AoE2 HELP!›All civilizations›Wei

Wei

Civilization in Age of Empires 2

CavalryMobile Cav Archers

49.2 %Win rate

BTier

3,632Games analysed

1 %Picked in

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

Overview

Cavalry civ: one free Villager for each economy upgrade researched. Hei Guang Cavalry and Xianbei Raiders +20/30% HP in Castle/Imperial Age. Traction Trebuchets and Lou Chuans cost 25% less. Unique units: Tiger Cavalry (from the Castle, exceptionally strong against ranged units, gets stronger with each enemy military unit it defeats), Xianbei Raider (mounted archer from the Archery Range with a charged volley, replaces the Cavalry Archer) and the hero Cao Cao (Imperial Age, nearby units attack faster). Instead of Knights they have Hei Guang Cavalry, instead of the Trebuchet the Traction Trebuchet. Tuntian: soldiers passively produce food. Ming Guang Armor: mounted units +4 melee armor. Team: cavalry +2 attack vs. siege weapons. Since patch 185872 Xianbei Raiders cost 35 instead of 25 gold.

Typical army

Feudal Age

Scout Cavalry

Spearman

Skirmisher

Castle Age

Xianbei Raider

Hei Guang Cavalry

Tiger Cavalry

Light Cavalry

Imperial Age

Xianbei Raider

Elite Tiger Cavalry

Heavy Hei Guang Cavalry

Traction Trebuchet

What to expect from the Wei

On open maps usually a Scout rush, less often Archers; economy upgrades give free Villagers. On closed maps Fast Castle. In Castle Age Xianbei Raiders are the main unit, plus Hei Guang Cavalry and Tiger Cavalry, which hunts Archers and Skirmishers. With Tuntian every soldier slowly produces food. Late game Ming Guang Armor and Cao Cao's aura strengthen the army, and cheap Traction Trebuchets carry the push.

How to beat the Wei

Spearmen and walls against the Scout opening. Against Xianbei Raiders use Skirmishers or Camel Riders, not pure infantry. Against Tiger and Hei Guang Cavalry use Pikemen, Halberdiers or Camel Riders, and don't leave your Archers unprotected. Without Heresy their expensive cavalry is vulnerable to Monks. Traction Trebuchets are worthwhile raid targets; focus Cao Cao down with ranged units (he can't be converted) to remove his aura. Wei lack Arbalester, Champion, Siege Onager, Plate Mail Armor, Plate Barding Armor, Siege Engineers, Redemption and gunpowder.