Konnik

In this video let's check out the Bulgarian unique unit: the Konnik. Is the mounted/dismounted feature just a gimmick, or does it live up to the hype?
0:45 One unit or two?
1:10 Castle age stats (vs knight, long swordsman)
1:48 Imperial Age stats (vs cavalier, paladin, two-handed swordsman)
2:15 Upgrades
2:55 Unique tech stirrups
4:00 Dismounted version affected by stirrups?
4:40 Movement rate and training time
5:10 Bonus damage
COST EFFICIENCY VS OTHER UNITS
5:30 Un-upgraded Konniks vs Un-upgraded Knights
5:45 Un-upgraded Konniks vs Upgraded Knights
5:58 Upgraded Konniks vs Upgraded Knights
6:35 Elite Konniks vs Cavaliers and Paladins
6:50 vs Pikes and Halberdiers
7:20 vs Camels
7:45 vs Champions
7:50 vs Teutonic Knights
8:10 vs Samurai
8:20 vs Crossbows and Arbalests
9:05 Questions about conversions
9:40 Closing thoughts
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

[@fruitenantcolonel9207]

After you make the supremacy villager movie, we need a movie about the dismounted Konnik seeking revenge for his horse. We can call it Kon Wick.

[@ekim613]

Presented by Para-dis-mount Pictures

[@zaidhernandez4601]

I'd watch it

[@xotl2780]

Kon Nick.

[@AdmiralWololo]

This joke deserves way more likes

[@cheng1991]

good one , sir

[@Andmunko]

Monk: "I shall convince you to fight for my faction by waving this staff!" Konnik: "Halt! You must convince my horse first"

[@mrxmgs3768]

seems like my horse has been executed for being an heretic...

[@FlammieLL]

Somebody needs to make a monty python skit out of this.

[@ithadtobeaname7327]

The horse actually commits seppuku Don´t ask me why tho

[@Mavo936]

Halberdier: *takes down rider Konnik: you fool, that wasn't even my final form

[@maarten452]

Gast jij gaf mij echt een mindfuck, ik dacht ff dat ik die comment had gepost.

[@gabenvandenbrink9114]

@@maarten452 maarten stfu

[@davidgustavsson4000]

Call the ambulance *but not for me *

[@NinjaSushi2]

Lol!

[@meatmachine144]

Red Monk: "Wololo." Blue Konnik: "Cover your ears. I said _cover your ears!"_ Blue Konnik horse: "I don't know man, I think this guy is on to something..."

[@javierfito5077]

kills horse for heresy, proceeds on foot

[@scholaepalatinae4988]

Such an iKonnik unit indeed.

[@Nayapeaks]

Congratulations for top comment!

[@spudman3275]

This idea may have been stolen from others that said it earlier. But then again, maybe multiple people thought of it. Great minds think alike, and fools, seldom differ.

[@merdufer]

Mounted and Dismounted Konnik. Name a more Konnik duo.

[@LumosX]

You get a point for the attempt, but alas, it doesn't work. The two Ns are both pronounced, i.e. _['kon-nik],_ not _['ko-nik]._

[@demoncard1180]

Yeah, I posted that here at release iirc, Spudman, but I think it's better if we can all be ikonnick together.

[@MerMes16]

Love that the horse dies to heresy and his soldier revives to avenge it.

[@nightsong81]

My poor, poor horse... and now he's dead... Dead...

[@MrDibara]

Getting Arn flashbacks here! D:

[@suyash5608]

My horse was weak. But i ain't falling for ur crap old man.

[@mushroomhead5914]

basically the horse was accused of heresy and killed by their own people

[@simounobrien9096]

My Horse My Horse. My King for a Horse

[@Secondary_Identifier]

9:33 Konnik Horse: "Well, I think he made some interesting points about..." *dies*

[@SulyvhanTheStranger]

The konnik killing it's heretic horse xD I want a meme about that!

[@Lightning_Lance]

made me think of Lucky Luke's horse.

[@DarknessTemplar6]

9:33 i hate when my horse decides to change religion

[@nightsong81]

And then you have to kill it for heresy. Such a pain.

