Damn! Well spotted! So, we have a SEA civ with a Fire Archer UU.
The Tangut language has been pretty decently reconstructed. Thankfully they wrote a lot.
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I did see that the Yuan invaded the Chams, and that would sorta fit with the Cambodian face since they’re neighbors, but then again you’d think there would be updates to the Suryavarman campaigns in that case. Though they could have redacted stuff. Also i’d be kinda sad if we got Chams without Siam/Thais, as that would probably make them less likely to come later.
Though maybe Tibet isn’t a thing and its Siam/Chams as well as Jurchens/Tanguts/Khitans? Who knows.
I am kinda sad the supplies tech is gone, solely for the death of T90’s SUPPPPLIEEEES!!! meme.
In the tech tree update section, they show traction trebuchet (maybe a regional treb replacement…?) and Pasture as a unique building (no clue what that is)
There is also a reference to a “Hei Guang Cavalry”, it looks like its upgrade is a heavy version at the stables, i’m wondering if its a regional knight replacement; it’s called heavy cav and is weak to monks like a knight is.
There’s also references to a “Fire Archer” as referenced before, and right below that where it references Eagle Warrior armor class being renamed Shock Infantry, they reference a Jian Swordsman, not sure what that is though.
I’m completely in love with the new castles, monasteries, and monks, hyped for the whole thing (also the inquisitor monk is hilarious ngl)
There is a new V&V scenerio Xie An coming for free, A. i’m glad they’re adding more new V&V scenerios as it helps take the edge off the “recycled content” vibe. And B. I’m curious if that might itself be a hint to new civs or such being added
Very noticable CA nerfs, which should probably be a suprise to absolutely no one lol. Also happy they just give transport ships 20 garrison space from the start.
It looks like Flemish Militia is going to become a Burgundian replacement to the spear line now, that can be trained from Feudal age without the UT? At this point they might as well just axe the button tech entirely and give them something else.
Slightly sad to see Koreans lose the Mango line, hoping their rocket carts can become just as oppressive as their SO in mass.
I also like all the bug fixes and balance they’re bringing to Chronicles as well, as opposed to it just being a set it and forget it DLC.
I also love all the new trees and such, some of the Asian scenerios can have a tendency to not feel Asian enough environmentally, and this should fix that.
And possibly the most important addition…Panda Rock
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I’ve narrowed it down.
Civ 5 is the Dali.
The wonder’s letters have their kingdom’s insignia on the right one.
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I wonder if they will use the Bai language?
I will copy the stuff from my other post with what i noticed.
What is a Ghilman? i googled the name, it also says Ghulam… suddenly wikipedia became dark. So Ghulam will be renamed?
Hei Guang Cavalry seems to be from the Ming dynasty of China.
Traction Trebuchet?!?! are they working on my idea for different trebuchets and onagers?! awesome!! Okay zooming in on the image, that is definitely a smaller trebuchet as i intended in my post 
That looks like a sling on wheels.
Looking a bit further, yes they added this new siege weapon!!!
Someone is getting a pasture.
Fire Lancer is a regional unit in the barracks!
Hello there, is that a Paladin?
I don’t recognise that naval image in the middle.
Aren’t we missing a defensive upgrade there before architecture?
Where is Masonry?
The Fire Archer with a Mayan background???
Shock Infantry?? what other units might be shock infantry?
Flemish Militia trainable starting in the Feudal age. Sweet! Will they be a replacement for the Spearman/Pikeman?
Chinese units; fire lancers, rocket carts, lou chuan.
Googline the Lou Chuan, it is a multilayered ship with a traction trebuchet on top.
As a disgusting naval siege lover this will probably be my most favorite unit if this is true xD
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My take on the new castles image we received:
Top Left: Vietnamese - Skirmisher shields throughout, Tropical plants growing on the side.
Bottom Left: Byzantine - Architecture is Eastern Roman, Cataphract shield next to tower on right.
Mid Left: Ethiopian - Shield on front tower, Topmost tower looks like medieval buildings I’ve seen there.
Top Middle: Malay - Central stupa and archways look like something you’d see in Srivijaya.
Bottom Middle: Portuguese - Shields on walls bear the old Portuguese royal coat of arms.
Middle Right: Vikings - Berserker Shields, Architecture, Throwing the Vikings into any update is always cool on the devs part.
Bottom Right: Persian - Sassanid crest built into the wall above the gate.
Far Right: Koreans - Looks like the fortresses built in medieval Korea.
Top Right: One of the new civs - This one is tricky. I’ve seen some people say Tibetans, but it doesn’t look that way to me. A lot of the civs from tropical climates tend to have more plants on their buildings (Mesoamericans, Southeast Asian) and Tibet certainly isn’t famous for it’s greenery (Yeah, I know the Tibetans lived in the western part of Sichuan which is green, but most of Tibet is pretty barren). The architecture looks more like something you’d see in the later Han or up to the Sui dynasty.
Don’t get me wrong, I really hope we get Tibetans, but like others have already pointed out, this castle might belong to the civ that runs the Dali kingdom.
Super excited for the news we got today. Thanks to the devs for keeping this game amazing!
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Looks like a double crossbow.
Putting money on it being the Khitan’s.
Nope, Paladin is blacked out and to the left. This is the Hei Guang Cavalry.
It’s the Lou Chuan. I think it’s like a re-skin of the Dromon.
