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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II. For the unit in Age of Mythology, see Throwing Axeman (Age of Mythology).

ā€œFrankish unique infantry unit with ranged melee attack.ā€
Age of Empires II description

The Throwing Axeman is the unique unit of the Franks in Age of Empires II. It is an infantry unit with a ranged melee attack.

Throwing Axemen can be upgraded to Elite Throwing Axemen in the Imperial Age.

Tactics[]

The Throwing Axeman deals melee damage at range. This means that while it functions similarly to a standard infantry in terms of counters, they can perform a back-line role similar to archers. This is especially useful for the Franks with their pitiful Crossbowmen. Compared to the Hand Cannoneer, they are significantly less expensive while performing similarly well in combat. The fact they deal melee damage is beneficial, as fewer units have especially high melee armor compared to pierce armor.

They deal high damage for a ranged unit, particularly against buildings, and can take more hits than the average archer. However, their inferior range means that Throwing Axemen are vulnerable against other ranged units. Throwing Axemen can kill siege weapons easily due to their melee damage as long as they can avoid being hit and can close the gap. Heavy cavalry units such as Paladins are also quite effective against them.

Since the Franks are reliant on their Paladins, using Throwing Axemen against cavalry counters such as Camel Riders and Halberdiers is a promising tactic, since both units have low melee armor. Combined with Paladins, they can cover each other's weaknesses.

It is not advisable to try to kite melee units using Throwing Axemen as they have a long attack delay.

Comparison with other ranged melee units[]

Castle Age[]

ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower
Cost 55 food, 25 gold 50 food, 40 gold 65 food, 30 gold
Training time 17 seconds 17 seconds 15 seconds
Hit Points 60 40 40
Melee Attack 7 10 3
Attack Bonus +1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Eagle Warrior +1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 vs Standard Building
Range 3+1 5 5
Line of Sight Range + 2 Range + 1 Range + 2
Rate of Fire 2 2 2
Attack delay 1 1 0.8
Armor 0/0 0/0 1/0
Movement Speed 1 + 0.1 1.25 + 0.125 1.15
Upgrade Cost 1,000 food, 750 gold 900 food, 600 gold 1,000 food, 650 gold
Upgrade Time 45 seconds 45 seconds 45 seconds
Other properties Causes 100% pass-through damage

Imperial Age[]

ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Elite Throwing Axeman GbetoIcon-DE Elite Gbeto Aoe2de Chakram Elite Chakram Thrower
Cost 55 food, 25 gold 50 food, 40 gold 49 food, 30 gold
Training time 17 seconds 17 seconds 15 seconds
Hit Points 70 50 50
Melee Attack 8+2 13 4
Attack Bonus +2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2 vs Standard Building
+2 vs Eagle Warrior +2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Infantry and Condottiero
Range 4+1 6 6
Line of Sight Range + 2 Range + 1 Range + 2
Rate of Fire 2 2 2
Attack delay 0.82 1 0.8
Armor 1/0 0/0 1/0
Movement Speed 1 + 0.1 1.25 + 0.125 1.15
Other properties Causes 100% pass-through damage

Comparison with other options[]

Castle Age[]

Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman
Cost 45 food, 20 gold 55 food, 25 gold 25 wood, 45 gold
Training time 21 seconds 17 seconds 27 seconds
Hit Points 60 60 35
Attack 9+2 melee 7+2 melee 5+2 pierce
Attack Bonus +6 vs Eagle Warrior
+3+2 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1+2 vs Standard Building
+3 vs Spearmen
Range 0 3+1 5+2
Line of Sight 6 Range + 2 Range + 2
Rate of Fire 2 2 2
Attack delay N/A 1 0.35
Armor 1+2/1+3 0+2/0+2 0+2/0+2
Movement Speed 0.9 + 0.09 1 + 0.1 0.96
Upgrade Cost 300 food, 100 gold
750 food, 350 gold
1,000 food, 750 gold N/A
Upgrade Time 60 seconds
85 seconds
45 seconds
Attack properties N/A Attacks in a straight line Can track moving targets
85% accuracy

Imperial Age[]