[@simonkoscak7404]

*Pikemen defeats Konnik *Also,Konnik stands Up *Pikemen:Wait,thats illegal

[@gicoleli7261]

Konnik: I can do this all day

[@BigPapaKaiser]

Monk: I accuse thee of HERESY! Horse: Oh shit they know! *Dies* Monk and Konnik: *Surprised pikachu face, followed by a flail sandwich for the monk*

[@napoleoncomplex2712]

This is what happens when you leave your horse in a field of cows for too long. Those bovine universities are a hotbed of heretical thought.

[@apokalypthoapokalypsys9573]

Actually that isn't why Heresy does its effect. A civilization without the tech is a normal kingdom. If someone converts to another religion, it's not a crime. But a civilization with Heresy researched is a kingdom where heresy (questioning the dogma) is made illegal. Therefore, when an enemy monk persuades your unit to convert to the monk's religion, the state accused the unit of heresy and sentences it to death, therefore your unit dies. Technically the tech shouldn't simply be called "Heresy", but "Outlawing Heresy".

[@DCdabest]

@@napoleoncomplex2712 When I grow up I want to go to bovine university

[@napoleoncomplex2712]

@@DCdabest Some day, my friend. Some day. Just don't be a grade A moron.

[@DCdabest]

@@napoleoncomplex2712 No promises

[@sillywet4785]

There should be a tech that allows you to get unmounted horse instead of dismounted konnik.

[@nlb137]

You should be able to train horses and re-mount your dismounted konniks.

[@benberk8541]

@@nlb137 You should be able to train conjurers and re animate your konniks corpse

[@filippavlovic18]

yeah trebuchet 2.0

[@PressA2Die]

@@nlb137 You should be able to mount an unmounted horse on another unmounted horse

[@Metroyeti17]

@@PressA2Die But if a monk converts the horse-mounted horse with Heresy researched, which horse dies?

[@brainwasher9876]

When any other civ's cav dies: Theoden: "Where are the horse and the rider?" When Bulgarian cav dies: Theoden: "Where's the horse?"

[@iododendron3416]

When an American civ's unit dies: Theoden: "Where was the horse in the first place?"

[@raynmanshorts9275]

I'm a simple man. I see a reference to one of the most moving speeches in fiction (and film, even though it was shortened), I upvote.

[@fullfist]

Where is the helm and the hauberk and the bright hair flowing

[@ithadtobeaname7327]

Monks talking to horses to commit suicide Alright, i don´t see any problems here

[@TimewastiusMaximus]

hahahahahaha

[@jn1mrgn]

I have a theory that the horse is so taken aback by the monk's noise that it stops pooping for a second, which if you have experience with horses, you know is instantly fatal to them.

[@jacobnion2525]

I love them just for the flail. I don't care about people saying "duh, it's not a true medieval weapon". Rule of cool applies here.

[@thecopper-cockmcdickinson8508]

That's literally why i like them too. Also the flail was a medieval weapon of the Late Middle ages, and it was pretty rare. But they got historical accuracy right here because it was, in fact, a cavalry only weapon.

[@garretgang8349]

Its certainly closer to a battlefield weapon then the swords knights use.

[@thecopper-cockmcdickinson8508]

@@garretgang8349 well, knights did use swords, but on foot, not on horseback. So you're right

[@zaidhernandez4601]

@@garretgang8349 Yeah ...why don't knights in aoe use Lance's and have swords for back up....in fact why don't they always function like those Bulgarian unique units...I mean there were plenty of accounts of horses dying and knights dismounting and fighting 🤔

[@garretgang8349]

@@zaidhernandez4601 I know right???? Still one of my favorite games of all time

[@TheScorpionStrike]

Last time I was this early, my Teuton town center still had its extra range...

[@qowkerf]

Biggest flex I ever saw was when Viper played Bulgarians vs Hera and just deleted like 40 Konniks in front of Heras halbs just to counter them.

[@AdmiralWololo]

Only the pros have mastered this forbidden strat.

[@MrPathorn]

qowkerf uinbfesd Why would he do that? I mean if Halbs kill them they would dismount anyway right?

