Age of Empires 2 Unique Unit Counters

Cataphract (Byzantines)

The Cataphract is the most rule-breaking unique unit in the game. It resists bonus damage from anti-cavalry infantry (Halberdiers, Pikemen), deals a damage bonus vs. infantry via trample, AND has high melee armor. Standard cavalry counters work at reduced efficiency.

• Monk Hard Counter
  Cataphracts cost 70 food + 75 gold. Converting one is a devastating resource swing. Cataphracts resist Halberdier bonus damage but not conversion — Monks are the safest answer.
• Heavy Camel Rider Hard Counter
  Camel bonus vs. cavalry still applies in full. Heavy Camels are one of the most reliable counters because they bypass the infantry trample damage Cataphracts deal.
• Arbalest Soft Counter
  Pierce damage — Cataphracts have limited pierce armor. Not as efficient as vs. normal cavalry but consistently deals damage.
• Halberdier Soft Counter
  Reduced bonus damage (Cataphracts resist anti-cavalry bonus) but still better than melee alternatives. Use in numbers — 5+ Halbs still beat Cataphracts despite the reduction.

Huskarl (Goths)

Huskarls have extreme pierce armor — 6 base, 8 with Elite upgrade and all armor techs. They are specifically designed to destroy archer armies. Arbalests barely dent them.

• Champion Hard Counter
  Melee attack vs. melee — Huskarls have poor melee armor (1/0). Champions deal full melee damage. The cleanest counter if you can force melee engagement.
• Knight / Cavalier Hard Counter
  High melee damage, Huskarls can't take melee hits well. Goths often lack strong anti-cavalry options — Knights can punish a Huskarl mass hard.
• Scorpion Soft Counter
  Even Huskarls take pierce damage in volume from Scorpions. High fire rate pierces through the armor over time. Expensive trade but works.
• Monk Soft Counter
  Huskarls are cheap (80F/40G) so conversions are lower value, but they come in large numbers (Gothic infantry production bonus) — converting the lead units disrupts formations.

Mameluke (Saracens)

The Mameluke is a ranged cavalry unit with a bonus vs. all cavalry — including other camels. An unusual class unit that counters its own counter type. It fights at range, making melee counters harder to land.

• Arbalest Hard Counter
  Mamelukes have low pierce armor. Arbalests deal full pierce damage at range — the fight is won from distance where Mameluke's melee cavalry class is irrelevant.
• Elite Skirmisher Hard Counter
  Mamelukes are a ranged unit — Skirmisher attack bonus vs. archers applies. Efficient trade at range.
• Champion Hard Counter
  Mamelukes don't want melee engagement — high melee damage wins if you can close the distance. Champions are cheap and plentiful.
• Hussar Soft Counter
  Fast enough to close range. Once in melee, Hussars win. Problem is Mamelukes also deal bonus vs. cavalry — it's a close trade. Use in numbers.

Conquistador (Spanish)

A mounted Hand Cannoneer — fast, mobile, deals blast damage at range. Extremely powerful vs. infantry and can kite most units. Treats like a cavalry archer with gunpowder damage.

• Elite Skirmisher Hard Counter
  Gunpowder bonus from Skirmisher applies. Elite Skirms in mass can trade efficiently. Their pierce armor also resists the blast damage well.
• Halberdier Hard Counter
  Conquistadors are cavalry class — Halberdier attack bonus applies. They need to close the distance but once in melee, Halbs win.
• Monk Soft Counter
  Conquistadors cost 60F + 70G — very high value to convert. Spanish often skip Faith. Multiple Monks can chain-convert if unprotected.

Jaguar Warrior (Aztecs)

The best infantry-vs-infantry unit in the game — +11 attack bonus vs. infantry. They destroy Champions, Halberdiers, and anything in the infantry class. The counter must avoid melee infantry entirely.

• Arbalest Hard Counter
  Jaguar Warriors have standard infantry pierce armor — low. Arbalests shred them from range before they can reach anything.
• Knight / Cavalier Hard Counter
  Jaguar Warriors are infantry — no cavalry bonus damage but no anti-cavalry bonus either. Cavalry wins the melee engagement cleanly.
• Scorpion Soft Counter
  Area pierce damage. Jaguar Warriors often group up — Scorpion bolts pass through multiple units.

Obuch (Poles)

The Obuch reduces enemy armor on each hit — stacking with allies. It transforms any armored unit (Paladins, Champions) into easier targets for the rest of your army. The counter focuses on preventing the armor shred.

• Arbalest Hard Counter
  Obuchs have standard infantry pierce armor — pierce damage from range before they close is the cleanest answer.
• Cavalry Archer Soft Counter
  Kites Obuchs from range so they never land an armor-reducing hit. Pierce damage while staying out of melee reach.

Summary — Unique Unit Counter Cheat Sheet