Huns Overview AoE2

Analysis of the bonuses, units, and techs of the Huns from AoE2.
1:12 Team bonus - stables work 20% faster
2:02 Don't need houses, but start with -100 wood
3:40 Cavalry archers -10% castle, -20% imperial age
5:08 Trebuchets +30% accuracy
UNIQUE UNIT AND TECHS
6:20 Tarkan
More in-depth analysis: • Tarkan vs Knight [AoE2]
7:35 Marauders - train Tarkans at stables
8:10 Atheism - +100 years to relics/wonder victory and spies/treason cost -50%
TECH TREE
9:30 Archers A-
10:00 Infantry C+
10:24 Cavalry A
10:40 Siege B-
11:05 Navy B+
11:30 Monks C
11:50 Defences C-
12:05 Economy A-
12:20 Trash Units B
______________________________________________________________________
Patreon: / spiritofthelaw
Full intro song: • Spirit of the Law Chan...
Background music from Epidemic Sound: www.epidemicsound.com
Game: Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, with Forgotten Empires, African Kingdoms, Rise the Rajas, and Last Khans expansions

[@DCdabest]

Hun Trebuchet operators be like "35% of the time it hits 100% of the time"

[@harmleyten4]

You mean: 60% of the time it works every time

[@SIGNOR-G]

*It just works*

[@icecold1805]

@@SIGNOR-G that absolute just giving up on the maths and going the todd howard route is the perfect way to cap this convo off

[@peslesfoid1740]

*You challenged my every decision*

[@DCdabest]

@@peslesfoid1740 It is as if you seek to lead the Huns yourself

[@lewstherintelamon244]

The story goes that Attila used to collect exotic animals that he found during his conquests. He particularly liked dangerous or fearsome animals, and his favourite was a giant snake. He was so fond of it, it was said that he brought it with him on every campaign. But his snake lost its appetite, and soon stopped eating altogether; perhaps due to the stress of frequent travel and an irregular diet. Wishing to save his prized pet, Attila sought help from the local chirurgeons and witch doctors. None of them could do anything for him, until a wizened sage suggested feeding the serpent only young female virgins. Attila was pleased with this idea, and was delighted to find that a city he had raided just happened to have a Christian convent with a convenient supply of the recommended food for his pet. But the snake refused to eat, or even touch any of the consecrated virgins from the convent. Enraged, Attila sent for the soothsayer who advised him to have him executed. Standing before Attila, the old man calmly said, "Before thou killest me, may thee first bring the snake and one of the women to me." Curious, Attila did as he asked. Then the old man took some bread and gave it to Attila. "Now hold these in both hands," he instructed. Attila did so, and as soon as he did, the snake let out a terrifying hiss, and swallowed the virgin whole. To an amazed Attila, the old man simply said, "Thy anaconda don't want nun unless you've got buns, Hun."

[@PyroBeef]

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.

[@sillywet4785]

to the top with this comment

[@GoldenRoyal5]

Lmfao

[@braiangomez7691]

Like and report

[@light_david7]

I thought this was going to be a serious story until the last line... You got me there

[@MrThatguyuknow]

All other cultures: "Wait, your entire empire is homeless?" The Huns: "tiim uu"

[@Real_MisterSir]

They simply make their enemies' homes their own lol

[@omargoodman2999]

Houseless, not homeless.

[@CBRN-115]

*horse neigh

[@M0rdFustang]

🤣

[@t.e.fcastle1069]

Amormindu

[@utkarshsrivastava6080]

"Long overdue redo of overview" love it

[@inkarnator7717]

I was gonna write the same xD

[@phanboichau8498]

@@inkarnator7717 bhai I too been waiting for like 5 years

[@aidankatz5916]

How accurate is this Treb? Normal people: seems kinda better SOTL: lemme test 2400 shots to see

[@TheJamesHyndman]

I feel like it's just his normal thought process on everything !

[@StrakanDocrusReakal]

I mean, i agree with him, gotta get that saeet sweet test data.