[@Bloodark124]

MrPathorn yeah. But what op said is viper trying to show off/be a bit silly with his play

[@airbornefilip9139]

I need a link for science.

[@HartlockYT]

@@airbornefilip9139 37:13 is the timestamp kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3OcY2iZlNhojsU

[@mivapusa]

_"I get knocked down, but I get up again!"_ - Konnik

[@Angrymonkey2489]

You are never gonna keep me down!

[@alankearney3852]

Oh, Daniel boy

[@asirpagabriella5327]

Last time I was this early, SotL had a 20 second long intro

[@nurithegolden5755]

Nobody Konnik after dying: Ah shit, here we go again

[@Dottol-]

Medusa villagers

[@ElvenMetalhead]

Imagine having a Bulgarian campaign, where you get dismounted Konniks, and part of a mission is to find them horses! 😁 Big fan of this channel!

[@oivinf]

5:12 that cheeky hand cannoneer not abiding by the rules

[@laservsvecchiette]

Following the pattern for Lithuanians, this means that Bulgarian overview and history facts are in production!

[@PenciumBau]

1

[@ichigoblackTWD]

14

[@Lucas_Jeffrey]

29?

[@Bzhydack]

What about Cataphracts? They have compareble stats, Splash damage and massive bonus vs dimounted Konnik. And can be interesting from historical perspective. Edit: Didn't expect so many comments, wow!

[@alexandertoloza2038]

That was . . . A good comment already 😱

[@Manouil_III]

What about them? You just mix them with some cheap Camel Riders.

[@Bzhydack]

@@Manouil_III but what about Cataphracts alone?

[@TheChimples]

Too slow to get to and too expensive to fully upgrade. The Byzantines were designed in an era where balance was still important to the devs. These new civs can do everything. Early game, mid game, late game OP across the board.

[@mattender8323]

Mamelukes could work as well.

[@diegostach9563]

Fun fact: In my language "Konnik" means Horseman. Btw Greetings from Poland :)

[@Johann55555]

Imma just take a wild guess and say it's probably the same in bulgarian since they're both slavic languages

[@svetoslavmarkov9502]

Fun fact: It means the same in bulgarian :D

[@antoniomele4830]

How do you call the knight then?

[@Fenix3513]

@@antoniomele4830 There is a seperate word for it, romanized to something along the lines of "ritsar".

[@avalen4399]

@Antonio Mele In Bulgarian: ritsar (рицар) = knight

[@KingOfShadows1500]

Fun fact: the Bulgarian word for horse is ''kon'' and ''konnik'' simply means horseman. Also, ''krepost'' means fortress.

[@OrnLu_AoE]

Konniks are indeed super good, especially since you can make them more easily compared to other UUs via the Krepost. However, something that I think is worth pointing out is that they perform pretty poorly vs CA compared to the Knight-line. Cav Archers can clump up/hit and run, and the low pierce armor of the Konnik + slow movement speed of the dismounted Konnik make them particularly susceptible. Unfortunately, Bulgarians miss the last armor upgrade for their skirms, otherwise skirm + Konnik would be truly terrifying to deal with. Even so, it's still pretty good.

[@Progeusz]

Ornlu! Good points too.

[@amoghthorave3385]

I usually start with a drush to slow my opponent's economy, plus militia automatically within a snap converts into man at arms as you reach feudal age, which makes it so freaking powerful. Your enemy is either compelled to make towers or send his/her scouts (which he/she was gonna send em to your base) or make an archery range. That costs something and delays up time for sure. Reach Castle age fast, secure your base make Kreposts and Konniks with necessary upgrades and raid their eco. Feudal age units hardly cope up with castle UU with upgrades on em. Disrupt their eco, then you are left with 2 options. either mass konniks and go straight for the tc kill or reach imp.

[@UnfamiliarPlace]

Does it bother anyone else that it's an "Elite Dismounted Konnik" and not a "Dismounted Elite Konnik"?

