Best Counters to Every Unique Unit in AoE2

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry and anti-elephant bonus damage; requires large numbers but is the primary non-monk counter.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the slow-moving Elephants and their support units simultaneously.

Trebuchet

Outranges Ballista Elephants and can destroy them before they enter effective range in siege scenarios.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance; Berserks have moderate pierce armor but arbalests are still efficient.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Berserks are typically massed in.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Boyars have low pierce armor despite high melee armor.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; Boyars are one of the best conversion targets.

Hussar

Speed allows closure before sustained fire; Camel Archers are expensive and lose in melee quickly.

Onager

AOE damage punishes grouped Camel Archers and forces micro that breaks their formation.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is the cleanest counter; Cataphracts have low pierce armor and die efficiently to massed archers.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; Cataphracts are one of the best conversion targets in the game.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance picks off Centurions before they can position to buff surrounding infantry; they have moderate pierce armor but massed arbalests win the trade.

Monks

Converting a Centurion is extremely efficient — you deny the opponent their infantry-boosting support unit and gain a powerful cavalry piece yourself.

Onager

AOE damage kills the Centurion and the infantry it is buffing simultaneously, collapsing the Roman formation in one volley.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Chakram Throwers have low melee armor.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the tight formations Chakram Throwers are typically massed in.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Chu Ko Nu have low melee armor.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the tight formations Chu Ko Nu are typically massed in.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Composite Bowmen have low melee armor and die quickly in melee.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the tight formations Composite Bowmen are typically massed in, forcing costly micro.

Heavy Camel

Camels absorb the pierce damage efficiently and can close the gap; useful when cavalry archers are mixed in.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient against Condottieri who have no ranged attack.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade cleanly against this infantry unit.

Elite Skirmisher

Pierce armor absorbs the gunpowder projectile damage; Skirmishers are cost-efficient against Conquistadors.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade against Conquistadors.

Arbalest

Ranged fire before the charge activates is the safest counter; force the Coustillier to charge into a wall of arrows.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP absorbs the charge; effective in open-field engagements.

Monks

Converting a charged Coustillier gives you the most powerful cavalry unit in the game; high-risk, high-reward.

Fast Fire Ship

Closes the gap quickly and deals bonus damage to galleys; cost-efficient counter in Castle Age.

Trebuchet

Shore-based Trebuchets can destroy Dromons before they enter effective range in coastal scenarios.

Knight / Cavalier

Cavalry wins the trade with no bonus damage taken; Eagles lack an anti-cavalry bonus.

Mangonel

AOE siege punishes massed Eagles, countering the swarm strategy Meso civs rely on.

Throwing Axeman

Infantry bonus damage makes Throwing Axemen unusually cost-efficient vs Eagle Warriors in the Feudal-Castle age window.

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry and anti-elephant bonus damage; requires large numbers but is the primary non-monk counter.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the slow-moving Elephant Archers and their support units.

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry bonus applies; Fire Lancers have low melee armor and fold quickly in sustained melee.

Hussar

Fast cavalry can close the gap before the charge activates; Fire Lancers are vulnerable in melee.

Onager

AOE damage punishes grouped Fire Lancers and forces micro that breaks their charge formation.

Elite Skirmisher

Pierce armor absorbs the projectile damage; Skirmishers can kill Flaming Camels efficiently at range.

Halberdier

Melee infantry can intercept Flaming Camels before they reach cavalry targets.

Arbalest

Flemish Militia have moderate melee armor but low pierce armor; massed arbalests are highly cost-efficient and prevent them from closing the distance.

Mangonel

AOE splash punishes the large swarms of Flemish Militia that Flemish Revolution produces; one Onager volley can devastate an entire converted villager army.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade cleanly; Flemish Militia have no anti-cavalry bonus and their moderate stats cannot match a Knight in a one-on-one exchange.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Gbeto have low melee armor.

Arbalest

Outranges Gbeto and deals pierce damage efficiently.

