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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longbowman | S | Static Britons archer lines that outrange the answer | The Britons unique unit, an archer with the longest reach in the game once Yeomen and the elite upgrade land. |
| Throwing Axeman | A | Anti infantry support behind Frankish cavalry | The Franks unique unit, ranged infantry whose axes ignore the usual archer armor class. |
| Mangudai | A | Hit and run raiding and deleting enemy siege | The Mongols unique cavalry archer, fast and carrying a bonus against siege weapons. |
| Jaguar Warrior | B | Countering enemy infantry masses in Aztec pushes | The Aztecs unique infantry, built specifically to shred other infantry. |
| Rattan Archer | B | Winning archer versus archer fights outright | The Vietnamese unique unit from Rise of the Rajas, an archer with high pierce armor that beats other archers head on. |
S-Tier: Longbowman
The Britons unique unit, an archer with the longest reach in the game once Yeomen and the elite upgrade land. Britons also get extra Town Center range and shepherds who work faster.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Static Britons archer lines that outrange the answer |
| Key Mechanic | A build frozen since 2019 |
| Recommended Build | Britons |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Longbowman: Pairs naturally with Britons thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Throwing Axeman
The Franks unique unit, ranged infantry whose axes ignore the usual archer armor class. Franks are better known for free Farm upgrades, cheaper castles and Knights with 20 percent more hit points.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Anti infantry support behind Frankish cavalry |
| Key Mechanic | 31 civilizations across three expansions |
| Recommended Build | Franks |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Throwing Axeman: Pairs naturally with Franks thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Mangudai
The Mongols unique cavalry archer, fast and carrying a bonus against siege weapons. Mongols also get faster hunters and siege units that move 50 percent quicker than everyone else's.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hit and run raiding and deleting enemy siege |
| Key Mechanic | Steam multiplayer lobbies and Workshop |
| Recommended Build | Mongols |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mangudai: Pairs naturally with Mongols thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Jaguar Warrior
The Aztecs unique infantry, built specifically to shred other infantry. Aztecs start with 50 extra gold, train military units 11 percent faster and their villagers carry 5 extra resources.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Countering enemy infantry masses in Aztec pushes |
| Key Mechanic | Original Age of Kings and Conquerors campaigns |
| Recommended Build | Aztecs |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Jaguar Warrior: Pairs naturally with Aztecs thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Rattan Archer
The Vietnamese unique unit from Rise of the Rajas, an archer with high pierce armor that beats other archers head on. Vietnamese also reveal enemy starting positions at the beginning of a match.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Winning archer versus archer fights outright |
| Key Mechanic | Pre Definitive Edition unit pathing |
| Recommended Build | Vietnamese |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Rattan Archer: Pairs naturally with Vietnamese thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Arabia
- Throwing Axeman → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Mangudai → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Longbowman → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Age of Empires II (Retired) Guides
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Age of Empires II (Retired) Overview
- Age of Empires II (Retired) Best Builds
- 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) 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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If you enjoy Age of Empires II (Retired), check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
