This article is about the civilization in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. For their appearance as a minor native in Age of Empires III, see Maya. |
The Mayans are a Native American civilization introduced in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. They focus on archers.
The Mayans specialize in foot archers and have a robust economy. Situated in Central America, they were best known for their mysterious disappearance around 900 and their ability to build a great civilization in a tropical rainforest climate. The Mayans were resourceful and were able to utilize a variety of natural resources. Examples include limestone for construction, the obsidian for tools and weapons, jade and quetzal feathers used in the elaborate costumes of Maya nobility as well as marine shells, which were used as trumpets. To reflect this achievement, their resources last longer while their unique technologies El Dorado and Obsidian Arrows boost their Eagle Warriors and Archer line. The main force of the Mayan army was archers, and they used them extensively. As a result, their unique unit is the Plumed Archer, a fast archer with a small attack bonus against infantry as well as featuring superior armor and hit points.
Overview
As a Native American civilization, the Mayans lack any form of cavalry and gunpowder. As a replacement, they get the Eagle Warrior which also gets a massive HP boost with El Dorado. Overall, their archer and infantry departments are strong with access to everything that does not ride a horse or wield a firearm (bar the Champion). Their siege weapons miss the Siege Onager, but they get the Siege Ram and Heavy Scorpion. On the water, they have a complete tech tree (apart from the Cannon Galleon, naturally). Their Monks are average. Their defensive structures are overall strong and the same goes for their economy.
Characteristics
Unique unit
- Plumed Archer: Quick foot archer with high pierce armor
Unique technologies
- Obsidian Arrows: Gives Archers +6 attack against standard buildings and stone defense.
- El Dorado: Gives Eagle Warriors +40 HP.
Civilization bonuses
- Start the game with an Eagle Scout.
- Start the game with +1 Villager, but with -50 food.
- Resources last 15% longer.
- Foot archers are 10%/20%/30% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
Team bonus
- Walls are 50% cheaper.
Changelog
The Conquerors
- Start the game with an Eagle Warrior.
- Resources last 20% longer.
- Plumed Archers cost 46W/46G.
- The upgrade to Elite Plumed Archers costs 500F/1,000W.
The Forgotten
- Now start with an Eagle Scout.
- Obsidian Arrows introduced. It gives Archers +4 attack against standard buildings.
- Plumed Archers now cost 50W/50G.
- The upgrade to Elite Plumed Archers now costs 700F/1,000W.
The African Kingdoms
- Resources now last 15% longer.
- Initially can research Arrowslits. With patch 4.8, it was removed from the technology tree.
- Obsidian Arrows now gives Archers +6 attack against standard buildings. With patch 4.8, Archers also gain +6 attack against stone defense.
In-game dialogue language
In-game, Mayan units speak a Mayan language that has evolved into many separate branches of the original proto-Mayan.
- Chare/chade
- Tabish
- Ashique/hacheekei
- Atutz
- Queri
- Outzca
- Chastimban
- Cha
- Ecรฉ (axe) sounds like ashรฉ
- Molonel - Harvester
- Cangnel - Hunter
- Carunel - Fisherman
- Casamash - Farmer and Miner
- Asheyak - Builder
- Coshonel - Repairer
- Cayashรฉ - Attack
- Cocaya - Attack
AI player names
When playing a random map game against the computer, the player may encounter any of the following Mayan AI characters:
- Bird Jaguar: Nickname of several rulers of Yaxchilan, most notably Bird Jaguar IV (Yaxun B'alam IV ), the 17th ruler; lived 709โ768.
- Black Serpent: Possibly refers to the Maya legend of Sac-Nicte and Canek. Canek means black serpent, a brave prince with a kind heart.
- Curl Snout: Nickname of Yax Nuun Ahiin, 8th ruler of Tikal; died 404.
- Eighteen Rabbit: Nickname of Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil, 13th ruler of Copan; died 738.
- Flint Sky God: Nickname of B'alaj Chan K'awiil, ruler of Dos Pilas; born 625.
- Great Jaguar Paw: Nickname of Chak Tok Ich'aak, 7th ruler of Tikal; died 378.
- King Stormy Sky: Nickname of Siyaj Chan K'awil II, 16th ruler of Tikal; died 456.
- Lady Great Skull Zero: Wife of Bird Jaguar IV
- Shield Jaguar II: Nickname of Itzamnaaj B'alam II, 15th ruler of Yaxchilan; lived 647โ742.
- Smoke Imix God: Possibly refers to Chan Imix K'awil, 12th ruler of Copan; died 695.
- Smoke Monkey: Possibly refers to K'ak' Joplaj Chan K'awiil, 14th ruler of Copan; died 749.
- Smoke Shell: Possibly refers to K'ak' Yipyaj Chan K'awiil, 15th ruler of Copan; died 763.
- Smoking Frog: Former nickname of Siyaj K'ak', a prominent Mayan political figure in the Classic Period.
- Smoking Squirrel: Nickname of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Chaak, ruler of Naranjo.
- Waterlily Jaguar: Not the nickname of a Mayan ruler, but rather a Mayan protector deity.