Byzantines

Civilization Bonuses

Unique Unit

Cataphracts are resistant to anti-cavalry bonus damage, making them effective against Halberdiers.

Unique Technologies

Build Orders

Strategy Tips

In-Depth Byzantines Analysis

The Byzantines are explicitly designed as the all-rounder civilization in Age of Empires II — a civilization that can respond to any strategy because they have access to nearly every unit and counter option in the game. Their unique bonuses reward defensive and counter-play styles, and their Cataphract unique unit provides a cavalry option that counters infantry in a way almost no other cavalry does. For players learning the game or practicing how to read and counter opponents, Byzantines are an excellent educational civilization.

Counter Unit Discounts — Reactive Power

Byzantine counter units (Camel, Skirmisher, Halberdier) cost -25% in Castle Age and -33% in Imperial Age. This means Camel Riders, the hard counter to cavalry, cost only 66 food and 45 gold instead of 55 food and 60 gold in Imperial Age. When an opponent commits heavily to Paladins or Knights, Byzantine Camels become even more economically punishing than they would be for other civilizations. The discount applies across all three counter unit types, meaning Byzantines can flexibly maintain whatever counter they need at lower resource cost than opponents expect.

This bonus synergizes directly with the Byzantine identity as the reactive civilization. Rather than forcing a specific army composition in every game, Byzantine players scout their opponent's strategy and produce the correct counter at a discounted rate. This is a different mindset from playing an aggressive civilization like Franks or Mongols — Byzantines are strongest when responding to what the opponent does rather than forcing the game in a predetermined direction.

The Cataphract — Unique Cavalry Counter to Infantry

The Cataphract is one of the most unusual cavalry units in the game because it counters infantry rather than being countered by infantry. With +12 attack against infantry armor class, Elite Cataphracts destroy Halberdiers, Champions, Militia-line units, and Eagle Warriors far more efficiently than standard cavalry. This completely inverts the normal cavalry weakness: a standard Knight fears Halberdiers, but a Cataphract actively seeks them out.

The Logistica technology makes this even more pronounced: Cataphracts deal area-of-effect trample damage, meaning each Cataphract damages multiple infantry simultaneously with each attack. A group of 15 Elite Cataphracts with Logistica in a blob of enemy Halberdiers is a massacre — hundreds of infantry die in seconds. The counter to Cataphracts is massed archers (they have relatively low pierce armor) and Monks (expensive single targets for Monk conversion). Understanding this counter-counter relationship makes Byzantine play highly nuanced.

Excellent Defense and Team Play

Byzantine buildings gain significant HP across the ages — up to +40% in Imperial Age — making their town centers, castles, and walls far more resistant to siege. Combined with cheaper counter units and access to Fire Ships and War Galleons at -20% cost, Byzantines make excellent defensive team game players. Their team bonus (monks heal twice as fast) adds sustain to allied armies, and their fire ships dominate water maps. In team games where one player can hold a defensive position while allies attack, Byzantines excel as the anchor civilization.