Civilization Match-up Discussion Round 11 Week 16: Byzantines vs Japanese

Some more Age of Kings classics!

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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 Teutons, and next up is the Byzantines vs Japanese!

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Byzantines: Defensive civilization

• Buildings +10/20/30/40% hp per Age
• Camels, Skirmishers, and Spearmen cost -25%
• Fire Ships attack +25% faster
• Advancing to the Imperial Age costs -33%
• Town Watch free
• TEAM BONUS: Monks +50% heal speed
• Unique Unit: Cataphract (Heavy, anti-infantry cavalry with resistance against cav counter units)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Greek Fire (Fire Ships +1 range)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Logistica (Cataphracts gain +6 damage vs infantry; deal 5 trample damage)

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Japanese: Infantry (and Naval) civilization

• Fishing Ships x2 hp; +0/+2 armor; +5/10/15/20% work rate per Age
• Mills, Lumber Camps, and Mining Camps cost -50%
• Infantry attack +33% faster starting in Feudal Age
• TEAM BONUS: Galleys +50% LoS
• Unique Unit: Samurai (Powerful infantry with bonus damage against other UUs)
• Castle Age Unique Tech: Yasama (Towers fire 2 additional arrows)
• Imperial Age Unique Tech: Kataparuto (Trebuchets fire +33% faster; pack/unpack 4x faster)

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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!

• Interesting one here imo! For 1v1 on open maps, I would say that both of these civs are upper-mid-tier-ish, with both having some powerful options, but also missing a long-term eco bonus. Byzantines are insanely consistent with their strong trash units and defenses, but Japanese have some very potent aggressive options with their swordsmen, and are certainly no slouches when it comes to cost-efficient late game armies. Who do you favor?
• On hybrid maps, Japanese and Byzantines are both very popular civs. Hybrid maps tend to be very aggressive on the water in early Feudal Age, so tanky Japanese Fishing Ships and deadly Byzantine Fire Ships really have the chance to shine. Japanese also have the early wood savings, but Byzantines are still really tough to dislodge. Which civ do you prefer on maps like Cross and Baltic?
• In team games, both of these civs obviously prefer to be flank, where both are quite powerful, if not quite top-tier. Both possess fully upgraded Arbalests and powerful Halbs. Japanese have Kataparuto trebs in late game whereas Byzantines have gunpowder. Both even have strong tower options for a late game slow push. Which civ do you prefer as a flank?

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

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Previous discussions: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3