Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 9 Week 13: Celts vs Chinese

Two OG favorites!

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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 Aztecs vs Persians, and next up is the Celts vs Chinese!

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Celts: Infantry and Siege civilization

• Infantry move +15% faster
• Lumberjacks work +15% faster
• Siege weapons fire +20% faster
• Sheep will convert so long as within Celt unit LoS
• TEAM BONUS: Siege Workshops work +20% faster
• Unique Unit: Woad Raider (Fast moving powerful infantry)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Stronghold (Castles and towers fire +20% faster)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Furor Celtica (Siege Workshop units +40% hp)

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Chinese: Archer Balanced civilization

• Start with +3 Villagers; but -50w, -200f
• Techs cost -10/15/20% in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
• Town Centers support 10 population; have +5 LoS
• Demolition Ships +50% hp
• TEAM BONUS: Farms +45 food
• Unique Unit: Chu Ko Nu (Powerful archer with rapid-fire attack)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Great Wall (Walls and Towers +30% hp)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Rocketry (Chu Ko Nu +2 attack; Scorpions +4 attack)

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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!

• Alright, classic one here! For 1v1 Arabia, although both civs are considered quite good, Chinese would seem to be a bit stronger on paper. Their tech tree and eco bonuses mean they can handle pretty much any situation, whereas Celts are much more 1-dimensional. However, Celt siege can smash Chinese if they can get to it, and their powerful eco can keep them afloat for a while. Who do you favor?
• On closed maps, Chinese used to be more popular than Celts until they lost Redemption. Nowadays, I feel like both civs are similar in strength overall. However, in this particular match up, Chinese would struggle in my eyes, as Celts can more reliably get to SO + Woads - something Chinese can't really answer. Thoughts?

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

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Previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3