Affinity System

The Affinity System in Age of Wonders 4 is a crucial mechanic that shapes your ruler's identity, unlocks powerful Tomes of Magic, and influences your empire's playstyle. Understanding and strategically managing your affinities is key to success, whether you aim for a specific victory condition or simply want to customize your experience.

Understanding Affinities

There are six primary affinities, each representing a distinct philosophical and magical path:

Astral: Focuses on magic, knowledge, and cosmic power.
Chaos: Embraces destruction, change, and raw, untamed energy.
Dark: Deals with necromancy, suffering, and manipulation.
Feudal: Emphasizes order, loyalty, and traditional warfare.
Materium: Governs creation, industry, and the physical world.
Nature: Connects with growth, life, and the untamed wilderness.

As you accumulate affinity points, you unlock access to higher-tier Tomes of Magic within that affinity, granting increasingly potent spells, units, and empire upgrades. Each affinity also provides passive bonuses to your empire, making early specialization beneficial.

Gaining Affinity Points

Affinity points are not a passive gain; you must actively pursue them through various in-game actions. Here's a breakdown of the primary methods:

1. Ruler & Society Traits

Character Creation: Your initial ruler and society traits are the first and most impactful source of affinity points. For example, choosing the "Runesmiths" society trait grants +2 Materium Affinity and +1 Astral Affinity at the start of the game. Similarly, a ruler with the "Great Builders" trait starts with +2 Materium Affinity. Plan your initial build carefully to align with your desired playstyle.
Custom Empire: When creating a custom empire, pay close attention to the affinity bonuses provided by each culture, society trait, and ruler origin. These choices will heavily influence your early game affinity accumulation.

2. Tome of Magic Selection

Researching Tomes: Each Tome of Magic you research provides a significant boost to its associated affinity. For instance, researching the Tier 1 Tome of the Horde (Chaos) grants a substantial amount of Chaos Affinity.
Strategic Progression: To unlock higher-tier Tomes, you need a certain amount of affinity in that path. This creates a natural progression where researching lower-tier Tomes helps you access more powerful ones later. For example, to unlock a Tier 3 Materium Tome, you'll typically need around 6-8 Materium Affinity, which you'll gain by researching Tier 1 and Tier 2 Materium Tomes.

3. World Map Interactions

Ancient Wonders: Clearing Ancient Wonders often rewards affinity points. For example, defeating the guardians of a "Sunken Temple" might grant Astral Affinity, while conquering a "Dwarven Hold" could yield Materium Affinity. Always check the potential rewards before committing your armies.
Resource Nodes: Certain special resource nodes, once claimed, provide a small passive income of affinity points per turn. Look for nodes like "Astral Conduits" (Astral Affinity) or "Dark Monoliths" (Dark Affinity) and prioritize securing them.
Quest Rewards: Completing certain quests, particularly those from Free Cities or story events, can offer affinity points as a reward. Always read quest descriptions carefully to identify opportunities to gain your desired affinities.

4. Empire Development

City Structures: Some city buildings provide a small, consistent income of affinity points. For example, a "Grand Library" might generate Astral Affinity, while a "War College" could provide Feudal Affinity. Build these strategically in your cities.
Province Upgrades: Certain province improvements, such as "Astral Weavers" or "Chaos Forges," can also contribute to your affinity generation.

Strategic Walkthrough Steps for Affinity Management

Early Game (Turns 1-30)

Define Your Goal: Before starting, decide which affinity (or two) you want to prioritize. This will guide your initial ruler and society choices. For a strong early military, consider Feudal or Chaos. For a magical focus, Astral or Dark are good starts.
Character Creation Synergy:
- Example (Materium Focus): Choose the "Industrial" culture for +1 Materium Affinity. Select the "Runesmiths" society trait for an additional +2 Materium and +1 Astral. Pick a ruler origin like "Ancient Warden" for another +1 Materium. This gives you a strong starting Materium base.
- Example (Dark Focus): Select the "Dark" culture for +1 Dark Affinity. Choose the "Shadow Walkers" society trait for +2 Dark and +1 Chaos. Pick a ruler origin like "Necromancer" for another +1 Dark.
First Tome Selection: Immediately research a Tier 1 Tome that aligns with your primary affinity. If you're going Materium, the Tome of the Rock or Tome of the Builder are excellent choices. For Dark, the Tome of Souls is a strong start.
Explore and Secure: Prioritize exploring your immediate surroundings. Look for Ancient Wonders that offer your desired affinity as a reward. For example, if you need Astral, scout for "Arcane Vaults" or "Mystic Shrines."
Initial City Building: Construct affinity-generating buildings early. If focusing on Materium, a "Mason's Guild" or "Foundry" can provide early boosts. For Astral, a "Scribe's Guild" is a good option.

Mid Game (Turns 31-70)

Tome Progression: Continue researching Tomes within your chosen affinity path. Aim to unlock Tier 2 and Tier 3 Tomes as soon as your affinity allows. Remember that each Tome research provides more affinity points.
Expand Strategically: When expanding your empire, prioritize provinces with special resource nodes that grant your desired affinity. For instance, securing a "Crystal Vein" for Materium or an "Astral Node" for Astral.
Hero Recruitment: Pay attention to the affinity bonuses heroes provide. Some heroes, upon recruitment, offer a one-time affinity boost or have skills that generate affinity. For example, a "Chaos Herald" hero might grant +1 Chaos Affinity.
Diplomacy and Vassals: Forming alliances or vassalizing Free Cities can sometimes lead to affinity gains through shared culture or specific diplomatic agreements.

Late Game (Turns 71+)

Capstone Tomes: Focus on reaching the required affinity levels to unlock Tier 4 and Tier 5 Capstone Tomes. These offer the most powerful spells and units, often defining your late-game strategy and victory condition.
Affinity Victory Condition: If pursuing an Affinity Victory (e.g., Astral Affinity Victory), ensure you have enough affinity to construct the necessary structures (e.g., the "Astral Seed" for Astral). This typically requires a very high level of specialization.
Synergistic Affinity Stacking: While specializing is good, don't ignore secondary affinities entirely. A small investment in a complementary affinity (e.g., Materium for defensive structures alongside Feudal for strong units) can provide valuable utility.

Advanced Tips

Affinity Pacts: Some events or diplomatic options might offer "Affinity Pacts" which provide temporary or permanent affinity gains. Always weigh the costs and benefits.
Racial Transformations: Certain racial transformations, unlocked through specific Tomes, can provide passive affinity generation or enhance existing affinity bonuses. For example, the "Astral Attunement" transformation increases Astral Affinity income.
Overcoming Affinity Deficiencies: If you find yourself lacking in a crucial affinity, consider:
- Aggressively clearing Ancient Wonders in enemy territory that grant that affinity.
- Prioritizing research of any remaining lower-tier Tomes in that affinity.
- Recruiting heroes or building city structures that provide the missing affinity.

By carefully planning your empire from the outset and making informed decisions throughout your campaign, you can master the Affinity System and guide your ruler to glorious victory in Age of Wonders 4.

Affinity System — Age of Wonders 4 Guide