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hey guys spirit of the law here in this
hey guys spirit of the law here in this

video I'm gonna talk about the top 5
video I'm gonna talk about the top 5

trash unit civilizations now if you
trash unit civilizations now if you

don't know trash units are in Age of
don't know trash units are in Age of

Empires term that doesn't mean trashy or
Empires term that doesn't mean trashy or

garbage it simply means they're military
garbage it simply means they're military

units that don't cost any gold usually
units that don't cost any gold usually

that refers to a set of three units that
that refers to a set of three units that

you ultimately have to rely on making a
you ultimately have to rely on making a

lot of if you don't have access to trade
lot of if you don't have access to trade

like in a one verse one gain now I've
like in a one verse one gain now I've

done a few top five civilization list
done a few top five civilization list

before but this is probably the most
before but this is probably the most

subjective of any ranking I've done
subjective of any ranking I've done

since it comes down to how to balance
since it comes down to how to balance

the three types of trash units there are
the three types of trash units there are

also a lot of contenders that are hard
also a lot of contenders that are hard

to sort that might be good in one area
to sort that might be good in one area

but have a weakness in another but I do
but have a weakness in another but I do

want to take a firm stand on a top five
want to take a firm stand on a top five

in making this list I'm really after
in making this list I'm really after

which civilizations are in the best
which civilizations are in the best

position to thrive when gold runs low so
position to thrive when gold runs low so

let's check it out starting off at
let's check it out starting off at

number five is the Byzantines now I know
number five is the Byzantines now I know

some people out there are gonna say this
some people out there are gonna say this

is their number one they have a 25%
is their number one they have a 25%

discount on halberdiers and skirmishers
discount on halberdiers and skirmishers

on top of access to the hazhar now
on top of access to the hazhar now

normally I'm all about discount bonuses
normally I'm all about discount bonuses

and a 25% discount actually translates
and a 25% discount actually translates

to 33% more units for the same cost you
to 33% more units for the same cost you

could certainly argue that offsets
could certainly argue that offsets

missing the last attack upgrade for
missing the last attack upgrade for

their Halberdier and hazhar as well as
their Halberdier and hazhar as well as

missing bloodlines trash fights also
missing bloodlines trash fights also

tend to be a slow grind and having 40%
tend to be a slow grind and having 40%

more HP on all of your barracks ranges
more HP on all of your barracks ranges

and stables you're creating means it's
and stables you're creating means it's

just that much slower for your opponent
just that much slower for your opponent

to make progress the reason I don't put
to make progress the reason I don't put

them higher though is I'm not as sold on
them higher though is I'm not as sold on

discount bonuses for trash in particular
discount bonuses for trash in particular

simply because population efficiency is
simply because population efficiency is

often the number one concern in the
often the number one concern in the

super late game like this if you and
super late game like this if you and

your opponent are both fully boomed in
your opponent are both fully boomed in

at 200 population the person making
at 200 population the person making

headway will often be the one that has
headway will often be the one that has

less unit turn over both the Byzantine
less unit turn over both the Byzantine

Halberdier and hazhar lose in one-on-one
Halberdier and hazhar lose in one-on-one

matchups against many other
matchups against many other

civilizations cost efficiency puts them
civilizations cost efficiency puts them

in the top five but in this case for me
in the top five but in this case for me

the lack of unit quality meant it wasn't
the lack of unit quality meant it wasn't

enough to move them higher next up at
enough to move them higher next up at

number four is the spam
number four is the spam

now they're a bit unique for being the
now they're a bit unique for being the

only civilization with all three trash
only civilization with all three trash

units being fully upgraded but that's
units being fully upgraded but that's

not all they have going for them after
not all they have going for them after

supremacy the villagers are especially
supremacy the villagers are especially

resilient to rating by taking more hits
resilient to rating by taking more hits

than usual and even being able to hold
than usual and even being able to hold

their own against halberdiers another
their own against halberdiers another

advantage that's easy to forget is their
advantage that's easy to forget is their

blacksmith Tech's don't cost gold
blacksmith Tech's don't cost gold

meaning as you transition into a trash
meaning as you transition into a trash

fight you don't have to stress about not
fight you don't have to stress about not

