Last Updated on by Samuel Franklin
Conquer the battlefield with this Age of Empires 2 best civilisations tier list that provides recommendations for different scenarios. Find the perfect civilization for your playstyle, map (land, water or mixed), game mode (standard or nomad) and player count (1v1 or team). Considering power level, design, ease of use, flexibility and favourable matchups this tier list is based on my decades of Age of Empires experience and community insights for multiplayer success.
Table of Contents:
– Civilisation Tier List
– Best Civilisations Detail (S Tier)
Age of Empires 2 Civilisations Tier List – Summary
Each civilisation is rated individually for different map types (land, water, nomad and overall) alphabetically. Best is subjective in a strategy game like Age of Empires with this tier list designed for new and intermediate players to identify a pool of powerful options form economic powerhouse, defensive or aggressive civilisations.
| Civilisation | Land | Water | Nomad | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Armenians |
C | C | C | C |
 Aztecs |
S | C | B | A |
 Bengalis |
B | C | A | B |
 Berbers |
B | A | A | A |
 Bohemians |
B | C | B | B |
 Britons |
S | C | B | A |
 Bulgarians |
B | C | B | B |
 Burgundians |
A | C | C | B |
 Burmese |
C | C | B | C |
 Byzantines |
B | S | A | B |
 Celts |
B | C | C | C |
 Chinese |
S | C | A | A |
 Cumans |
B | C | C | C |
 Dravidians |
C | C | B | C |
 Ethiopians |
A | C | B | B |
 Franks |
S | C | B | A |
 Georgians |
B | C | C | C |
 Goths |
C | C | C | C |
 Gurjaras |
B | C | B | B |
 Hindustanis |
A | C | A | A |
 Huns |
A | B | C | A |
 Incas |
B | C | C | B |
 Italians |
B | A | B | B |
 Japanese |
B | S | B | B |
 Khmer |
A | C | B | B |
 Koreans |
B | A | A | B |
 Lithuanians |
A | C | S | A |
 Magyars |
B | C | C | B |
 Malay |
B | A | B | B |
 Malians |
A | B | A | B |
 Mayans |
A | C | A | A |
 Mongols |
A | A | A | A |
 Persians |
B | A | S | A |
 Poles |
A | C | A | A |
 Portuguese |
B | A | A | A |
 Romans |
A | A | B | A |
 Saracens |
B | A | B | B |
 Sicilians |
C | C | C | C |
 Slavs |
B | C | C | C |
 Spanish |
C | A | A | A |
 Tatars |
A | C | C | C |
 Teutons |
C | C | C | C |
 Turks |
C | A | A | B |
 Vietnamese |
A | C | B | B |
 Vikings |
A | S | B | A |
- Land: 1v1 land encounters are the most common game in Age of Empires 2, these civilisations excel where the map is majority land based as it allows them to effectively use their bonuses and units.
- Water: Focused on 1v1 water encounters this is a niche game type (such as islands) and requires a capable navy and wide technology tree to dominate the oceans.
- Nomad: Nomad is a distinct experience with villagers starting spread randomly across the map which adds randomisation and additional challenge that requires a flexible civilisation.
- Overall: The overall rating for a civilisation factors in each of these ratings and also consoniders non 1v1 situations where you might play in team sizes (2v2, 3v3 and 4v4), mixed maps or other game modes like death match. As no civilisation in Age of Empires 2 can do it all there are no S tier ratings on an overall basis.
Best Age of Empires 2 Civilisations – (S Tier Only)
The S tier rated civilisations above are analysed fruther here to help players maximise their victory odds with the Aztecs, Britons, Byzantines, Chinese, Franks, Japanese, Lithuanians, Persians and Vikings.
Aztecs (S Tier Land)
An infantry powerhouse the Aztecs villages carry extra resources for a consistent economic bonus. Their path to victory is infantry aggression by using their technology tree and civilisation bonuses to be unmatched on the infantry battlefield. To help them counter your biggest threat (archers) they also have the Ataltl technology to buff their skirmishers and can field powerful monks to become durable healers alongside infantry units.
Your power level as Aztecs does start to diminish over time so your greatest enemy is often the clock and finishing the game while you are at your peak power.
Britons (S Tier Land)
An original game civilisation that specialises in foot archers through technologies, unique units and civilisation bonuses to fight at long range. Extra unit range and faster working archery ranges are central to this strategy with early game economy bonuses through shepherd work that ensures a solid game start.
While this food economy bonus becomes less impactful as the game progresses and players might feel like they are easily countered by a single unit the Britons can produce the necessary counter units to handle this main skirmisher counter with some effectiveness.
Byzantines (S Tier Water)
Ideal for the newer player the Byzantines have durable buildings and low cost counter units so players always have an option to counter their enemy. This reliability is useful on all maps but particularly water where you can defend your positions, access strong fire ships and counter any enemy units.
Byzantines are not without weaknesses though and are deceptive as they have a large unit technology trees but often lack the upgrade technology to ensure they are as fully empowered like other civilisations which does make it difficult to turn their fantastic defences into an offensive focused army.
Chinese (S Tier Land)
Starting with extra villagers for reduced initial resources the Chinese provides a faster start for newer players although can be an awkward adjustment for experienced players compared to standard build orders of other civilisations. This bonus also applies in nomad although only after building your initial town centre.
Beyond the starting position the Chinese have cheaper technology options to save resources and team farming boosts that provide economic benefits. They have a powerful unique unit and associated technology alongside plenty of technology tree upgrades in the blacksmith to take other pathways when required to do so.
Franks (S Tier Land)
A popular civilisation in the lower ELO levels of play for their effective Knight rush capabilities and useful economic bonuses (free farm upgrades and faster foragers). These are effective on nearly all maps and support with a concentrated pool of bonuses and technologies for cavalry creation, durability and utility.
The Franks also have cheap castles to slow the game down and most of the key technologies up until Imperial Age with your goal to end the game before that point.
Japanese (S Tier Water)
The Japanese have great flexibility across their technology tree and bonuses to ensure you always have an option across land, hybrid or water maps although water is where they are most comfortable. Whether its your fishing bonus or the cheaper resource buildings you’ll find a consistent albeit small boost.
If you find yourself on the defensive you can utilise towers and trebuchets effectively with extra attacks to defend your base or line of sight. In time though you’ll want to field an army of infantry or archers which both have capable technology available.
Lithuanians (S Tier Nomad)
Lithuanians get a food boost during the mid game for each town centre construction which is supported with the flexibility of fast moving durable counter units (spearman and skirmisher lines). This is particularly useful in nomad maps where you can find a viable strategy regardless of the randomisation that you face.
Persians (S Tier Nomad)
Persians are a solid choice in nomad given their initial boost to food and wood that is further buffed by town centre work rate for potential town centre booms. For military the Persians will focus on the durable elephant unit and their gold free archers that give them two foundations that support each other perfectly. Because of these two perfectly paired unique technologies the Persians are a reliable choice that can handle most situations which is vital for a top tier nomad civilisation.
Vikings (S Tier Water)
Effective on both land and water map combinations the Vikings are good for blended or random maps. The free town centre upgrades of wheelbarrow and hand cart give you a boost to all resource gathering rates and prevents players having to stop villager creation to obtain them.
The main downside of the Vikings though is their focused technology tree that leaves them with a smaller pool of unit options compared to other civilisations. Players will need to go heavy infantry and their unique Berserk unit which can be countered although the bonus HP through their team bonus and unique technologies mitigate this somewhat once researched.
Marcel Champagne
Great read, thanks!
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