Counter Matrix

What beats what in Age of Empires II. Every counter here is derived straight from the game's data — a unit's bonus damage against an armor class — so it reflects exact in-game figures and stays correct across balance patches.

Open any unit line for the full list of what it counters and what counters it.

Arambai

Burmese only

Cavalry

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 75 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 60

Archer

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 5 units
Cost: 25 wood, 45 gold
Hit points: 30

Armored Elephant

Cavalry

Counters: 8 units
Countered by: 22 units
Cost: 120 food, 95 gold
Hit points: 180

Ballista Elephant

Khmer only

Cavalry

Counters: 8 units
Countered by: 19 units
Cost: 100 food, 80 gold
Hit points: 250

Battering Ram

Siege

Counters: 8 units
Countered by: 11 units
Cost: 160 wood, 75 gold
Hit points: 175

Battle Elephant

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 100 food, 70 gold
Hit points: 250

Berserker

Vikings only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 65 food, 20 gold
Hit points: 54

Bombard Cannon

Siege

Counters: 16 units
Countered by: 10 units
Cost: 225 wood, 225 gold
Hit points: 80

Boyar

Slavs only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 60 food, 70 gold
Hit points: 100

Camel

Cavalry

Counters: 37 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 55 food, 60 gold
Hit points: 70

Camel Archer

Berbers only

Archers

Counters: 10 units
Countered by: 13 units
Cost: 50 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 55

Cannon Galleon

Naval

Counters: 9 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 200 wood, 150 gold
Hit points: 120

Caravel

Portuguese only

Naval

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 90 wood, 43 gold
Hit points: 130

Cataphract

Byzantines only

Cavalry

Counters: 22 units
Countered by: 2 units
Cost: 70 food, 75 gold
Hit points: 110

Cavalry Archer

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 14 units
Cost: 40 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 50

Centurion

Romans only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 75 food, 85 gold
Hit points: 110

Chakram Thrower

Gurjaras only

Infantry

Counters: 22 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 65 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 40

Champi

Infantry

Counters: 40 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 50 food, 25 gold
Hit points: 35

Cho Ko Nu

Chinese only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 40 wood, 35 gold
Hit points: 45

Composite Bowman

Armenians only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 35 wood, 45 gold
Hit points: 40

Conquistador

Spanish only

Cavalry

Counters: 2 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 70 food, 60 gold
Hit points: 55

Coustillier

Burgundians only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 55 food, 55 gold
Hit points: 115

Demolition Ship

Naval

Counters: —
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 45 wood, 80 gold
Hit points: 40

Eagle Warrior

Infantry

Counters: 45 units
Countered by: 22 units
Cost: 20 food, 50 gold
Hit points: 50

Elephant Archer

Archers

Counters: —
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 60 food, 80 gold
Hit points: 230

Fire Lancer

Infantry

Counters: 38 units
Countered by: 22 units
Cost: 45 wood, 45 gold
Hit points: 65

Fire Ship

Naval

Counters: —
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 75 wood, 45 gold
Hit points: 110

Foot Konnik

Bulgarians only

Infantry

Counters: —
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: Free
Hit points: 45

Gbeto

Malians only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 50 food, 40 gold
Hit points: 40

Genitour

Berbers only

Archers

Counters: 21 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 40 food, 35 wood
Hit points: 50

Genoese Crossbow

Italians only

Archers

Counters: 37 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 45 wood, 40 gold
Hit points: 45

Ghulam

Hindustanis only

Infantry

Counters: 23 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 30 food, 45 gold
Hit points: 60

Hulk

Naval

Counters: —
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 75 wood, 35 gold
Hit points: 90

Huskarl

Goths only

Infantry

Counters: 23 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 75 food, 35 gold
Hit points: 60

Hussite Wagon

Bohemians only

Siege

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 12 units
Cost: 110 wood, 70 gold
Hit points: 160

Huszar

Magyars only

Cavalry

Counters: 9 units
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 35 food, 45 gold
Hit points: 80

Jaguar Warrior

Aztecs only

Infantry

Counters: 22 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 60 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 65

Janissary

Turks only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 60 food, 55 gold
Hit points: 35

