Top 11 Castles in AoE2

Summary

In this informative video, the Spirit of the Law ranks civilization castles in strategy games, focusing on their unique bonuses and technologies that enhance their strength. From the Roman's fast construction to the Persian's formidable attack and defense capabilities with their 'citadels' tech, the ranking provides insights into which castles excel in various scenarios. The summary also touches on the strategic importance of castles, such as the Byzantine's high HP and the Georgian's resistance to bonus damage, offering viewers a nuanced perspective on castle effectiveness.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The video ranks civilization castles in a game based on various bonuses and technologies that make some more formidable than others.
• 📊 The ranking is nuanced, considering factors like attack range, build speed, HP, damage taken, and special abilities of the castles.
• 🇻🇳 Vietnamese castles have a unique ability for free conscription, allowing faster trebuchet deployment, but are otherwise generic.
• 🏛 Romans have a 5% faster build and repair speed, providing a slight advantage throughout the game.
• 🇪🇸 Spanish and Sicilian castles have a significant construction speed bonus, aiding in aggressive strategies.
• 🇸🇱 Slavs can convert some of the stone cost of their castles to wood, offering late-game potential but lacking in early impact.
• 🍀 Kelts have a unique technology that boosts castle fire rate and heals nearby infantry, compensating for the lack of bracer.
• 🇮🇳 Incas and Franks receive discounts on castle construction, with Franks getting an even greater discount in the Imperial age.
• 🏰 Byzantines have more HP in Castle Age and Imperial Age, making them durable but lacking in masonry and architecture.
• 🇬🇪 Georgians have underrated benefits like increased attack and reduced bonus damage when uphill, along with cheaper repairs.
• 🎯 The top spot is given to Persians for their unique tech 'citadels', which provides various attack bonuses and reduced damage taken, making them formidable in both offensive and defensive scenarios.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is ranking different civilization castles in a game, focusing on their unique bonuses, techs, and abilities.

What factors contribute to the ranking of the civilization castles?

Factors include attack range, HP bonus, damage taken, build speed, cost reduction, and special abilities such as bracer and unique unit production.

Why is the Vietnamese civilization's castle not ranked higher despite its unique ability?

The Vietnamese civilization's castle is not ranked higher because, aside from the unique ability to get trebuchets faster in Imperial Age, it is otherwise generic.

What is the unique advantage of Roman castles?

Roman castles have a 5% faster build and repair speed, which is considered a high breaker bonus throughout the game.

What is the main benefit of the Spanish and Sicilian castles?

The main benefit is the 30% faster construction speed for Spanish castles and an even better version for Sicilians with a 50% bonus.

Why is the Slavic civilization's castle ranked at number eight?

The Slavic civilization's castle is ranked at number eight due to its unique tech that converts some stone cost to wood, potentially allowing for more castles to be built.

What unique tech do the Kelts have that affects their castles?

The Kelts have the unique tech 'stronghold' which gives their castles a 33% boost to fire rate and the ability to passively heal friendly infantry units around them.

What is the main advantage of Inca and Frankish castles?

Inca and Frankish castles have a discounted cost during the Castle Age, with Incas getting a 15% discount and Franks a 25% discount in the Imperial Age.

Why are Byzantine castles considered one of the best for holding key positions on the map?

Byzantine castles have 30% more HP in Castle Age and 40% more in Imperial Age, making them highly durable and effective at holding key positions.

What unique tech do the Georgians have that enhances their castles?

The Georgians have the unique tech 'Savon towers' which gives their castles a plus to attack and the ability to fire through enemies.

What is the unique tech of the Teutons that makes their castles stand out?

The Teutons have the unique tech 'crenellations' which gives their castles plus three range and allows garrisoned infantry to fire arrows.

Why are Persian castles ranked number one in the video?

Persian castles are ranked number one due to their unique tech 'citadels' which provides various attack bonuses and reduced bonus damage, making them highly effective in combat.

What are the honorable mentions mentioned in the video?

The honorable mentions include the Tatars for their attack bonus on hills and long-range trebuchets, and the Berbers for their tech 'Casa' which increases the work rate for teams' castles.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Ranking Civilization Castles

This paragraph introduces a video ranking various civilization castles in a game based on their unique bonuses and technologies. The ranking considers factors like attack range, health points, construction speed, and special abilities. The video aims to provide a nuanced view, acknowledging the subjectivity involved in such a ranking and the potential for different strategies and scenarios to affect a castle's ranking. The paragraph also mentions the example of Vietnamese castles, which have a unique ability to speed up trebuchet production, but are otherwise considered generic outside of this early advantage.

