Best Civilizations for 1000 ELO Players in AoE2 DE

If you are stuck around 1000 ELO in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, you are not alone. The 900-1100 ELO range is where most players plateau — not because they lack skill, but because they are playing civilizations that require too much micro, game knowledge, or precise timing to execute effectively.

This guide recommends civilizations that are forgiving, straightforward, and statistically strong at the beginner level.

1. Franks — The Beginner's Best Friend

Win Rate at 800-1000 ELO: ~54%

Franks are the most-picked civilization at low ELO for a reason. Their bonuses are simple, powerful, and require no special knowledge to use:

• Free Farm upgrades (you save food and wood at every age)
• Castles are 25% cheaper
• Knights have +20% HP starting in Feudal Age
• Faster foraging (your early economy is smoother)

The Frank game plan is dead simple: scout rush into knights, add throwing axemen if you see pikes, click Paladin in Imperial. You do not need complex build orders — just make knights and win.

2. Britons — Archer Domination Made Easy

Win Rate at 800-1000 ELO: ~52%

If you prefer ranged play, Britons are the way to go. Their archers have extra range in Castle and Imperial Age, meaning you can out-range your opponent's castles, town centers, and units before they can even fire back. Key bonuses:

• Archery ranges work 20% faster
• Archers get +1 range in Castle, +1 in Imperial (total +2)
• Shepherds work 25% faster (smoother Dark Age)

The extra range is especially powerful at low ELO because opponents often do not know how to close the gap. You can sit back and pick off units from a safe distance while your enemy panics.

3. Lithuanians — Aggressive and Forgiving

Win Rate at 800-1000 ELO: ~51%

Lithuanians reward map control with extra attack on their knights for each relic collected. At low ELO, many players ignore relics entirely, making it easy to get 2-4 relics and supercharge your cavalry:

• Start with +150 food (easier Dark Age)
• Knights and Leitis get +1 attack per relic (up to +4)
• Faster-working monasteries

4. Goths — The Infantry Flood

Win Rate at 800-1000 ELO: ~50%

Goths are all about one thing: overwhelming numbers. In Imperial Age, their barracks work 100% faster and infantry costs 35% less. You can flood the map with champions and huskarls faster than your opponent can produce counters. At low ELO, players struggle to respond to the sheer volume of units.

Civilizations to Avoid at 1000 ELO

Some civilizations are statistically strong but require high-level execution that is unrealistic at 1000 ELO:

• Chinese: Weird Dark Age start that requires precise villager micro
• Malay: Fast age-up timings require perfect build order execution
• Saracens: Market abuse strategies are too complex
• Bengalis: Unique playstyle that is difficult to master

The Bottom Line

Pick a straightforward civilization, learn one build order, and play it repeatedly. Franks into knights, Britons into archers, Lithuanians into knights — these strategies work at every ELO and will give you the consistency you need to climb.