Age of Empires 2 Civilization Comparison: Bonuses and Tech Trees
Pick two or three civilizations and see their bonuses, unique units and technologies, team bonuses and what each one has in its tech tree side by side. The page address follows your selection, so you can copy the link and share the comparison with friends.
Civilizations to compare
Bonuses and unique content
Turks
Gunpowder civilization
Bonuses
- Gold miners work +25% faster
- Scout Cavalry-line +1 pierce armor and upgrades free
- Chemistry free; Gunpowder technologies costs -50%
- Gunpowder Units +25% HP
Unique unit
Janissary (Foot Gunner)
Unique technologies
- Sipahi (Mounted Archers +20 HP)
- Artillery (Bombard Towers, Bombard Cannons, Cannon Galleons +2 range)
Team bonus
Gunpowder Units train +25% faster
Franks
Cavalry civilization
Bonuses
- Foragers work +15% faster
- Mill technologies free
- Mounted Units +20% HP starting in Feudal Age
- Castles cost -15/25% in Castle/Imperial Age
Unique unit
Throwing Axeman (Infantry)
Unique technologies
- Ordonnance Companies (Mounted Crossbowmen cost -40% gold)
- Chivalry (Stables work +40% faster)
Team bonus
Knight-line +2 line of sight
Tech tree
| Unit / technology | Turks | Franks |
|---|---|---|
| Barracks | ||
 Halberdier | — | ✓ |
| Archery Range | ||
 Elite Skirmisher | — | ✓ |
 Heavy Cavalry Archer | ✓ | — |
| Stable | ||
 Paladin | — | ✓ |
 Hussar | ✓ | — |
 Heavy Camel Rider | ✓ | — |
| Siege Workshop | ||
 Siege Ram | ✓ | — |
| Blacksmith | ||
 Bracer | ✓ | — |
 Ring Archer Armor | ✓ | — |
| Economy | ||
 Crop Rotation | — | ✓ |
 Two-Man Saw | ✓ | — |
| Military technologies | ||
 Thumb Ring | ✓ | — |
 Bloodlines | ✓ | — |
| University | ||
 Siege Engineers | — | ✓ |
 Heated Shot | ✓ | — |
| Monastery | ||
 Redemption | ✓ | — |
 Illumination | — | ✓ |
 Block Printing | — | ✓ |
 Herbal Medicine | — | ✓ |
 Atonement | ✓ | — |
The table lists the final upgrades of generic units and technologies that some trees lack. If an item is missing, that civilization’s tech tree does not have it.
What does this comparison show?
The cards at the top are the same descriptions you see when choosing a civilization in the game, taken from its official text. The table below lists the final upgrades of generic units (such as Paladin, Arbalester and Hussar) and technologies that not every civilization has. With "Show differences only" turned off, rows the selected civilizations share are shown as well.
A civilization’s strengths and weaknesses cannot be read from tables alone; the map, game mode and opponent matter just as much.
Source
Bonuses, tech trees and names come from aoe2techtree, which is generated from the game files (October 4, 2026). If you spot a mistake, let us know.