Portuguese
Civilization in Age of Empires 2
Ranked 1v1 on Arabia, current patch (since 23 September 2026), mirrors excluded. Source: aoe2companion. Updated weekly.
Overview
Naval and gunpowder civ: all units cost 20% less gold. Foragers also gather wood. Ships +10/15/20% HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. In Imperial Age the Feitoria: it generates wood, food, gold and stone continuously and takes 20 population slots. Unique units: Organ Gun (gunpowder siege from the Castle, fires volleys) and Caravel (warship whose shots pass through several targets). Circumnavigation: reveals the whole map, ships train 33% faster. Arquebus: gunpowder units hit moving targets more reliably. Team: technologies research 25% faster. Since patch 185872 Mounted Crossbowmen (no Heavy upgrade) instead of Cavalry Archers, no more Redemption, and Organ Guns take 28 instead of 25 seconds.
Typical army
Scout Cavalry
Archer
Spearman
Knight
Organ Gun
Crossbowman
Pikeman
Elite Organ Gun
Arbalester
Bombard Cannon
CavalierWhat to expect from the Portuguese
Flexible on open maps: Scout rush, Archers or Barracks first with a Drush, all about equally common; on closed maps Fast Castle. Hera recommends them for Scouts into Archers and the Fast Castle Boom, and has a dedicated Portuguese Monk Rush Strategy. In Castle Age Knights, Crossbowmen and many Spearmen, plus early Organ Guns against large groups. Late game Organ Guns, Arbalesters and Bombard Cannons; with Arquebus they also hit moving targets. Feitorias deliver gold continuously, so long games are their strength. On water they are among the strongest civs.
How to beat the Portuguese
Organ Guns are weak to cavalry and Mangonels: ride in with Knights or shell them with Onagers, never charge them head-on in a tight blob. Hunt Bombard Cannons with cavalry. They lack Hussar, Paladin, Siege Ram, Siege Onager, Redemption and Squires. Without Hussar and Arrowslits they struggle to stop fast raids. Each Feitoria costs 20 population slots, so destroying them hurts. On water fight for control early; later their ships are tougher than yours.
Counter army
Spearman
SkirmisherArcherKnight
Mangonel
Elite SkirmisherCavalier
OnagerElite Skirmisher
Heavy Camel RiderBuild orders for the Portuguese
- Portuguese Monk Rush StrategyFast Castle Monks · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 13:10 · Advanced · by Hera
- 22 Pop Castle Drop PortugueseFast Castle · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 12:45 · Advanced · by Jimmybdh
- 23+1 FC Forward Castle No Gold VariationFast Castle · Feudal 10:05 · Castle 13:10 · Advanced · by Unflushable Poo
- Fast CastleFast Castle · Feudal 8:25 · Castle 11:30 · Intermediate · by Archizzle
- Portuguese Fast Castle DropFast Castle · Feudal 10:05 · Castle 13:35 · Advanced · by Somero
- Portuguese Fast ScoutsScout Rush · Feudal 8:20 · Castle 18:04 · Advanced · by Survivalist
- Portuguese Monk RushFast Imperial · Feudal 9:40 · Castle 12:45 · Intermediate · by Selim Bucher
- PORTUGUESE SCOUTS OPENINGScouts · Feudal 8:20 · Beginner · by YO
- Portuguese Unique Unit RushFast Castle · Feudal 11:45 · Castle 15:15 · Intermediate · by Wuacky
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