Demolition Raft
ShipBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
Evolution
Demolition Raft
Feudal Age
Demolition Ship
Castle Age
Heavy Demolition Ship
Imperial AgeThe coach's briefing
The Demolition Raft is a suicide unit. It explodes dealing 90 damage in an area - enough to severely damage or kill Feudal ships. Use them to break enemy naval masses or snipe key targets. They're cheap and expendable. Sacrifice them to win crucial water fights.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Prepare your next matchup
Choose both civilizations for a game plan, key threats and an army composition.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Demolition Raft is your **naval nuclear option**. Use it for high-impact trades.
Tactical Playbook
Fire Ship Counter
Fire Ships are slow to turn. Dive Demo Rafts into Fire Ship groups for devastating trades.
Break Stalemates
When naval fights stall, Demo Rafts break the deadlock. One good explosion swings momentum.
Cheap Trades
45W 80G for 90 damage to multiple ships. If you hit 2+ ships, you profit massively.
Critical Point
**Galleys outrange and outkite you**. Smart players will focus fire your Demo Rafts before they arrive. Send in groups with Galley escort.
Understanding The Stats
The Demolition Raft is a cheap, expendable suicide unit for breaking enemy naval formations.
Massive Explosion
Area damage devastates grouped ships. One hit can cripple an enemy fleet.
Fast Speed
Faster than Galleys. Can close distance quickly.
Cheap Cost
Expendable by design. Worth sacrificing for value trades.
Fragile
Dies to focused fire. Send with escort or in groups.
Coach's Tip
40 HP is very fragile. Galleys deal 12 damage per shot (6 base + 6 bonus vs Ships). 4 Galley shots kill you. Don't charge into focused fire.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Building | +180 |
Armor Classes
Ship
Takes bonus from Heated Shot, Fire Ships, and Demolition Ships.
Demolition Ship
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Castle Age
Imperial Age
Civilizations
* 46 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Demolition Raft is a disposable naval charge: 40 HP, 75 attack, 0 melee armor, 0 pierce armor, range 0, 1.42 speed and 6 line of sight. It costs 45 wood and 80 gold and takes 45 seconds to train. The official help describes the whole bargain: it is a demolition warship armed with explosives that self-destructs when used, strong versus units at close range. There is no sustained combat profile to hide behind. The Raft is a one-use decision that trades a cheap hull and its life for a close-range blast, so its value depends on the shape and timing of the enemy fleet.
History & balance
The Demolition Raft exists to punish concentration. Its 75 attack is not the start of a naval duel; it is the payment received when the raft reaches a valuable cluster. That makes it a very different tool from the Galley line: the Raft does not hold water, escort a transport or trade shots over time. It creates a threat that changes how the opponent must move. A tight formation becomes dangerous, a narrow channel becomes a liability and an unscouted approach can cost several ships at once. The design is intentionally readable. Once the enemy respects the explosion, the Raft has already done strategic work before it detonates.
In pro play
Use Demolition Rafts as a timing weapon, not as a front line. At 1.42 speed they can approach a distracted fleet, but 40 HP and no armor mean that open water is not protection. Hide the approach behind your own ships, use terrain or a channel to reduce the enemy's reaction time, and send the raft only when several targets are close enough to justify the loss. The 45-wood, 80-gold price is modest compared with a fleet, but the 45-second train time makes wasted charges expensive in tempo. The best sequence is scout, force the opponent to group, then threaten the route so the raft can arrive before the formation separates.
How to counter it
The classic mistake against a Demolition Raft is clumping ships and reacting only after the explosion enters the formation. The official help gives the category: strong versus units at close range. In practice, spacing and early fire are the counter: Galleys and War Galleys shoot the zero-range raft while it approaches. Keep valuable ships apart, turn instead of feeding a straight line, and kill the raft even if a target escapes. Never chase through your own fleet. If Demolition Rafts keep destroying groups and you do not know what to build or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.