Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV

Learning the Game (Tutorials)

Grasp fundamental mechanics in Age of Empires IV through the essential Art of War tutorials, preparing you for campaigns and multiplayer.

·Multi-source verified (142/142)

Learning the Game (Tutorials)

Welcome, aspiring Emperor! Age of Empires IV, while deeply rewarding, can present a steep learning curve for newcomers and veterans alike. This detailed guide will walk you through the essential tutorials, ensuring you grasp the fundamental mechanics before diving into grand campaigns or competitive multiplayer.

The Art of War Tutorials

These specialized challenges are your best friend for mastering specific game mechanics. Each tutorial focuses on a core concept and provides immediate feedback. Aim for Gold medals in all of them to truly solidify your understanding.

  • Early Economy: This tutorial, often the first recommended, teaches you the critical initial steps of resource gathering.
    • Objective: Reach a certain population and gather specific amounts of Food, Wood, and Gold within a time limit.
    • Actionable Steps:
      1. Immediately queue up Villagers from your Town Center until you have at least 6-8.
      2. Send your initial Villagers to gather from nearby Sheep. Use your Scout to find additional Sheep and herd them back towards your Town Center.
      3. Once you have enough Food for a Lumber Camp, send 2-3 Villagers to chop Wood. Place the Lumber Camp strategically near a dense forest.
      4. As your Food income stabilizes, begin sending Villagers to mine Gold from a nearby Gold Vein. Construct a Mining Camp.
      5. Remember to keep your Town Center constantly producing Villagers until you hit your desired population count. Efficiency is key!
    • Strategy Tip: Prioritize Food early to ensure continuous Villager production. A strong economy is built on a steady stream of workers.
  • Basic Combat: Learn the rock-paper-scissors mechanics of unit matchups and basic army control.
    • Objective: Defeat various enemy unit compositions using appropriate counter-units.
    • Actionable Steps:
      1. Pay close attention to the unit descriptions. Spearmen counter Cavalry, Archers counter Spearmen, and Cavalry counter Archers.
      2. When presented with an enemy force, quickly identify their primary unit type.
      3. Train the appropriate counter-units from your Barracks, Archery Range, or Stable.
      4. Group your units using control groups (Ctrl + Number) for easier management.
      5. Engage the enemy, focusing fire on their most dangerous units or those that are countered by your current composition.
    • Strategy Tip: Never send a single unit type against a strong counter. Diversify your army and use flanking maneuvers where possible.
  • Siege Warfare: Master the art of breaking down enemy defenses and protecting your own.
    • Objective: Destroy enemy walls and keeps, then defend your own structures from a counter-attack.
    • Actionable Steps:
      1. Research the "Siege Engineering" upgrade at your Blacksmith to unlock basic siege units like the Battering Ram.
      2. Construct a Siege Workshop to produce more advanced siege weapons such as Mangonels and Trebuchets.
      3. Use Battering Rams to target Walls and Gates. Protect them with melee infantry.
      4. Utilize Mangonels to clear out groups of enemy archers or infantry behind walls.
      5. For Keeps and other fortified structures, Trebuchets are ideal due to their long range.
      6. When defending, repair your damaged structures with Villagers and position defensive units (e.g., Spearmen, Archers) to counter incoming threats.
    • Strategy Tip: Siege units are slow and vulnerable. Always escort them with a protective force of combat units.

Campaign Learning Missions

The initial missions of each civilization's campaign often serve as extended tutorials, gradually introducing you to unique civilization mechanics and historical contexts. While not explicitly labeled "tutorials," they are invaluable for learning the nuances of each faction.

  • The English Campaign (The Normans):
    • Mission 1: The Landing: Focuses on basic exploration, resource gathering, and establishing a forward base. You'll learn to use your Scout effectively to uncover the map and locate essential resources like Stone and Gold.
    • Mission 2: The Battle of Hastings: Introduces larger-scale combat, unit production, and basic defensive strategies. Pay attention to the objective markers and the advice given by your advisors. You'll often be tasked with defending a specific location or destroying an enemy stronghold.
  • Other Civilizations: As you progress through other campaigns (e.g., Delhi Sultanate, Mongols, Rus), the early missions will similarly guide you through their unique technologies, units, and landmark constructions. For instance, the Delhi Sultanate's early missions will emphasize the importance of Scholars and research speed, while Mongol missions will highlight their mobile buildings and early aggression.

Practice vs. AI

Once you've completed the Art of War tutorials and a few campaign missions, don't hesitate to jump into Skirmish games against the AI. Start with "Easy" difficulty and gradually increase it. This allows you to practice your build orders, unit compositions, and overall strategy in a less stressful environment. Experiment with different civilizations to find your preferred playstyle.

  • Recommended Practice:
    1. Load up a Skirmish game on a standard map like "Dry Arabia."
    2. Choose a civilization you're comfortable with (English is a good starting point).
    3. Focus on executing a clean Age Up to Feudal Age (Age II) as quickly and efficiently as possible.
    4. Practice scouting with your starting Scout to locate all Sheep and identify enemy Town Center locations.
    5. Try to build a small army and engage the AI in early skirmishes to get a feel for combat.