[@starcraft2own]

That's kind of unfair to the Konnik though, isn't it? He has trained his entire life at being dismounted, he is the best of the best at falling off his horse.. You could say he is among the Elite at dismounting and yet here you sit trying to devalue his blood, sweat and tears to claim he is naught but an ordinary dismounter. I agree though, it clearly should be 'Elite Dismounted Elite Konnik'

[@UnfamiliarPlace]

@@starcraft2own Next update will recognize the work of Isaac Newton and have a new Bulgarian unique tech, Gravity: "Konniks dismount 50% faster."

[@starcraft2own]

@@UnfamiliarPlace The infamous 'Elite Elite Dismounted Konnik' They'll touch the ground so fast you didn't even notice the horse was dying. Thank you based Newton!

[@JJJHendrixxx]

I see your point, but technically the unit is called "Dismounted Konnik" so slapping the "Elite" in the beginning makes sense

[@Metroyeti17]

*Researches Heresy *Enemy converts my Konnik God to the horse: So, you have chosen death

[@ianlaranjo4793]

Wololo

[@avalen4399]

In Bulgarian "Konnik" means horseman. The elite type of horseman in Bulgarian army must be Boyar, but its already taken by Slavs

[@RolandTemplar]

Mmmm curious

[@spd-kv6sd]

Indeed. Which made me think what it was with the Slavs. Fair enough, they made both civs well balanced towards each other. Alliances could be good in the game too, but I'm not seeing them on high level. Maybe except they can throw in some Mongols or Britons in a 3vs3 to compensate for both Bulgarians and Slavs not having good archers.

[@dominusalicorn3684]

3:03 "at the risk of beating a dead horse…" That...that pun had to be intentional.

[@kuvuta]

I just want to mention that I think next to your amazing videos the intro often gets overlooked. It's still actually the only intro of anybody I don't skip ;)

[@Akieth0]

Really love your videos, buddy. Your voice and delivery is spot on. Don't change.

[@snapihansen]

its so mesmerizing to watch your videos. i always watch them, i have played Aoe since child and i still learn new things from you. Keep it up!

[@sebastiantapia804]

great video buddy, good job, as always

[@PhoenixAlaris93]

Possible Bulgarian Overview soon?

[@fishnsteve]

I love how you also updated the intro into Definitive Edition style!

[@BenColc]

🎵 I get knocked down 🎵 🎵 But I get up again 🎵 🎵 You're never gonna keep me down 🎵

[@Roel93]

After watching the series "Rise of Empires: the Ottomans", I find Genoese crossbows so cool!

[@mlgchurchill3195]

Love the new intro footage!

[@simounobrien9096]

I think the Konnik is my favorite unique unit. I love the Two Units at once mechanic that adds more durability. My style :D!!!!

[@jazzWF]

even though I haven't played AOE in years I still tune into your vids sometimes

[@abrahamcorona420]

Thank for bringing back the intro

[@Firehead7]

3:07 "At the risk of beating a dead horse...". I've watched this video on multiple occasions now. I just picked that up. Well played.

[@spyrofrost9158]

Konnik also uses a flail, so he's immediately way cooler.

[@ekim613]

thoughts on being able to remount a dismounted Konnik? Garrisoning in a Krepost/Castle for x seconds and/or paying some % of the unit cost could give them their mount back. Or should they never be able to remount like as is? edit: another idea for a civ (or even just a mod) would be being able to create horses and instead of creating cavalry units you could mount swordsmen for knights, spears for lancers, archers for ca, skirms for genitours and maybe even villagers to scouts. sounds like a unique concept for the horse unit which might exist in some of the campaigns

[@WestHaddnin]

Nice!

[@Ashadowtotheworld]

Too fiddly...

[@frankseward7017]

Can't wait for your review if the newest patch update.

[@Gotenham]

I don't even play this game but still love watching these videos

[@Clerkius]

Excellent Choice!

[@twohandedswordsman852]

You intro is still alive? YES

[@iceee420]

Love seeing the intro

[@lordcardigan5130]

Great video

[@l.a.171]

Yeah, VIDEO TIME 💖🤩

[@DerpwaldDuck]

That cheeky shot from the handcannoneer @5:12 though xD

[@ThereAre4Lights]

Love love love your channel Very small suggestion: The background music that is used in every video, perhaps it would be good to shake it up and use different ones sometimes? Or just not have it at all? Not sure if anyone agrees or not!

