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Age of Empires IV: The Ultimate Guide for New and Returning Players

DaniAOE

• 21 min read
Age of Empires IV: The Ultimate Guide for New and Returning Players
Art by Craig Mullins.

Embark on a journey through history and conquer the virtual battlefield in Age of Empires IV. Whether you're a seasoned veteran seeking to reignite your passion for the series or a curious newcomer ready to forge your empire, this comprehensive guide is your key to unlocking the strategies and secrets that lie within.

In this article, we'll delve into the essential aspects that will equip you for success in Age of Empires IV. Prepare to navigate the intricacies of this immersive game as we explore where to begin, grasp the unique terminology, and make the crucial decision of choosing a civilization. From there, we'll dive into the fundamental mechanics that form the foundation of gameplay, ensuring you're armed with the knowledge to build, expand, and conquer.

But the adventure doesn't end there. We'll guide you through the world of multiplayer battles, where communication, teamwork, and understanding the meta are paramount. Discover how to forge alliances, wage wars, and rise above the competition to claim your rightful place among the great conquerors of Age of Empires IV.

So, whether you're an experienced tactician seeking new conquests or a fresh recruit eager to leave your mark on history, join us as we embark on this epic journey through the ages in Age of Empires IV. Together, we'll shape the destiny of civilizations and cement our place in the annals of virtual empires. Prepare to command, conquer, and make history.

Are you ready to lead your civilization to greatness? Join us in Empire Wars: Age of Empires Blog and shape the course of history.

Table of Contents

Where to Begin?

While it's important to note that you can play Age of Empires however you prefer and experience the different modes in any order. If you're starting from scratch and aiming to improve, we've come up with a simple progression order that you can follow to naturally advance through the modes.

1. Play the Art of War Missions: You can progress through these missions at your own pace and will be guided through the objectives one at a time. The Art of War missions not only explain how to do something, but also why it's important, making them the perfect jumping-off point for new players.

Your performance in the missions will determine the type of medal you receive, with gold being the highest achievement. Attaining a gold medal signifies that you have reached a level of readiness that allows you to confidently face any challenge that comes your way.

2. Try the Campaigns: The Normans campaign provides new players with a great introduction to gameplay mechanics, while telling the story of William of Normandy's quest into the Kingdom of England, and the events that followed. Each subsequent campaign offers more of a challenge than the previous one, both in terms of mission design and the complexity of the civilization you'll be in control of when playing it, allowing you to improve your skills as you play through them.

The Norman campaign is highly recommended as the ideal starting point for learning the game mechanics. Nevertheless, feel free to embark on any of the available campaigns in whichever order you prefer.

3. Set up a Skirmish Game vs the A.I.: There are multiple A.I. difficulty levels to choose from so you can find one that matches your ability, and play on a map that suits your playstyle (e.g. Dry Arabia for an open and aggressive map, Black Forest for a more closed and defensive map or Warring Islands for naval warfare). This is a good place to learn how to operate on your own without set mission objectives to guide you, and it's where you'll really start to develop your own playstyle.

If you're still uncertain about facing real opponents, you can hone your skills by engaging in battles against the AI, allowing you to practice and gain confidence until you feel adequately prepared.

4. Dive into Multiplayer: You can then take your skills into the multiplayer modes, either in a solo match against another human player, team games against human players or team up with people to battle against multiple A.l. opponents. Be aware, playing against other humans is quite different from playing the A.I. Humans are thinking and reacting on the go just as you are, making mistakes and adapting just as you are, and have unique strengths and weaknesses depending on who you play.

The true test of your abilities arises when you engage in combat on the battlefield, pitting your skills against human adversaries.

5. Gain Perspective: Remember that Age of Empires IV is a game for everyone, regardless of experience or ability; your main goal should be to have fun progressing at your own pace and remember, with every game lost there's a lesson to learn, and an opportunity to improve next time.

