# \[Just for fun\] Unique unit gimmicks ideas **URL:** \ **Category:** II - Discussion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085 "2026-03-28T12:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/21 "2026-03-30T16:43:33Z")
UU ship ideas A ram on water it will damage adjecent units when ramming similar to a ram. Ship attacks will generate gold aka pirate ship or keshik on water. Organ gun on water projectiles wil damage mumultipel units in front. ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/22 "2026-03-30T18:13:24Z")
So I had considered a Southern African regional called the Assegai who swaps between throw and melee… so what if instead of being a micro event it’s more like it swaps ONCE between melee and ranged. The only thing that changes is that where you train it determines which unit is the first version. In this way when the melee one “dies” it comes back as a spear thrower. This mechanic doesn’t take effect until Feudal because it is your scout. And if all this seems too much for a high health unit they have in both forms a huge allergy to shock damage including a -3 to the armor type! In melee form they have infantry and spear armor but still have a minor anti archer bonus in case. In ranged they are considered ranged with both archer and skirm armor types but still retain some anti cav just in case. They’re okayly fast but serve to replace cavalry in a land where tsetses prevent the use of horse and camel. Perhaps after a minute of survival the Assegai can muster the will to defy death and swap fighting style one more time which might be scary for a unit with a speed of 1.05 base So maybe because they are from a land so far south of Chad they themselves cannot be TOO Chad and thus a lot of food and wood to train 40 of each? ---
**Author:** ![yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/yuksely1992/32/206966_2.png) [@yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/yuksely1992)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/23 "2026-03-30T18:52:00Z")
Too much complexity. You need units with the most depth and the least complexity, not the other way around. Swapping weapons is bad, counterintuitive, and clunky anyway. Ensemble intended for Samurai to switch weapons but scrapped it for a reason. There is no need to repeat the same mistake. ---
**Author:** ![ConcreteHawk121](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/concretehawk121/32/190477_2.png) [@ConcreteHawk121](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/ConcreteHawk121)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/24 "2026-03-31T13:35:51Z")
- Archer/Cav Archer with Boyar Level melee armour - Anti Unit Trebuchet with poison damage (totally not launching dead bodies) - Spearman Skirmisher hybrid (Skirmisher but instead of a minimum range it starts attacking with a melee attack which is strong vs cavalry) - Melee unit that just explodes when it dies dealing a little bit of spread damage (Could be a UT for Fire Lancers) - Elephant Hand Cannons - Grenadier (or siege weapon) that throws Greek Fire grenades ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/25 "2026-03-31T14:06:02Z")
> [@Mahazona](#): > > A ram on water it will damage adjecent units when ramming similar to a ram. The Hulk should’ve been doing this. Thrown hooks as “melee damage” look silly. ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/26 "2026-03-31T14:10:19Z")
Just adding mounted/dismounted and ranged/melee version of existing gimmicks will already give us 30 more units or so. ---
**Author:** ![casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@casusincorrabil](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/casusincorrabil)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/27 "2026-03-31T14:11:43Z")
a melee unit that fires multiple projectiles? Edit: There could be a melee unit that has secondary pierce damage projectiles with very low accuracy that also have bonus damage against certain unit types. Eg against Spears and Skirmishers. There could also be a “Mortar” type Siege UU that has a really big AoE blast radius. The damage is almost nothing, but it has a main effect of slowing down hit units (and their Attack speed). ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 4:41pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/28 "2026-03-31T16:41:53Z")
> [@casusincorrabil](#): > > melee unit that fires multiple projectiles How can you fire projectiles when there is no range? > [@ConcreteHawk121](#): > > Grenadier (or siege weapon) that throws Greek Fire grenades > [@ConcreteHawk121](#): > > Melee unit that just explodes when it dies dealing a little bit of spread damage (Could be a UT for Fire Lancers) I think we already have these ingame or versions of this. > [@ConcreteHawk121](#): > > Anti Unit Trebuchet with poison damage (totally not launching dead bodies) Very cool idea the projectile should do area damage once it hits the ground. ---
**Author:** ![ConcreteHawk121](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/concretehawk121/32/190477_2.png) [@ConcreteHawk121](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/ConcreteHawk121)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/29 "2026-03-31T17:06:58Z")
> [@Mahazona](#): > > I think we already have these ingame or versions of this. I forgot about the mounted trebuchet 🙂 A lot of things have death explosions now (fireships, grenadiers, louchans, petards) but it would be cool if an infantry melee UU had it as a secondary effect to make it strong vs other infantry without damage bonuses. I really like it when the UU counters certain troops without dealing bonus damage since it is usually intuitive to understand (if it isnt too gimmicky) ---