[@aoe2and3fan]

Great work as usual for all the research! Thank you! If you allow the suggestion, there is I think sometimes room for a third test of units. If the tested unit (in this video the konnik) beats an other in combat, then there should rightly be a second test, with this time balanced ressources. It's truly great you do both! But in case the tested unit now loses (in this video the konnik vs. samurais), would it be possible to test 10v10+more trickling in, as soon as - but only then! - population slots have become available again? The result may not necessarily be the same. I know you've done such tests on seldom occasions before, in other videos, I'm just suggesting to broaden this practice, only if possible of course. :-)

[@TeshnosFire]

Goodness. DE's visuals are growing on me. This game sure looks good. x'D

[@dragovern]

That dismounted konnik revenging his horse was a great line.

[@darkranger116]

I personally made a mod day 1 of this expansion for the konnik. I think its really cool and all, but I thought it would be more interesting to make the cavalry version more of a beefy light cav, and then turn the dismounted unit into a champion. Its pretty fun

[@MagicOmelet]

Enemie: *kills Konnik* Konnik: This isn't even my final form!

[@Markus-zb5zd]

And SotL takes every chance to get his Japanese in

[@nitin-pillai]

I love the comment section for this video!

[@jamesaltonfilms]

So I've been out of the AoE loop for some years now, just getting back in the last couple weeks and I spectated a couple multiplayer games today. I saw a 2v2 Crater Lake game where the Bulgarians were able to crush the Vietnamese and Indians when the plays had to resort to trash units. They couldn't mount enough archers and the Halibiders died to the dismounted Konnik easily. So did the elephants since they were outnumbered. The players were overwhelmed and resigned. A mixed response with more champions and maybe even siege would have helped, but it seemed to be quite the difficult unique unit to counter! OP perhaps but I will have to watch more games!

[@Gnurklesquimp]

One cool aspect of units that take several kinds of upgrades is it potentially makes transitions to including other units less iffy, since that initial cost is already getting justified by your Konnik's etc. it's basically a free option from there.

[@HolyKhaaaaan]

On another, slightly related point, I have found, at least at the lower levels, is that a krepost rush in the Castle Age, especially on maps with high resources like steppe for nomad, tends to be very effective. Kreposts, being cheaper while having only one less range than a castle, tend to be able to be chained like towers, while being more powerful than them and being able to cover more area more effectively. If you rush to Castle, throw down a few barracks, and throw a bunch of your ready-to-go longswordsman units as well as some konniks at your enemy, they will be choked and starved for resources. It is very effective if done well.

[@manishchauhan145]

Konniks:- I will avenge my horse

[@ThuanNguyen26090]

Samurai: oh look, we can kill them again and our honor will be fulfilled.

[@Janovich]

Seriously one of the most interesting unit in the game

[@callmemrduck7142]

The samurai looks dope in this

[@stevenxu5747]

This discussion on Konniks is quite eccentric @spirit of the law

[@scipioafricanus4205]

Awesome Video I loved it but i have a question did the Portguese Have any major updates and they are my favourite civ and it just feels off

[@chocolateex1907]

Nice

[@aa_rahman]

THE INTRO IS BACK!!! AND IT'S MUCH BETTER!!!

[@joaovitormendesmoreira900]

Nicee

[@christopherdecock703]

How does the higher attack damage and lower attack rate interact with armor for DPS? My gut says that helps them with dps

[@goisles6728]

Sounds like a classic pike and shot combo would be the ideal counter.

[@simhanssens7331]

I would say saracens to be strong against them aswell. Archers in castle when the konnik has nearly no pierce armor. And in late game they can try to transition into camels and what not.

[@micahbush5397]

I think the best explanation for Heresy is that the Konnik converts, offers his horse as a sacrifice, then gets amnesia when he falls to the ground and hits his head.

[@hbarudi]

Great for the developer team to code such a unit into the game since making such a unit with aoe2 code is not easy. You can benefit from making this unit in the Ivaylo campaign which has 5 scenarios with the 5th being the only scenario in the campaigns where you fight against the lithuanians as poland.

