Lithuanians civilization icon - Age of Empires 2

Lithuanians

Cavalry & Monks
Definitive Edition
Specialties
Cavalry Monks

Team Bonus

Monasteries work +20% faster

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Overview

"The Lithuanians are a cavalry and monk civilization with bonus food from Town Centers, faster spearmen and skirmishers, and knights that gain attack from relics."

Civilization Bonuses

  • 1

    Each Town Center provides +100 food

  • 2

    Spearman-line and Skirmisher-line move +10% faster

  • 3

    Each garrisoned Relic provides +1 attack to Knight-line and Leitis (maximum +4)

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AoE Coach analysis

Context & meta

Lithuanians are a cavalry-and-Monk civilization with one of the strongest early-game eco kicks in the game: each Town Center provides +100 food at the start, accelerating their build order dramatically. Their defining lategame bonus is relic-based — each garrisoned Relic gives +1 attack to their Knight-line and Leitis unique unit, up to +4. A Lithuanian Paladin with 4 relics has absurd attack, winning every cavalry mirror in the game. Their Leitis unique unit ignores enemy armor entirely, and their Spearmen and Skirmishers move +10% faster. Lithuanians are a formidable Arabia cavalry civ with a terrifying relic-fueled lategame.

History & balance

Lithuanians were introduced in the Definitive Edition and quickly became a top cavalry civilization. The +100 food per Town Center bonus gives them one of the fastest opening timings in the game — comparable to a free eco boost at the start. Balance work has focused on the relic-attack bonus (capped at +4 to prevent runaway Paladins) and the Leitis unique unit, whose armor-ignoring attack makes it a unique answer to heavily-armored targets. The combination of a fast start and a scaling relic lategame keeps Lithuanians strong across the game length.

In pro play

Lithuanians are a default Arabia pick for many pros thanks to the +100 food start, which enables fast Scouts or aggressive Men-at-Arms openings without sacrificing eco. The lategame plan is relic control: securing relics turns their Knights and Paladins into the strongest cavalry in the game (+4 attack). Pros prioritize relic collection on relic-rich maps, knowing it directly buffs their army. The Leitis is brought out against heavily-armored opponents where its armor-ignoring attack shines. Lithuanians reward aggressive early play backed by a relic-fueled cavalry endgame.

How to counter it

Deny Lithuanians their relics — without the relic attack bonus, their cavalry is merely good rather than dominant, so contesting and grabbing relics first defangs their lategame. Their cavalry plan is countered like any other: Camels and Halberdiers shut down the Knight-line (though the Leitis ignores armor, so use HP-trade units against it). Their +100 food start fuels early aggression, so wall up and scout for Scout or Men-at-Arms openings. Monks (theirs work +20% faster via team bonus) make relic fights important — bring your own Monks and Light Cavalry to contest the Monastery game.