being able to afford your upgrades or
being able to afford your upgrades or

having to sell a bunch of wood and food
having to sell a bunch of wood and food

at the market it's easy to take all of
at the market it's easy to take all of

the upgrades as a given when talking
the upgrades as a given when talking

about this stage of the game but if you
about this stage of the game but if you

haven't been making archery range units
haven't been making archery range units

for example it's a lot of resources to
for example it's a lot of resources to

make that tech switch if you wait until
make that tech switch if you wait until

you're almost completely out of gold
you're almost completely out of gold

just the Hazara and how pedir upgrades
just the Hazara and how pedir upgrades

together are a combined 12-hundred gold
together are a combined 12-hundred gold

being able to save at least only
being able to save at least only

blacksmith gold cost takes away at least
blacksmith gold cost takes away at least

some of that pressure the reason for
some of that pressure the reason for

them not being higher is mostly because
them not being higher is mostly because

although they have access to all of the
although they have access to all of the

trash units fully upgraded there's no
trash units fully upgraded there's no

one overpowered stand out which they can
one overpowered stand out which they can

make the backbone of their late-game
make the backbone of their late-game

army for that we need to look at my
army for that we need to look at my

number three the Magyars they're carried
number three the Magyars they're carried

in the late game by the unique unit the
in the late game by the unique unit the

elite major has are their base cost
elite major has are their base cost

normally includes 10 gold but after
normally includes 10 gold but after

their unique unit mercenaries they lose
their unique unit mercenaries they lose

the gold cost meaning they fit the
the gold cost meaning they fit the

description of a trash unit there a
description of a trash unit there a

higher HP and attack form of the normal
higher HP and attack form of the normal

azar making them a more expensive but
azar making them a more expensive but

population efficient version like I
population efficient version like I

mentioned with the Byzantines low unit
mentioned with the Byzantines low unit

turnover can be really important since
turnover can be really important since

it means you're able to keep your
it means you're able to keep your

momentum when everyone's at their
momentum when everyone's at their

population limit they also have an
population limit they also have an

attack bonus against siege often in
attack bonus against siege often in

trash battles you do a bit of selling
trash battles you do a bit of selling

food and wood at the market to buy the
food and wood at the market to buy the

odd siege unit either at mixing in a few
odd siege unit either at mixing in a few

grams or trebuchet is to take out
grams or trebuchet is to take out

buildings or an auditor to thin out
buildings or an auditor to thin out

groups of enemy units mega has ours 8
groups of enemy units mega has ours 8

extra damage against siege help them
extra damage against siege help them

pick off those very expensive and
pick off those very expensive and

critical units their main weakness is
critical units their main weakness is

that they require castles to create
that they require castles to create

which is a big stone investment to build
which is a big stone investment to build

and repair but at the end of the day
and repair but at the end of the day

they actually have a discount on their
they actually have a discount on their

stable kazars as well which are nearly
stable kazars as well which are nearly

as good at braiding and chasing down
as good at braiding and chasing down

skirmishers they also have a bonus for
skirmishers they also have a bonus for

free melee attack upgrades at the
free melee attack upgrades at the

blacksmith which helps in a similar
blacksmith which helps in a similar

way to the spanish blacksmith discount
way to the spanish blacksmith discount

ultimately what kept them out of the top
ultimately what kept them out of the top

two was missing the last infantry armor
two was missing the last infantry armor

upgrade if your opponent is going for
upgrade if your opponent is going for

mass Halberdier it's hard to make
mass Halberdier it's hard to make

progress with cavalry and the mayor's
progress with cavalry and the mayor's

own halberdiers will often lose ground
own halberdiers will often lose ground

to those other civilizations as
to those other civilizations as

overwhelming as their cavalry push candy
overwhelming as their cavalry push candy

the fact that a few how good your
the fact that a few how good your

civilizations can easily withstand it
civilizations can easily withstand it

means this is as high as I can
means this is as high as I can

comfortably put them to be talked to a
comfortably put them to be talked to a

civilization really needs essentially no
civilization really needs essentially no

