Between heroes, buffs, and signature units, a lot goes into building an undefeatable civilization. Sticking to the tried-and-true Age of Empires formula, every civ in the mobile version has several unique buffs that set them apart. In the right hands and with the right strategy, any civ can be powerful, but some have a far easier time than others. With the right civ behind them, Stone production, heal times, and even sieges can get a boost. Whether you have the combat experience of a fledgling footman or genius general, these are five of the best civilizations in Age of Empires Mobile, in no particular order.
British
- Archers’ Defense – +5%
- Player Citadel’s Defense Bonus – +10%
- Production of Mills – +5%
The British bring more than castles and colonialism to the table. Archers’ Defense is decent for keeping your Bowman and Longbowman alive (a crucial part of British ranged strategy), but it’s not the focal perk. The bonuses to Citadel’s Defense and Mill Production are far more impactful overall. Increased productivity combined with improved defenses makes turtling up while you hatch your next evil plot easier than ever.
Romans
- Pikemen’s Defense – +5%
- Healing Speed – +5%
- Villagers’ Boost to Buildings’ Production – +30
Pikemen are a good frontline answer to some problematic units, but a +5% Defense buff isn’t what you play Rome for. That honor goes instead to the Healing Speed and Building Production buffs. Anything that increases productivity or reduces downtime is great, and the Romans are great at getting into the thick of things fast. When you take some bloody losses, that extra 5% to Heal Speed can make a world of difference for your warriors, even if it won’t turn you into Cesar Catilina.
French
- Cavalry’s Defense – +5%
- Resource Exchange Rate – +5%
- Gathering Troops’ Defense – +10%
Cav Defense? Great. Gathering Troops’ Defense? Even better. Yet the +5% Resource Exchange Rate buff is arguably what makes the French one of the best civilizations in Age of Empires Mobile.
The main problem is that you won’t tap into the real benefits of the market until later in the game when more aggressive civs might outpace you in other areas. Wrangling French strategy into a good position isn’t easy, but with an edge in the market, your economy should outrace your rivals.
Byzantines
- Swordsmen’s Defense – +5%
- All Unit Types’ Siege Damage – +10%
- Stone Gathering Speed in the World – +5%
The Stone Gathering Buff is disappointing, but who cares about that when you have a flat 10% buff to all Siege Damage? Sieges aren’t a factor right away, however, and your Stone Gathering buff won’t do much to boost your early game, even with codes. Stand strong against the enemy tides long enough to build up, however, and the Siege buff will start to produce some decisive victories, making the Byzantines one of the best civilizations in Age of Empires Mobile. As for Swordsmen’s Defense, well, it’s also here.
Chinese
- Archers’ Defense – +5%
- Villager Capacity – +8
- Walls Durability – +10%
Walls are one of your most important defenses against attacks from other players, and a +10% Durability buff is significant. Combined with the Archers’ Defense buff, you’ll have just enough extra staying power to win some tricky confrontations. The real virtue of the Chinese civ in Age of Empires Mobile, however, is the +8 Villager Capacity buff. More people means more resources, and that provides a huge jumpstart in the early game. With the right economic arrangement, you can establish a headstart that’s almost impossible to overcome.
