaining a balanced wood and food income for the fast castle.
Relic Control with Warrior Priests: Upon reaching the Castle Age, deploying Warrior Priests from the Fortified Church to secure Relics, bolstering gold income.
Tactical Insights
Flexible Scouting and Luring: Players can choose between early scouting or direct boar luring, adapting to the map and opponent.
Wall and Spearman Utilization: Walls secure the base against early aggression, while Spearmen offer mobility and protection, scouting for Relics.
Market and Blacksmith: These buildings facilitate the transition to Castle Age, allowing for resource adjustment and tech upgrades.
Defensive and Expansion Options: Post-Castle Age strategies include deploying additional Town Centers, Siege Workshops, or Stables based on the game's flow, with the Armenian unique unit and technology options open.
Why This Strategy Excels
This Armenian build order shines due to its versatility, early pressure capability, and economic security through Relic control. Unlike other civilizations, the Armenians' unique advantages, such as their cheaper Mule Carts and Fortified Church, allow for a smooth transition from early aggression to a robust mid-game position.
Tactical Insights from Experts
Drawing on insights from "Spirit of the Law," a prominent Age of Empires II strategist, the Armenians' unconventional capabilities, such as the early Drush potential with Spearmen and the strategic mobility offered by Mule Carts, highlight their unique playstyle. Their ability to adapt and leverage their economic and military bonuses from the outset can pave the way for dominance across different phases of the game.
Conclusion
The Armenians are a unique and dynamic civilization that challenges players to explore new strategies and tactics. With their unique units, buildings, and bonuses, they are equipped to carve out their empire across a variety of maps and scenarios. Whether you're orchestrating an infantry rush, commanding a powerful navy, or leveraging economic advantages, mastering the Armenians requires a blend of strategic foresight and adaptability.
As always, the key to success lies in understanding and exploiting the unique strengths of your civilization while navigating around its weaknesses.