Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is the remaster that kept a 1999 classic alive and thriving into competitive esports. You guide a civilization from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age, balancing economy, military, and timing against a clock that never stops. The skill ceiling is enormous, but the core loop of build, boom, and attack is easy to learn.
This guide ranks the units that matter, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Units Ranked
| Unit | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paladin | Cavalry civs pushing an Imperial power spike | The elite heavy cavalry, brutal against most units and a raiding nightmare for undefended economies. |
| Arbalester | Archer civs massing ranged firepower | The upgraded crossbow with strong ranged damage, the backbone of archer-line armies. |
| Halberdier | Defending against cavalry on any budget | The cheap anti-cavalry spearman that hard-counters Paladins and other mounted threats. |
| Mangonel | Breaking massed ranged or infantry blobs | Area-damage siege that wipes clustered archers and infantry, but punishes bad micro with friendly fire. |
| Trebuchet | Sieging castles, walls, and Town Centers | Long-range siege that demolishes buildings and walls, essential for cracking a turtled base. |
S-Tier: Paladin
The elite heavy cavalry, brutal against most units and a raiding nightmare for undefended economies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Cavalry civs pushing an Imperial power spike |
| Key Mechanic | age advancement |
| Recommended Build | Fast Castle Boom |
See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Paladin: Pairs naturally with Fast Castle Boom thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Arbalester
The upgraded crossbow with strong ranged damage, the backbone of archer-line armies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Archer civs massing ranged firepower |
| Key Mechanic | economy booming |
| Recommended Build | Men-at-Arms Rush |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Arbalester: Pairs naturally with Men-at-Arms Rush thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Halberdier
The cheap anti-cavalry spearman that hard-counters Paladins and other mounted threats.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Defending against cavalry on any budget |
| Key Mechanic | unit counter system |
| Recommended Build | Archer Civilization |
Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Halberdier: Pairs naturally with Archer Civilization thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Mangonel
Area-damage siege that wipes clustered archers and infantry, but punishes bad micro with friendly fire.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Breaking massed ranged or infantry blobs |
| Key Mechanic | civilization bonuses |
| Recommended Build | Cavalry Civilization |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Mangonel: Pairs naturally with Cavalry Civilization thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Trebuchet
Long-range siege that demolishes buildings and walls, essential for cracking a turtled base.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best For | Sieging castles, walls, and Town Centers |
| Key Mechanic | map control and walling |
| Recommended Build | Tower Rush |
Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Trebuchet: Pairs naturally with Tower Rush thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Arabia
- Arbalester → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Halberdier → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Paladin → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Practical Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Keep your Town Center making villagers nonstop until you hit your economy cap.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
Similar Games
If you enjoy Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, check out these related guides:
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- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
