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Jan 30, 2026

In Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, the era of great naval battles begins.

Michael Torres
By Michael Torres Video Game News and Features Editor
Last updated: Jan 30, 2026
In age of empires 2 definitive edition the era of great naval battles begins

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Enters an Era of Great Naval Battles

The developers of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are preparing the game for a major expansion of naval gameplay. On February 17, the update "The Last Chieftains" will be released on the Steam platform, bringing new ships, technologies, map elements, and animation improvements to the game.

At the heart of the innovations are two new ship lines. The first is the Hulk, which evolves into the War Hulk and then into the Carrack. This is a fast ship equipped with hooks for close combat. Its high armor effectively protects against Fire Ship attacks but makes it vulnerable to long-range galleys. Upgrades for this line are available through the Blacksmith — Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace.

The second novelty is the Catapult Galleon, a long-range siege ship intended for civilizations that do not have access to Cannon Galleons, Dromons, or Lou Chuans.

In addition to new ships, a number of familiar vessels have received updated animations: now you can see moving sails and oars.

The upgrade system for main warships has undergone a serious overhaul. New technologies, Medium Warships and Heavy Warships, have appeared, allowing for the simultaneous upgrade of galleys, Fire Ships, and Hulks. In the Feudal Age, the Fishing Lines technology becomes available — it precedes Gillnets and increases the carrying capacity of Fishing Ships.

Four new technologies have opened up at the University: Carvel Hull and Clinker Construction increase ship speed by +10%, while Siphons and Incendiaries enhance the explosive potential of Fire Ships. Furthermore, the technologies Careening, Dry Dock, and Shipwright have been moved to the University and modified.

The economic aspect of naval gameplay has also undergone changes. Fishing Ships can now collect gold from whales and take shelter in Docks for protection. Trade Cogs have gained the ability to choose the ratio of gold to wood — three options are available. Docks have acquired a unified interface for building ships and conducting research, and when garrisoned with Fishing Ships, they can fire arrows.

The developers have taken into account community feedback after the Thalassocracy Cup tournament and made a number of balance adjustments. The damage of Hulks has been reduced, Demolition Ship explosions have become more lethal, and all warships now move slower. Ship stat calculations have been simplified — complex attack and armor bonuses have been removed. Damage types have also been revised: now it's either pierce (for galleys) or melee (for Fire Ships, Demolition Ships, and others).

Changes have also affected individual civilizations.

  • Vikings have gained access to the Fire Galley line but have lost the Demolition Raft line.
  • The Japanese bonus HP for Fishing Ships has been increased to +100% (without additional armor).
  • Portugal has lost the Demolition Raft line but has acquired a new technology, Circumnavigation, which reveals the entire map and increases ship training speed by +33%.
  • Gurjaras can now garrison +5 Fishing Ships in Docks.
  • Italians have received a reduced discount on University and Dock technologies — from 33% to 25%.
  • For the Wu civilization, the Careening and Dry Dock technologies have become free.
  • Aztecs, Cumans, Incas, and Mayans have gained access to the Catapult Galleon.

The update will be available for free to all owners of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition on Steam. The full list of changes will be published in mid-February. The release date is February 17, 2025.