**Author:** ![CountGriashnackh](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/countgriashnackh/32/178420_2.png) [@CountGriashnackh](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/CountGriashnackh)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 5:12pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/30 "2026-03-31T17:12:06Z")
One of mine is that a unit dies and becomes what’s essentially a completely different unit. Thing similar to the that one cheat unit in AoE1 but more logical and less of a meme. For example, an Elephant unit that dies to spawn 2 archer units. ---
**Author:** ![SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smum15236/32/29763_2.png) [@SMUM15236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/SMUM15236)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/31 "2026-03-31T17:43:48Z")
> [@casusincorrabil](#): > > a melee unit that fires multiple projectiles? If you just want to add gimmick just for the sake of it, surely you can give doubled handed Throwing Axe Warrior. ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/32 "2026-04-01T07:59:26Z")
A unit line where each level gains addional abilities.EG eagle scout no abilities eagle warrior gains charge only for movement speed e eagle warrior gains movement speed and attack boost both with charge. UU gets a second upgrade in imperial age.Not sure how useful this would be.castle age UU name Imp elite uu name second upgrade veteran uu name(dont want to use imperial as thats the term for generic units). ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/33 "2026-04-01T08:48:15Z")
Mamluk: horse rider UU that shoots arrows while keeping a sabre in hand, automatically switches to melee if the enemy is up close and to ranged when it’s away. It shouldn’t be too confusing as the switch would be automatic, no need to click anything. > [@Ideas for turning more UU into Regional Units](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/ideas-for-turning-more-uu-into-regional-units/284443/9): > > Also the horse version of the Mameluke could be what the Samurai were meant to be, switching from ranged to melee when the enemy is close (watch from 13:19 onwards) > > ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DElM46A8gfQ/maxresdefault.jpg "5 Iconic Archers that Fantasy Forgets") It’d require renaming the existing “Mameluke” Saracen camel UU into something like “Bedouin Raider” to avoid confusion. And historical mamelukes were primarily famous horse riders after all, Bedouins are a much closer fit for the existing unit’s name. ---
**Author:** ![Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/mahazona/32/213405_2.png) [@Mahazona](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Mahazona)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/34 "2026-04-01T08:57:49Z")
> [@smiki5five](#): > > as the switch would be automatic, no need to click anything Pretty sure this is not doable in game if not they would have done this for the ratha and immortal. ---
**Author:** ![smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/smiki5five/32/217730_2.png) [@smiki5five](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/smiki5five)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 9:09am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/35 "2026-04-01T09:09:04Z")
☹ It _does_ work for Chinese Immortals in AoM though… ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/36 "2026-04-01T11:23:14Z")
Different engine. We use genie and they use… Bang iirc from my fascination with AoEO ---
**Author:** ![KHANATTILA](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/khanattila/32/30722_2.png) [@KHANATTILA](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/KHANATTILA)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/37 "2026-04-04T09:26:53Z")
> [@Apocalypso4826](#): > > My unique unit for the Filipinos, a spear infantry unit called the Timawa, causes the enemy reload rate to increase by 0.1 for every attack the Timawa hits it with, effectively slowing down their attack gradually. This can make a huge difference, as the Timawa’s attack rate stays the same. It makes sense as a feature to implement; it’ll probably be used sooner or later > [@Apocalypso4826](#): > > In a similar vein, my Albanian unique unit, a mounted crossbowman called the Stradiot, is anti-archer, since the Albanians don’t have the **Elite Skirmisher.** That’s bad design. It makes playing a civilisation unnecessarily complicated. > [@Mahazona](#): > > Ship attacks will generate gold aka pirate ship or keshik on water. I like this ---
**Author:** ![yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/yuksely1992/32/206966_2.png) [@yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/yuksely1992)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 11:17am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/38 "2026-04-04T11:17:00Z")
“No elite skirm” has been unique to the Turks since 1999, and I wouldn’t want anyone missing it as well. ---
**Author:** ![DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DynasticPlanet5](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/DynasticPlanet5)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/39 "2026-04-04T12:34:03Z")
and spear too… oh wait ---
**Author:** ![yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/yuksely1992/32/206966_2.png) [@yuksely1992](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/yuksely1992)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085/40 "2026-04-04T12:55:06Z")
Another reason to not like the DoI DLC. [Previous page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/just-for-fun-unique-unit-gimmicks-ideas/285085.md?page=3)