Hussar

Cheap fast cavalry closes the gap and wins in melee; Genitours have low melee armor and fold quickly.

Arbalest

Outranges and out-damages Genitours in a straight archer fight due to superior attack stats and range.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade decisively; Genitours are not cost-efficient enough to trade against Knights.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the cost-efficiency trade; Ghulams' anti-archer bonus is irrelevant against cavalry.

Halberdier

Melee infantry with spear bonus; Ghulams have no bonus vs spearmen and lose the sustained fight.

Halberdier

Melee infantry with bonus damage vs siege units; Houfnice have no melee defense and die in seconds once infantry close the distance.

Onager / Siege Onager

Siege vs siege — Onagers can match or outrange the Houfnice and deal massive AOE damage; forces the Bohemian player to protect it with an escort.

Trebuchet

Outranges the Houfnice entirely in static siege scenarios; forces it to move and exposes it to cavalry flanks.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade cleanly; Huskarls have low melee armor despite high pierce armor.

Halberdier

Melee infantry with spear bonus; Huskarls' low melee armor means they lose to Halbs in sustained fights.

Halberdier

Melee infantry can close quickly and deal bonus damage to siege units; Wagons have poor melee armor.

Trebuchet

Outranges Wagons entirely and can destroy them before they enter effective range.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance avoids the armor reduction; Iron Clads have low pierce armor despite high melee armor.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Iron Clads are typically massed in.

Monks

Converting Iron Clads denies the opponent their armor-stripping threat and gives you a powerful melee unit.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the cost-efficiency exchange cleanly with no bonus damage taken from Jaguar Warriors.

Arbalest

Deals pierce damage from range before Jaguar Warriors can close, denying the strong melee bonus vs infantry.

Mangonel

AOE splash punishes the tight infantry formations Jaguar Warriors are trained in, invalidating their melee-mass advantage.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Janissaries have low melee armor.

Halberdier

Melee infantry can close quickly; Janissaries have poor melee combat stats.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Jiangdong Warriors have moderate pierce armor but arbalests are still cost-efficient.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Jiangdong Warriors are typically massed in.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade cleanly; Jiangdong Warriors have no anti-cavalry bonus to punish the engagement.

Elite Skirmisher

Pierce armor absorbs the Jurchen Lancer's ranged bonus attacks; Skirmishers are cost-efficient against this cavalry.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade; effective in open-field engagements.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; denies the opponent their powerful cavalry investment.

Hussar

Fast cavalry can disengage before taking the anti-cavalry bonus damage; hit-and-run tactics are effective.

Onager

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Kamayuks are typically massed in.

Arbalest

Low HP means Karambit Warriors die quickly to ranged fire despite their cheap cost.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the massive swarms of Karambit Warriors that Malay players rely on.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Keshiks have moderate pierce armor.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage handles Keshiks efficiently in open-field engagements.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Khitan Lancers have moderate pierce armor but massed arbalests win the trade.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage handles Khitan Lancers efficiently in open-field engagements.

Hussar

Speed matches Khitan Raiders' mobility; can chase and engage in melee where they are weak.

Onager

AOE damage punishes grouped Khitan Raiders and forces micro that breaks their kiting pattern.

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry bonus applies once Khitan Raiders are caught; pairs well with Skirmishers for a complete counter.

Hussar

Speed matches Kipchaks' mobility; can chase and engage in melee where Kipchaks are weak.

Onager

AOE punishes the grouped Kipchak formations and forces micro that breaks their kiting pattern.

Arbalest

Ranged fire kills the mounted form efficiently; the dismounted form has lower HP and can be mopped up.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage applies to both forms; cost-efficient trade especially in Imperial Age.

Arbalest

Legionaries have moderate pierce armor but massed arbalests are still cost-efficient; ranged fire prevents them from closing.

Mangonel

AOE splash punishes the tight Roman infantry formations and negates their high melee armor advantage.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the cost-efficiency exchange; Legionaries have no anti-cavalry bonus to punish the engagement.

