AOE2 Guide
🇬🇧 English
🇬🇧 English 🇹🇷 Türkçe
italians

Italians

Italians — an Archer and Naval civilization from Southern Europe.

Archer and Naval · Southern European

Ranked Stats

1v1 RM · Update 162286
Tier
B
Win rate
49.16%
±0.1
Play rate
1.61%
Team
50.52%
B

Win rate by Elo

Win rate by map

Win rate by patch

Source: aoestats.io ranked ladder archive (all-time) · 50% = average

Matchups

Strongest against

Weakest against

Win-rate edge vs each opponent (50% = average). Team = when the opponent is on the enemy side; confounded by the 3 other civs. Source: aoestats.io ranked ladder archive (all-time)

Civ Bonuses

  • Advancing to the next Age costs -15%
  • Foot Archers and Condottieri +1 melee/+1 pierce armor
  • Dock and University technologies cost -25%
  • Gunpowder Units cost -20%
  • Fishing Ships cost -15%

Team Bonus: Condottiero available at the Barracks in Imperial Age

Unique Units

genoese-crossbowman
Genoese Crossbowman
Stats not yet available for Genoese Crossbowman.
condottiero
Condottiero
Stats not yet available for Condottiero.

Unique Techs

  • Silk Road — Trade Units cost -50%
  • Pirotechnia — Hand Cannoneers deal +15% pass through damage and are more accurate

Italians are an Archer and Naval civilization from Southern Europe.

How to Play Italians

Ideal opening (Dark → Castle): Italians are flexible early — open either with a Scout Rush or with single-range Archers, since both scale into the mid-game thanks to the cheaper age-up. Avoid committing to infantry and instead prioritize reaching the Castle Age quickly to unlock your stronger gold units.

Ideal late-game composition: Lean on Genoese Crossbowmen as your gold core, backed by Hussars as your trash line, with Bombard Cannons providing siege.

Deathball composition (closed maps / team games): Build around massed Genoese Crossbowmen with Condottieri to absorb and counter enemy gold units, add Monks for support, and round it out with Bombard Cannons for siege power.

Recommended build: 19 Pop 1-Range Archers