05:02

🛠️ Castle Bonuses and Construction Speed

The paragraph discusses the importance of construction speed and discounts on castles for different civilizations, such as the Spanish and Sicilians with their significant construction speed bonuses. It also touches on the unique technologies and abilities that can affect castles' performance, like the Byzantines' increased HP and the Georgians' resistance to bonus damage when uphill. The summary highlights the strategic advantages these bonuses provide, such as faster castle deployment or increased durability in specific situations.

10:04

🏹 Persian Castles: Top of the Rank

The final paragraph focuses on the Persian civilization's castles, which have been revamped with a unique technology called 'citadels'. This technology provides significant bonuses, including increased attack power against various units and reduced damage from bonus attacks. The paragraph argues that these enhancements make Persian castles the most formidable, offering both high firepower and durability. It also mentions the intimidation factor of the Persian castles' gunpowder rounds, which can influence enemy behavior in the game.

Keywords

💡Civilization Castles

Civilization Castles refer to the fortified structures in strategy games like Age of Empires, which are built by different civilizations and have unique attributes. In the video, they are ranked based on various factors like bonuses, techs, and special abilities that make them formidable. The script mentions how these castles vary significantly, with some offering unique advantages like the Vietnamese getting free conscription for faster trebuchet deployment.

💡Bonuses

Bonuses in the context of the video refer to the additional benefits or enhancements that certain civilization castles possess. These can include faster construction, increased hit points, or special abilities. For example, the Romans' castles benefit from a 5% faster build and repair speed, which is likened to a high breaker bonus throughout the game.

💡Techs

Techs, short for technologies, are advancements or upgrades in the game that can improve the capabilities of units or structures. The video discusses how different civilizations have unique techs that affect their castles, such as the Spanish and Sicilians having faster construction speeds, which is crucial for aggressive strategies.

💡HP Bonus

HP Bonus denotes the additional hit points that certain castles receive, making them more durable and able to withstand more damage. The Byzantines, for instance, have a 30% more HP in Castle Age and 40% more in Imperial Age, which makes them particularly adept at holding key positions on the map.

💡Discounts

Discounts in this video refer to the reduced costs for building castles, which can be a significant advantage for certain civilizations. The Incas and Franks, for example, have a 15% discount on castles during Castle Age, with the Franks increasing this discount to 25% in Imperial Age.

💡Unique Units

Unique Units are special types of units that only specific civilizations can produce. The script mentions that Romans have a very strong unique unit that can be produced at the castle, adding to their strategic options and the overall aesthetic of the Roman civilization.

💡Bracer

Bracer is a technology in the game that increases the range of certain units, including castles. The video notes that several civilizations' castles lack bracer, which makes them less effective in combat, especially when compared to those that have it.

💡Fire Rate

Fire Rate refers to the speed at which a unit can attack. The Kelts have a unique tech called stronghold that gives their castles a 33% boost to their fire rate. This increased rate allows their castles to be more effective against enemy units, compensating for the lack of bracer.

💡Healing Ability

Healing Ability is a feature that allows units or structures to recover health over time. Celtic castles with the stronghold tech can passively heal friendly infantry units around them, providing a unique advantage in sustaining battles around the castle.

💡Attack Range

Attack Range is the distance from which a unit or structure can engage enemies. The video discusses how certain civilizations, like the Tudents, have technologies that increase their castles' attack range, giving them an advantage in defense by being able to hit enemies from further away.

💡Citadels

Citadels, in the context of the video, refers to the unique tech of the Persians that enhances their castles with various bonuses, such as increased attack power against specific units and reduced damage from bonus attacks. This tech makes Persian castles particularly powerful and versatile in combat.

Highlights

The video ranks civilization castles based on various bonuses and technologies that make them formidable.

Castles vary in attack range, HP, damage taken, build speed, cost reductions, and special abilities.

Vietnamese castles have a unique ability for free conscription, allowing faster trebuchet deployment.

Roman castles are built and repaired 5% faster, offering a consistent advantage throughout the game.

Spanish and Sicilian castles benefit from a 30-50% faster construction speed.

Slavs have a unique technology that converts some stone cost to wood, impacting castle cost efficiency.

Kelts possess a unique technology that enhances castle fire rate and provides healing for nearby infantry.

Incas and Franks receive a 15-25% discount on castle construction during specific ages.

Byzantines have 30-40% more HP in castles, making them highly durable against various attacks.

Georgians have unique technologies that improve attack power and reduce uphill bonus damage.

Tudents have a unique technology that increases castle range and enables garrisoned infantry to fire arrows.

Tatars and Berbers are mentioned as honorable mentions for their respective castle-related advantages.

Persians are ranked number one with their unique technology that provides significant attack bonuses and reduced damage taken.

Persian castles intimidate opponents with their gunpowder shots, adding to their overall effectiveness.

The ranking is subjective and based on when in the game the emphasis is placed on certain castle attributes.

The video concludes with a reminder that the ranking is the presenter's personal opinion and may vary among players.