Age of Empires Terminology

Throughout the history of the franchise, the community has developed, or incorporated from the RTS genre in general, a series of phrases and terms that are used as abbreviations when talking about certain mechanics or situations. Throughout this blog, some of these terms have been used where they are most applicable to convey the mechanics in the simplest way. If you're new to the franchise or community, it's worth taking a bit of time to familiarize yourself with these terms so that when you interact with other players, you have a full understanding of what's being discussed.

  • To Raid: Attacking the enemy's Villagers or base while they are undefended.
  • To idle yours or another player's economy: Having Villagers that are not working in any capacity, or making somebody else's Villagers idle through raids.
  • To Boom: To focus on economic development with little to no military or defense.
  • All-In: This is the antithesis of Booming, with no/minimal investment into economic development, all resources going into military, and then an aggressive playstyle to end the game quickly.
  • To House/get Housed: Not being able to produce units due to not having enough houses.
  • To be Pop Capped: Hitting the population capacity (200/200).
  • To Rush: Attacking early in the game with military units. e.g., Longbowmen-rush: An early attack with Longbowmen.
  • Fast Castle (FC): Going to Age III as fast as possible by skipping Age II, building one Landmark straight after the other.

Choosing a Civilization

One of the crucial decisions you'll make in Age of Empires IV is selecting your starting civilization. Each civilization offers unique strengths, bonuses, and playstyles, so it's essential to choose one that aligns with your preferences and goals. In this section, we'll explore the importance of starting with a specific civilization and delve into the benefits of selecting the English civilization as an excellent choice for beginners.

The Importance of Starting with a Civilization

Starting with a civilization provides you with a solid foundation and a set of distinct advantages. Each civilization in Age of Empires IV possesses its own unique units, technologies, and strategies, allowing you to tailor your gameplay to suit your preferred style. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen civilization, you can capitalize on its strengths and devise effective strategies to outmaneuver your opponents.

Civilizations available in Age of Empires 4, each with their unique units and technologies.

The English Civilization: A Beginner's Delight

An English longbowman. Art by Craig Mullins.

Among the various civilizations in Age of Empires IV, the English civilization stands out as an excellent option for newcomers. It offers a balanced and versatile playstyle, making it easier for beginners to grasp the game mechanics and build a strong foundation for future matches. Here are some reasons why the English civilization is a great starting point:

  • Ease of Use: The English civilization boasts a straightforward and intuitive gameplay style. With a focus on archery, farming and defensive structures, it allows beginners to grasp the basics of unit management, resource gathering, and base building without overwhelming complexity.
  • Ranged Advantage: The English excel in ranged combat, making them effective at dealing damage from a distance. Their longbowmen have increased range, providing an edge in early skirmishes and defensive battles. This advantage allows beginners to engage in combat while maintaining a safe distance from their adversaries.

Longbowman

Archer with +2 range and +1 damage that comes with the Defensive Paling ability to stun and damage enemy cavalry.

  • Strong Defensive Capabilities: The English civilization possesses impressive defensive capabilities, allowing players to fortify their positions and repel enemy attacks more effectively. Using the unique technology of the English Network of Citadels their defensive structures, such as Keeps, Towers and Town Centers provide a solid line of defense, giving beginners the opportunity to focus on strategic planning and fortification.

Network of Citadels

Protect the frontier with Town Centers, Outposts, Stone Wall Towers, and Keeps that increase attack speed of nearby units by +15% when enemies are in range. Research the Network of Citadels technology from Keeps to further increase attack speed by +40%.

  • Economic Stability: The English have economic ties that contribute to a more stable economy, which is vital for long-term success. Cheap farms and increased harvest rates helps to build a strong economy early on in the game. These bonuses can help beginners establish a solid economic foundation, allowing for consistent resource gathering and efficient unit production. Likewise, in the Imperial Age with the Enclosures technology they can generate passive gold with active farms.

Enclosures

Unique English technology that can be researched at the mill and it is only available in the Imperial Age (IV). Allow Villagers to generate +1 Gold every 5 seconds when working Farms.

By choosing the English civilization as your starting point, you'll have a solid foundation to begin your journey in Age of Empires IV. Mastering the intricacies of this versatile civilization will provide you with valuable insights into the game mechanics and strategic thinking. Remember, as you progress, don't be afraid to venture into the world of other civilizations to expand your knowledge and become a formidable force on the battlefield.

