AOE2 Guide
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japanese

Japanese

Japanese — an Infantry civilization from East Asia.

Infantry · East Asian

Ranked Stats

1v1 RM · Update 162286
Tier
B
Win rate
49.7%
±0.1
Play rate
2.07%
Team
49.66%
B

Win rate by Elo

Win rate by map

  • Morass58.12%
  • Prairie57.38%
  • Coastalforest56.91%
  • Hamburger56.56%
  • Pacificislands55.97%
  • Migration55.95%
  • Fourlakes55.9%
  • Frigidlake55.47%
  • Paradiseisland55.18%
  • Mediterranean54.82%

Win rate by patch

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

Matchups

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

  • Mills, Lumber- and Mining Camps cost -50%
  • Infantry attacks +33% faster starting in Feudal Age
  • Cavalry Archers +2 attack vs. Ranged Soldiers (except Skirmishers)
  • Fishing Ships work +5/10/15/20% faster in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age; +100% HP

Team Bonus: Galley-line +4 line of sight

Unique Units

HP
70
Attack
10
Armor
1/1
45f 30g

Unique Techs

  • Yasama — Watch Tower-line fires additional arrows
  • Kataparuto — Trebuchets attack and pack/unpack faster

Japanese are an Infantry civilization from East Asia.

How to Play Japanese

Ideal opening (Dark → Castle): Lean on the fast-attacking infantry bonus and open with a Man-at-Arms rush, then transition straight into an early Archery Range to keep the pressure on. Japanese fall off in the late game, so aim to convert this aggression into a decisive lead and close the match out before opponents stabilize.

Ideal late-game composition: Pair Halberdiers (your trash anti-cavalry line) with Arbalest as the gold-spending core, and back them up with Trebuchets. Yasama-boosted Towers give your defensive line extra reach, helping you hold positions while the Arbalest fire.

Deathball composition (closed maps / team games): Mass Halberdier and Arbalest behind a wall of Onagers, with Trebuchets to crack buildings. The Siege Engineers bonus extends siege range, letting your Onagers and Trebs out-range enemy fortifications as the ball rolls forward.

Recommended build: 17 Pop Japanese Man-at-Arms Rush