Transcripts

hey guys Spirit of the law here in this video  we're going to be ranking some different  

civilization castles as hopefully a nice refresher  of the various bonuses and techs that make some  

more formidable than others now this is a nuanced  topic as castles vary in everything from Attack  

range including whether or not the civilization  gets bracer the Castle's HP bonus damage taken  

how quickly they're built reductions in cost  within a few other special abilities thrown  

in for good measure when you start the list you  realize how many different cves have something  

unique even as simple as Vietnamese getting free  conscription that lets you get out trebuchet much  

faster in Imperial which is situationally great  but does it make them top 10 outside of that  

short window in early Imperial age Vietnamese  castles are otherwise generic so there's a lot  

of subjectivity based on when in the game you put  your emphasis but I'll give you my Arguments for  

my personal ranking starting off at number  11 is the Romans whose castles are built and  

repaired 5% faster I look at this as basically a  High breaker bonus throughout the game where if  

all else equal Your Castle drops go up before  any defensive castles with the same number of  

villagers building it likewise you may repair it  fast enough to survive that one extra truchet shot  

to come out on top head-to-head they do lack  hoardings and bracer and particularly missing  

that one range makes them a bit less effective  but as we'll see that's actually pretty common  

for civilizations on this list being true for  six out of the 11 will see it's not necessarily  

the main emphasis here but they also happen to  have a very strong unique unit they can produce  

at the castle plus the building itself has its own  unique skin with a pretty faithful Roman aesthetic  

and it gets a mentioned just outside the top 10  next up at number 10 and number N9 at once we  

have the Spanish and Sicilians the main thing here  is the 30% faster construction speed for Spanish  

with Sicilians having basically just a better  version of that for castles with plus 50% note  

that neither civilization's construction bonuses  apply to repair speed even if conceptually that  

would make some sense the benefit of faster  construction is of course that it helps them  

with their aggressive Castle drops on a map like  arena being more likely to go up or alternately  

with defensive castles if someone tries that  same trick against you first crusade is also  

a very nice unique Tech but it probably gets too  messy if we start including unique Techs in how we  

rank castles so we'll leave them at number nine  as situationally good moving on to number eight  

we have the Slavs with their unique Tech Deb  Nets converting some of your Castle stone cost  

to wood that sounds really good and I initially  considered putting it fairly high on the list as  

it drops the stone cost from 650 to 390 implying  you can make 67% more castles with the same Stone  

but not so fast one important thing to remember  is you research that TCH at a castle meaning  

your first one will have to be full price just so  you can get access to the tech you then have to  

pay 600 resources plus then still have that 260  wood cost each time even doing everything right  

and taking all your starting Stone a slav player  just ends with a little over one more Castle than  

a generic civilization it's top 10 for some late  gain potential and an extra Castle isn't nothing  

but practically speaking it's just a bit too slow  to get going from my taste plus Slavs are missing  

bracer so those castles lack a bit in their stats  as well speaking of which though next up at number  

seven we have the Kelts who are maybe another Civ  entering the list earlier than expected their main  

advantage is their unique Tech stronghold giving  their castles a 33% boost to their fire rate and  

letting them passively heal friendly infantry  unit around them the fire rate actually doesn't  

impress me that much as castles are usually either  good against the unit like camels or crossbows in  

which they just get obliterated under Castle fire  already or it's a Ram or trebuchet and whether  

because of high Pierce armor or long range faster  firing doesn't really change that Dynamic either  

at the least it does make up for Kelts lacking  bracer though instead it's the healing ability  

that puts them above sloths Celtic castles with  stronghold passively heal 30 HP per minute with  

a pretty generous range where you can fit a a  lot of units in that aura that's a little less  

than half the healing rate of garrisoned units  in castles but without the 20 unit limit at one  

time the Restriction to just infantry does take  away some of its utility as crossbows would get  

a lot of benefit from this for example but it's  a cool effect and situationally useful for your  

Howers Champions or W Raiders next up number  six and five are going to be a pair with Incas  

and franks both have an identical Castle age  bonus with 15% discounted castles saving about  

100 Stone on each that means with your initial  Stone on most Maps that's in the range of one  

extra potential Castle Franks then take this to  the next level in Imperial age though with a 25%  

discount though also keep in mind Frank's lack  bracer while Incas don't I still think Franks get  

the better deal here by far and like Slavs are  in an easier position to control many areas on  

the map theoretically I would have separated these  two civs more back when Franks had a 25% discount  

across the board but the recent change to just  a 15% discount hurts them in practice more than  

you might think by just looking at the numbers  the timing of the first castle in the game can  

really dictate which player the pressure is going  to be on though by the same token is also why you  

put a fair amount of weight on these discounts  in the first place moving on to number four we  

now have the byzantines with 30% more HP in Castle  Ag and 40% more in Imperial the trade-off is they  

