AoE2 DE’s huge naval patch adds armored “Hulks” and reshapes sea battles — here’s why it matters

Why this naval overhaul actually matters

This caught my attention because Age of Empires II has always treated naval combat as a niche theatre that could swing a match-but Forgotten Empires just rewired that theatre. Update 169123 is less “tune-up” and more “re-arm the fleet”: a new Hulk-line of armored, fast warships, a Catapult Galleon replacing the cannon galleon for some civs, widespread ship balance changes, and fishing tweaks that even add gold-carrying whales. The patch drops alongside The Last Chieftains DLC, making this a coordinated push to refresh both the sea and the land.

• New tools for sea control: Hulk, War Hulk and Carrack bring fast, grappling warships meant to blunt fire-ship spam.
• Catapult Galleon: trades range for durability, shifting how gunship lines play out.
• System-wide naval rebalance: demolition ships nerfed, fire ships no longer deal piercing damage, fishing nerfs plus whale gold.
• More than ships: cross-platform voice chat, accessibility options, an Inca civ rework, and The Last Chieftains DLC add three South American civs.

Breaking down the naval changes

According to Steam posts from Forgotten Empires (the developer), the headline change is the new Hulk-line: three tiers-Hulk, War Hulk and Carrack-designed to be fast, heavily armored ships with grappling hooks for close-range engagements. They’re explicitly pitched as counters to fire ships: their speed and armor let them soak and close, while grappling hooks punish small, fragile incendiary boats.

But the update isn’t a one-trick novelty. The Catapult Galleon replaces the traditional cannon galleon for several civilizations. It behaves similarly but has shorter range and greater durability, nudging players to trade long-range artillery duels for slugging matches where positioning and survivability matter more. Demolition ships have had damage reduced, and fire ships now deal melee damage only instead of both melee and piercing—big changes to counters and unit roles.

Fishing boats were altered too: they’re more fragile and gather slower, but whales now drop gold when harvested. It’s a curious gameplay twist that shifts late-game naval economies: maps with whales will become higher-stakes water fights rather than passive food sources.

What this means for multiplayer and the meta

For ladder and tournament play, this patch forces a fleet rethink. Fire-ship rushes—long a cheap, decisive tactic on water maps—face a new direct counter in the Hulks. that said, the Hulks’ vulnerability to long-range galleys and gunships keeps rock-paper-scissors alive: expect mixed fleets rather than pure spam. Catapult Galleons discouraging full long-range artillery lines could make battles more about positioning and timing.

Maps with significant water will see different opening builds: fishing nerfs punish lazy economies, and whale gold creates contested high-value nodes. Skirmishes over resource-rich ocean tiles will become more decisive, which raises the importance of scouts and early naval presence. In short: naval control becomes a clearer path to victory rather than an optional flank.

Beyond ships: DLC, civ rework, and quality-of-life

The timing lines up with The Last Chieftains DLC, which adds three South American civilizations—Mapuche, Muisca and Tupi—with unique units and campaigns. That land-content drop makes the naval tune-up feel like a broader freshness push for the game.

There are other notable non-naval changes: a rework of the Inca that introduces champi warriors and removes eagle warriors and several buildings; cross-platform voice chat; and accessibility additions like text-to-speech and speech-to-chat. Steam posts frame this update alongside a recent wave of naval updates in PC gaming—Facepunch’s Rust has also pushed ship content recently—so Age developers are clearly reacting to a sea-focused zeitgeist.

My take — cautious optimism

Forgotten Empires hasn’t just tossed a new unit into the pool; they’ve adjusted roles and economies to make naval play feel consequential. That’s exciting: AoE2’s water maps have often been theatrical but not match-defining. The risk is twofold—one, the Hulk-line could feel binary if grappling hooks allow repeated, unavoidable lockdowns; and two, slower fishing could lengthen games or penalize players who prefer hybrid land-sea strategies. Early matches will determine whether these are healthy strategic additions or a balance headache.

TL;DR

Update 169123 reshapes sea combat in AoE2 DE with the Hulk-line, Catapult Galleons, and major balance shifts that make naval control more decisive. It arrives with The Last Chieftains DLC and accessibility/voice-chat features, nudging both competitive play and the casual experience. Expect mixed fleets, contested whales, and a flurry of ladder re-evaluations as players test where the new counters land in real matches.