answer to its late-game
answer to its late-game

so what civilizations have something
so what civilizations have something

like that well at number 2 we have the
like that well at number 2 we have the

Malay to be fair there are a few things
Malay to be fair there are a few things

right away not to like here
right away not to like here

there's no hazhar and in fact they only
there's no hazhar and in fact they only

get the first armored upgrade on their
get the first armored upgrade on their

light cavalry they don't even have a
light cavalry they don't even have a

bonus for their skirmishers or
bonus for their skirmishers or

halberdiers so what's the catch well it
halberdiers so what's the catch well it

all comes down to their unique tech
all comes down to their unique tech

forced levy which makes their swordsmen
forced levy which makes their swordsmen

line cost 65 food instead of the usual
line cost 65 food instead of the usual

60 food and 20 gold when you think about
60 food and 20 gold when you think about

counting units to trash units champions
counting units to trash units champions

are always in that discussion so it is
are always in that discussion so it is

very powerful to spam a go to trash
very powerful to spam a go to trash

killer with nothing but food now true
killer with nothing but food now true

they aren't actually champions since
they aren't actually champions since

Malay only get access up to two handed
Malay only get access up to two handed

swordsmen but they're still great in
swordsmen but they're still great in

trash fights let's check out why first
trash fights let's check out why first

of all compared to a halberd ear they
of all compared to a halberd ear they

have one more pierce armor they also
have one more pierce armor they also

don't take bonus damage from skirmishers
don't take bonus damage from skirmishers

meaning they often end up receiving a
meaning they often end up receiving a

third the damage that halberdiers do
third the damage that halberdiers do

while skirmishers are typically a soft
while skirmishers are typically a soft

counter unit to late-game halberdiers
counter unit to late-game halberdiers

against two-handed swordsmen they're on
against two-handed swordsmen they're on

the back foot even when matched up
the back foot even when matched up

directly against enemy halberdiers the
directly against enemy halberdiers the

two-handed swordsmen have six more
two-handed swordsmen have six more

attack letting them easily win with
attack letting them easily win with

equal numbers against as ours remember
equal numbers against as ours remember

you still have access to the help of
you still have access to the help of

deer but the two-handed swordsman can do
deer but the two-handed swordsman can do

reasonably well in that matchup anyway
reasonably well in that matchup anyway

the fact you're able to focus your
the fact you're able to focus your

economy almost exclusively on a single
economy almost exclusively on a single

resource in this case food also gives
resource in this case food also gives

its own benefit of making you much less
its own benefit of making you much less

reliant on refreshing lumber camps and
reliant on refreshing lumber camps and

controlling wood lines simply set up
controlling wood lines simply set up

your infinite fish traps or 80 farmers
your infinite fish traps or 80 farmers

and just flood the map with two-handed
and just flood the map with two-handed

swordsmen they even have a bonus against
swordsmen they even have a bonus against

buildings reducing your need to
buildings reducing your need to

Great Siege now before we get to number
Great Siege now before we get to number

one I have a few honorable mentions of
one I have a few honorable mentions of

civilizations I strongly considered
civilizations I strongly considered

including but just didn't quite make it
including but just didn't quite make it

the first is the Berbers they have both
the first is the Berbers they have both

cheaper kazars and also give their team
cheaper kazars and also give their team

access to a mounted skirmisher the
access to a mounted skirmisher the

genitor technically the only thing
genitor technically the only thing

they're missing is the help adir upgrade
they're missing is the help adir upgrade

but for me that's kind of a big one it's
but for me that's kind of a big one it's

not so much about the extra 5 HP and to
not so much about the extra 5 HP and to

attack but for the increased damage it
attack but for the increased damage it

does against cavalry
does against cavalry

even without at Berbers are above
even without at Berbers are above

average in trash games for sure but it's
average in trash games for sure but it's

too big of a weakness to be in the top 5
too big of a weakness to be in the top 5

another is the Vietnamese who I'd put in
another is the Vietnamese who I'd put in

a similar category with their Imperial
a similar category with their Imperial

skirmishers combined with extra HP for
skirmishers combined with extra HP for

skirmishers already it's a formidable
skirmishers already it's a formidable

unit especially it when masked
unit especially it when masked

unfortunately they miss blast furnace
unfortunately they miss blast furnace

and the Hazara upgrade meaning however
and the Hazara upgrade meaning however

good they're skirmishers are they're
good they're skirmishers are they're

fundamentally flawed and too
fundamentally flawed and too

one-dimensional for me in trash battles
one-dimensional for me in trash battles

overall third was a bit more of a
overall third was a bit more of a

contender and that's the slobs first
contender and that's the slobs first

they have their unique tag to Xena
they have their unique tag to Xena

letting them damage adjacent units
letting them damage adjacent units

whenever they attack that makes their
whenever they attack that makes their

halberdiers the best in the game in
halberdiers the best in the game in

really tightly packed battles they also
really tightly packed battles they also

have cheaper siege meaning those few
have cheaper siege meaning those few

critical siege units I mentioned earlier
critical siege units I mentioned earlier

