Best Civ for Beginners? [AoE2]

This is a really common question, and one that's hard to answer. I think the best approach is to present the various arguments and give the case for each one.

0:45 Most popular civilizations for beginners
3:00 "Best" civs statistically
4:15 Most techs and variety
5:20 Easiest early game
7:30 "Random" civ

Game: Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, with Forgotten Empires, African Kingdoms, Rise the Rajas, and Last Khans expansions

[bryanx]

These are all good points. But I'm still picking the Zerg.

[DCdabest]

I just remember picking Byzantines as a kid because their name sounded cool.

[tcsiyic]

The best civs for New Players are the civs they like the most / have their favourite looking units :D
Because passion drives players to play more and be good too :>

[spdutahraptor]

Multiplayer players: "i should choose civ bonuses carefully so that i can boost my game properly, and get the best possible performance"

Me: "i will choose this civ because the buildings and units look pretty neat"

[FIamestalker]

T90 praised Franks as a good starting civ in one of his Low Elo Legends casts. Cheap Castles, Strong berries (which new players often gravitate to) and automatic farm upgrades along with the most powerful Paladins, though overreliance on heavy cavalry and automatic farm upgrades could also be a hindrance for learning

[Eon]

I would argue that practising on random IS a good way to learn AFTER you've got the basics down. Trying to figure out a new tech tree every go is overwhelming when you're also figuring out the best way to get through the first two ages.

[Vario]

"So, that all being said, which civ should I start with?"
"Yes"

[bear]

I'm glad that you didn't revealed the op team bonus of saracens so new players won't abuse it

[samuelkatz]

Last time I played this was when it was still on a disc. I never really knew there was this much meta, but I'm glad to see it's still popular

[hosmerhomeboy]

<not a beginner
<still feels the need to watch this for pointers and tips

[Tamizushi]

As a noob who have been a noob at this game for thousands of hours, I feel like I have accumulated enough experience being a noob to know that Mongols are the best civilization for noobs, just because microing Mangudai is fun. Now if you'd like to branch out from being a noob, then I obviously can't help you with that.

[danielvanmaanen]

Slavs: farm placements are all you need and good ones are really easy to do...


*Cries in T90*

[themanflesh]

AOE2 came out when I was nearly 2 years old. We got it when I was 4. I’ve played it since I was 5. I am now 21, and can defeat AI on Moderate, given I have allies as well.

It has been over 20 years since the game came out. And it is ONLY NOW, THAT YOU RELEASE THIS DAMNED VIDEO.

[kkmdew]

Lmao I’m a life long Huns player and I appreciated the don’t let anyone tell you you’re enjoying it wrong.

[nathanbrown]

There's one school of thought you haven't covered: Goths. No, seriously. This was a well argued answer when this question was asked back in the Conquerors era on the Heavengames forum.


Goths prevent newbies from developing the bad habit of turtling by denying them walls, though the introduction of wooden gates may have weakened this case. Goths have no early econ bonus except hunter damage, which encourages boar luring. Goths with their quantity over quality bias encourage macro heavy games instead of luring the newbie into focusing on micro and neglecting macro development.


A similar case was made for Mongols. A Mongol can try to turtle behind stone walls (badly, but that just makes it worse), but they too have their only econ bonus in hunting and they smooth out sloppy scouting so a new player can learn build orders without missing sheep or boar so often.


I would not recommend Japan. I found it way too easy to go nuts with mills at 50 wood.

[MiniCraftWolskys]

I remember going for Teutons a lot early on for the cheap farms, being useful for any kind of strat (Archer, scout, knight, fc boom...) And the strong castle to defend
After that I sapmmed Chinese for the versatility of the civ, you can go pass chu ko nu with Rams or camels against cavalry which is always nice

[EaglemanFOX]

Bought AOE2DE a couple days ago, been doing the campaigns and art of war and have wondered what civ I should start as. Then this happens. Thanks

[spiritfoxmy]

My starting civ was the Mongols. It was the civ that broke me out of an extreme turtle mindset and instead go for pure aggression into boom

[JesseLH]

"I went through a phase of Byzantines then mayans, followed by Huns"


... are you... me?

[xOnikitsunex]

I remember playing the Gold edition of AoE II, my most played civs back then were byzantines and japanesse, I now feel that a lot of things have changed since then, back then we only had "maimin matty's begginer's videos" and a book describing the units. I'm glad the team gave us the new "art of war" section in DE for learning purposses.

P.D. I really like your videos :P