Illumination
Monastery - ImperialEvolution
Illumination
Imperial
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"Monastery Units regain their faith +100% faster after a successful conversion."
Coach's Tip
Illumination makes Monastery Units regain their faith 100% faster after a successful conversion, allowing far more frequent conversions.
Strategic Analysis
Strategic Identity
Illumination makes Monastery Units regain their faith 100% faster after a successful conversion, allowing far more frequent conversions.
When to Research
High Priority
Research Illumination as soon as you have the resources and are using monastery units.
Combat Impact
Monastery Units regain their faith +100% faster after a successful conversion.
Civilization Access
* 39 civilizations have access to this technology.
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AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
Illumination is an Imperial Age technology researched at the Monastery. It costs 120 gold and takes 65 seconds. Monastery Units regain their faith 100% faster after a successful conversion. The effect improves the interval after a conversion rather than the first attempt itself, so it rewards a group that reaches several targets over time. Illumination is a late religious economy of actions: more frequent faith recovery can mean more conversion opportunities, but only if Monks survive, have vision, and can reach another legal target. The long research window makes the timing as important as the effect.
History & balance
Illumination is designed for the repeated-conversion stage of Monk play. It does not make the opening approach safer or extend conversion range; it increases the cadence after success. That distinction keeps the technology from replacing positioning and screening. In balance terms, it rewards a player who can turn one conversion into a controlled sequence, while giving the opponent a clear chance to deny the Monastery, remove the surviving Monks, or avoid presenting another target. The Imperial Age placement and long research time frame it as a commitment to a sustained religious army rather than a quick defensive button.
In pro play
Research Illumination when at least four Monastery Units are already active and the opponent can supply repeated legal conversion targets. Reserve 120 gold and the full 65-second research window before the late fight; keep the group near vision, a screen, and a retreat route while the Monastery works. The 100% faster faith recovery matters after the first successful conversion, so do not click it for a single surprise attempt. It is strongest in a prolonged Monk war or against a stream of expensive units. If the opponent is avoiding Monks or has already killed your group, use the gold on replacement units, defenses, or a different Imperial technology.
How to counter it
No military unit counters Illumination itself. The classic timing error is researching it with one or two Monks, or finishing the 65-second window after the conversion chain has already ended. The opportunity cost is 120 gold, the long Monastery pause, and units that are not produced during research. A practical threshold is four or more Monastery Units with at least two likely conversion targets ahead. Deny vision, pressure the Monastery, or force a fight before completion; after a conversion, remove the surviving group before faith recovery can create another attempt. If this cycle keeps overwhelming you, AoE Coach reads your matchup and gives you the composition and timing.