Age of Empires IV: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

Age of Empires IV is the ultimate real-time strategy game. Quite literally starting from nothing, you're in a base race against opposing nations to conquer, divide, and rule. As a result, there is a lot to consider in your journey of becoming the greatest civilization in all of history. That's why if you're just starting out, you'll want to know these Age of Empires IV tips for beginners. After all, there's a lot to digest in this RTS, which might lead to a disastrous start if you don't know what's going on. That's why we've provided these pointers so you can get started on the right foot.

5. Play the Tutorial

Although “playing the tutorial” may seem obvious, it's something many beginners overlook. This is because most newcomers have the perception that when they first enter a strategy game, they will be able to rapidly grasp the controls and hit the ground running. That is not only a horrible notion, but it is considerably worse in Age of Empires IV. Because this title is an RTS, the events take place in real-time, which means there is no pause to consider your next move. So, if you skipped the tutorial and don't know what to do next, you're toast.

So, we know it may seem boring, but one of the best Age of Empires IV tips is to play through the entire tutorial. You will not only learn the game's basic controls but also the first pillars of strategy. Overall, the tutorial has a lot to offer, but most importantly, it will allow you to enjoy the game instead of being frustrated by its mechanics.

4. Choosing a Civilization

The second most important aspect of Age of Empires IV is the civilization you choose. That's because each civilization has different mechanics and skill trees that shape their play style. Therefore, each civilization has its own set of advantages and disadvantages to its game, and if you're not sure what those are, you'll be made a quick example of.

That's why one of the best Age of Empires IV tips is to read the description of the civilization you're thinking of playing. That way, you'll know their strengths and weaknesses and will be able to capitalize on them. If you're divided on which civilization to go with, we recommend either England or France. They have the most conventional and welcoming playstyle of any nation, making them ideal for novices. After you've mastered their strategy, you can move on to a more exotic civilization.

3. Advancing Ages

Because Age of Empires IV is a “base race” at heart, it should come as no surprise that one of the biggest tips is to advance ages before your competition. This will not only provide you with new soldiers, upgrades, and technology, but in general, will also put you one step ahead of nations that are an age behind.

Nonetheless, the question is simple: Do you want to be an age behind or ahead of your competitors? The logical answer is ahead. Therefore, pushing to the following age is something that should always be at the forefront of your game. One of the best ways to quickly advance ages is with your villagers, who are possibly the most important component of the early game.

2. Villagers Are Your Best Friend

If played correctly, you can advance to the next age within the first five minutes of the game, giving you a significant advantage over the other civilizations. This can be accomplished by fully utilizing your villagers.

Begin by having them harvest sheep and send a scout to continue sending sheep to your village. Furthermore, you should use your extra villagers to quickly acquire the materials you need to build new houses, a lumber camp, and a mining camp. When all is said and done, you should be ready to advance to the next age, where you can really start taking advantage of the advancements available to you.

So, the overall point of this Age of Empires IV tip is to never undervalue your villagers. They are the fuel that keeps your civilization afloat. And the more of them you have working at once, the faster your nation will progress.

1. Defense First

As mentioned previously, the biggest aspect of Age of Empires IV is that it takes place in real time. An unfortunate component of this is that you can get attacked at a moment's notice – not just when you're ready or when it's most convenient for you. This is consequently why we stressed advancing to the second age so quickly because that's when you can build Barracks and start producing troops, as well as begin putting up wooden walls for defense.

As a result, one of the biggest Age of Empires IV tips is that your focus needs to shift into war mode when entering the second age. Begin assembling your army of troops, archers, and cavalry riders. Set up the necessary defenses and guards to protect your village and villagers, which are your civilization's bread and butter. That way, any nation that washes up on your shores will not take you over without a worthy fight.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other Age of Empires IV tips for beginners that you would suggest? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!