The AoE II competitive scene remains vibrant in 2025, anchored by both high-stakes events and a bustling ecosystem of online cups and showmatches. The total prize pool has surpassed $4.3 million over more than 2,100 tournaments to date
Hera, Yo, Vivi, TheViper, and others continue to dominate with high placements in S-tier events.
Organizations like GamerLegion support professional rosters on the competitive circuit, increasing consistency in high-level play.
Tournaments like Red Bull Wololo and Hidden Cup remain benchmarks with six-figure prize pools, keeping the spotlight on AoE II globally.
Rivalry Gauntlet #1 — scheduled for July 26, 2025, featuring showmatch-style competition with a $300 prize pool.
Rivalry Gauntlet #2 — on July 27, 2025, another duel-format showcase with $600 prize money Liquipedia.
Other ongoing weekly tournaments like Rusaoc rank competition regionally, while circuit leagues and qualifiers continue shaping the pro ranks Liquipedia.
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| S‑Tier Tournaments | Warlords IV, The Garrison, LingYuan Cup |
| Prize Pools | $45K–$64K for premier events |
| Streaming & Reach | Millions of hours watched via Twitch & YouTube from major events |
| Community Cups | Weekly/global leagues reinforce grassroots competition |
| Pro Teams & Players | Hera, Yo, Vivi, TheViper, backed by organizations like GamerLegion |
Held in Hamburg, Germany (Mar 13–16, 2025)
Pro tournament featuring 8 invited players in a double-elimination format
$50,000 prize pool with a strong live audience and online broadcast
Global LAN event (May 18 – June 1, 2025)
$75,000 prize pool, marking it as one of the top-tier global competitions.
Beijing, China (Oct 22–26, 2025)
$50,000 prize pool, featuring top Chinese competitors & international qualifiers
Plus ongoing qualifiers, domestic leagues, and digital cups worldwide.
Online competition remains strong with series like:
Midweek Madness, Tarnished Death Match, and Rusaoc Cups offering modest prize pools from $100–$150, but with large participant counts and strong community support.
LingYuan Invitational showmatches and Rivalry Gauntlet events continuing to feature top players in smaller but widely viewed faceoffs.
Community-driven events such as Wallhalla 2, Rage Forest, and others provide feeder systems into higher-tier competitions
Highly active: Both offline and online ecosystems are strong.
Prize pools remain healthy in top events; underground scene still thrives.
Community-centric: Many tournaments are fan-funded or community-run.
Global participation: Far-reaching tournaments span Latin America, CIS, Europe, and Asia.
