Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Update 162286 adds nine maps, balance tweaks and temporary ladder reset

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition received Update 162286 on December 2, 2025, a mid‑season build that mixes tournament preparation with gameplay tuning. The headline item is a temporary reset of the Empire Wars 1v1 ladder so it can run as the Red Bull Wololo: Londinium ladder from January 2 to January 18, 2026. Players will need ten games before their EW 1v1 rating appears on the leaderboard, and cross‑play must be enabled to qualify.

The patch also bundles a set of stability and gameplay fixes, AI adjustments, civ balance changes, and nine new random maps. Angel’s eye goes first to the ladder reset and the new maps because those alter how players will approach the early January ranked grind. Smaller stability fixes follow past maintenance rhythms that handled audio and multiplayer issues in prior rolls, like Update 145651 and the hotkey, DLC, and campaign fixes addressed in patch 155976.

Patch Notes – Update 162286

Build Spotlight

Temporary Reset of Empire Wars 1v1 Ladder During Red Bull Wololo: Londinium

The Empire Wars 1v1 ladder will become the Red Bull Wololo: Londinium ladder from January 2nd to 18th, 2026, 17:00 UTC. The rating will be reset and players may compete for a slot in the main event. The top four players advance into the main event, while 5th-12th place finishers gain an advantage for the last-chance qualifier.

Why is the ladder being temporarily reset?

To ensure an even playing field for all competitors, the leaderboard has to be temporarily reset. The four with the highest ELO rating achieved on the leaderboard on January 18th, at 17:00 UTC, will be directly invited to the Red Bull Wololo: Londinium event taking place in London, UK.

How does this affect you?

Your experience will remain the same; however, you may find that your EW 1v1 rating will require 10 games before being shown on the leaderboard. With this change, you will be able to experience what it’s like to play on the settings and maps of one of the biggest tournaments for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. The ladder holds no restrictions—anyone is free to play on the ladder whether they intend to participate in the tournament or not.
There is a controller-only ladder visible for Red Bull Wololo: Londinium for Xbox and PS5. This ladder will not be eligible for qualification. Qualification requires cross-play to be enabled.

Game

Stability & Performance

Fixed a disconnect that would occur when accessing the game through xCloud.

Gameplay

Fixes

Fixed an issue where hares would decay faster than expected. They now have the same decay rate as chickens.

Balance Changes

General

Chicken-type animal food increased from 65 → 75.
Eagle Warrior cost reduced from 25 food 50 gold → 20 food 50 gold.
Gambesons cost reduced from 100 food 100 gold → 50 food 100 gold.
Traction Trebuchet reload time increased from 9 seconds → 11 seconds.
Traction Trebuchet bonus damage vs. buildings increased from 175 → 230.
Traction Trebuchet movement speed reduced from 0.6 → 0.57.

Armenians

Warrior Priest cost reduced from 30 food 60 gold → 30 food 50 gold.

Bulgarians

Krepost
- Can now train Petards.

Burgundians

Flemish Militia movement speed increased from 0.9 → 0.94.

Georgians

Aznauri Cavalry
- Effect improved from Mounted Units takes less population space from -15% → -20%.
- Upgrade cost reduced from 750 food 250 gold → 550 food 250 gold.
Fortified Churches improve nearby Villagers civilization bonus area improved from 8 tiles → 9 tiles.

Jurchens

(Elite) Iron Pagoda base reload time reduced from 2.28 → 2.15.
Mounted Units and Fire Lancers attack faster civilization bonus increased from 20% → 25%.

Khitans

Mounted Trebuchet
- Lingering fire tile area increased from 0.65 → 0.7.
- Lingering fire duration increased from 8 seconds → 10 seconds.
Pasture
- Cost increased from 100 wood → 110 wood.
- Pasture animal food increased from 105 food → 115 food.
- Construction time increased from 18 seconds → 22 seconds.

Persians

Kamandaran
- Effect improved from Archer-line costs 60 wood → 50 wood.

Shu

Lumberjacks generate food in addition to wood civilization bonus reduced from 9% → 7%.

Spanish

Elite Conquistador attack increased from 18 → 19.
Elite Conquistador upgrade cost reduced from 1200 food 600 gold → 900 food 600 gold.

Tatars

(Elite) Keshik HP increased from 110 → 120, Elite 140 → 145.
Elite Keshik upgrade cost reduced from 700 food 900 gold → 700 food 600 gold.

Turks

Gold miners work faster civilization bonus increased from 20% → 25%.

Wu

Jian Swordsman train time increased from 27 seconds → 35 seconds.

Random Maps

New Maps

Added 9 New Random Maps

Crownwood – A land of hills where forests cling to the summits. The high ground makes protecting your woodlines challenging.
Dorothea Quarry – A sunken pit with a central water basin brimming with oysters for those bold enough. Scale the surrounding heights to reach the exposed forests and additional resources.
Glacis – While partially protected, you must leave the safety of your walls to take control of the no-man’s-land in the center of the map; otherwise, you risk leaving all the additional resources to your foes.
Hengehold – Stonehenge stands in the center, encircled by relics and roaming wildlife for those bold enough to claim it. The outer perimeter holds many neutral resources and forests.
Loch Ness – A slender river slices the map in half, with a small crossing through the middle. With most neutral resources surrounding the lake, controlling the waters will be crucial for victory.
Rampart – Twisting earthen ramparts link every player in a maze of elevation. Only a few woodlines surround the player initially, but abundant wildlife can be found roaming the lands.
Stonefront – Few resources surround the players. Wealth lies in nearby quarries surrounded by rock formations that make maneuverability difficult. Map control is key to victory.
Thames – Battle along the River Thames. Seize the Royal Albert Hall to gain a population bonus or control the south of the map for an unlimited supply of gold and stone.
Vulpine – Unbuildable terrain surrounding you makes expansion a gamble. Hunt the roaming foxes for a significant gold boost and chop through the central forest to take control of the secrets within.

AI

General

AI monks will no longer successfully convert buildings and siege units from large distances or those that cannot be converted (such as Wonders). However, some rare cases remain where the AI can still attempt to convert Town Centers. In this situation, the Town Center will no longer change player but the AI monk may lose faith and the conversion sound will play. This case will be addressed in a future patch.

Modding

Scenario Editor

Added Stonehenge eye candy object.

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Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular strategy games ever with stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics, a new and fully remastered soundtrack, and brand-new content, “The Last Khans” with 3 new campaigns and 4 new civilizations.