Praetorians: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

Praetorians is a real-time strategy game that recently resurfaced after a good nineteen years out of circulation. Thanks to Game Pass reviving the cult-classic tactical wargame, subscribers now have the opportunity to return to the battlefield and wreak havoc on its countless sprites and shadowy regions. Question is, how are you supposed to do just that, and how can a game that's predominantly PC-based be tamed on something as mechanically-impaired as an Xbox Series X?

Well, as it goes, Praetorians isn't the most overly complex game on the market. That isn't to say that it comes without a sharp learning curve, though, as you'll probably come to realize after thrashing out the initial four tutorial levels. But what else do you need to know to be able to get snag a foothold in the game's competitive scene?

5. Scouting Ahead Is Key

At the beginning of every match, you'll have a Scout employed in your army, who can explore the shaded regions ahead and avoid being detected by enemy soldiers. The key here, of course, is to scout the hidden areas before sending your troops in with all guns blazing. Another reason for sending your Scout is because they also have access to a companion that bears the ability to disguise themselves in rocky or wooded areas.

When you begin a game, start by sending out your Scout's companion to uncover key sections of the map. Chances are, they'll unearth one of your opponent's hidden defensive areas or barracks, where additional troops may be stationed. By having an extra pair of eyes on the road at all times, you'll no doubt be able to anticipate the enemy's next move and, in turn, prepare the necessary preliminaries to defend your camp.

4. Build Your Defensive Towers

It goes without saying that camps, as much as we'd like for them to be indestructible works of art, break. And unless you've prepared Defensive Towers all around the open ports of entry before the enemy swoops in for the counterattack, then that camp of yours isn't going to last sixty seconds. So, shortly after you send your Scout out to explore the unknown, aim to build a good four or five Defensive Towers around your camp.

Of course, there are other buildings that you can erect once you've established your first line of defenses, though having your slaves build Defensive Towers should always be your first command. Once established, you can look to build additional things, including ballistas, catapults, and battering rams. These will eventually come with you as you prepare for your final assault on the enemy's main camp.

3. Control Your Units Individually

You wouldn't necessarily bring a knife to a gun fight in the hopes that it would give you an advantage over your opponent. The fact is, doing such a thing would only lead to imminent failure, and would whittle your knife-wielding optimists down to a pittance. The same goes for Praetorians, which means bringing the wrong type of unit to the wrong type of enemy is only a recipe for disaster.

As convenient as it is to be able to select your entire army in one swift action, it isn't technically recommended, especially when you're going in for the counterattack. The fact is, if you don't send your units to the right enemy, then the whole clash becomes something of a bloodbath, in which nobody wins the bout. Ranged weapons shouldn't go against melee weapons, and, you know, Scouts shouldn't be pummeling catapults with their bare fists.

2. Patrol Your Camp

In Praetorians, you can command your units to do a variety of different actions, things that go beyond simply attacking, defending, and retreating. Patrolling, for example, means volleying back and forth between checkpoints to keep an eye out for potential targets and enemy Scouts. The goal at the begining of a match, then, would be to have a few of your units patrol the camp and its surrounding borders.

Of course, the more troops you have, the better your defenses will be. And in this case, you'll definitely want a set amount of units patroling the borders, a primary defensive unit to guard the camp, and another section of units to launch the counterattacks against the enemy camps. These units are more likely to be accompanied by catapults, ballistas, and battering rams. If you can cover all bases and have troops spread across the monopoly, then you'll essentially have no stone left unturned. The idea here, of course, is learning how to keep on top of all units simultaneously.

1. Play Skirmishes

Unlike the campaign missions which, to be fair, can get a little overwhelming, Skirmishes can provide a balanced challenge that will not only adapt to your skill level, but give you an idea of all the terrain types that you'll eventually encounter in the other game modes. It's a good idea, then, to play a few Skirmishes to help whet your appetite for the tougher campaign missions.

A general rule of thumb here, of course, would be to completely steer clear of the multiplayer matches, as these can be ridiculously competitive and unforgiving to those who haven't already poured a few dozens hours into the campaign. Do yourself a favor here and beat the story quests and a handful of Skirmishes before putting yourself up on the pedestal. You'll thank yourself for it later.

So, what's your take on Praetorians? Are there any tips that you'd suggest for this list? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.