Champion

Standard building: 4

Camel: 0

Cavalry: 0

Infantry: 0

Anti-leitis: 0

Castle age: 7

imperial age: 7

The **Champion** is an infantry unit in *Age of Empires II* that can be trained at the Barracks once the Imperial Age is reached. It is the final tier in the Militia line

## Overview and tactics

The Champion is the first and only Barracks unit that provides its own melee protection: 1/1 armor. They have an attack bonus against buildings and the Eagle line, and are even more powerful when used in conjunction with Rams.

With additional armor for melee combat coupled with an attack rarely superseded by other infantry, the Champion is a good unit when complemented with other units (such as cavalry for tracking down ranged units, or siege units for faster razing) or in waves of units if the player has a massive replenishing stockpile of food and gold. The typical infantry shortcomings do exist, however, as they are still slow and are modest in terms of health, making them vulnerable to archers, heavy cavalry, and splash-damage siege weaponry.

Champions excel in two particular situations: early Imperial Age when their counters aren't as prominent and late Imperial Age when gold is scarce. Champions are informally called 'trash busters' since they can easily defeat all the trash units (Halberdiers, Elite Skirmishers, and Hussars). The unique trash units, the Genitours and the Magyar Huszar, can stand up to most civilizations' Champions, but do not defeat them distinctly.

For some civilizations, Champions are a go-to late game deathball choice. This includes Malians with their +3 pierce armor bonus and the Aztecs and Burmese with their additional attack damage. An Imperial Age Champion rush requires a huge Farm-based economy.

On lush maps with plenty of resources (e. g. Yucatán), it is recommended to opt for another type of army (as long as the additional cost can be shouldered by the economy), as they generally tend to fare better in general combat.

## Civilization bonuses

* Aztecs: Champions are created 11% faster.
* Burmese: Champions have +3 attack. Researching Faith is 50% cheaper.
* Celts: Champions move 15% faster. Champions can convert herdables even if enemy units are next to them.
* Chinese: Technologies that benefit Champions are 20% cheaper.
* Goths: Champions are 35% cheaper and have +3 attack against standard buildings. With Perfusion researched, researching Squires is 100% faster.
* Japanese: Champions attack 33% faster.
* Magyars: Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace are free.
* Malians: Champions have +3 pierce armor.
* Portuguese: Champions cost 20% less gold.
* Slavs: Tracking is free (in the HD expansions). Supplies is free (in the *Definitive Edition*).
* Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Champions don't cost gold.
* Teutons: Champions have +2/+0 armor.
* Vietnamese: Conscription is free.
* Vikings: Champions have 20% more hit points.

## Team bonuses

* A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, researching Conscription is 25% faster.
* A team containing Goths: Champions are created 20% faster. Researching Tracking, Squires, and Arson is 20% faster.
* A team containing Teutons: Champions are more resistant to conversion.
* A team containing Lithuanians: Researching Heresy and Faith is 20% faster.
* A team containing Bulgarians: Researching infantry armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith is 50% faster.

## Changelog

### *The Age of Kings*

* Champions have +3 attack against standard buildings.
* Champions have 0 pierce armor.
* Goths: Champions are 25% cheaper. Bonus damage against buildings is +1.

### *The Conquerors*

* Champions have +6 attack against Eagle Warriors.
* Champions have now 1 pierce armor.
* Heresy introduced.
* Aztecs: Garland Wars introduced.
* Goths: With patch 1.0b, Champions are 35% cheaper. Perfusion introduced.

### *The Forgotten*

* Champions now have +4 attack against standard buildings.
* Champions now have +8 attack against Eagle Warriors.

### *The African Kingdoms*

* Arson introduced.
* Vikings: With patch 4.8, Chieftains now affects Champions. It gives Champions +2 attack against camels.

### *Rise of the Rajas*

* Vikings: With patch 5.7, Chieftains now gives Champions +4 attack against camels.

### *Definitive Edition*

* Tracking removed; all infantry now receives +2 LOS from the Feudal Age instead.
* Supplies introduced.
* Goths: With update 36202, bonus damage against buildings is +3.
* Teutons: With update 35584, Champions have +1/+0 armor. With update 36906, Champions have +2/+0 armor.