[@JaCkuevara]

Hey SotL, nice video again. Though I find the "higher cost-argument" doesn't really work here since you are comparing the tuple of knight+longswordsman with konnik+dismounted konnik. In the cost, then you compare them with paladins only, where you should add two-handed swordsmen-upgrades to the 2nd tuples cost imho. Cheers J

[@chrizbeee]

What about vs. Viking champions or berserkers with Chieftains?

[@Weldedhodag]

Cool

[@konstantinreuther3122]

I have a question concerning the Vikings. Since their infantry gets bonus damage agains cavalry and no Halbadier - Upgrade, is it vialble to use bersekers against cavaly due to their hp - regeneration. Besides that question I have to thank you for your great videos. Keep up the good Work!

[@Halvtooth]

Vikings have probably the best pikemen, with the extra hp they can compete with generic halbs.

[@ekim613]

@@Halvtooth against light cav sure, but not vs paladin or elephants. the missing bonus dmg from halb hurts the vike pikes

[@Halvtooth]

@@ekim613 dosen't chieftain apply to pikes?

[@Phoenix-il5hc]

@@Halvtooth chieftains add +5 , halbs got +16 more bonus damage than pikes.

[@apookatzgaming8770]

I love the horse puns in this video

[@jameswarner8038]

i hope we see this feature added to more cavalry lines in aoe4

[@Kevin-wx7wu]

When they have heresy the monk actually convinces the horse to go to the dark side, so the rider has to sacrifice it

[@d0nutwaffle]

Loving the Game Logic in Konniks dropping their current weapons and armour upon dismount. Makes somewhat of a sense for losing stats when they lose their superior fighting platform, but Konniks getting stronger without the horse if you only get infantry tech I can only explain by them getting real angry at their loss and that now they'll have to walk back home and explain themselves to the Tsar.

[@DeMause]

I think it is also worth mentioning that going straight into knights at the beginning of castle and then switching to konniks by imperial won't waste any resources on upgrades since they both use the same techs.

[@AndrewTheFrank]

not sure if it is consistent but there is something i noticed a couple of times within the video. When a dismounted konnik attacked a knight the knight turned from its current target to attack the dismounted konnik. This would result in keeping mounted konniks alive and at fuller health if it is something consistent.

[@Raoul9753]

I found that a mix of Scorpions and Pikes works really well.

[@javsjavs8659]

Bring back the 20 second intro!

[@christopherkhoo7501]

Also the infantry unit spawning is like an instant reinforcement so the numbers will be more in your advantage, and you suffer less from losing 1 unit.

[@ChocolateMilkCultLeader]

Spirit gonna be causing change in metas for HC3

[@Faheroe]

Combined arms is what you need against them. I think they are a great addition forcing your opponent not just to do a single unit spam

[@Hamanuna]

9:37 "And can go on to avenge his horse" Wow how brave is :')

[@barsni4779]

He's gonna John Wick the hell out of that priest.

[@PenciumBau]

Bulgarian civ overview incoming!

[@bobbywoemack3334]

Halbardier: Turn back! We have bonus damage against mounted units! Konniks: Then we shall become unmounted units.

[@rtaitm]

Spirit, have you ever made a video about what the units of each civ actually say? I'm really curious. You could say I'm "ready" to learn about this and as a Briton I hope you will say "Ic willa" to Making this video 😎

[@holyn8]

the op thing about the konnik is that the animation (horse to ground) takes time. that means enemy units have to stay on one spot for quiet a long time to clear the area

[@balintmecs6567]

In one on one yes, but when groups fight the enemy unit can go to other konnik after the horse-konnik fell

[@Sean.Vosler]

📲 notification squad checking in

[@Cinicraft00]

Hey Spirit, you should do a review of AOE:2 for PlayStation 2. That’d be hilarious if you could somehow setup a multiplayer LAN game with it.

[@go9565]

Monk: have you heard about our lord.... Wolololo Horse: thank you! I'm your follower now. (Commits suicide) Konnik: (his faith intact, gets up and resumes fighting)