The latest release from Relic Studios has players riled up for a real-time strategy (RTS) game that reinvents the art of war.Age of Empires 4gives gamerseight distinct civilizations with which to wage warand conquer lands far and wide. The game allows players to choose between taking control of the Rus, Chinese, English, French, Abbasid Dynasty, Mongols, Delhi Sultanate, and the Holy Roman Empire.
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Gamers can compete with thousands of others online in skirmishes, leading their armies into battle for supreme victory. For newcomers, though, it can be a little challenging to get started. Follow these tips to build grand cities, set up impenetrable armies, and defeat world-renownedAge of Empiresexperts to gain respect in the international community.
10Gather Food, Wood, Gold, And Stone
Each skirmish game begins with a Town Center and a handful of villagers. Regardless of the empire players choose to build,villagers are key to a successful reign of their civilization. They can be commanded to collect food, wood, gold, and stone from the map. Farming these four resources is essential toconstruct buildings, weapons, ships, and to produce military unitsto protect cities and attack enemies.
Make use of strategic drop-off pointsalong the map to ease the strain on villagers, as these can drastically cut down the time it takes to gather resources. Players must also keep a close eye on the total population of their civilization to maintain upkeep.
9Lay Siege On The Landmarks For A Landmark Victory
Age of Empires 4introduces players to a new system to advance through the ages. Special structures called Landmarks have to be built in order to advance from Age 1 to Age 4. Depending on the civilization players pick, they can gain access to unique technological and military advancements at their Landmarks. For example, advancing a Rus landmark from Age 1 to Age 2 will increase the damage of arrows from Outposts.
Since Landmarks are important to a civilization,destroying all the enemy landmarks will result in a Landmark Victory.It is one of the simplest ways to win a skirmish. As a bonus, players unlock the"Make It Quick" achievement by getting a Landmark Victory in Age 1.
8Be The First To Strike
In general, veteran players of theAge of Empiresseries that are offensive in their strategy have a higher chance of winning than those with a defensive strategy. Professional gamers tend tomove armies into their enemies’ bases early on, to launch a surprise attack.
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An early attack on the enemy can deplete their resources, as well as damage central buildings such as the Town Center and Landmarks.Cavalry units that belong to the French civilizationcan be commanded to catch enemies off-guard and ambush them. Being the first to attack can stump enemies’ progress and slow their recovery, giving players plenty of time to launch a second assault.
7Infiltrate The Enemy On Ground
Melee units such as Landsknecht, Spearmen, and Men-at-Arms are fast on the ground and deal damage up close in combat.Sending out small factions of Spearmen to infiltrate enemies from time to timecan prove to be an effective strategy in battle.
Several improvements can be unlocked to enhance the abilities of the infantry. For example, players can consider constructingMarching Drills to increase the speed of melee units.These military units are particularly strong against cavalry and can protect the base from early attacks. Meanwhile, archers can deal piercing damage to infantry and can mutilate an army of foot soldiers.
6Practice With Bots
As a massively multiplayer game, Age of Empires 4 offers player es. player (PvP) and player es. environment (PvE) mode. In the PvE mode, players can fight skirmish matches offline against artificial intelligence (AI). It also has a PvE co-op mode that enables players to team up with friends against AI.
For those who find international matchups over-competitive, players canimprove their battle tactics by regularly practicing against AI.Age of Empires 4lets players fight against easy AI, intermediate AI, hard AI, and hardest AI. Beginners can gradually progress from easy to hardest at their leisure before stepping back into the international arena to fight seasoned players.
5Command Ships And Control The Sea
Gamers can expand their empire across land and sea inAge of Empires 4. By exploring the coastline, can they canlocate deep-sea fishing spots for food and find enemy settlements hidden off the map.
New players can construct a dock on the shore to buildFishing Ships, Carriers, and War Ships.A fleet of War Ships can easily destroy enemy camps on islands and coasts, while Fishing Ships can also be used to repair damaged War Ships on the sea. A lesser-known fact about the Rus civilization is that their Lodya ships can be turned into any other type of ship, making them ideal for marine mastery.
4Upgrade Units For Annihilation
Beginners can take a look at the Tech Tree to get an overview of all the units and structures that can be built in each Age. The Tech Tree is different for each of the eight civilizations in the game, but each one will also show players a variety of research possibilities to upgrade their units.
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As players move through the Ages, they have to be decisive about whichspecific units they would like to improve to gain an upper hand in battle. For example, in Age 4 of the French civilization, theCollege of Artillery can unlock gunpowder units that deal additional damage to their foes.
3Take Down Enemies From Afar
Ranged attacks inAge of Empires 4can be used to devastate incoming enemies from a distance. Horse Archers, Longbowmen, Nest of Bees, Zhuge Nu, Tower War Elephants, andTrebuchet are excellent ranged unitsthat can help players beat opponents in battle.
The Trebuchet is the latest siege weapon to be launched inAge of Empires 4.Even The Mountain from Game of Throneswas no match for its might. This monstrosity of a machine can cost a lot of wood and gold to build, but it’s worth the price. Setting up multiple trebuchets can tear down enemy walls and conquer civilizations in a jiffy.
2Shield Support Units
Players new toAge of Empires 4can become carried away by the strength of military units. In addition to the armies, weapons, and ships, support units also play a pivotal role in the real-time strategy game. Unlike other units, these are available from the start of a skirmish.
Support units such as the Warrior Monk can be used topick up relics and capture sacred sites. The Prelate canheal nearby units and improve their armor and damage,while Scholars can hastenresearch and technology upgrades. Set aside a few soldiers to guard these support units, and turn the tide of the battle.
1Secure The Perimeter
Before preparing to launch an attack on enemies, verify the base is guarded. Defend the Town Center and the rest of the nearby buildings byraising walls around the settlement. Discover strategic locations on the map by exploring the terrain, and place Outposts and Towers that detect and destroy enemies.
Unique structures such asCastles, The White Tower, and The Berkshire Palace can maim enemies approaching Landmarks and sacred sites. Players choosing the Chinese civilization can erect The Great Wall to fortify their camp in Age 4. As they say, the best offense is a good defense.
