Steam app 221380 is the 2013 HD Edition of Age of Empires II, renamed Age of Empires II (2013) in August 2019 and Age of Empires II (Retired) in January 2024. It has received no updates since Definitive Edition shipped on 14 November 2019, and the store page states plainly that it will not be updated further. If you are buying Age of Empires II today, buy the Definitive Edition: this page is for people who already own HD and want to know whether it still runs.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britons | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Franks | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Mongols | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Aztecs | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Vietnamese | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Age of Empires II (Retired) tier list.
A-Tier: Britons
Britons is a top-performing option in Age of Empires II (Retired).
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Longbowman | The Britons unique unit, an archer with the longest reach in the game once Yeomen and the elite upgrade land. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | A build frozen since 2019 | Development stopped when Definitive Edition launched on 14 November 2019, so HD sits permanently on its last patch. |
How to Play Britons
Britons focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Longbowman does the damage and A build frozen since 2019 keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Franks
Franks is a strong option in Age of Empires II (Retired).
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Throwing Axeman | The Franks unique unit, ranged infantry whose axes ignore the usual archer armor class. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | 31 civilizations across three expansions | The 2013 base release shipped 18 civilizations. |
How to Play Franks
Franks focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Throwing Axeman with 31 civilizations across three expansions and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Mongols
Mongols is a strong option in Age of Empires II (Retired).
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mangudai | The Mongols unique cavalry archer, fast and carrying a bonus against siege weapons. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Steam multiplayer lobbies and Workshop | Multiplayer runs through Steam rather than the original 1999 matchmaking, so lobbies, friend invites and Steam Workshop mods all still function. |
How to Play Mongols
Mongols focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Steam multiplayer lobbies and Workshop covers the gap Mangudai leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Aztecs
Aztecs is a specialized option in Age of Empires II (Retired).
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Jaguar Warrior | The Aztecs unique infantry, built specifically to shred other infantry. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Original Age of Kings and Conquerors campaigns | Every single player campaign from The Age of Kings and The Conquerors is present in its original form, including William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Saladin, Genghis Khan, Barbarossa and Attila the Hun. |
How to Play Aztecs
Aztecs focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Original Age of Kings and Conquerors campaigns rather than raw numbers, and Jaguar Warrior is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Vietnamese
Vietnamese is a specialized option in Age of Empires II (Retired).
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Rattan Archer | The Vietnamese unique unit from Rise of the Rajas, an archer with high pierce armor that beats other archers head on. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Pre Definitive Edition unit pathing | Unit pathing, formation behavior and hitboxes are all the pre 2019 versions. |
How to Play Vietnamese
Vietnamese focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Rattan Archer and Pre Definitive Edition unit pathing pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Franks: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Britons once you understand core mechanics and have access to Longbowman
- Keep a Mongols setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Vietnamese for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Check whether you already own HD before spending anything. Definitive Edition sits at app 813780, is still patched, and goes on sale regularly, while the $19.99 HD listing buys a build that stopped receiving updates in 2019.
- Everyone in your lobby needs matching DLC. A player without Rise of the Rajas cannot join a game where someone picked Vietnamese, and there is no graceful fallback.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Age of Empires II (Retired) Guides
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Age of Empires II (Retired) Overview
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Tier List
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Walkthrough
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Beginner's Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Tips & Tricks
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Weapons Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Combat Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Boss Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Maps & Locations
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Crafting Guide
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Classes & Characters
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- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
