Ethiopians
Civilization in Age of Empires 2
Ranked 1v1 on Arabia, current patch (since 23 September 2026), mirrors excluded. Source: aoe2companion. Updated weekly.
Overview
Archer civ: Foot Archers attack 18% faster. Every Age up gives +100 gold and +100 food. Pikeman upgrade free. Shotel Warriors (unique unit) are fast, hit infantry hard and train in a few seconds. Royal Heirs: Shotel Warriors and Camel Riders receive -3 damage from mounted units. Torsion Engines: larger blast radius for Siege Workshop units. Team: Outposts +3 line of sight and cost no stone.
Typical army
Archer
Skirmisher
Spearman
Crossbowman
Shotel Warrior
Pikeman
Mangonel
Arbalester
Siege Onager
Elite Shotel Warrior
Bombard CannonWhat to expect from the Ethiopians
Almost always Archers: they usually open with Archers from one Archery Range, plus Skirmishers and Spearmen; less often Scouts or – on maps that are easy to wall – a Drush into Fast Castle. Every Age up gives them 100 extra gold and 100 food – shortly after, a burst of units or technologies often follows. In Castle Age they mass Crossbowmen and add Shotel Warriors that pop out of the Castle in seconds. In Imperial Age Siege Onagers and Bombard Cannons with Torsion Engines hit tight armies and buildings very hard.
How to beat the Ethiopians
Their Archers die fast once you reach them: Knights, the Scout-line or Skirmishers with armor upgrades. Shotel Warriors have almost no pierce armor and only 45–50 HP – Archers and Onagers shred them. Against Torsion Engines spread your army and catch their siege with cavalry or your own Onagers. They lack Paladin, Champion, Hand Cannoneer and Bloodlines – their cavalry stays weaker late.
Counter army
Skirmisher
Man-at-Arms
Scout Cavalry
Elite Skirmisher
KnightMangonelElite Skirmisher
Cavalier
OnagerArbalesterBuild orders for the Ethiopians
- Ethiopian 2-Range Archers for Team GamesArcher Rush · Feudal 8:50 · Advanced · by Hera
- ARCHER RUSHFast Castle · Feudal 8:50 · Castle 18:35 · Advanced · by Hera
- Drush ArcherDrush · Feudal 9:15 · Castle 18:10 · Intermediate · by Profilatterol
- Drush FC XbowDrush → Fast Castle · Feudal 12:10 · Castle 15:40 · Intermediate · by Leonite
- Ethiopians Fast Imp with fish boom on Black ForestFast Imperial · Feudal 11:20 · Castle 17:20 · Advanced · by NapoleonSmurf
- Fast ArchersArcher Rush · Feudal 9:40 · Beginner · by Morley Games
- Fast Castle Shotel WarriorsFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 14:00 · Beginner · by oSetinhas
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