Monk
MonkBase 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.
Stop searching after the game
The coach calls out counters live, the moment the unit shows up.
Try it freeEvolution
Monk
CastleThe coach's briefing
Commander, the Monk is your conversion and healing specialist. With 9 range, he can convert enemy units from safety, turning expensive enemy knights into your own. He also heals injured allies, sustaining your army between fights. Use Monks against expensive units like elephants and knights. Each conversion is a massive resource swing in your favor.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Just lost against this unit?
Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
Conversion and healing support unit
Tactical Playbook
Convert Expensive Units
Converting a Knight (60F/75G) costs nothing but the Monk's 100G. Against elephants, you swing 200+ resources per conversion.
Healing Sustain
Monks heal allied units to full HP for free. Between fights, heal your army to maintain strength.
Relic Collection
Monks pick up relics that generate gold. 5 relics = instant relic victory in some modes.
Critical Point
Only 30 HP with 0 armor. Extremely fragile. Light cavalry and archers kill monks instantly.
Understanding The Stats
Monks are high-skill support units. Mastering conversion timing and positioning dramatically improves your win rate.
No Attack
Monks convert, they don't fight
No Armor
Completely unprotected
Very Low HP
Dies to anything
Slow Speed
Can't escape pursuers
Coach's Tip
30 HP means 2 scout hits kill you. Positioning is everything. Never let enemies reach your monks.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| No damage bonus: this unit deals the same damage to every target. | |
Armor Classes
Monk
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Monk is a 100-gold support unit whose value is not measured by attack. It has 30 HP, 0 attack, 0/0 armor, 9 range, 0.7 speed and 11 line of sight, but it converts enemy units, heals friendly units except ships and Siege Weapons, and carries Relics to Monasteries. The official role is strongest against slow and non-ranged units, especially expensive targets whose conversion changes the fight. The price is fragility and time: a 51-second train time makes every lost Monk painful. Keep it behind the army, where range and patience turn a vulnerable unit into a resource swing.
History & balance
The Monk is AoE2's deliberate exception to normal combat logic: it has no attack, yet it can convert an enemy unit, heal allies and collect Relics. The official help keeps that identity focused rather than adding a conventional damage role; its upgrades remain at the Monastery. The design therefore scales through decisions and positioning instead of blacksmith numbers. Its 100-gold cost, 51-second train time, 30 HP and 0/0 armor define the balance: a successful conversion can repay the investment many times, but an exposed Monk disappears quickly. The unit asks for escorts, patience and a target worth risking the conversion window for.
In pro play
High-level Monk play starts before the fight: place Monks behind a screen, keep them just inside conversion range, and choose targets that justify the gold and the risk. Expensive cavalry, elephants and siege create the largest swing when converted, while healing lets the army stay on the map after an engagement. Monks also make a controlled Relic plan possible, but speed 0.7 means they should not travel alone through contested ground. Since training takes 51 seconds, add Monasteries before the decisive clash and protect the first units rather than throwing them forward. The goal is a safe support layer that changes which fights are profitable.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is sending one expensive unit into a Monk line in a straight path, or leaving your own Monks without a screen. The official help names Scout Cavalry-line, Eagle Warriors and Ranged Soldiers. the game confirms the mechanism: Scout Cavalry has +6 against Monks, Light Cavalry +10, Hussar +12, Eagle Warrior +8 and Elite Eagle Warrior +10; Slinger also has +4. These units reach 30-HP, 0/0-armor Monks quickly and make the conversion window unsafe, while ranged soldiers focus them before healing can matter. If Monks keep turning your army against you and you are unsure what to produce or when, that is exactly what AoE Coach does: it reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.