[@alian6965]

HUNS ARE HUNS Btw adding a trash section in the tech tree is a great idea

[@daczero22]

A really great one!

[@alian6965]

Nice

[@W0LLF]

HUNS ARE TURKS !

[@metehanlovers6573]

@@W0LLF nope turks are hun Huns are huns

[@oyku549]

Huns are Turkic

[@Nadie-mb4vw]

I, as many veterans here, survived the cruel era of the Voobly huns war. Thousands of meaningless fights, corpses of cav archers, palandins and halbs, 400 pings and endless "sync errors" with hundreds of games down the drain without a chance to restore... truly it was the darkest of times for AOE2...

[@mattutter3525]

I mind casters such as Zeroempires back in the day sounding fed up with them as well. "Yet another Hun war..." Great to see how far this game has come though

[@thenayancat8802]

@@mattutter3525 It's funny hearing some casters wax lyrical about how great the hun war days were, when like 90% of the games had only 1 civ. Then 5 minutes later they'll complain about how some civs are so totally broken in DE and it's a shame the balance isn't better.

[@satyakisil9711]

Remember the SQ Deathmatch fights? Peak masochism. Simply peak.

[@thenayancat8802]

@@satyakisil9711 Never played DM but loved getting flamed as a noob in RM lobbies for asking host to do MQ.

[@satyakisil9711]

@@thenayancat8802 Before Battle of Africa everyone who used MQ was a noob.

[@FuelDropforthewin]

I see Tarkins as basically "super fast siege" that can keep up up with your army of knights/cav archers as they rampage across the map.

[@adwans1491]

Laughs in mongol siege

[@michaelandreipalon359]

@@adwans1491 RAMMING SPEED!!!

[@BenjaminKeller]

Totally. If your opponent isn't walled up, he better have some spare town centers...

[@chirantans2162]

But are these Tarkans better than Battle Elephants in siege?

[@FuelDropforthewin]

@@chirantans2162 They're faster, so they're better for their role keeping up with a cav army. Sometimes the ability to keep up is more important than the ability to do damage. Tarkins are no match for a siege ram at anti-building, but they're easier to keep on hand with the rest of your hun army.

[@michaeltaylor8698]

Hey Spirit! Just wanted to say that I love the little opening cinematics you include that use the civ's Wonder in some appropriate context!

[@angelusumbrae]

Right? His video guides have always been entertaining, as well as really informative, but those little touches are great enhancements.

[@VRichardsn]

Fun fact: the Huns should be an Age of Empires I civilisation, given that their entire recorded history takes place during Antiquity, not the Middle Ages.

[@InkoGnito978]

Goths too

[@AlshainFR]

Also why in hell do they have the German architecture set?

[@InkoGnito978]

@@AlshainFR why aztecs incas and mayas have onagres and swordmans?)

[@VRichardsn]

@@InkoGnito978 Yeah, although the Goths managed to a get a foothold on the Middle Ages. Belisarius then appeared.

[@mrp4242]

I’m going to disagree. Though you just say ‘antiquity’ and don’t separate out classical antiquity (the general timeframe of AoE I) and Late Antiquity which is used in AoE II multiple times, not just for the Huns. So, I suppose the ambiguity of your fun fact allows so some areas of reasonable disagreement. Generally scholars put the “Middle Ages” as the time period between the fall of the western Roman Empire until it transitioned into the renaissance and age of discovery. Many scholars describe the transition time of the western Roman Empire decline to the beginnings of early Muslim conquests as ‘Late Antiquity’ to separate it out from ‘classical antiquity’, but many still will include that as part of the early Middle Ages. The time frame usually given for the Middle Ages in Europe is from the late 5th century to the late 15th century. This would have included much of the Hunnic timeframe, as they are to have been around until at least 470 AD. But they are given in this game, I believe, because their early influence pushed a lot of the migration that happened after Rome and shaped early medieval Europe. So, they seem a logical choice for this game. In the end, I think that while you could make an argument that the Huns could be a part of AoE I, like you have, including them in AoE II is perfectly justified.