Arbalest

Ranged fire before engagement; Leitis have moderate pierce armor but massed arbalests are still efficient.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; Leitis are one of the best conversion targets.

Onager

AOE splash punishes the tight Longbow formations and outranges them when upgraded to Siege Onager.

Skirmisher

High pierce armor absorbs Longbow fire efficiently; the counter is cost-effective but requires large numbers.

Trebuchet

Outranges even Elite Longbowmen and forces them to move, breaking their formation advantage.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Magyar Huszars have low pierce armor.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage handles Magyar Huszars efficiently in open-field engagements.

Elite Skirmisher

Pierce armor absorbs the thrown scimitar damage; Skirmishers are cost-efficient against Mamelukes.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; Mamelukes are one of the best conversion targets.

Hussar

Speed can match Mangudai mobility; forces engagement in melee where Mangudai are weak.

Onager

AOE punishes the grouped Mangudai formations and forces micro that breaks their kiting pattern.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage applies; Heavy Camels can absorb Mangudai fire and close the gap effectively.

Arbalest

Ranged fire kills Missionaries at range before they can reach your units; their low HP means a single volley is enough to delete them.

Monks

Counter-converting a Missionary is extremely efficient — you deny the opponent their mounted healer/converter and gain a unit that can immediately convert back into the Spanish army.

Elite Skirmisher

Cheap ranged units can pick off Missionaries at the edge of a battle; their low HP makes them easy targets for any ranged unit that can reach them.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance; Monaspa have moderate pierce armor but massed arbalests are efficient before the attack bonus stacks.

Monks

Converting Monaspa denies the opponent their gold investment and the dangerous attack-bonus stacking mechanic entirely.

Onager

AOE damage kills Monaspa quickly before they can accumulate attack stacks from nearby deaths.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance avoids the armor reduction; Obuch have low pierce armor.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Obuch are typically massed in.

Halberdier

Melee infantry can close quickly and deal bonus damage to siege units.

Onager

Siege vs siege — Onagers outrange and deal massive damage to Organ Guns.

Hussar

Speed matches Plumed Archers' mobility; can chase and engage in melee where they are weak.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the tight formations Plumed Archers are typically massed in.

Elite Skirmisher

High pierce armor absorbs the ranged-mode Ratha's projectile damage efficiently.

Heavy Camel

Anti-cavalry bulk handles melee mode but is vulnerable when the Ratha switches to ranged — requires paired ranged support.

Monks

Converting Rathas is highly efficient given their gold cost and versatility; denies the opponent the mode-switching threat entirely.

Halberdier

Melee infantry can close quickly; Rattan Archers' high pierce armor is irrelevant against melee attacks.

Onager

AOE damage bypasses the high pierce armor and punishes grouped Rattan Archers.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance; Samurai have moderate pierce armor but arbalests are still efficient.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Samurai are typically massed in.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Savars have moderate pierce armor and die to massed archer fire.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade against Savars in open-field engagements.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Serjeants have moderate pierce armor but arbalests are still cost-efficient.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight infantry formations Serjeants are typically massed in.

Arbalest

Low HP means Shotel Warriors die quickly to ranged fire before they can engage in melee.

Halberdier

Tanky infantry with spear bonus; Shotel Warriors' low HP means they lose the sustained fight.

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry bonus applies after the shield is depleted; Halbs are the standard melee counter.

Onager

AOE damage depletes shields on multiple Riders simultaneously, making the follow-up engagement much easier.

Hussar

Fast cavalry closes the gap before sustained fire accumulates; Shu Crossbowmen have low melee armor.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the tight formations Shu Crossbowmen are typically massed in.

Monks

Converting Shu Crossbowmen is efficient given their gold cost and long range; denies the opponent their ranged advantage.

Elite Skirmisher

High pierce armor absorbs the Slinger's projectile damage efficiently; Skirmishers are cost-efficient and outclass Slingers in the ranged exchange.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the melee trade decisively; Slingers have no anti-cavalry bonus and fold instantly in melee.