Expanding Your Horizon: Exploring Other Civilizations

While starting with the English civilization is highly recommended for beginners, it's important to note that Age of Empires IV offers a wide range of civilizations, each with its own strengths and playstyles. As you gain experience and confidence, don't hesitate to explore other civilizations to diversify your gameplay and discover new strategies. Experimenting with different civilizations will enhance your understanding of the game and make you a more versatile player.

Author's note: When I began my journey in Age of Empires 4, I chose the challenging Chinese civilization as my starting point. Their unique gameplay mechanics and complex economy presented a rewarding but demanding experience. Despite the challenges, I found joy in their distinctive architecture, special units, and powerful technologies. Each victory brought a sense of triumph and satisfaction as I expanded my empire and overcame obstacles.

Basic Gameplay Mechanics

Building an empire, regardless of how you intend on using it in the game, is going to take a lot of resources, which is why understanding all the various types of resources in the game and how to use them is one of the most important things to learn. In Age of Empires there are four gatherable resources: Food, Wood, Gold, and Stone. Each of these can be gathered from different sources, and each source provides different amounts; the one thing they all have in common, however, is that all of them can be gathered by the humble Villager unit.

The rate at which your Villagers will gather a resource can be augmented through various technologies and the abilities of other units, and there are some civilization-specific traits that can have an effect. There's an upper limit of 100,000 of each resource that you can hold, but just hoarding resources won't get you very far, so unless you're saving up for something specific, you should be using them as quickly as they come in. To keep up with that demand, it's important to be as efficient as possible with your resource gathering always try to have the drop-off location for a resource as close to the source as possible, to minimize Villager walking time.

Hunting and Herding

Animals can be killed by both Villagers and military units without any penalty, which makes killing the more powerful animals, such as the Boar, a lot easier. Dead animals do not decay in Age of Empires IV, which allows for a more flexible approach for your Food gathering Villagers. Sheep can be herded, which means they will follow a Scout that gets close enough to it, allowing you to lead them to specific locations. Once one is following you, it will take on your team's color and can no longer be taken by an opposing player.

With the Survival Techniques technology, your villagers will bring more hunted meat.

Survival Techniques

Is a technology in Age of Empires IV that can be researched at the Mill, Hunting Cabin or Ger starting in the Dark Age. Once researched, it increases Villager hunted meat gather rate by 15%.

This technology does not affect herdables and fish, only huntable animals (Boars and Deer).

Be careful when hunting a Boar. Unless you have some significant upgrades for your Villagers, or are very brave, only ever approach them with large groups of units. The most effective way to hunt the boar is to use the scout to receive the boar's attacks, so that the villagers attack afterward. It is important to bring the villagers closer to the boar so that they melee attack with the spears, because if they do it from a distance it will not take much damage.

Respecting Faiths

Reflecting pork being haram, or forbidden in the Islamic faith, the Abbasid Dynasty, Delhi Sultanate, Ottomans and Malians in Age of Empires IV cannot hunt boar for food. You must hunt deer or harvest berries. In the case of Abbasid Dynasty and Delhi Sultanate, they receive a bonus of increased food if you construct a Mill near its bushes and convert them into and Orchard.

Food

There are seven different types of Food source in the game, and on all standard maps, you'll usually have multiple different sources of Food available at any given time. Sheep and Berries are the sources you'll typically find closest to your initial Town Center. Sheep can be hunted by any unit, and their carcass will remain on the ground for Villagers to gather Food from, while Berries can just be picked straight from the bush whenever you find them. Both are good sources of Food early on due to their proximity to your starting location, which makes it less likely that your Villagers will encounter enemy units.

Left image: In order to optimize the collection of food from berry bushes, it is advisable to construct a mill in close proximity to them. Right image: Instead of killing Sheep wherever you find them, use a Scout to herd them and bring them closer to a drop-off location first to make your food gathering more efficient.

