Despite the fact that Age of Empires 2 has been around since the 90s, the Definitive Edition was only released in 2019. This comparatively new game has already proved itself to be one of the most popular in the franchise. That’s why some players need an Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition walkthrough!
From getting started to choosing your campaign and civilization through to winning, our guide covers everything you need to know. Figuring out your own strategies is no mean feat but you can get off to a flying start with our guide.
How is the Definitive Edition Different?
If you’re an old school Age of Empires player, you could be wondering what the point of getting the definitive edition is. After all, the game came out 20 years after the first and a lot of games don’t really add much to all their different versions. However, the same cannot be said for AoE.
This new edition not only vastly improved the appearance and graphics of the game but also added 4 brand new civilizations and 4 new campaigns, bringing the grand total to a whopping 27. The new campaigns feature some top historical figures as well as a further expansion, Dynasties of India, which was released in 2022:
Jadwiga of Poland
Jan Žižka
Algirdas and Kestutis.
When it comes down to it, the Age of Empires civilizations are probably the most important part of the game. To have a game that is still receiving detailed updates this long after its initial release shows just how popular it has become. You don’t need to muddle your way through all this new content on your own though, that’s why we’ve got a full Age of Empires Definitive Edition walkthrough!
Getting started – Hints to mastering your first playthrough
Generally, a playthrough in AoE 2 Definitive Edition will take 170 – 250 hours. There are so many steps to take that it’s basically impossible to take them all correctly. Don’t worry though, you have time to recover from mistakes and still come out on top.
Complete the William Wallace campaign
This tutorial campaign is designed to show you the ropes and get you used to how the gameplay is going to work. Veterans may not learn many new things here but it could be worth refreshing your memory!
Set your own pace
Use the in game clock to decide whether you’d prefer time to move slower or more quickly. Especially if this is your first time playing, a slower campaign will let you react to situations quicker and more effectively.
Make use of scouts
Learning to micro units is probably the most difficult part of your game. However, units like scouts will give you invaluable information about the map. It’s best not to just send them out without watching them as they’ll be quickly killed.
Trade, trade, trade
This is the best way to keep up your income and prevent needing to react to a new engagement without appropriate resources.
Top Campaigns in our Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition Walkthrough
This has got to be the most important part of the game, right? The best campaigns take players through a number of scenarios and include some potentially familiar faces including Attila the Hun and Sun Tzu. Whether you want to keep things legit or make use of any cheats Age of Empires 2 has on offer, campaigns need to be at the forefront of your mind.
Tamerlane
This is the very first campaign of the game and, as one of the longest in the game, is totally worth your time. It’s a great place to start as players will be taken through 6 scenarios and play as the Tartars. Fans of archery will surely be happy to hear that Tamerlane himself was an archer in the cavalry and so will be affected by all archer upgrades.
The Art of War
Perhaps one of the most complicated campaigns in our Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition walkthrough. This is simply because it really plays on the more subtle strategies in the game. That means that if you’re a veteran player looking to improve specific skills, you’ll jump at the chance to play a different civilization in each and every scenario!
Ivaylo
We’d be remiss not to mention one of the game’s most popular campaigns here! Ivaylo, a campaign where players will be represented by the Bulgarians across 5 scenarios. Ivaylo himself appears as a melee cavalry unit, which accurately portrays him as a peasant king. With his simple character and unit design, you can’t miss him when he’s out on the battlefield. You’ll really get a taste of why resources are so important in this campaign and live out some of the most exciting battles in the game.
Civilizations – who should you play as in your campaigns?
The list of Age of Empires 2 civilizations is huge, in fact there are 42 different ones available in the game. Playing as the different civs can have a huge impact on your gameplay because each has an unique focus, unit, technology, wonder and variety of bonuses. Our Age of Empires 2 walkthrough will break them down by focus:
Cavalry
Cavalry civilizations are those with a focus on mounted combat. They have high HP, attack, armor and speed. They are expensive but extremely powerful against any kind of ranged unit. Civs that specialize in cavalry include the Berbers, Bulgarians, Burgundians, Cumans, Franks, Gurjaras, Huns, Lithuanians, Magyars, Persians, Poles, Sicilians and Tartars.
Infantry
As with cavalry, Infantry units fight on land. They have little range and are mostly made up of foot soldiers. They’re cheap to create and have a decent amount of HP as well as being created quickly, especially in the early game. Civs that specialize in infantry units include the Aztecs, Bulgarians, Celts, Dravidians, Goths, Incas, Japanese, Malians, Sicilians, Slavs, Teutons and Vikings.
Naval
As the name implies, naval units are the only ones that can move on water and can never move on land. They give any team playing on a water heavy map a huge advantage and although they struggle against siege units, their armor is surprisingly good. Civs that specialize in naval units include the Bengalis, Berbers, Dravidians, Italians, Koreans, Malay, Portuguese, Saracens and Vikings.
Although these are some of the key units, they’re not the only kinds. Each Age of Empires 2 HD walkthrough is enormous. That means this is a great place to start for new and returning players. You can find your own play style by trying out different civilizations in each campaign. However, it might be worth checking out our recommendations so you don’t end up with a huge strategic disadvantage!
Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition Walkthrough – Earn Every Achievement
If you’re the kind of player who likes to get 100% on your games, you’ve got a long road ahead with AoE! The base game contains 100 individual achievements and all the DLC content adds another 91. Not bad going if you’re looking for a new challenge! Whether you’re working your way through the Age of Empires 2 HD tier list or simply playing for fun, achievements are a huge part of the games.
Victory – these achievements are the most common type in the game. To get them, you simply need to win as as every civilization. This is no mean feat though, with 42 civs in the game, that’s a whole lot of play time!
Campaign – to receive these achievements, you’ll need to complete each of the individual campaigns. Again, this is easier said than done not just because of the sheet volume of content. The campaigns have varying difficulties and you may need to work pretty hard to finish them all.
As with any game, that’s not all! It’d be very difficult to receive every achievement without first knowing what you have to do. This is simply because they’re so incredibly specific. For example, in the Kushluk Assassination, you’ll need to carry out the murder of Kushluk less than 20 minutes into the Genghis Khan mission. We’d certainly recommend an Age of Empires 2 walkthrough if you want to 100% the game!
Summary – The Number 1 Strategy Game
The most important thing to remember in any Age of Empires game is that the fun comes from the strategy. Once you’ve met the Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition system requirements, you’ll need to know how to get started. There’s no shame in following a guide, especially when finding your feet in such a large and well established game.
The game is about strategy and they might not always work in the way you want them to. The most important thing is to take your time. While you might not win every battle, you can certainly win the war with our Age of Empires Definitive Edition walkthrough!
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