Arbalest

Outranges and out-damages Slingers in a straight ranged fight; Slingers' low HP means they die quickly to sustained archer fire.

Arbalest

Despite high pierce armor, massed arbalests are still cost-efficient against Tarkans.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade against Tarkans.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the slow-moving Teutonic Knights and their support units.

Hussar

Fast cavalry can kite Teutonic Knights indefinitely due to their extremely slow movement speed.

Monks

Converting Teutonic Knights gives you the most powerful melee infantry unit in the game.

Fast Fire Ship

Closes the gap quickly and deals bonus damage to warships; cost-efficient in Castle Age before the Thirisadai reaches its full Imperial upgrade.

Trebuchet

Shore-based Trebuchets outrange the Thirisadai entirely in coastal scenarios; forces it to advance into range and exposes it to other naval units.

Monks

Converting a Thirisadai is the single most efficient play in the game given its enormous gold cost; denies the opponent their flagship warship and gives you an unstoppable naval unit.

Elite Skirmisher

Pierce armor absorbs the thrown axe damage; Skirmishers are cost-efficient against this unit.

Arbalest

Outranges Throwing Axemen and deals pierce damage efficiently.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance prevents Tiger Warriors from closing; they have moderate pierce armor but arbalests are still efficient.

Mangonel

AOE splash punishes the tight infantry formations Tiger Warriors are trained in.

Knight / Cavalier

Heavy cavalry wins the cost-efficiency exchange; Tiger Warriors' anti-cavalry bonus is partially offset by cavalry's high HP.

Trebuchet

Shore-based Trebuchets can destroy Turtle Ships before they enter effective range in coastal scenarios.

Bombard Cannon

Shore-based artillery deals high damage to Turtle Ships; effective in river/coastal map scenarios.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance avoids the AOE whip attack entirely; Urumi have low pierce armor.

Mangonel

AOE siege punishes the tight infantry formations Urumi are typically massed in.

Halberdier

Anti-cavalry and anti-elephant bonus; requires 20+ Halbs to reliably kill a War Elephant but is the only non-monk mass counter.

Onager

AOE splash damages the Elephant and its support; forces the Persian player to micro and split their army.

Scorpion

Passthrough bolts deal massive damage to War Elephants' large hitbox; cost-efficient in defensive positions.

Onager

AOE damage punishes the grouped War Wagons and forces micro that breaks their formation.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade against War Wagons.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance prevents the Warrior Monk from using its healing aura effectively; low pierce armor makes them vulnerable.

Onager

AOE damage disrupts the clustered formation Warrior Monks rely on for their healing aura to be effective.

Monks

Converting Warrior Monks is highly efficient — you gain a powerful unit and deny the opponent their healing support.

Arbalest

Ranged fire from distance prevents the Warrior Priest from using its healing aura effectively; low pierce armor makes them highly vulnerable to sustained archer fire.

Monks

Converting a Warrior Priest is extremely efficient — you gain a powerful hybrid fighter-healer and deny the opponent their frontline healing support entirely.

Onager

AOE damage disrupts the clustered formation Warrior Priests rely on for their healing aura to be effective, killing the support role before it can sustain the Armenian army.

Arbalest

Ranged fire before the charge activates is the safest counter; force Wei Cavalry to charge into a wall of arrows.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP absorbs the charge; effective in open-field engagements.

Monks

High gold cost makes conversion extremely efficient; Wei Cavalry are one of the best conversion targets in the game.

Arbalest

Ranged fire is efficient; Winged Hussars have moderate pierce armor.

Heavy Camel

Camel bonus damage and high HP makes for an efficient trade against Winged Hussars.

Arbalest

Pierce damage from range before Woad Raiders can close; their speed makes kiting essential.

Mangonel

AOE punishes the tight formations Woad Raiders naturally form when rushing.

Fast Fire Ship

Closes the gap quickly and deals bonus damage to galleys; cost-efficient counter in Castle Age.

Trebuchet

Shore-based Trebuchets can destroy Wu Junks before they enter effective range in coastal scenarios.