Champion aoe2DE Champion ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Elite Throwing Axeman Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cost 45 food, 20 gold 55 food, 25 gold 45 food, 50 gold
Training time 21 seconds 17 seconds 34 seconds
Hit Points 70 70 40
Attack 13+4 melee 8+4 melee 17 pierce
Attack Bonus +8 vs Eagle Warrior
+4+2 vs Standard Building
+2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2+2 vs Standard Building
+10 vs Infantry
+2 vs Ram
+1 vs Spearman
Range 0 4+1 7
Line of Sight 7 Range + 2 Range + 2
Rate of Fire 2 2 3.45
Attack delay N/A 0.82 0.35
Armor 1+3/1+5 1+3/0+4 1+2/0+2
Movement Speed 0.9 + 0.09 1 + 0.1 0.96
Attack properties N/A Attacks in a straight line Attacks in a straight line
75% accuracy

Further statistics[]

As Throwing Axemen are unique to the Franks, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Skirmishers, Halberdiers, Eagle Warriors, Rams, Trebuchets, buildings, Light Cavalry, Huskarls, Camel Riders
Weak vs. Archers, Scorpions, Mangonels, Jaguar Warriors, Boyars, Cataphracts, Samurai, Teutonic Knights, Paladins, Slingers
Upgrades
Attack Forging aoe2de Forging (+1)
IronCastingDE Iron Casting (+1)
BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace (+2)
ArsonDE Arson (+2 attack against standard buildings)
Range UniqueTechCastle-DE Bearded Axe (+1)
Armor ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1)
ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1)
PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2)
Speed SquiresDE Squires (+10%)
Conversion defense Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
FaithDE Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
HeresyDE Heresy (die upon getting converted)
Creation speed ConscriptionDE Conscription (+33%)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Kasbah (+25%, with a Berber ally only)
Regeneration UniqueTechCastle-DE Stronghold (30 HP/min when within 18 tiles square of a team Celts Castle)
Upgrades EliteUniqueUnitDE Elite Throwing Axeman

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings[]

  • Throwing Axemen have 50 (60 for Elite) hit points.
  • Throwing Axemen move at a speed of 0.9.
  • Non-Elite Throwing Axemen have a frame delay of 12.
  • Elite Throwing Axeman upgrade costs 1,000 food, 850 gold.

AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors[]

AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten[]

  • Non-Elite Throwing Axemen have a frame delay of 10.
  • Elite Throwing Axeman upgrade costs 1,000 food, 750 gold.

AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms[]

  • Throwing Axemen move at a speed of 1.
  • Arson introduced.
  • With patch 4.8, Throwing Axemen have 60 (70 for Elite) HP.

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

Heroes[]

There are two heroes in the game with the appearance of a Throwing Axeman:

History[]

ā€œThe Franks took their name from the axe that was their preferred weapon in ancient times. They continued to use the axe into the Dark Ages and their warriors were especially noted for their ability to throw this axe in battle. The axe was well balanced and could be hurled a good distance by a strong man. Franks carried several axes into battle, holding on to one for hand-to-hand combat. As they advanced they could pick up axes thrown previously to replenish their supply of missiles. Throwing axemen were especially good against light troops wearing little armor. Carrying axes was also useful for dismantling fortifications.ā€

Trivia[]

  • The throwing axe was no longer used by the Franks by the time of Saladin, Barbarossa, The Grand Dukes of the West, and Joan of Arc.
  • In reality, the francisca was so named because it was used by the Franks (whose name means "spear," cognate with Church Slavonic prĒ«Å¾ŃŒ, "pole"), not the other way around.[1]
  • In real-life, the francisca had only one blade and was much smaller and lighter; its average length was 17 inches (~43 cm) and weighed about 1.3 lb (~0.6 kg).

