Age of Empires IV
Age of Empires IV

Mission 2: The March on London

Age of Empires IV Mission 2: The March on London guides you through reclaiming London and establishing your base. Learn essential base building and resource ma.

·Multi-source verified (142/142)

Mission 2: The March on London

Objective: Reclaim the city of London and establish a regional base. This mission introduces essential base building and resource management, laying the groundwork for your campaign against the Saxons. Success hinges on a strong early economy and robust defenses.

Mission 2: The March on London - Age of Empires IV screenshot
Mission 2: The March on London

Mission Briefing

Following your initial landing, your forces must secure London, a strategically vital city in the south. The Saxons have established a presence here, and you'll need to dislodge them while simultaneously building up your own infrastructure. This mission emphasizes rapid expansion, resource gathering, and early military defense against persistent aggression.

Enemy Threats

  • Saxon Raiders: Expect frequent, small-to-medium sized raiding parties consisting primarily of Spearmen and Archers. These attacks will target your resource gatherers and vulnerable structures.
  • Saxon Outposts: Scattered around London, these outposts will spawn enemy units. Destroying them will reduce the frequency and strength of attacks.
  • Fortified Positions: The main Saxon encampment within London will be heavily defended with defensive structures and a larger contingent of units, including potentially some early cavalry.

Recommended Units

  • Spearmen: Excellent early-game counter to Saxon cavalry and effective against basic infantry. Train 5-7 initially to protect your villagers and form a frontline. Continue producing as needed to counter cavalry.
  • Archers: Crucial for ranged defense and harassing enemy units. Position them on high ground or behind walls for maximum effectiveness. Aim for 8-10 in your early defense force, and 15-20 for the main assault.
  • Men-at-Arms: Your primary offensive unit. Their heavy armor makes them resilient against most early Saxon units. Prioritize upgrading their armor and attack. Build 8-12 for your main assault force.
  • Scouts: Essential for early map exploration, locating resource nodes, identifying enemy patrol routes, and discovering Saxon outpost locations. Maintain 1-2 active scouts throughout the mission.

Phase 1: Initial Landing and Resource Establishment (0-10 Minutes)

You begin this mission with a small contingent of starting units and a few villagers. Your immediate priority is to establish a stable economy while fending off early Saxon aggression.