Kamayuk

Inca only

Infantry

Counters: 29 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 70 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 70

Karambit Warrior

Malay only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 25 food, 15 gold
Hit points: 30

Keshik

Tatars only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 60 food, 40 gold
Hit points: 120

Kipchak

Cumans only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 60 wood, 35 gold
Hit points: 40

Knight

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 60 food, 75 gold
Hit points: 100

Konnik

Bulgarians only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 60 food, 70 gold
Hit points: 100

Leitis

Lithuanians only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 70 food, 50 gold
Hit points: 100

Longboat

Vikings only

Naval

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 100 wood, 50 gold
Hit points: 125

Longbow Man

Britons only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 35 wood, 40 gold
Hit points: 35

Mameluke

Saracens only

Cavalry

Counters: 26 units
Countered by: 10 units
Cost: 55 food, 85 gold
Hit points: 80

Mangonel

Siege

Counters: 8 units
Countered by: 10 units
Cost: 160 wood, 135 gold
Hit points: 50

Mangudai

Mongols only

Archers

Counters: 10 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 55 wood, 65 gold
Hit points: 60

Militia

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 50 food, 20 gold
Hit points: 40

Monaspa

Georgians only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 60 food, 45 gold
Hit points: 70

Obuch

Poles only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 55 food, 20 gold
Hit points: 80

Organ Gun

Portuguese only

Siege

Counters: 25 units
Countered by: 12 units
Cost: 80 wood, 70 gold
Hit points: 50

Plumed Archer

Maya only

Archers

Counters: 22 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 55 wood, 55 gold
Hit points: 50

Qizilbash Warrior

Cavalry

Counters: 20 units
Countered by: 1 units
Cost: 45 food, 60 gold
Hit points: 100

Ratha Melee

Bengalis only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 60 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 100

Ratha Ranged

Bengalis only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 60 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 100

Rattan Archer

Vietnamese only

Archers

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 50 wood, 45 gold
Hit points: 40

Rocket Cart

Siege

Counters: 8 units
Countered by: 10 units
Cost: 135 wood, 155 gold
Hit points: 45

Samurai

Japanese only

Infantry

Counters: 54 units
Countered by: 6 units
Cost: 45 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 70

Scorpion

Siege

Counters: 27 units
Countered by: 11 units
Cost: 75 wood, 75 gold
Hit points: 40

Scout Cavalry

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 80 food
Hit points: 45

Serjeant

Sicilians only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 55 food, 25 gold
Hit points: 50

Shotel

Ethiopians only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 50 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 45

Shrivamsha Rider

Gurjaras only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 70 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 55

Skirmisher

Archers

Counters: 21 units
Countered by: 5 units
Cost: 25 food, 35 wood
Hit points: 30

Spearman

Infantry

Counters: 43 units
Countered by: 17 units
Cost: 35 food, 25 wood
Hit points: 45

Steppe Lancer

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 70 food, 40 gold
Hit points: 60

Tarkan

Huns only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 9 units
Cost: 60 food, 60 gold
Hit points: 100

Teutonic Knight

Teutons only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 85 food, 30 gold
Hit points: 90

Throwing Axeman

Franks only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 55 food, 25 gold
Hit points: 60

Turtle Ship

Koreans only

Naval

Counters: 9 units
Countered by: 8 units
Cost: 190 wood, 130 gold
Hit points: 275

Urumi Swordsman

Dravidians only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 65 food, 20 gold
Hit points: 55

War Dog

Infantry

Counters: —
Countered by: 18 units
Cost: 60 food
Hit points: 50

War Elephant

Persians only

Cavalry

Counters: —
Countered by: 10 units
Cost: 170 food, 85 gold
Hit points: 450

War Galley

Naval

Counters: 1 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 90 wood, 30 gold
Hit points: 110

War Wagon

Koreans only

Archers

Counters: —
Countered by: 15 units
Cost: 200 wood, 60 gold
Hit points: 150

Woad Raider

Celts only

Infantry

Counters: 3 units
Countered by: 7 units
Cost: 70 food, 25 gold
Hit points: 70