Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition: “Blood and Gold” Achievement Guide

Although this is the second last mission, this scenario is not actually hard and can be finished easily. The Athenian navy is not powerful so the player should not be stressed.

Focus on building and upgrading infantry (since it’s a Spartan strong tech tree), Rams, and Calvary Archers (powerful complement).

The player should research Peloponnesian League since each Fort generates 20 gold/min. The more Forts under the player’s control, less pressure on income from raiding. Purple square on the map below means a Fort can be captured at that place, increasing gold income.

Avoid training too much army, save up gold and resources to sell at market. Getting a fleet is important.

However, the player can waste too much time or not have enough gold to tribute Ephesus. The player can also get lost, delaying more opportunities for ransacking. Therefore, the map below shows optimal routes to take, which are divided into sections in this guide.

Notice how the map contain different paths and icons. Each will be explained in each section.

This is the first route to be taken. All three locations have really few resistance.

Start by using archers (preferably Archer Cavalry) to target buildings or gates. Pull archers back to lure enemy out and mop them up using Spartan infantries.

Quickly send Rams (preferably upgraded if possible) and focus on Fortified Tower and Forts. If possible, let the Fort targets the Ram. Remember to train some units after each successful takeover.

Keep apply the strategy “Lure, Bait, Mop” as they help reducing the damage from Towers and Forts. Send Rams in to finish the job and some archers to escort those.

As soon as the player finishes green route, move on to yellow path. Send archers first to lure the patrol back to infantries. Expect two outpost of Notium (yellow player) which contains a few Skirmishers

Follow the same principle as before when taking down a grey Fortified Tower.

The player should start by using archers to shot the Gates or the Tower. This should lure half of Notium out. Mop them up using infantries.

Use Rams to destroy the Gates and soak the damage from the Fort. Send infantries and archers to protect the Rams from the western Notium army which is still not aware of the assault.

After Notium is fallen, train units in main Spartan base.

Mercenaries can be recruited easily, even with a single unit. As long as the player has gold to spend, it’s not hard to have a second army.

Either send a scout along the blue path. Avoid the patrol, especially a grey town which has some Towers. and Priene (Cyan player) fields some units in an outpost indicated by a blue circle.

Notably the eastern orange Tent can train some Palintonons, which help giving some vision and taking down Forts. To the west there is a place to recruit a lot of Cavalry Archers and Cavalry, which costs 1000 gold.

Focus on cleaning each grey town on the red road using the same strategy before. Optionally, the player can send the mercenary’s army to speed up the process.

When reaching Priene (Cyan player), bait them out like Notium section. Expect the same shenanigan like Notium, since the player can only lure half of the armies. Send Rams to soak the damage and protect them with the player’s units. Additionally, Palintonons and calvary can help taking down Priene easily.

Keep moving down and mop up the last of the grey town in the objective. Divide the army into two if needed.

When reaching Miletus (Blue and Green), tribute the oligarch 1000 gold. This helps the player significantly and enable free army in next scenario.

Just destroy Miletus’s Forts to advance. The player is unable to capture them. Focus on destroying the Wonder and the player should get the achievement once the scenario is completed.