  1. Scout Immediately: Use your starting Scout to quickly uncover the immediate vicinity around your Town Center. Locate nearby sheep (critical for early food), forests, and stone/gold deposits. Identify the paths Saxon raiders might take.
  2. Villager Distribution (Initial):
    • Assign 3-4 villagers to gather food from sheep. Keep them close to the Town Center for safety.
    • Assign 2-3 villagers to chop wood from the nearest forest.
    • Send 1-2 villagers to construct a Lumber Camp near a dense forest and a Mining Camp near a gold deposit.
  3. Town Center Production: Continuously produce villagers from your Town Center. Aim for a steady stream to rapidly grow your economy. Your goal is to reach approximately 25-30 villagers by the 10-minute mark.
  4. Early Defense (0-5 minutes):
    • Your starting militia (Spearmen and Archers) should be positioned defensively around your Town Center and primary resource nodes. Create a small defensive perimeter.
    • Expect the first Saxon probes around the 3-minute mark. These will typically be 2-3 Spearmen or Archers. Use your starting units to repel them. Focus fire on enemy Archers first with your own Archers, and use Spearmen to engage enemy melee units. Keep your villagers safe by garrisoning them in the Town Center if overwhelmed.
    • Build Order (Early Game - first 10 minutes):
      • 0:00 - 1:00: Start 2-3 villagers on sheep, 2 on wood. Queue continuous villager production.
      • 1:00 - 2:00: Build a Lumber Camp (near wood) and a Mining Camp (near gold). Assign new villagers accordingly.
      • 2:00 - 4:00: Build a House (to maintain population cap) and a Barracks. Train 2-3 Spearmen immediately for early defense against potential cavalry or infantry raids.
      • 4:00 - 6:00: Build a Mill near a berry bush or deer for additional food income. Research Wheelbarrow at the Town Center as soon as resources allow (around 6-7 minutes) to boost villager gathering rates significantly.
      • 6:00 - 10:00: Build an Archery Range and begin training 4-6 Archers to supplement your defense. Aim for a force of 4-5 Spearmen and 6-8 Archers to handle persistent Saxon aggression. Consider building a second Town Center if your economy is booming and you have 400 wood and 100 stone, as this will drastically increase villager production and resource income. Place it near a new resource patch.
  5. Balancing Economy and Defense: The key to Phase 1 is to not overcommit to military early. Your primary goal is to establish a robust economy. Repel raids with minimal losses, using your starting units and a small, quickly produced defensive force. Prioritize villager production and economic upgrades. If a raid is too strong, garrison villagers in the Town Center and let its arrows do the work.
  6. Age-Up Strategy: Aim to Age-Up to Feudal Age (Age II) as soon as you have approximately 15-20 villagers and sufficient resources (500 Food, 200 Gold). This should ideally happen around the 7-9 minute mark. Choose a landmark that benefits your current strategy, such as the Abbey of Kings for early healing or the Council Hall for faster Archer production.
  7. Essential Early Technologies:
    • Feudal Age (Age II):
      • Wheelbarrow (Town Center): Crucial for villager efficiency.
      • Double-Bit Axe (Lumber Camp): Increases wood gathering rate.
      • Horticulture (Mill): Increases food gathering rate from farms/berries.
      • Survival Techniques (Town Center): Increases health of all units, useful for early skirmishes.

Phase 2: Securing Outskirts and Fortifying (10-20 Minutes)

Once your basic economy is established and you've reached Feudal Age, your focus shifts to securing the immediate area around London and preparing for more sustained Saxon attacks and future offensives.

  1. Wall Off Vulnerable Areas: Use your initial stone income (from your Mining Camp) to construct palisade walls around your main base, especially protecting your resource gatherers and economic buildings. Prioritize chokepoints and natural defensive positions. This will funnel enemy raids and buy you time.
  2. Establish Forward Outposts/Watch Towers: As your military grows, send a small force (e.g., 2 Spearmen, 3 Archers) to clear out minor Saxon encampments or patrol key areas identified by your scout. Build Watch Towers at strategic locations, particularly near resource nodes that are further from your Town Center, and along common enemy patrol routes. These provide early warning and additional defensive fire.
  3. Research Upgrades:
    • Blacksmith: Build a Blacksmith and research Melee Damage and Ranged Damage upgrades for your military units (e.g., "Iron Plating" for melee, "Bodkin Arrow" for ranged). Prioritize these to make your existing units more effective.
    • Economic Upgrades: Continue researching economic upgrades at the Mill and Lumber Camp (e.g., Horticulture, Double-Bit Axe, and their subsequent tiers as you gather resources).
    • Military Technologies: Consider researching Professional Scouts (Town Center) if you rely heavily on hunting or want to quickly gather sheep from across the map.
  4. Unit Composition for Defense:
    • Maintain a balanced force of Spearmen and Archers. A good ratio is 1:2 (1 Spearman for every 2 Archers). Aim for a standing army of at least 8-10 Spearmen and 15-20 Archers by the end of this phase.
    • Position Archers on elevated terrain or behind walls. Use Spearmen to screen them from incoming melee units.
    • Your starting militia should be integrated into these defensive lines, leveraging their experience.
  5. Scout Aggressively: Continue using your Scout to locate all Saxon outposts and the main Saxon base within London. Understanding their layout, patrol paths, and resource locations is key to a successful assault. Identify the main fortified entrance to London.
  6. Prepare for Counter-Attacks: Saxon attacks will intensify as you push further into their territory or destroy their outposts. Always have a reserve force ready to defend your base. Consider building a second Barracks or Archery Range to quickly reinforce your army during sustained engagements.
  7. Initial Strategy for Fortified Positions: While you won't assault the main Saxon encampment in this phase, your scouting should identify its primary defensive structures (walls, towers, gates). Note potential weak points or areas where you can gain a positional advantage. Start accumulating stone for future siege units.

