Saxons civilization icon - Age of Empires 2

Saxons

Infantry & Defensive
The Viking Sagas
Specialties
Infantry Defense Naval

Team Bonus

Repairers work +25% faster

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Overview

"The Saxons are an infantry and defensive civilization with fortified settlements, stronger towers and castles, and the Hearth Troop."

Civilization Bonuses

  • 1

    Mills, Lumber- and Mining Camps provide +35 food and +10 stone when built

  • 2

    Foot Soldiers cost -5% per Town Center or Castle controlled (maximum -20%)

  • 3

    Towers and Castles fire +100% base arrows starting in Castle Age

  • 4

    Longships and Catapult Galleons +20% HP

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AoE Coach analysis

Context & meta

The Saxons are an infantry and defensive civilization introduced in The Viking Sagas. Their economic drop-off buildings provide food and stone when built, Foot Soldiers get cheaper as Town Centers and Castles are controlled, and towers and castles fire extra base arrows from the Castle Age. The Hearth Troop is their unique unit.

History & balance

Saxon design ties battlefield endurance to a network of controlled strongpoints. Shield Wall gives massed infantry additional armor, while Clerical Recruitment improves Monk conversion range and training. Longships and Catapult Galleons also receive more hit points, so defensive identity extends onto water.

In pro play

Build and keep Town Centers and Castles to make the Foot Soldier discount meaningful. Hearth Troops open with a javelin before closing to melee, so position them against ranged soldiers rather than leaving them to cavalry. Use extra tower and castle arrows to hold territory, then advance behind a protected infantry line.

How to counter it

Contest Town Centers and Castles instead of attacking the Saxon infantry bonus head-on. Cavalry is the official weakness of the Hearth Troop. Avoid clumping into Shield Wall infantry on its preferred ground, and do not take repeated low-value fights under the additional fire of Saxon fortifications.