Tatars

Civilization in Age of Empires 2

Cavalry ArchersKeshik

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

Overview

Cavalry civ with Cavalry Archers: livestock lasts 50% longer. Units deal 25% more damage from higher elevation. New Town Centers spawn 2 Sheep from Castle Age. Thumb Ring and Parthian Tactics are free. Unique units: Keshik (cavalry from the Castle, generates gold in combat) and Flaming Camel (Imperial Age, explodes, strong against mounted units and especially Elephants). Silk Armor: Scout Cavalry line, Steppe Lancers and Cavalry Archers +1 melee and +1 pierce armor. Timurid Siegecraft: Trebuchets +2 range. Team: mounted archers +2 line of sight.

Typical army

Feudal Age

Scout CavalryArcherSkirmisher

Castle Age

Cavalry ArcherLight CavalryKeshikSteppe Lancer

Imperial Age

Heavy Cavalry ArcherElite KeshikHussarFlaming Camel

What to expect from the Tatars

On open maps usually a Scout rush, less often Archers or Barracks first with a Drush; the longer-lasting sheep support the early economy. Hera recommends them for Scouts into Cavalry Archers and 1-Range Archers. In Castle Age almost always Cavalry Archers, which get strong quickly with free Thumb Ring and Silk Armor; Parthian Tactics comes for free later. Against Skirmishers they mix in Keshiks or Steppe Lancers; Keshiks partly pay for themselves with gold from combat. They look for fights from high ground. Late game Flaming Camels against Elephants and cavalry blobs.

Build orders for the Tatars

• Fast Scouts → Cavalry ArcherScout Rush · Feudal 8:50 · Castle 19:25 · Intermediate · by Imperius
• Scouts → 2 Ranges CrossbowFeudal Rush · Feudal 9:15 · Castle 18:10 · Beginner · by Proof
• Tatars FC CA + LancersFast Castle · Feudal 10:30 · Castle 14:00 · Intermediate · by Morley
• Tatars ScoutsScout Rush · Feudal 8:50 · Beginner · by NoName

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