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Idle Villager
On this page
  1. What it does
  2. Strengths
  3. Weaknesses
  4. Strong counters
  5. Situational counters
  6. What it counters
  7. Why matchups work
  8. Line, cost, and age
  9. Upgrades
  10. Mistakes
  11. Supporting units
  12. Civ exceptions
  13. Related

Counter finder

Mangudai

Partial

unique · Castle · castle Age

Mongol unique mounted archer with bonus vs siege. The reason Scorpion balls fear Mongols.

Idle Villager is current for Update 177723, with minor updates through 180059. Facts on this page were checked on 2026-09-19. Counters are not unconditional. Numbers, upgrades, terrain, and micro change the fight.

What it does

Open a Castle if the opponent is on Scorpions or Onagers. Keep Hussars in front.

Strengths

  • Siege bonus.
  • Mongol Cavalry Archer fire rate stacks on the civ bonus for CA, while Mangudai have their own profile.
  • Drill makes Mongol siege follow them.

Weaknesses

  • Skirmishers.
  • Castle gated.

Strong counters

Strategic advice built on verified armor classes and unit access. Not unconditional.

  • Skirmisher · cost-effective · can win in equal numbers

    Elite Skirmishers are the reliable cheap answer.

    • Mongol micro and Hussar cover.
    • Onagers.

Situational counters

  • Camel Rider · cost-effective · can win in equal numbers

    Camels catch them better than pikes.

    • Kiting.
    • Only camel civs.

What it counters

  • Scorpion

    Mangudai carry bonus damage vs siege. A Mongol Castle is a direct answer to a Scorpion plan.

Why matchups work

Bonus vs siege armor class. Skirmishers still counter mounted archers.

Line, cost, and age

Verified fact from the aoe2techtree dat extract. Base stats, no civ bonuses.

Mangudai line stats
UnitAgeHPAttackRangeArmorCost
Mangudaicastle606 pierce40/055w 65g
Elite Mangudaiimperial608 pierce41/055w 65g
  • Mangudai: Bonus vs siege units.

Upgrades

  • Thumb Ring, Parthian Tactics, Bloodlinescastle Age

    Mongols have these.

  • Drillimperial Age

    Siege Workshop units move 50% faster.

Common mistakes when fighting it

  • Mangudai into Elite Skirmishers.
  • No meat shield for the Castle army.

Supporting units

Civilization-specific exceptions

These sit on top of the generic matchup, not inside it.

  • Mongols

    Only Mongols train Mangudai. Cavalry Archers also fire 25% faster.

    verified fact