Poles
Civilization in Age of Empires 2
Ranked 1v1 on Arabia, current patch (since 23 September 2026), mirrors excluded. Source: aoe2companion. Updated weekly.
Overview
Cavalry and economy civ: the Folwark replaces the Mill and instantly collects 10% of the food of newly built Farms nearby. Villagers regenerate 10/15/20 HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. Stone miners also gather gold. Bloodlines and Scout Cavalry upgrades cost 50% less food. Unique units: Obuch (infantry from the Castle, breaks its opponents' armor) and Winged Hussar (Imperial Age, instead of Hussar). Szlachta Privileges: Knight line costs 60% less gold. Lechitic Legacy: Scout Cavalry line deals trample damage. Since patch 185872 Mounted Crossbowmen instead of Cavalry Archers. Team: Scout Cavalry line +1 attack vs. ranged soldiers.
Typical army
Scout Cavalry
Archer
Skirmisher
Knight
Obuch
Light Cavalry
Elite Skirmisher
Cavalier
Winged Hussar
Elite Obuch
ArbalesterWhat to expect from the Poles
On open maps usually a Scout rush, made cheap by the discounted Scout upgrades; less often Barracks first with a Drush. On closed maps Fast Castle. Hera recommends them for the Fast Castle Boom: mine stone early, which also yields gold, and add Town Centers quickly. In Castle Age Knights, costing only 30 gold with Szlachta Privileges, plus Obuchs and Skirmishers. Late game Cavaliers, Winged Hussars and Obuchs.
How to beat the Poles
Have Spearmen and walls ready early against the Scout rush. Against Knights and Winged Hussars use Camel Riders and Pikemen; without Plate Barding Armor their Cavaliers take more arrow damage, so Arbalesters pay off. Obuchs are foot soldiers and weak to Archers and gunpowder: keep them at range. Raids on their stone miners also hit their gold. They lack Paladin, Halberdier, Camel Riders, Siege Onager, Ring Archer Armor and Architecture.
Counter army
SpearmanArcher
Camel Rider
Pikeman
Crossbowman
Monk
Heavy Camel Rider
HalberdierArbalester
Hand CannoneerBuild orders for the Poles
- 14 Minute Knights → Obuch SpamFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 14:00 · Intermediate · by Morley Games
- All In Knight RushFast Castle · Feudal 10:05 · Castle 12:45 · Advanced · by Farm Man
- Arena FC Castle Drop Fast ImpFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 13:35 · Intermediate · by WololoCrash
- poles fc with castle + 3tcFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 14:00 · Intermediate · by Mistyydrip
- Scouts → 3 Stable KnightsFast Castle · Feudal 9:15 · Castle 18:10 · Intermediate · by Kara Sabir
- Scouts → KnightsKnight Rush · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 18:35 · Intermediate · by whatupdogg
- Scouts → KnightsFeudal Rush · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 18:10 · Intermediate · by Jamie
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