Naval Warfare

Mastering naval combat in Age of Empires IV can be the key to controlling vital resources, launching devastating coastal assaults, or defending your shores from enemy incursions. This detailed guide will equip you with the knowledge to dominate the seas.

Early Game Naval Dominance: Fishing and Exploration

In the early stages of a game with water, your primary naval focus should be on establishing a strong economic base and scouting. Naval units are expensive, so efficient resource gathering is paramount.

Dock Placement: Construct your first Dock as early as possible on a resource-rich coastline. Prioritize areas with dense Fish Shoals for maximum efficiency.
Fishing Boats: Immediately begin training Fishing Boats. Each boat costs 60 Wood and 30 Food. Aim for at least 5-7 Fishing Boats per Dock to ensure a steady food income.
Scouting with Transport Ships: While not combat-oriented, a single Transport Ship (100 Wood) can be invaluable for early-game exploration. Use it to discover enemy shorelines, potential landing zones, and additional resource nodes. Be wary of enemy Docks, as even early combat ships can quickly dispatch an unarmed Transport Ship.

Mid-Game Naval Engagements: Establishing Control

As you advance to the Feudal Age (Age II) and Castle Age (Age III), naval combat becomes more complex, requiring a balanced fleet and strategic upgrades.

Feudal Age (Age II) Naval Units

The Feudal Age introduces your first combat ships. Focus on a mix of these units to counter early threats.

Galley: The basic combat ship, costing 90 Wood and 30 Gold. Galleys are fast and effective against other early ships and unarmored land units near the shore. Build these in numbers to establish early map control.
Demolition Ship: A specialized unit costing 60 Wood and 60 Gold. These ships are essentially floating bombs, dealing massive area-of-effect damage upon detonation. Use them to break up enemy ship formations or destroy Docks and coastal defenses. Their low health makes them vulnerable, so protect them with Galleys.

Castle Age (Age III) Naval Units and Upgrades

The Castle Age significantly expands your naval arsenal and introduces crucial upgrades. This is where true naval power begins to emerge.

Springald Ship: A long-range siege ship, costing 150 Wood and 75 Gold. Springald Ships are excellent for taking down enemy siege units on land, harassing coastal buildings, and countering heavily armored ships from a distance. Their slow attack rate means they need protection.
Cannon Ship: The ultimate naval siege unit, costing 200 Wood and 100 Gold. Cannon Ships deal immense damage to buildings and large groups of units. They are slow and expensive but can turn the tide of a coastal siege.
Naval Upgrades (Blacksmith):
- Naval Armor: Increases the armor of all your ships. Essential for prolonged engagements.
- Naval Attack: Boosts the attack power of your combat ships. Prioritize this for your primary damage dealers.
Naval Upgrades (University):
- Ballistics: Improves the accuracy of projectile-based ships (Galleys, Springald Ships) against moving targets.
- Chemistry: Increases the damage of gunpowder units, including Cannon Ships.

Late Game Naval Strategy: Combined Arms and Coastal Assaults

In the Imperial Age (Age IV), naval warfare often involves large-scale fleet battles and coordinated land-sea invasions.

Fleet Composition: A balanced late-game fleet typically consists of:
- Cannon Ships: For devastating siege damage against enemy Docks, Keeps, and other coastal structures.
- Springald Ships: To counter enemy siege units, both naval and land-based, and provide long-range support.
- Galleys/Warships (Civilization Specific): To engage enemy combat ships and protect your siege vessels.
- Transport Ships: For landing ground forces on enemy shores. Load them with a mix of siege units (Trebuchets, Bombards) and infantry/cavalry for a strong beachhead.
Coastal Bombardment: Use your Cannon Ships and Springald Ships to soften up enemy coastal defenses before landing your ground troops. Target Docks first to cripple their naval production, then Keeps and Outposts.
Flanking Maneuvers: If possible, split your fleet to attack from multiple angles, overwhelming enemy defenses and preventing them from concentrating their fire.
Protecting Your Docks: Build Keeps or Outposts near your Docks and upgrade them with Embrasures to provide defensive fire against enemy naval attacks.

Civilization-Specific Naval Advantages

Each civilization has unique naval strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these can give you a significant edge.

Abbasid Dynasty: Benefit from cheaper Docks and faster-producing Fishing Boats, allowing for early economic dominance on water maps. Their Dhow is a versatile early combat ship.
English: Their Longbowmen can be garrisoned in Docks for additional defensive fire, making their coastal areas harder to assault.
French: Their Hulk is a powerful, heavily armored warship that excels in direct combat.
Holy Roman Empire: While not traditionally a naval powerhouse, their strong economy can support larger, more expensive fleets in the late game.
Malians: Their unique Galleass is a formidable combat ship with strong ranged attacks.
Mongols: Can pack up and move their Docks, offering unparalleled flexibility in naval strategy and allowing them to quickly establish new naval bases.
Rus: Their Lodya Ship can transform into different ship types, offering incredible adaptability. They also benefit from early access to powerful naval units.
Sultanate of Delhi: Their War Elephant Ship is a unique and powerful unit, capable of both combat and transport.

By understanding these principles and adapting them to your chosen civilization and the specific map, you will be well on your way to becoming a master of naval warfare in Age of Empires IV.