are easier to sneak out they also have
are easier to sneak out they also have

their faster farming bonus letting them
their faster farming bonus letting them

get away with fewer villagers and more
get away with fewer villagers and more

trash units as a result unfortunately
trash units as a result unfortunately

they're missing bracer and thumb ring on
they're missing bracer and thumb ring on

their skirmishers which was just a bit
their skirmishers which was just a bit

too much of a weakness for me there were
too much of a weakness for me there were

also a couple of new definitive edition
also a couple of new definitive edition

civilizations are considered but it was
civilizations are considered but it was

a little too afraid of nerfs in the near
a little too afraid of nerfs in the near

future to really commit to the list the
future to really commit to the list the

first of those is the bulgarians they're
first of those is the bulgarians they're

missing the archer bring Armour tech but
missing the archer bring Armour tech but

they're 'has arse attack 33% faster if
they're 'has arse attack 33% faster if

that bonus doesn't change they'd be on a
that bonus doesn't change they'd be on a

top 5 has our list for sure and even
top 5 has our list for sure and even

hold up well against the elite mega
hold up well against the elite mega

hazhar I also considered the lithuanian
hazhar I also considered the lithuanian

so you have a big edge in a late-game
so you have a big edge in a late-game

first of all they're skirmishers and
first of all they're skirmishers and

halberdiers are 10% faster they also
halberdiers are 10% faster they also

have a unique tag for one extra pierce
have a unique tag for one extra pierce

armor on those units though they're
armor on those units though they're

missing a blacksmith tech leaving their
missing a blacksmith tech leaving their

halberdiers a bit worse off with their
halberdiers a bit worse off with their

original bonus of light cavalry gaining
original bonus of light cavalry gaining

+1 attack from each relic that would
+1 attack from each relic that would

probably have been a top three but as it
probably have been a top three but as it

is a bit of speed being treated for
is a bit of speed being treated for

somehow pedir
somehow pedir

just doesn't stand out quite enough
just doesn't stand out quite enough

there's probably another ten that could
there's probably another ten that could

be mentioned here including my beloved
be mentioned here including my beloved

Japanese but for me the others are just
Japanese but for me the others are just

above average and not talked here so
above average and not talked here so

which is the best well my number one
which is the best well my number one

trash unit civilization is the Persians
trash unit civilization is the Persians

before definitive edition this would
before definitive edition this would

have been a fringe honorable mention but
have been a fringe honorable mention but

that completely changed with their new
that completely changed with their new

unique tech making their crossbows cost
unique tech making their crossbows cost

fifty would they may be missing bracer
fifty would they may be missing bracer

but for what it's worth I'd still take
but for what it's worth I'd still take

it over the Vietnamese Imperial
it over the Vietnamese Imperial

skirmisher maybe I'm a sucker for gold
skirmisher maybe I'm a sucker for gold

units becoming trash units through
units becoming trash units through

unique text but to me they're just a
unique text but to me they're just a

better alternative to skirmishers
better alternative to skirmishers

against anything besides archers the
against anything besides archers the

crossbows extra to attack much faster
crossbows extra to attack much faster

firing rate and lack of minimum range
firing rate and lack of minimum range

mean they deal with halberdiers and
mean they deal with halberdiers and

other infantry just fine while
other infantry just fine while

performing much better against Azar's
performing much better against Azar's

even if they can't quite cut it on their
even if they can't quite cut it on their

own you still have fully upgraded
own you still have fully upgraded

halberdiers and has ours to mix into
halberdiers and has ours to mix into

your army as well when gold runs out
your army as well when gold runs out

there's really no other civilization I'd
there's really no other civilization I'd

rather have but those are my top five
rather have but those are my top five

trash units thanks for watching guys and
trash units thanks for watching guys and

I'll see you next time
I'll see you next time

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