[@tyranitararmaldo]

The title card coming up on the "bonk" was way too satisfying. Also Huns losing to Persians is also really satisfying.

[@Volcano4981]

That was simply beautiful. In a way their relative weakness against Persians is not too historically inaccurate either since I recall their invasion of the Sassanid Empire was doomed from the start.

[@hoyinching9313]

12:07 Other University: Huns, How is your university? Hun: What is University?

[@jamaly77]

My friend only plays Huns because he hates building houses in 500 pop games.

[@sauravtripathi4128]

I once played a 500 pop 1 vs 1 vs 1 game, and honestly, no one made use of more than 100 pop space. One of my opponent was Portuguese so apart from 100 units, he had built 5 Feitorias making another 100.

[@jamaly77]

@@sauravtripathi4128 I don't play such tiny skirmishes :p 2k+ units on the map is where the fun starts imo ^^ And you can't really play that with random people cause of slow pcs and / or internet connection.

[@RecklessInternetting]

500 pop Regicide games are awesome... ... When playing solo. Otherwise they're a meme.

[@tankofnova9022]

500? DE really pumped up the possibilities. I remember a max of 200 being possible.

[@dieblauebedrohung]

@@tankofnova9022 500 were already possible in HD.

[@devinshilightsdale9738]

The huns house bonus isn't about the wood at all, it's the fact you don't have to worry about houses

[@daniscool5092]

Maybe when your new to the game, but an expert player would beg to differ. It's all about resource efficiency

[@ashina2146]

Huns in AoE2HD: *Evil Clown* Huns in AoE2DE: *Vibing*

[@luke9309]

A major advantage in team games which has been overlooked is the ability to run and rebuild in a team-mates base easily due to the lack of houses

[@directrulefromgamerchair3947]

Atheism: "you don't win because of your wonder BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE IT LALALALALALALA" *fingers in ears*

[@Makofueled]

Truly defeat is a state of mind. The unbroken spirit remains unconquered.

[@travtotheworld]

Spirit: Huns are best known for their cheep cavalry archer. Atilla: **Laughs in houses**

[@B3Band]

96 people thought this was funny. WTF

[@darkmantlestudios]

Does he though?

[@AlshainFR]

8:14 * rides into your village * "M'lady" * tips fur hat and burns your TC*

[@erikr5989]

Whenever I play Huns the first thing I remember about them is from your previous video on them: "If it sits on a horse or is a ram it's good." That still seems to be more or less the case.

[@jliller]

When would you want a Ram instead of a Tarkan?

[@erikr5989]

@@jliller A tarkan is essentially just a weak but fast ram. If speed doesn't matter, I prefer the ram :)

[@christopherg2347]

Again, a pretty good way to implement them: - nomadic - they got no houses - realy good cavalary and cav archers - advanced understand on stone walls and siege warfare, as they got a bit older (they assimilated Siege tech to captured chinese cities and often took local specialists as slaves, quickly assimilating knowledge for stone walls and masonry) - however also very flexible, with a wide unit variety (they learned and recruited a lot from conquered people, giving them local counters like the Romans got) - really have issues persisting for long (the huns quickly declined and splintered after Attila died)

[@michaelandreipalon359]

This.

[@christopherg2347]

@Heberth R. Not Atheist. Just particularly tollerant so no one ever got ahead.

[@christopherg2347]

@Heberth R. Thanks for repeating what I said with less words.

[@_Catgirl_Connoisseur_]

This comment is gold

[@Dicaso9]

@Heberth R. the Huns did not lack a religion but likely practiced a form of animism and ancestor-worship called "Tengrism", a faith shared by a vast array of steppe peoples like the Mongols, Cumans, pre-Muslim Turks and Tatars, and pre-Christian Bulgars and Magyars.

[@souheilallegue2342]

Huns are best know for being Huns.

[@junglecock1708]

Finally someone knows the truth

[@tomaszsmol3920]

Hans are Hans indeed

[@R3stor]

But Mbl would be housed even playing as Huns

[@EinFelsbrocken]

Well; in this particular case...thats a good thing!

