Civilization Match Up Discussion Week 4: Celts vs Malians

Battle of the wood bonuses - fight!

Hello and welcome back for another Age of Empires 2 civilization match up discussion! This is a series where we discuss the various advantages, disadvantages, and quirks found within the numerous match ups of the game. The goal is to collectively gain a deeper understanding of how two civilizations interact with each other in a variety of different settings. Feel free to ask questions, pose strategies, or provide insight on how the two civilizations in question interact with each other on any map type and game mode. This is not limited to 1v1 either. Feel free to discuss how the civilizations compare in team games as well! So long as you are talking about how the two civilizations interact, anything is fair game! Last week we discussed the Khmer vs Turks, and next up is the Celts vs Malians!

Celts: Infantry^andSiege Civilization

• Infantry move 15% faster
• Lumberjacks work 15% faster
• Siege units fire 25% faster
• Convert enemy sheep even if enemy units are next to them

• TEAM BONUS: Siege Workshops work 20% faster

• Unique Unit: Woad Raider (Fast-moving infantry)

• Castle Age Unique Tech: Strongholds (Castles and Towers fire 25% faster)

• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Furor Celtica (Siege Weapons have +40% HP)

Malians: Infantry Civilization

• Buildings (except Farms) cost -15% wood
• Barracks units get +1 Pierce Armor per age (starting in the Feudal Age)
• Gold Mining and Gold Shaft Mining upgrades free

• TEAM BONUS: University works 80% faster

• Unique Unit: Gbeto (Fast-moving, fragile, ranged infantry)

• Castle Age Unique Tech: Tigui (Town Centers fire +5 arrows, even when empty)

• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Farimba (Cavalry have +5 attack)

Below are some match up-specific talking points to get you all started. These are just to give people ideas, you do not need to address them specifically if you do not want to!

• Which civ's infantry bonus/unique unit is useful in more situations?
• Both civs have strong wood bonuses, yet fairly mediocre late game navies. Which would you prefer on water maps and why?
• In the Celts vs Malians match up, is the Celts' specialization of Infantry or Siege or the Malians' flexible tech tree more useful on various maps?

Thank you for participating! Come back next week for the Britons vs Spanish :)