Play As the Goths in Age of Empires 2
The Goths are a purely offensive infantry civilization that rely on sheer numbers to overwhelm opponents. Without any defensive capabilities (other than Palisade Walls and Watchtowers), the Goths must constantly be sending troops to attack enemies.
You should also refer to this article very frequently on the economic advice that is needed for any civilization, including the Goths.
Contents
Steps
Dark Age
- Make sure you know how to create a good economy. Creating a good economy takes practice, and is a must for any civilization. Much of the information on making your economy boom should be applied while you are playing as the Goths.
- During the Feudal Age research, build a barracks using one of your lumberjacks. The barracks doesn't need to be placed anywhere strategic, as you will be building many more. The creation of militia during the research and during the Feudal Age should be avoided due to the high costs. Infantry become much cheaper during the Castle and Imperial Ages.
Feudal Age
- Build a watchtower next to your lumber camp. This allows lumberjacks to take shelter in it while firing at rushers.
- Scout for your enemies using your Scout Cavalry. If you are playing with an ally, research Cartography in the Market. This technology is more useful if you are playing with an AI because the AI automatically scouts and explores the whole map during the game.
- Do not research Man-at-Arms yet. The resources need to go into the Castle Age research.
Castle Age
- Once the Castle Age research is done, research Man-at-Arms and then Long Swordsman. Also research Tracking and Squires if you can afford the 200 food. These technologies are found at the barracks. It is advised that you research Pikemen as well.
- At the blacksmith, research Forging and Scale Mail Armor. The Castle blacksmith upgrades are offered, but advancing to the Imperial Age is a higher priority.
- Build more barracks. You do not need to build any other military buildings other than the barracks, castle, and perhaps some siege workshops if you wish. The barracks should all have one common rally point and be built near the enemy base in a row.
- Create some Long Swordsmen and Pikemen. At least 10 Pikemen should be created in order to mitigate the Knight threat, which dominates in the Castle Age.
- Build a castle. Another castle or two is encouraged due to its +20 population increase.
- Research Anarchy. The unique technology is critical to the Goths' attack as it allows Huskarls to be created in the barracks - very useful, because castles are expensive and stone is generally not found in abundant quantities in the game.
- Build a university. Universities have some defensive upgrades like Masonry and Architecture that increases building HP. This helps a little bit with the Goth's mediocre defense.
Imperial Age
- If you haven't already, continue to build the row of 10-12 barracks near your enemy base. It is important that these not be built near your base. The walking distance is very time-wasting, the location is passive, and the possibility that you become stuck on the defensive becomes much greater.
- In the barracks, research Two-Handed Swordsmen and Champion.
- Continue to research Iron Casting, Blast Furnace, Chain Mail Armor, and Plate Mail Armor in the blacksmith. The upgrades may not seem like much, but when attacking in such large numbers, it makes a difference.
- Research Conscription, Perfusion and Elite Huskarl in the castle. Perfusion is what makes the Goths shine. Barracks units are created 50% faster. Along with Conscription, which makes all military units be created 33% faster, and their team bonus which allows units to be created 20% faster, the creation of Huskarls in the barracks becomes lightning-fast.
- Do make sure that you are able to keep up Huskarl production with houses. When a row of 10-12 barracks and fully upgraded barracks and castles produces Huskarls at such fast rates, a team of 6 villagers building houses one at a time becomes far too slow. You must make sure that the population cap does not hinder your spamming.
- Once you have destroyed one of your enemies, you should create more barracks against other enemies (if you aren't playing in a 1 vs 1). The other barracks should still be pumping out Huskarls until you reach the 210 population limit.
- Spam Huskarls. Huskarls have strong attack and have a bonus against buildings. But along with that and its fast speed, Huskarls have substantial pierce armor, which makes them almost immune to arrows. They are more expensive to produce than Champions, but Champions do not have the +6 default pierce armor that Huskarls have.
- Because of their pierce armor, Huskarls are unusually well-equipped to bring down castles. Champions get the job done as well, but are more susceptible to the Castle's arrows. Usually, other infantry are slaughtered in large numbers.
- Champions can be spammed as well if you are getting low on resources. They have a slightly greater attack than Huskarls.
- Trebuchets, while almost required for other civilizations, have a lesser priority than the Huskarls. The main point of Trebuchets is to bring down difficult-to-reach or heavily fortified buildings. However, if your opponent is heavily fortified with walls, Trebuchets should be created. Other siege weapons can be created if you wish, but the advantage of the Huskarl's speed is negated when they are traveling together with the siege units.
- It is recommended that you set your army to staggered formation in order to reduce the splash damage by Mangonels and Scorpions.
- Attack your enemies! Set your army to aggressive (if it hasn't - aggressive is the default) and send your troops to attack castles, town centers, military buildings, monasteries, and most importantly, villagers. Armies in Age of Empires II can consist of a maximum of 40 troops.
- Remember, you must always constantly be on the offensive. During the Imperial Age, if for any moment that you are not attacking an enemy with your army, you are not taking advantage of the Goths' superior infantry!
Tips
- The Goths have some very advantageous civilization bonuses. They are:
- Infantry cost -10% in Feudal Age, -15% in Castle Age, and -25% in Imperial Age.
- Villagers have +1 attack vs. buildings.
- Villagers have +5 attack vs. boars.
- The Goths have a +10 population cap. Therefore, in a 200 population cap game, the Goths are able to have 10 more Huskarls for a total of 210 population.
- The Barracks create units +20% faster.
- The Goths can be a very fun civilization to play in Death Match, especially while using the Post-Imperial Age setting. While playing Death Match, 200 of your 210 population should be Huskarls and Champions. The urgency to remain on the offensive becomes even more critical in this mode because it is a free-for-all.
Warnings
- This is not a guide for complete gameplay as the Goths! You must always keep track of your economy, unless the game is almost over. Neglecting your economy will make you lose the game.
- The Goths have virtually no defensive capabilities. Therefore, while playing as the Goths, you must always be on the offensive. If your civilization is stuck defending your city, the game is lost.