[@youtubenamebad4259]

Feels like so much effort in this civ overview, had actually been bingeing the Civ Overviews recently too.

[@Hamanuna]

It's time to wait for their History and the "reason" of why they have Paladin

[@michaeltaylor8698]

Huns were a cavalry civ. The paladin is the strongest generic cavalry unit in the game (not including elephants), ergo Huns have Paladins. You need to think of AoE2 units as archetypes rather than perfectly historically accurate units. Persians also get Paladins and it makes sense, maybe not in the sense that Persians have access to a Christian Knight, but rather in the sense that the Persians also had excellent heavy cavalry.

[@R3stor]

@@michaeltaylor8698 and Mezo civs have infantry in full plate armor as well

[@pierrotnasse]

@@michaeltaylor8698 Even though i understand balancewise(they couldnt have paladins AND elephants AND cataphracts), i always though weird the persians didnt got the cataphract, the famous Ancient Age PERSIAN shock cavalry

[@ailius1520]

@@michaeltaylor8698 It's almost fair to say "Paladin is a D&D class" given how rare it was actually used in history. It was a title given by Charlemagne to exactly 12 of his closest knights. The title "Palentine" was also used as a title of nobility in the Holy Roman Empire. And in both cases, it was because they were trying to be more Roman. So if we wanted to be strict about it it should be either a Frank or Teuton unique unit, and "Hussar" should be the name of the generic heavy cavalry unit.

[@tyranitararmaldo]

This is why I think it would be more accurate if the Cataphract was a generic stable unit, a bunch of civs then lost the knight line to trade for it, and then Byzantines got the unused Centurion instead.

[@nicholassmith8027]

I haven't watched your vids in a while and I think its cool that you remade your whole intro using the updated graphics. Such a nice touch.

[@antoniomele4830]

Huns should have Steppe Lancers too. Considering where they came from it would be nice

[@smokagaming]

NO :( Cuman army say no

[@sauravtripathi4128]

Liked the trash units section. You had been saying about these in an overall civ ranking video.

[@Triad_Orion]

I do appreciate the brief discussion of the Civilization's trash units toward the end of the video. It might be a little redundant given every building gets covered individually, but I very much like the summary at a glance of what they get for their Trash Units all grouped up in one place. I think that's a useful addition to the Overview videos!

[@digitalconsciousness]

I really like all the civ-specific overview videos you do. I think people really get attached to a civ, so even though we know 90% of what you're about to say, it's still fun to watch a special video about my favorite civ.

[@josiasdmartinez602]

Thanks for bringing the intro back

[@estellebright2579]

This video is one of the best Christmas presents for me.

[@diosn6909]

I think all civs need an overview, nice work on this one, your videos are always good!

[@Soupdude338]

Glad to see you decided to include a section on trash units!

[@Gunsbeerfreedom87]

Looking forward to the part two where you go over Hunnic history. Always been a fan of them as a people.

[@emilyding2496]

It is a good day when SOTL uploads.

[@alexwharton7407]

Been waiting for this one.

[@yiyoascen]

I know I can safely like your videos before even watching them, they are surely quality content and mathy enough

[@EspressoCatPlays]

It is about time, 5 years since your Hun Overview

[@devagr]

"Long overdue redo of the overview" *BARS*

[@TheChimples]

Even his rhymes are mathematical.

[@Occissorr]

I just watch your videos because of the way you speak and deliver the content bruvv. 😍😍

[@CossacksChampion]

I love ur analysises

[@user-ra8ia7ag4w]

WOW I JUST HOT BACK INTO AOE2, CAME TO YOUR CHANNEL FOR A HUNS GUIDE, AND FOUND A BRAND NEW ONE

[@lagg1e]

I'm so stoked for the eventual sicilians overview. Cutting bonus damage in half is good for knights, and great for ships(ship to ship damage is based on bonus damage and a little bit on melee/pierce)

[@frans3950]

Nice that you included some comments on the trash unit element.

[@stebdylan6188]

Hey Spirit of The Law, Guys here.

