Shu

Civilization in Age of Empires 2

ArchersSiege

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

Overview

Archer and siege civ: Lumberjacks also gather food. Archery unit technologies at the Archery Range and Blacksmith cost 25% less. Siege weapons and siege ships move 10/15% faster in Castle/Imperial Age. Unique units: White Feather Guard (infantry from the Castle, 60 food and 15 gold, slows the units it hits), War Chariot (siege cavalry from the Siege Workshop with rapid fire and a barrage mode) and the hero Liu Bei (Imperial Age, heals nearby units). Instead of Knights they have Hei Guang Cavalry, instead of the Trebuchet the Traction Trebuchet. Coiled Serpent Array: Spearmen and White Feather Guards gain extra HP when near each other. Bolt Magazine: Archer line, War Chariots and Lou Chuans fire extra projectiles. Team: Foot Archers +2 line of sight. Since patch 185872 the War Chariot costs 75 instead of 65 food.

Typical army

Feudal Age

ArcherSpearmanSkirmisherScout Cavalry

Castle Age

CrossbowmanWhite Feather GuardPikemanMangonel

Imperial Age

ArbalesterElite White Feather GuardHeavy Hei Guang CavalryTraction Trebuchet

What to expect from the Shu

On open maps about equally often a Drush (Barracks first) or Archers, less often a Scout rush; the wood-and-food economy and cheap archery upgrades support early pressure. In Castle Age Crossbowmen behind Spearmen and White Feather Guards, plus Skirmishers and Mangonels. War Chariots are rare but strong against ranged units. Late game Arbalesters with Bolt Magazine, Halberdiers and Guards with Coiled Serpent Array, plus Hei Guang Cavalry, Traction Trebuchets and Liu Bei.

Build orders for the Shu

No civ-specific build orders yet – the general builds work fine.

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