AOE2 Guide
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Map guide

Golden Pit

open · 424,241 ranked games

Ranked · Win rate

Best civs on this map

Table view
  1. 1Mongols54.06%8,047
  2. 2Vikings54%1,713
  3. 3Magyars53.65%4,475
  4. 4Romans53.03%1,733
  5. 5Franks52.95%8,889
  6. 6Sicilians52.34%2,098
  7. 7Hindustanis52.1%2,766
  8. 8Persians51.85%5,344
  9. 9Ethiopians51.79%3,960
  10. 10Huns51.61%3,139
  11. 11Saracens51.23%2,647
  12. 12Berbers51.09%2,112
  13. 13Gurjaras50.9%996
  14. 14Cumans50.84%3,651
  15. 15Spanish50.47%4,516
  16. 16Slavs50.22%2,073
  17. 17Malians50.19%2,642
  18. 18Lithuanians50.11%3,534
  19. 19Teutons50.07%3,761
  20. 20Mayans50.01%3,575
  21. 21Incas49.94%3,116
  22. 22Bohemians49.93%2,684
  23. 23Goths49.73%3,320
  24. 24Celts48.95%2,296
  25. 25Malay48.76%1,739
  26. 26Poles48.6%2,076
  27. 27Vietnamese48.6%2,574
  28. 28Chinese48.52%1,921
  29. 29Bulgarians48.33%2,961
  30. 30Tatars48.21%2,630
  31. 31Armenians48.16%2,226
  32. 32Khmer48.03%3,300
  33. 33Byzantines47.97%3,494
  34. 34Portuguese47.64%2,960
  35. 35Burmese47.64%1,230
  36. 36Japanese47.33%2,119
  37. 37Georgians47.3%2,776
  38. 38Burgundians47.05%1,883
  39. 39Britons46.9%4,757
  40. 40Italians46.7%1,591
  41. 41Aztecs46.17%2,701
  42. 42Turks45.9%3,776
  43. 43Koreans45.29%1,740
  44. 44Bengalis44.96%674
  45. 45Dravidians41.95%665

45 civs · Ranked by win rate · 50% = average. Source: aoestats.io ranked ladder archive (all-time)

Recommended Civilizations

Team Compositions

2v2

Flank

Archer/CA flank pressures the enemy while the team fights for the central pit. Mongol Cavalry Archers excel at contesting the open center.

Pocket

Cavalry pocket races to the pit and drops a forward Castle on the central gold. Whoever fortifies the pit first wins the economic war.

4v4

Flank

Flanks apply ranged pressure on enemy flanks so the pockets can claim the pit uncontested.

Pocket

Pockets fight for and fortify the central pit. Cuman Feudal boom or Frank Knights secure the gold that decides the entire game.

Golden Pit is a competitive map with a large concentrated gold deposit in the center. Unlike Arabia where gold is near each player's base, the central pit requires actively fighting for it. Players must balance mining their own near-gold patches versus racing to control the pit with cavalry. The map is otherwise open — pure military efficiency decides who holds the center.

Opening

Fast Feudal with heavy scout scouting to locate the central pit. Early Knights or Scout Cavalry are used to contest the gold long before either player can settle a Mining Camp there. Players often produce minimal Feudal economy investment and invest heavily in early Stable units to reach the pit first.

Mid game

Castle Age is centered entirely on controlling the pit. Both players typically arrive simultaneously with Knight or Cavalry Archer forces. Whoever fortifies the pit — typically a forward Castle near the gold — wins the economic battle. Siege Workshops near the pit allow Mangonel + Knight combinations to hold it against multiple attack waves.

Watch out for

  • Pit timing — the player who reaches the central pit first and drops a forward Castle is in a near-winning position. Every minute of delayed Castle Age costs valuable gold mining time.
  • Permanent cutoff — if you cannot dislodge the opponent's forward castle near the pit, you are gold-starved for the rest of the game. Prioritize stone for a counter-castle.
  • Neglecting near-gold — some players over-focus on the pit and neglect their own starting gold patches, which are still accessible for the first 15–20 minutes.