[@JRSasquatch]

Oh heck yeah i love the overviews

[@michaelandreipalon359]

0:49: Welcome back, intro!

[@coldestaqua]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, please redo the older Civ reviews. You are the best.

[@KhalilAbuthiyab]

right before the notification. the best aoe2 mathematician.

[@darioscomicschool1111]

Thank you!

[@chriwisan2702]

When the huns meme with the red puppet kicked in, I had to smash that like button👀👌🏼

[@MohammadHossainMD]

You should add (renewed or latest edition) behind this newly revisited overviews. So future viewers can understand which one to choose. Appreciate the effort.

[@Rocky.G]

Subscribed

[@unnamedshadow1866]

Atheism should provide a massive conversion resistance to become an interesting tech competitively. Specially considering how Knights end up being the prime target of conversion.

[@luggy9256]

Well it has been changed since this video...

[@SkeletonAngel_]

I just visited the channel to see if a new video has been uploaded Good luck for me 😂 I mean, I am used to tht about every four days a new video being uploaded

[@AgeofNoob]

I hope I'm not making a mistake... BUT FOR NOW, WE RIDE WITH THE HUNS!

[@stebdylan6188]

It would be a shame if there were an accident with the boar?

[@AgeofNoob]

@@stebdylan6188 Atilla, follow.

[@stebdylan6188]

@@AgeofNoob Lmao. I see that you are all caught up with the campaign. Have you played it recently?

[@AgeofNoob]

@@stebdylan6188 No but I have most of the lines memorized already :D

[@stebdylan6188]

@@AgeofNoob Same my friend, same XD.

[@warhammeritaliancommunity5520]

I liked this video for the " Huns" coming on timing with music

[@VieShaphiel]

The redo version really shows how SotL's editing has improved in these years (and it was fairly good to begin with)

[@Marcara081]

Huns can research Atheism and Faith. Okay.

[@quaintgentleman344]

They are proud members of the church of atheism.

[@adwans1491]

Your pp is beautifull

[@Kakwann]

the fact that they have monks and monastery is also troublesome... could that be possible to make a race without a monastery?

[@pnutz_2]

it ain't called "the religion of no religion" without reason

[@chirantans2162]

Thus proving that Atheism requires faith!

[@frankseward7017]

Great overview. Now Goths abd their never changing bonuses are next! Then Teutons since they really changed.

[@adwans1491]

Wtf

[@EngPheniks]

What I like so much about the Huns civilization is that you don't have to build any houses to support your population. Right from the start, the population limit is set to maximum right away and you can train all the units you wish for without having to worry about overpopulation or spend wood.

[@simonmonto]

Me the whole time video "when is he going to talk about Arambai" End of video: "Ooooh... thats the Mongols"

[@Symbol1313]

Yeah!!! Intro is back!

[@SvensWorkshop]

Long overdue redo of my overview. Spirit of the Law has spoken.

[@pepijngeorge9959]

I would love a new Viking overview, they got so much more play over the past year and the view of them has changed so much. Now it's one of the strongest civs on quite a few maps and the unique unit is no longer seen as dumb / weak.

[@Fruktfisk]

Hi Spirit great video as usual but what I'm really missing is the statistical distribution diagrams for the number of shots required to take down an enemy treb. Also does the probability of hitting increase if trebs are closer than 16 range? In-depth analaysis please. ^^

[@BoloBouncer]

The Grand Moff Tarkin upgrade really makes them shine

[@dingus968]

"my long overdue redo of my overview" wow what a mouthfull

[@6zslim627]

THE INTRO IS BACK BOOIIIISSSSS !!!!!

[@jredubr]

I really appreciate using Tarkans. They are good vs archers and can very easily disrupt an enemy’s defenses to raid their TC heavily affecting their economy. That’s the only way I can try to win goths, for example, as their huskarls are tough against arrows and they can very easily mass halberdiers.

[@nonope7118]

Thanks man! Did you have an updated khmer overview for de? I love that farm eco bonus!

[@davidsanchezparedes6884]

I thought you were going to talk about Hunz ketchup, but I'm pleased as well.