Phase 3: Assault on London (20+ Minutes)

With a stable economy, robust defenses, and a well-trained army, it's time to reclaim London. This phase requires careful unit management, strategic engagement, and effective use of siege weaponry.

  1. Age-Up to Castle Age (Age III): Before launching your final assault, aim to Age-Up to Castle Age (Age III) if you haven't already. This unlocks stronger units like Men-at-Arms and more powerful technologies. You'll need 1200 Food and 600 Gold. Choose a landmark that provides a military advantage, such as the White Tower for defensive strength or the Berkshire Palace for a strong defensive position.
  2. Build a Siege Workshop: Construct a Siege Workshop and train at least two Rams. Rams are essential for breaking down fortified Saxon gates and walls. If you have reached Castle Age, consider building a Mangonel for area-of-effect damage against clustered enemy units and defensive structures.
  3. Form Your Attack Force:
    • Aim for a force of 8-10 Men-at-Arms (fully upgraded for melee damage and armor), 15-20 Archers (fully upgraded for ranged damage and range), and 4-5 Spearmen to protect your Rams and flank enemy cavalry.
    • Assign your Rams (and Mangonels, if built) to a separate control group for easy management during the assault. Assign your main army to another control group.
  4. Advance Cautiously: Move your army towards the main Saxon encampment within London. Use your Scouts to clear the fog of war ahead of your main force. Advance with your Spearmen and Men-at-Arms in the front, protecting your Archers and siege units behind them.
  5. Target Defensive Structures: Direct your Rams to attack gates and walls. If you have Mangonels, use them to target enemy archer emplacements or clusters of infantry behind walls. Once a breach is made, send your Men-at-Arms to engage the Saxon defenders inside, followed by your Spearmen to counter any cavalry.
  6. Eliminate Key Structures: Focus on destroying Saxon production buildings (Barracks, Archery Ranges, Stables) first to cripple their ability to reinforce. Next, target their Town Center. Destroying these will severely weaken their resistance.
  7. Secure the City: Systematically clear out any remaining Saxon resistance within London. Be wary of hidden units or small pockets of resistance. Once the main Saxon structures are destroyed and their forces routed, the city will be yours.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

  • Don't Neglect Economy: Even during intense combat, ensure your villager production and resource gathering remain constant. A strong economy fuels a strong army. Keep your Town Centers busy!
  • Scout Regularly: Information is power. Knowing where enemy patrols are, where resources are located, and the layout of Saxon defenses will give you a significant advantage. Use your Scout to draw enemy units into favorable engagements near your defenses.
  • Micro-Manage Archers: Archers are squishy but deal high damage. Keep them protected behind melee units and focus fire on dangerous enemy units (e.g., enemy Archers, Spearmen, or even early cavalry). Use their range advantage.
  • Use Control Groups: Assign different unit types (melee, ranged, siege) to separate control groups for efficient command during battles. This allows for quick repositioning and targeting.
  • Upgrade, Upgrade, Upgrade: research military and economic upgrades at the Blacksmith, Town Center, Mill, and Lumber Camp. These provide significant boosts to your units' effectiveness and your economy's efficiency. Prioritize armor and damage upgrades for your main combat units.
  • Use Garrisoning: If your villagers are attacked, garrison them in the Town Center or Watch Towers for protection. The Town Center will fire arrows, helping to deter or eliminate small raiding parties.
  • Flanking and Positioning: When engaging the main Saxon force, try to flank them with your cavalry or a small group of Men-at-Arms while your main force engages from the front. Use high ground for your Archers to maximize their damage and range.