Saxons

Age of Empires II civilization analysis — power units, tiers, and strategic identity

Saxons build around efficient foot armies and controlled ground. Hearth Troops open combat with javelins before joining the melee, while Champions, Varangian Guards, and Halberdiers offer different frontline roles. Arbalesters or Heavy Mounted Crossbowmen add ranged support. Additional Town Centers and Castles improve foot-soldier discounts, and Shield Wall rewards grouped infantry. Advance with siege and protect your formation, but spread or reposition when enemy siege makes a tightly packed army a liability.

Open Tech Tree ↗Open Wiki ↗

Barracks

Champion

HP: 70
Attack: 16
Attack speed: 2s
Melee armor: 4
Pierce armor: 6

Cost

50 Food

20 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

✦ Shield Wall grants armor when infantry are massed; listed armor excludes formation-dependent bonuses.

Halberdier

HP: 60
Attack: 8
Attack speed: 3s
Melee armor: 3
Pierce armor: 4

Cost

35 Food

25 Wood

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

✦ Shield Wall grants armor when infantry are massed; listed armor excludes formation-dependent bonuses.

Elite Varangian Guard

HP: 80
Attack: 19
Attack speed: 2s
Melee armor: 5
Pierce armor: 7

Cost

65 Food

45 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Generates gold while fighting other units.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

✦ Shield Wall grants armor when infantry are massed; listed armor excludes formation-dependent bonuses.

Archery Range

Arbalester

HP: 40
Attack: 10
Attack speed: 1.7s
Range: 8
Melee armor: 3
Pierce armor: 4

Cost

25 Wood

45 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

Heavy Mounted Crossbowman

HP: 75
Attack: 12
Attack speed: 2.3s
Range: 8
Melee armor: 5
Pierce armor: 4

Cost

40 Wood

65 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Cranequins: +1 range and +2 attack against infantry.

Elite Skirmisher

HP: 35
Attack: 7
Attack speed: 3s
Range: 8
Melee armor: 3
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

25 Food

35 Wood

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

Stable

Cavalier

HP: 140
Attack: 14
Attack speed: 1.8s
Melee armor: 4
Pierce armor: 4

Cost

60 Food

75 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

Hussar

HP: 95
Attack: 9
Attack speed: 1.9s
Melee armor: 2
Pierce armor: 4

Cost

80 Food

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

Castle

Elite Hearth Troop

HP: 85
Attack: 14
Attack speed: 2s
Melee armor: 4
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

80 Wood

35 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

✦ Throws a javelin before engaging in melee; javelin damage is separate from the displayed melee attack.

✦ Foot soldiers cost 5% less per controlled Town Center or Castle (maximum 20%); listed costs exclude this variable discount.

✦ Shield Wall grants armor when infantry are massed; listed armor excludes formation-dependent bonuses.

Trebuchet

HP: 150
Attack: 201
Attack speed: 10s
Range: 17
Melee armor: 2
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

200 Wood

200 Gold

Siege Workshop

Heavy Scorpion

HP: 60
Attack: 15
Attack speed: 3.6s
Range: 8
Melee armor: 1
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

75 Wood

75 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

Onager

HP: 60
Attack: 56
Attack speed: 6s
Range: 9
Melee armor: 0
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

160 Wood

135 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

Siege Ram

HP: 270
Attack: 4
Attack speed: 5s
Melee armor: -1
Pierce armor: 195

Cost

160 Wood

75 Gold

✦ Conscription: faster military training.

Dock

Catapult Galleon

HP: 168
Attack: 31
Attack speed: 6s
Range: 13
Melee armor: 0
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

180 Wood

100 Gold

✦ Longships and Catapult Galleons have 20% more HP.

Fire Ship

HP: 120
Attack: 3
Attack speed: 0.3s
Range: 2.5
Melee armor: 2
Pierce armor: 6

Cost

60 Wood

45 Gold

Galleon

HP: 155
Attack: 13
Attack speed: 3s
Range: 10
Melee armor: 0
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

72 Wood

30 Gold

Carrack

HP: 135
Attack: 6
Attack speed: 1.5s
Range: 1
Melee armor: 6
Pierce armor: 3

Cost

60 Wood

35 Gold

Elite Longship

HP: 156
Attack: 11
Attack speed: 3s
Range: 10
Melee armor: 1
Pierce armor: 8

Cost

80 Wood

50 Gold

✦ Longships and Catapult Galleons have 20% more HP.