[@thejoobys2217]

Can you do Persians overview again, they've gone through a lot of changes past these few years

[@onekingdom1955]

they were always my favorite

[@juhno7659]

I like how this video pops up when I took the quiz and got 50% match for Huns and like 2-5 for all the other civs

[@Copperhell144]

The intro! It's here!!!

[@Aaron-gi9ik]

FINALLY SOMETHING GOOD TO WATCH

[@gravity8120]

13:47 That Tarkan trying to figure out which way to go.

[@MrJhargrave1]

Could you do a CBA guide? Who counters who and who should go forward or who should cover who! Would be great! Thanks!

[@Yoyodudewassup1999]

Great video, I would have mentioned that Rams are also great at punishing your opponent for going full skirmishers against you

[@xxxxsharpie]

If this is gonna be a continued series, can you make a playlist for the DE vids? Love all the content.

[@MoRDekai1364]

Hunic unique unit - tarkan is actually a title. It means craftsman for the Mongols. In Bulgaria tarkan was called the second man after the Khan and lately it turned to our variant of the Byzantium στρατηγός (stratigòs)

[@Binarokaro]

I can't wait for Atheism to get a buff! Looking forward the patch where the Hun's unique tech becomes the gold standard in the meta

[@jefffinkbonner9551]

It'd be at least slightly more interesting if it added 100 years to the opponent's relic/ wonder victory but decreased one's own by 100 years.

[@luggy9256]

Well it’s happened already hasn’t it?

[@mihaibelu3912]

Great vid! Magyars next

[@DoomDutch]

I like the addition of Trash Units grade.

[@xotl2780]

We need a Ken Burns documentary (featuring ZeroEmpires) about the Hun wars. They went on too long.

[@thewashh]

Giving a civ a score on defenses should really take bracer into account. It's probably the most important research when it comes to defending, at least at the higher level. For just a small amount of ressources you get a lot of extra protection from enemy raides from buildings that you already have. Pro players will often prioritise bracer before upgrading their main military unit if they are defending with a castle and cannot take a fight yet. It is almost as important as all the other technolegies you are listing for defenses combined and while it's not enough to make huns a good defensive civ they still have better defenses than most civs which are missing bracer.

[@Avinash_Lincoln]

Nice one as usual, spirit next do the Koreans cause they got pretty major changes on DE.

[@thespaceman1189]

i like that he added trash units

[@Olifantenstaart]

The devs must’ve had a good time knowing you had to redo it again just a month later considering the changes to their unique tech & the cav archer.

[@tag180rotax]

13:45 I love that meme civs/strats hold 3 of the top 5 spots for shortest games 11111

[@tag180rotax]

Potentially 6 if you include Magayard

[@ICHBinCOOLERalsJeman]

this is getting out of hand even spirit of the law is remastering now

[@kay486]

intro is back!

[@satyakisil9711]

Honestly, even today if you mirror the civs and get Huns there is a different feel to it. Huns are absolute perfection when it comes to mirror games. They have been played like this for so long that people have a whole new arsenal of playstyles and approaches for that one match-up. And they never get boring, maybe if you wish to see more campier games then yes but in terms of variety in pre-Imperial age they are unparalleled.

[@wb4577]

Tarkan would combo well with cav archers, tanking arrows fire, and body blocking cav to let the cav archers do the killing// also its nice being able to get past walls/gates or snipe T/C when most of your army is still cav archers//

[@danielvarga8178]

The starting sound of a match as a hun creeped me out but in a cool way I would say

[@shithappens6887]

I love the Tarkans. Great for sneaking around and exploiting gaps. I play against a friend that's like fatslob JR. As soon as he hits fuedal, he walls, then he starts working on a second set of walls. I like to build up a giant push somewhere, castles goin up, army is visible, rams coming in, trebs, and then sneak about 50 tarkans through a far side while chaos is going on on the opposite side. Works every time. Suddenly he realizes he has 50 vils and needs to refocus from my big push.

[@zaidhernandez4601]

Nice

[@viktorf6798]

Lets go!