= Probe To Play =

Learn the 'Probe to Play' strategy in Age of Empires IV. A guide to delaying Bronze Age for economic advantage and minimal Tool Age attacks.

The Probe to Play strategy in Age of Empires IV is a final Tool-Age approach focused on transitioning to the Bronze Age while employing a minor attack during the Tool Age. This strategy is similar to the Pass strategy but slightly delays the Bronze Age to incorporate a small offensive push in the Tool Age. This attack can involve units created before the Bronze upgrade begins, potentially compromising Bronze Age timing, or units created after the upgrade starts, resulting in a less potent offensive army immediately after reaching the Bronze Age. The primary goal is to reach the Bronze Age swiftly while using a minimal Tool-Aged attack to disrupt the opponent. This concept of a minimal Tool Age attack en route to a quick Bronze Age is often termed Resource Equalisation.

The Probe to Play strategy is fundamentally offensive, aiming to reach the Bronze Age shortly after the enemy but with a superior economy. However, it can incorporate defensive elements, especially when used by slower civilizations (any except Shang, Yamato, Assyria, or Phoenicia) to allow their military to develop. A minimal Tool Age attack buys time for resource walling. When pitted against a Pass strategy, Probe to Play can be highly effective as Tool Age troops assault an undefended economy. While the opponent might reach the Bronze Age first, the economic disruption from the early attack often prevents them from launching a strong immediate offensive. Furthermore, Probe to Play offers a 'probing view' of the enemy's town layout, allowing Bronze Age troops to target specific resource locations, unlike the enemy's Bronze Age troops who may still be searching for your Villagers.

A key advantage of the Probe to Play strategy is its subtlety, appearing similar to a Pass strategy to opponents. It can be distinguished from a Tool Rush by the number of Villagers created before transitioning to the Tool Age. Typical indicators include:

• Bronzing with approximately 20-24 Villagers.
• Researching a few technologies immediately after Tooling, such as the Wall upgrade.
• An attack around the 11-minute mark with un-upgraded or few in number Tool-Aged troops.

An example of this strategy in play involved an Assyrian player encountering Shang Villagers gathering berries. The Assyrian player sent one Villager, which escaped Shang's three pursuing Villagers. Shortly after, the Assyrian attacked with two Tool Bowmen lacking the defensive armor upgrade. Despite losing a few Villagers and production time, the absence of the armor upgrade hinted at a Probe to Play strategy, indicating the player was progressing towards the Bronze Age. Simultaneously, the Shang player attacked with Scouts, killing a similar number of Assyrian Villagers. The Shang Scouts survived by retreating from heavy resistance. As the Shang player moved to new berry patches, the Assyrian player arrived with their first Chariot Archer. The Assyrian player walled their production, but the Shang player used a transport to deploy 3 Cavalry units and a Scout behind the enemy walls, destroying wood production and ending the game.