Vanilla AoE 2 DE
Showmatch
No mods. No assists. Pure medieval warfare.
Hera
Canada
(Bo7)
DauT
Serbia
Unofficial community event
About the Vanilla Mode
Experience Age of Empires II in its purest form. No modern conveniences, no quality-of-life improvements - just the raw strategic gameplay that made this game legendary.
No Modifications
Pure vanilla Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition gameplay without any mods or assists.
Classic Combat
Experience medieval warfare as it was meant to be - no grid overlays or range indicators.
Legendary Players
Watch two of the greatest AoE2 players battle for supremacy and a $500 prize pool.
Community Event
An unofficial tournament celebrating the pure essence of Age of Empires II.
Rules
Experience Age of Empires II as it was meant to be played - without modern conveniences or quality-of-life improvements. Pure skill, strategy, and medieval warfare.
Pure vanilla Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition without any modifications or enhancements.
No visual grid assistance for building placement - rely on skill and experience.
No visual range indicators for units - master the ranges through practice.
Limited to the original civilizations plus The Conquerors expansion civs.
Pure Skill Expression
Without modern assists, players must rely entirely on game knowledge, muscle memory, and strategic thinking developed over years of practice.
Nostalgic Experience
Experience the game exactly as the legends played it in the early 2000s - raw, unfiltered, and challenging.
Level Playing Field
Both players face the same limitations, creating a truly fair competition based on fundamental game skills.
Available Civilizations
Choose from the classic civilizations that defined Age of Empires II. Each civilization brings unique strengths and strategic possibilities to the battlefield.
Original Civilizations
Britons
Masters of archery
Archery Range units +1 range
Byzantines
Defensive specialists
Buildings +10% HP
Celts
Infantry powerhouse
Infantry move 15% faster
Chinese
Economic advantage
Start with +3 villagers, -200 food
Franks
Cavalry excellence
Cavalry +20% HP
Goths
Infantry swarm
Infantry cost -35% starting in Dark Age
Japanese
Naval supremacy
Fishing Ships work 2x faster
Mongols
Mounted archers
Cavalry Archers fire 25% faster
Persians
Elephant warfare
Start with +50 food, +50 wood
Saracens
Market masters
Market trade cost only 5%
Teutons
Defensive might
Units +1 melee armor
Turks
Gunpowder units
Gunpowder units +25% HP
Vikings
Naval raiders
Warships cost -20%
Bonus Civs
Aztecs
Eagle warriors
Villagers carry +3
Mayans
Archer civilization
Start with +1 villager
Incas
Mountain fighters
Villagers benefit from Blacksmith upgrades
Strategic Diversity
From the archer mastery of the Britons to the cavalry excellence of the Franks, each civilization offers unique tactical advantages. Players must adapt their strategies based on their chosen civilization and counter their opponent's strengths.
Classic Battlegrounds
Classic battlegrounds that defined the golden age of Age of Empires II
Arabia
The most iconic Age of Empires II map featuring open terrain and strategic positioning.
Continental
Large landmasses with strategic water crossings and resource distribution.
Islands
Naval warfare takes center stage in this water-dominated battlefield.
Baltic
Coastal map with strategic shorelines and mixed land-sea warfare opportunities.
Highland
Elevated terrain with steep cliffs and defensive advantages for strategic players.
Mediterranean
Classic sea-based map with multiple islands and extensive naval combat.
Regicide Fortress
Fortified starting positions with kings to protect in this defensive scenario.
Arena
Enclosed starting areas with stone walls, promoting boom-and-battle gameplay.
Gold Rush
Abundant gold resources in the center create intense competition and conflict.
Yucatan
Dense jungle terrain with narrow pathways and ambush opportunities.
Salt Marsh
Wetland environment with scattered resources and challenging terrain navigation.
Ghost Lake
Mysterious lake-centered map with limited crossing points and strategic control.
Experience the maps that defined the golden age of real-time strategy gaming
Meet the Legends
Two titans of Age of Empires II clash in this ultimate vanilla showdown. Experience the mastery of players who have defined competitive AoE2 for decades.
Two different eras, two different styles, one epic showdown. Watch as experience meets innovation in the ultimate test of Age of Empires II mastery.
Watch the Showmatch
Experience the ultimate Age of Empires II vanilla showdown live. It will be streamed on Hera's and Daut's Twitch channel. Other leading streamers are allowed and appreciated to stream the event as well.
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Hera's Stream
Player 1 Perspective
Hera's POV
Available 15 min before event
DauT's Stream
Player 2 Perspective
DauT's POV
Available 15 min before event
Event Schedule
Viewing Experience
Watch the game exactly as the players see it - no additional overlays or information. Experience the tension and decision-making in real-time as two legends battle for supremacy.
Stay Connected
Don't miss a moment of the action. Get exclusive updates, match notifications, and be part of the vanilla AoE2 community.
What You'll Get
Live Notifications
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Future Events
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Match Results
Receive detailed match results and highlight reels after the event.
Community Updates
Join our growing community of vanilla AoE2 enthusiasts.
Be the first to know about match results, highlights, and future vanilla tournaments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the Vanilla AoE 2 DE format and event details.
Contact Us
Have questions about the tournament or interested in sponsoring future events?
hi@vanillaaoe2.comFuture Tournaments
This is just the beginning! We're planning more vanilla tournaments and community events.