Malians

In Age of Empires II, Malians are best understood as a infantry civilization, a profile that shapes everything from their economy to the units they lean on in a fight. What sets Malians apart starts with their bonuses — Buildings cost -15% wood, Villagers drop off +10% more gold, Barracks Units +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in Feudal/ and Castle/Imperial Age. They are also a welcome addition to any team, thanks to the team bonus Universities work +80% faster that extends to their allies.

Two more tricks are theirs alone — the unique technologies Farimba (Cavalry +5 attack) and Tigui (Town Centers fire arrows without garrison). On the clock, Malians players usually hit Feudal around 10:15 and Castle around 20:54. They are strongest against Mapuche (about 67.0%) and weakest against Shu (around 46.4%) — a spread worth remembering when the picks come in.

The data paints a clear picture: across 126115 RM 1v1 matches Malians win 51.8% of the time, placing them #10 of 54 civilizations, and they are a common sight at roughly 2.0% pick rate. Built around the unique Gbeto, Malians armies lean heavily on infantry (~35% of everything produced), and the Gbeto is the unit players pump out most, at roughly 24%.