lack masonry and architecture giving up a bit of  armor and letting other civilizations partly close  

the HP Gap that said they still end up taking  the most tribet shots and battering ram hits of  

all civilizations on this list except the number  one SIV admittedly it's hard to wait durability  

against discounts but if the purpose of a castle  is to really hold a key Hill or choke point on  

the map Byzantine HP makes them one of the best  at doing that with a pretty simple bonus that's  

completely free next up at number three is the  georgin who have a couple of underrated benefits  

first they have a unique Tech called Savon towers  that gives Plus to attack now this has a greater  

effect on Towers specifically since it adds not  just to attack but lets them fire through enemies  

which to be clear doesn't happen to Georgian  castles that two attack is still significant  

though and for example means they do 25% more  damage than a Byzantine Castle against paladins  

and 20% more against Champions having masonry  in architecture also means byzantines only end  

with just 177% more HP in total so the difference  in durability isn't as large as you might think  

in PR practice though the main reason I like  them here is they take less bonus damage when  

uphill meaning resistance to trebuchets and even  more so resistance to Rams given nearly all of a  

Ram's damage is from a bonus in reality the  advertised minus 15% bonus damage works out  

to 20% in practice considering Hills already  have some starting resistance so when uphill  

they end up outlasting Byzantine castles against  both Rams and trebuchet it's always good practice  

to try to put castles on top of a hill so that's  not an uncommon situation and just in case you're  

wondering the measure of whether a castle is on  a hill or not comes down to whether its Center is  

on a higher elevation than the unit attacking  it this is all then made even better by the  

Georgian team bonus costing 25% less Stone to  repair we can talk about castle discounts and  

total castles built from available Stone but in  reality a lot of stone can go into just saving  

castles and Georgians are in a very good position  to get a lot of value when doing that repairing a  

castle is already done at half the usual cost by  default so another 25% reduction on top of that  

means Georgians can fully repair almost three  castles for the cost of building one new one  

moving on to number two we have the appropriately  named tudents with their unique Tech crenellations  

giving plus three range and letting garrisoned  infantry fire arrows with roughly one extra arrow  

for every three infantry inside that range can  be very impactful effectively removing bombard  

cannons as a threat entirely even with Siege  Engineers while giving a lot more coverage to  

hit a distant an enemy building or protect a  larger area of your town one downside though  

is they're lacking bracer so it's more like  plus two range over a generic castle and also  

cost 400 Stone also notable here but easily  forgotten is tentree murder holes and herbal  

medicine BS directly benefit toting castles also  saving a bit of stone theoretically right there  

considering many players won't be picking up  one or both of those toting castles are often  

technically better than others in Castle AG for  having those TXS even if only come into play  

situationally now just quickly before we get to  number one I had a couple of honorable mentions  

that I gave some consideration to the first  is tatars who have not just an attack bonus  

when on a hill as castles usually are but they  then add in extra longrange trebuchet it's hard  

sometimes to tease apart good castles from good  trebuchet as the two go hand inand so often but  

I didn't really want to go in that direction and  I'll just acknowledge taras are above average at  

treb Wars and on Hills the other is the berbers  with their Tech Casa giving a 20% faster work rate  

for the team's Castles meaning faster production  on trebuchets and unique units in TX I think of  

it in a similar vein to cumin mercenaries where  you're giving Ally Castle something extra though  

it doesn't really fit with what I was going for on  this list favoring the stats of castles themselves  

over units they're producing or next we'd have  to say Mongols are top 10 for making manga and  

finally for my number one pick we have the newly  revamped Persians I know it might sound crazy to  

put them ahead of tans Georgians byzantines and  Franks and maybe there's some recency bias over  

the shiny new toy but hear me out their unique  Tech citadels gives castles plus4 Pierce attack  

along with plus three versus Rams and armored  elephants plus three versus infantry while  

then also taking 25% less bonus damage what this  means is over time they do the most damage against  

battering in cap Rams paladins and especially  infantry compared to others on the list meaning  

they almost always have more Firepower than kelz  or Georgians with c Rams being one exception at  

the same time their 25% reduced bonus damage  plus access to all Castle age upgrades means  

on flat ground they max out taking the most  tripet shots even including byzantines in that  

comparison even up on a hill they take three more  Seagram hits than a Georgian castle and nearly  

match them against trebuchet as well visually  Persian castles with their unique Tech also  

fire gunpowder shots with players knowing their  several attack bonuses going on without having  

them necessarily memorized so there's a bit of an  intimidation Factor where players at the moment  

don't know exactly what to expect and might be  overly Brave or cautious around Persian castles  

to their detriment depending on the situation  in this case the gunpowder rounds definitely  

let you know to be a little extra careful around  them and as a complete package I think they earn  

the top spot that's just my personal list though  thanks for watching and I'll see you next time