Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 8 Week 9: Burmese vs Ethiopians

Two perhaps less-popular, but nonetheless quite powerful civs!

​

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 Britons vs Magyars, and next up is the Burmese vs Ethiopians!

​

Burmese: Monk and Elephant civilization

• Lumber Camp upgrades free
• Infantry +1 attack per age (starting in Feudal Age)
• Monastery techs cost -50%
• TEAM BONUS: Relic spawn locations visible on map
• Unique Unit: Arambai (Powerful, but inaccurate dart-throwing ranged cavalry)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Howdah (Battle Elephants +1/+1 armor)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Manipur Cavalry (Cavalry and Arambai +6 attack vs buildings)

​

Ethiopians: Archer civilization

• Archers fire +18% faster
• Receive +100f, +100g upon reaching the next Age
• Pikeman upgrade free
• TEAM BONUS: Towers and Outposts +3 LoS
• Unique Unit: Shotel Warrior (Fast, frail, infantry with massive attack)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Royal Heirs (Shotels created almost instantly)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Torsion Engines (Siege Workshop units have increased blast radius)

​

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!

• Okay, so for your basic 1v1 open maps like Arabia and Gold Rush/Pit, both of these civs are respectable picks, but nowhere near top tier. Ethiopians can have a very strong early Feudal or fast Castle gameplan with their extra resources and powerful archers, but lack a persistent eco bonus to back it up. Burmese meanwhile, have a very deadly M@A opening with their extra attack, a decent eco bonus, and a powerful unique unit, but critically possess abysmal archers. To whom would you give the edge here?
• On closed maps like Arena, BF, and Hideout, Ethiopians are once again benefiting from a nice FC-> Xbow play, whereas Burmese can go for either Monks or Arambai. In late game, both civs have absolutely devastating gold-intensive armies. Do you take the Ethiopian glass-cannon army or the tanky Burmese army?

Thanks as always for participating! Next week we will continue our discussions with the Mayans vs Persians. Hope to see you there! :)

​

Previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3