Slightly further out you'll typically start to see Deer, and if you're on a map with water, Shorline Fish. Deer are usually found in groups and have a faster gathering rate than both Sheep and Berries, which makes them a very tempting source of Food, especially if you build a Mill or similar building close by to minimize Villager travel time. If you have the option, however, Shorline Fish should always be one of your first choices for Food due to the speed at which they can be gathered. Shorline Fish can also be gathered by Fishing Ships, and while they might be your only option on some maps, because the Wood required to build them is quite significant at the start of a game, you're much better off using Villagers if possible.

Left image: Deer herds are usually far from the Town Center on most maps, so you need to be careful when getting resources from them. Right image: Shoreline fish can be collected by both villagers and fishing ships. Villagers can harvest fish from the shore at a mill or dock, and only at the dock in the case of fishing ships.

Fishing Ships truly shine on maps with deeper waters, where you can find Deep Water Fish. These fish can only be gathered by Fishing Ships, and while that means a large investment of Wood to construct both the ships and a Dock, the speed at which Deep Water Fish can be gathered means they're too lucrative to pass up.

Deep Water Fish are the best food source on water maps, so they should be a priority when playing water maps or hybrid maps.

Sustainable Farming

The finite sources of Food, by their nature, will eventually start to run out. If you don't want your production to slow down as the game progresses, you'll eventually need to transition to a more sustainable Food income, and that's where Farms come in. Farms are the most reliable Food source in the game, and the only one that continuously regenerates so that you can keep gathering from it. There are several technologies, units, and buildings that can further increase the effectiveness of Farms, and having many them is one of the primary means of having a late-game booming economy.

To make your farmers more efficient and keep them safe, you should build all your farms around Town Centers and Mills.

Wood

Wood is arguably the most important resource in the game, because of the number of different things that require it everything from a single Spearman to some of the largest buildings require some amount of it. Unlike other resources that can be gathered immediately, to start gathering Wood your Villagers must first cut down a tree. All trees can be felled, and with upgrades researched primarily at a Lumber Camp, your Villagers can chop trees down faster, and gather the Wood more efficiently.

Until you upgrade the speed at which you can chop down trees (Forestry), it's important not to move your wood gathering Villagers around a lot, because you'll waste a lot of time cutting down trees that could be spent gathering Wood.

Forestry

Is a technology that can be researched at the Lumber Camp in the Dark Age (I) and it doubles the rate at which Villagers chop down trees.

A potential strategy to keep in mind is denying your opponent access to woodlines. In most cases, your opponent will have many Villagers felling trees along the woodlines on their side of the map, and if you can deny access to those trees by building an Outpost or placing ranged infantry nearby, then you can disrupt their Wood income. To defend yourself against this tactic, it's recommended that you stick to woodlines either behind your starting position, or as far away from your opponent as possible. If you'll be in one area for a while, you can also build your own Outpost nearby to gain extended vision around the area, giving you advance warning if your opponent does try to make a move on your Villagers.

The Mongol Tower Rush is not only an effective build order for aggressive gameplay but also has the capability to deny enemy access to their woodline. By strategically placing towers near the enemy's woodline, Mongol players can disrupt their resource gathering and gain a significant advantage in the early stages of the game.

Gold

Gold is a highly coveted and precious resource in Age of Empires IV. Not only is it required to build Landmarks and advance through the Ages, but you'll also need it for nearly all technologies and upgrades found in the game, as well as for producing some of the strongest units. Unlike Food and Wood, Gold can often be hard to come by, and it's usually found in more contested areas of the map.

Because of their scarcity, it's important to scout around the map to find multiple Gold Veins—this way, when one runs dry, you already know where to send your Villagers to next. Once you've found a Gold vein, your Villagers can begin mining and gathering it like any other resource, and to making dropping it off quicker, you should always build a Mining Camp as close to the Gold Vein as possible. As Gold Veins are quite large in size, many Villagers are able to mine from them simultaneously, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Using many Villagers will allow you to gather the Gold quickly, but that also presents a high-value target for your opponent; if the Gold Vein is in an exposed area, it's important to keep those vulnerable parts of your operation as safe as possible with some defensive units.