Gallery[]

Video overview[]

References[]

Units in Age of Empires II
CivilianMaleVillDE Villager Ā· Tradecart aoe2DE Trade Cart Ā· FishingShipDE Fishing Ship Ā· Trade cog aoe2DE Trade Cog Ā· King eu aoe2DE King
ReligiousMonk aoe2DE Monk
InfantryMilitiaDE Militia Ā· Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms Ā· Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman Ā· Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman Ā· Champion aoe2DE Champion
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman Ā· Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman Ā· Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
Eaglescout aoe2DE Eagle Scout Ā· Eaglewarrior aoe2DE Eagle Warrior Ā· EliteEaglewarrior aoe2DE Elite Eagle Warrior
ArcherArcher aoe2DE Archer Ā· Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman Ā· Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher Ā· Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer Ā· Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer Ā· ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
CavalryScoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry Ā· Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry Ā· Hussar aoe2DE Hussar
Knight aoe2DE Knight Ā· Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier Ā· Paladin aoe2DE Paladin
Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider Ā· Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
Battle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant Ā· Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Steppelancericon Steppe Lancer Ā· Elitesteppelancericon Elite Steppe Lancer
Xolotlicon Xolotl Warrior
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant Ā· AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
SiegeBattering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram Ā· Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram Ā· Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel Ā· Onager aoe2DE Onager Ā· Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion Ā· Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet
Petard aoe2DE Petard
Siegetower aoe2DE Siege Tower
War shipTransportship aoe2DE Transport Ship Ā· Galley aoe2DE Galley Ā· War galley aoe2DE War Galley Ā· Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley Ā· Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship Ā· Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
Demoraft aoe2DE Demolition Raft Ā· Demoship aoe2DE Demolition Ship Ā· Heavydemoship aoe2de Heavy Demolition Ship
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon Ā· Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
AoE2 Dromon Dromon
Unique
ReligiousMissionaryIcon-DE Missionary Ā· AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest
InfantryBerserkIcon-DE Berserk Ā· Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower Ā· CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero Ā· Aoe2-icon-flemish-militia Flemish Militia Ā· GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto Ā· Aoe2de Ghulam Ghulam Ā· HuskarlIcon-DE Huskarl Ā· JaguarWarriorIcon-DE Jaguar Warrior Ā· KamayukIcon-DE Kamayuk Ā· Karambitwarrioricon-DE Karambit Warrior Ā· AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary Ā· Aoe2-icon--obuch Obuch Ā· SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai Ā· Aoe2-icon-serjeant Serjeant Ā· Shotelwarrioricon-DE Shotel Warrior Ā· TeutonicKnightIcon-DE Teutonic Knight Ā· ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman Ā· Aoe2de Urumi Urumi Swordsman Ā· AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest Ā· WoadRaiderIcon-DE Woad Raider
ArcherArambaiicon-DE Arambai Ā· CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer Ā· ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu Ā· AoE2 CompositeBowman Composite Bowman Ā· ConquistadorIcon-DE Conquistador Ā· GenitourIcon-DE Genitour Ā· GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman Ā· Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher Ā· JanissaryIcon-DE Janissary Ā· Kipchakicon Kipchak Ā· LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman Ā· MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai Ā· PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer Ā· Aoe2de ratha ranged Ranged Ratha Ā· Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer Ā· SlingerIcon-DE Slinger Ā· WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon
CavalryBallistaelephanticon-DE Ballista Elephant Ā· BoyarIcon-DE Boyar Ā· Aoe2de camel scout Camel Scout Ā· CataphractIcon-DE Cataphract Ā· Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon Centurion Ā· Aoe2-icon-coustillier Coustillier Ā· Flaming camel icon Flaming Camel Ā· ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider Ā· Keshikicon Keshik Ā· Konnikicon Konnik Ā· Leitisicon Leitis Ā· MagyarHuszarIcon-DE Magyar Huszar Ā· MamelukeIcon-DE Mameluke Ā· AoE2 Monaspa Monaspa Ā· Aoe2de ratha melee Melee Ratha Ā· AoE2 Savar Savar Ā· Aoe2de shrivamsha rider Shrivamsha Rider Ā· TarkanIcon-DE Tarkan Ā· WarElephantIcon-DE War Elephant Ā· Aoe2-icon-winged-hussar Winged Hussar
SiegeAoe2-icon--houfnice Houfnice Ā· Aoe2-icon-hussite-wagon Hussite Wagon Ā· OrganGunIcon-DE Organ Gun
War shipCaravelIcon-DE Caravel Ā· LongboatIcon-DE Longboat Ā· Aoe2de Thirisadai Thirisadai Ā· TurtleShipIcon-DE Turtle Ship
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