August 2021 patch - New units & balance changes [AoE2]

A breakdown of the balance update for August 2021, including a new winged hussar, major buffs for Sicilians and Cumans, a nerf for Chinese, plus a lot more!

0:20 Steppe Lancer
1:00 Hand cannoneer
2:15 Burmese
3:16 Byzantines
3:32 Chinese
4:05 Cumans
4:50 Lithuanians
5:42 Malians
6:30 Sicilians
8:45 Going above and beyond cheat code

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Game: Age of Empires II Definitive Edition

[the_miracle_aligner]

Best part of every DLC release is that we get more content from spirit, cant wait for the civ overviews ❤

[HelloFutureMe]

I'm so glad we have such dedicated devs for AoE II DE, continually making the game better. Also, I've played AoE IV in the beta, and while I can't share any details because of the NDA, I will say — it's really good. It genuinely is. Don't be put off by the people complaining about the graphics. Eco and combat are innovative while building on what we love.

[DominatorLegend]

*Going Above and Beyond for everyone*
You hear that? That's the sound of a stampede of spaniard villagers...

[zhainongallzond]

Now, the actual WINGED HUSSARS ARRIVED

[JoacoYM]

I got the patch and didn't bother reading the details.I came straight here to the AoE temple for answers.

[Payneonline]

Winged Hussars have hidden bonuses as well compared to regular Hussars : +2 dmg vs monks, and +4 dmg against gunpowder units

[ZKP]

*Going above and beyond is now available to everyone*

Me: *Starts planning out how to get the Ethiopian Space Program on an AI Skirmish map*

[TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

Honestly, I think I liked every single balance change here. Scutage was definitely too hard to coordinate and felt like a "win more" tech, since if you were losing, you didn't have enough units to justify the cost and if you were winning, it was a bit unnecessary.

[JimRFF]

Spirit of the Law: "GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND EXCLUSIVITY DELENDA EST"

[breg]

While demonstrating the transport ship, Spirit starts building an archery range on what I can only presume was a neutral island.

[michaeltaylor]

I like pretty much all of these changes, especially the buffs to the Cumans, HCs, Byzantines and steppe lancers.

[jjforcebreaker]

Yay! Looking forward to see Poland, Bohemia, and Hausa overview vids!

[Duke_of_Lorraine]

Going Above And Beyond finally unlocked !

[darthskull]

They're working really hard on spec chat so that's it's implemented right on the first go

[justsammy]

I know it's silly but I love when AOE2 releases new patches, not because they update the game but because more SOTL vids

[SilverKnightPCs]

Archery range 🏹 and stables 🐎 on Cumans is so you can get steppe Lancer/cav archer combo which is what Cumans gets other bonuses to movement to

[chingamfong]

Sicilian mid to late game is superb now. They can full wall fast castle to 5 tv boom without taking as much stone. A castle can be built with double speed, then first crusade drowns the opponent with donjons and serjeants. If the enemy are still there, Sicilians can go imp and some ultra beefy cavalier will put the nail in the coffin. I really don't see how you can win against this civ if they get there.

[Hamanuna]

*Sicilians' team bonus was changed completely*

*Incas still hoping for a new team bonus*

[rubengalvan]

Idk if it was a bug, but I always had a hard time pointing to enemies gates to attack. With this patch they fixed that.

[carlpult]

The sicilians change is really welcome. While i liked the indestructible transports getting one free transport is really handy, and one of the few points where getting just one for free is ideal. Scutage was really iffy. Just a straight up better Cavaliers I can get behind.