You must exercise caution when assigning villagers to gather gold, as they become prime targets for your enemies. Disrupting your gold supply can hinder your ability to produce formidable units, advance technologically, and progress to higher ages. To safeguard against such threats, it is advisable to construct defensive structures like outposts to protect your valuable resource-gathering villagers.

Unlike with many other resources, your Villagers won't automatically transition to another source once the Gold Vein has run dry, which means there's the potential for a lot of idle Villagers if you don't keep an eye on them. When all of the Gold Veins have been mined, Traders and trade routes will become your main source of Gold income.

Stone

Stone is by far the scarcest resource in Age of Empires IV, even more so than Gold, but how you acquire it is very simi-lar. Like Gold Veins, you can find Stone Outcroppings around the map that can be mined by your Villagers to gather the Stone, and then dropped off at a nearby Mining Camp.

The amount of Stone you require is typically based on your playstyle, but you'll nearly always want some to build additional Town Centers with when you reach the Feudal Age to increase your Villager production capacity. Outside of that, it's primarily used for defensive fortifications such as Stone Walls and Towers, deadly Keeps, and their weapon emplacements. You'll typically find Stone Outcroppings in the same kind of contested areas as Gold Veins, which means that the same risks and precautions should be taken when attempting to mine it.

The Mongol Ovoo

Mongols are the only civilization that are unable to traditionally mine for Stone, but that doesn't mean they can't obtain it. The Mongols have a unique building called an Ovoo, and it can only be built on top of Stone Outcroppings. Once placed, it will automatically start siphoning off the Stone and depositing it into your resource bank periodically.

Ovoos serve as the cornerstone of the Mongol civilization, enabling them to swiftly amass armies and establish prosperous economies. However, their availability is restricted to a single structure. Should a new Ovoo be constructed atop a fresh Stone Outcropping, the previous one will be automatically dismantled and replaced.

Although they can't build any defensive fortifications with that Stone, the Mongol use for it is arguably more important, and if used correctly, one of their biggest strengths. Any buildings placed next to an Ovoo will have access to improved versions of their functionality that require Stone. For example, at a production building you'll be able to produce two units in the time it would normally take to produce one, and research buildings can research improved versions of technologies with even greater benefits.

You can leverage the Ovoo's area of influence to acquire improved technologies or, in this case, utilize the stone to produce twice the number of units. This strategic move can result in amassing a larger army than your adversaries, providing you with a significant advantage on the battlefield.

Landmarks and Aging Up

Advancing through the Ages is something that has always been an important aspect of Age of Empires because doing so grants access to increasingly stronger units, buildings, and technologies. In Age of Empires I and II, you advanced to the next Age by collecting enough resources and constructing two buildings of the current age. In Age of Mythology and Age of Empires III, this was changed to picking between different gods or politicians once the required amount of resources had been gathered.

The selection of landmarks is heavily influenced by the style and strategy you opt to employ. There exist various categories of landmarks, including military, economic, technological, and religious, each offering distinct benefits and advantages.

Similar to the Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties expansion, Age of Empires IV uses a series of iconic Landmark buildings with each civilization to advance through the Ages. In the Feudal, Dark, and Castle Ages with most civilizations, you'll have to pick from one of two different Landmarks to advance the Age, with each subsequent set of Landmarks costing an increasing amount of resources. Each Landmark building also usually comes with unique functionality or properties, so you'll need to pick whichever one is best for the strategy you're currently using. The Abbasid Dynasty stands apart from this system, because they have a single Landmark building, to which they construct additional wings to advance the Age.

The House of Wisdom is one of the key defining features of the Abbasid Dynasty. This unique civilization-specific structure provides access to many unique civilization upgrades and mechanics. In addition, players can further upgrade their House of Wisdom by researching and completing four different Wings of Knowledge. These can be completed in any order, providing access to additional upgrades, strengthening the House of Wisdom, and Aging Up the civilization.

Scout!

