Jurchens

Civilization in Age of Empires 2

CavalryGunpowder

Ranked 1v1 on Arabia, current patch (since 23 September 2026), mirrors excluded. Source: aoe2companion. Updated weekly.

Overview

Cavalry and gunpowder civ: mounted units and Fire Lancers attack 25% faster from Feudal Age. Meat from hunt and livestock doesn't decay. Siege Engineers available in Castle Age; siege and fortification technologies cost 75% less wood and research twice as fast. Units take 50% less friendly fire. Iron Pagodas (unique unit from the Castle) are heavy cavalry that regularly block one melee hit completely. Grenadiers (unique unit from the Archery Range, Castle Age) throw grenades with splash damage. Fortified Bastions: fortifications regenerate 500 HP per minute. Thunderclap Bombs: Rocket Carts, Grenadiers and Lou Chuans explode on death, and their projectiles cause extra explosions. Team: gunpowder units +2 line of sight.

Typical army

Feudal Age

Scout CavalrySkirmisherSpearman

Castle Age

Steppe LancerGrenadierCavalry ArcherIron Pagoda

Imperial Age

Elite Steppe LancerGrenadierElite Iron PagodaHeavy Cavalry Archer

What to expect from the Jurchens

On open maps almost always a Scout rush; on closed maps Fast Castle – Hera has a dedicated Fast Castle Fire Lancer Rush for them, since their meat doesn't decay. With faster attacks their Scouts and Steppe Lancers win melee fights that would otherwise be even. In Castle Age Steppe Lancers, Grenadiers, Cavalry Archers, Fire Lancers or Iron Pagodas; with Siege Engineers their Rocket Carts and Scorpions already have more range. The late-game goal is an army of Grenadiers, siege and cavalry.

Build orders for the Jurchens

• Jurchens Fast Castle Fire Lancer RushFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 14:00 · Advanced · by Hera
• fast castleFast Castle · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 13:10 · Beginner · by egg

Plus 149 build orders for every civ – step by step with voice guidance in the player.