It’s there. Just they now display the final upgrade, not the first. FOr better clarity.
*South East Asian background.
I think this is for infantry that are fast. Eagles and Ghulams for example.
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“Ghilman” is the plural of “Ghulam.”
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Top-Left for me is Vietnamese, look at the skirmisher shield displayed on the castle. (but you’re maybe right about the design, so maybe tibetan new civ)
Middle-Right, well according to other sneak-peak, it’s probably Chinese or one of the new sub-chinese civ.
Middle-Left, you can see shotel warrior shield and sword, but I’m not sure which civ have it ahaha.
Bottom-Left, confirming Byzantine, you can spot Cataphract shield / helmet (the DE helmet that was removed and will be for elite, I assume)
Bottom-Center, agree on Portuguese due to stone color matching wonder.
Middle-Center, of course Viking, who else could it be ahaha. (and imagine it’s a new civ xD)
Top-Right, I would also have said Mongol but I’m no expert, so maybe a new civ. (kara-kihai ?)
This is all good. and tons of new exciting stuff!
But sorry for pouring a bit of cold water with this question: how much do you think this DLC will cost?
Like $60? 
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Not convinced there won’t be a japanese campagin. so maybe 8 campaigns
Not to mention the stripe pattern in the stone. very reminiscent of old byzantine buildings
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I assumed that one was Vietnamese and the far right one is Chinese (I still vote Chinese for the far right one)
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Nah, you’re right. My guess was before the super zoom-in. It’s Viet.
Might be Korean? Some experts on Korea claim it’s closer to theirs.
Ethiopians.
Kara Khita would be Khitans. But I think it’s Mongol.
I knew I had seen it before!
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I have lost my words. I feel like its a dream.
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Even looking at the higher resolution version I have no idea what you’re talking about: https://cdn.ageofempires.com/aoe/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/New_castle_customizations.webp
But I did notice a shield with the chi ro symbol in the bottom left castle, so everyone who said it’s Byzantine was right.
Also, I hope the castles that don’t fit their respective sets (Central European one is English and Middle Eastern might be Italian, for example) don’t just get assigned to a civ anyway.
Another castle I’d like completely replaced is the East Asian one. I’d rather the Japanese get Himeji, as I’ve said multiple times.
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This is the Chinese castle. Look at the units around, and it’s obviously inspired by the Great wall.
So I think this is the Korean castle. I think the “curved” roofs match their architecture.
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Actually it’s the Jurchen one. The black flags are from a painting of Iron Pagoda cavalry.
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Took me a second too, but it’s this:
This is the modern crest of the House of Aviz, the Portuguese royal family during AoE2’s timeline.
The new castle has the shields with the crest in some places. Same as the Feitoria:
Here’s what a historical example looks like:
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That will be weird. It is based on a Berber castle.
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Infact I’m wrong about that. Imperial Skirmisher shield is a six-split pattern not a four-split pattern, it’s definitly the elite skirmisher shield, but not the vietnamese special imperial skirmisher shield.
Can’t say, I’m no expert on that matter but we know at least two other asian-style castle sprite from the other screenshots.
And, why nobody noticed all the new lamps !? I saw LAMPS !
Also spotted those things:
Castle-Age market stale, we already saw Feudal-Age market stale on the other screenshots.
New Hero with a plume thing in the hand, can’t remember the name, fans ?
New eye-candy cart thing for map design.
Asian style “totem” statue, with the new shield-spear asian style soldier, I think this weapon is a specific one from china (?) but don’t know the name. Also take note at the symbol on the shield, that could give hint on the linked civ / group it represents.
A new cool asian style bridge, I wonder if it will be walkable or not.
Cool new editor buildings to represent some religious place. Also those new red-pillar gate/arch what so ever, pretty cool design, wonder if they will block pathfinding or not.
Here there are few symbols on the building glags and the large red-pillar gate/arch that maybe someone could translate ?
I let others highlighting the new units, ore maybe I can help abit.
- Fire Archer with SEA background, so a new SEA civ
- Hei Guang cavalry not for chinese, so for a new sub-chinese civ (Jurchen/Tanguts)
- Jian Swordman (may be an Editor unit as the eastern swordman)
- Seems there is a special heavy operated crossbow siege unit, but not for chinese (so a siege genius sub-chinese group)
- Traction Trebuchet regional mangonel-line replacement for one of the new civ ?
- Camel-Trebuchet
- Fire-Lancer
- Grenadier
- Guandao Cavalry (maybe they are the non elite version of Hei Guang cavalry…But I think they are for a nomadic civ so I’d bet on Kithan)
- Duck-helmet spearman with shield for a chinese faction, may be editor unit for palace guard what so ever, I’m no expert so maybe someone else can point what they could be.
So, Korean rebalance, Chinese rebalance, Kara-Kithai civ changed, Jin(Jurchen)/Tangut civ changed, SEA fire-archer new unit.
Five new civ, Jurchen, Tangut, Kithan, the new SEA, there is one more slot to fill…Swiss ? (No I’m not promoting my country that’s fault ahaha)
Honnestly I was surprised to see “Five” for the new civ amount, so I think the 5th one will be a totally different one we would not expect. Or it’s Tibetan but aren’t tibetan supposed to be centered arround “peace” ideology, or am I totally wrong on my cliché ?
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