Knowledge is power in Age of Empires IV, and scouting plays a vital role in gathering information about your opponents. Send out scouts to explore the map, uncover valuable resources, identify enemy locations, and discover potential threats. The more you know about your surroundings, the better equipped you'll be to plan your strategy and make informed decisions.

Do not underestimate the scout, for it holds great significance in gathering intelligence about the enemy's plans and strategies.

Scouts aren’t very powerful and should rarely (if ever) be used to battle enemies in the early phase of the game (unless you're playing with Malians civilization), but they are fantastic at a herding sheep (an excellent source of Food) to bring back to your Village to help with early Food gathering. And it’s not just the sheep that are nearby. If you can manage to sneak into enemy territory and pluck those herds from your opponent, it’s just one less advantage you’re allowing them in terms of resource gathering in the early going.

Once sheep have been herded, they obediently trail behind the scout, making it impossible for another enemy scout to claim them unless your own scout perishes. Moreover, the sheep can be easily transferred from one scout to another simply by selecting the sheep and clicking on the desired scout.

Multiplayer Tips

Multiplayer matches in Age of Empires IV can be intense and highly competitive. To help you achieve success in the multiplayer arena, consider the following tips:

  1. Build a Strong Economy: A robust economy is the backbone of any successful civilization. Prioritize gathering resources efficiently, managing your population limit, and constantly producing villagers to ensure a steady stream of income. Balance resource allocation between food, wood, gold, and stone based on your civilization's needs and long-term goals.
  2. Scout Early and Often: Scouting is essential in multiplayer matches. Explore the map early on to gather information about your opponents, identify potential threats, and locate valuable resources. Sharing information with your teammates is crucial for coordinated strategies and effective defense against enemy attacks.
  3. Collaborate and Communicate: Multiplayer matches thrive on teamwork and collaboration. Communicate with your teammates through in-game chat or voice communication platforms to coordinate your efforts, share valuable information, and devise strategies. Establishing clear roles and dividing tasks among teammates can lead to more efficient resource management and military coordination.
  4. Adapt to your Opponents: Each multiplayer match presents a unique challenge as you face different opponents with varying playstyles. Be observant and adapt your strategy accordingly. Identify your opponents' strengths and weaknesses, counter their unit compositions, and exploit their vulnerabilities. Flexibility and adaptability are key to staying one step ahead of your adversaries.
  5. Map Control and Expansion: In multiplayer matches, securing map control and expanding your territory is crucial. Establish outposts, control sacred sites, and deny your opponents access to valuable resources. Expand strategically to maintain a strong economy and gain an advantage over your enemies.
  6. Continuous Unit Production: In the heat of battle, it's important to maintain a steady stream of military units. Consistently produce units from your military buildings to reinforce your armies and defend against enemy attacks. Balance your unit composition based on your civilization's strengths, your opponents' strategies, and the current state of the game.
  7. Learn from Defeats: Don't be discouraged by defeats in multiplayer matches. Instead, use them as opportunities for growth and improvement. Analyze your replays, identify your weaknesses, and learn from your mistakes. Embrace a growth mindset and continually refine your strategies to become a stronger player.

Remember, success in multiplayer matches requires practice, adaptability, and effective teamwork. Stay focused, communicate with your teammates, and strive to constantly improve your skills.

Good luck on the multiplayer battlefield!

Conclusion

In summary, "Age of Empires IV" offers a world of strategic possibilities and immerses you in the rich historical tapestry of civilizations. Through our ultimate guide, we have covered essential aspects to help you embark on your journey in this epic game.

From understanding the terminology to choosing a civilization and mastering the basic mechanics of the game, we have provided valuable insights and practical tips to establish a solid foundation.

Remember that "Age of Empires IV" is a constantly evolving game, with new strategies to discover and challenges to overcome. Don't be afraid to experiment, learn from defeats, and celebrate victories. Ultimately, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey and connect with the historical richness and thrilling experiences that this game has to offer.

So, armed with our advice and knowledge, dive into the battlefield, build your empire, and leave your mark in history. May your conquests in "Age of Empires IV" be glorious and your strategies legendary! See you on the battlefield.