Age of Empires II: The Conquerors/Pre-existing civilizations

In addition to receiving new technologies and units (as discussed in Chapter Two), several civilizations originally appearing in Age of Kings have had certain of their unique characteristics altered slightly in an effort to maintain play balance. These alterations are outlined here.

Briton

 * Town centers cost 50 percent less wood beginning in the castle age (changed from town centers costing 50 percent less wood beginning in the Dark Age).
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Byzantines
Team bonus: Byzantines are a defensive civilization.
 * Monks heal damaged units 50 percent faster than other monks (changed from 300 percent faster).
 * Can produce halberdier units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.
 * Combination of Bombard towers and walls is crucial.

Celts

 * Woad raiders are created faster and have a +1 pierce armor modifier (changed from no pierce armor modifier).
 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Chinese

 * Begin the game with -50 wood (change from no reduction in wood).
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Franks
Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Goths

 * Goth villagers can carry an additional 15 points of meat (change from no carry bonus).
 * Huskarl units have their pierce armor modifier increased by +2 (changed from original pierce armor modifier of +4).
 * Can produce halberdier units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Japanese

 * Samurai move faster and have an increased attack bonus versus unique units (change from original abilities).
 * Can produce halberdier units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Mongols

 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Persians

 * Can produce halberdier units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Saracens

 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Teutons

 * Town centers have a +5 LOS (line of sight radius) (changed from a +5 range).
 * Can produce halberdier units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Turks

 * Hussar upgrade free (Hussar unit did not exist in previous game).
 * Gunpowder units have 25 percent more hit points (changed from 50 percent more hit points).
 * Can produce hussar units beginning in the imperial age.
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.

Vikings

 * Cost of building docks reduced by 25 percent (change from dock cost reduction of 50 percent).
 * Berserk units have piercing armor modifier of +1 (change from no pierce armor modifier).
 * Can produce petard units beginning in the castle age.