How to Play the Game Age of Empires IV: A Beginner’s Guide

## Introduction

Hey there, readers! Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to play Age of Empires IV, the latest installment in the beloved real-time strategy franchise. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete newbie, this guide will empower you with the knowledge to conquer your enemies and build an empire that will stand the test of time.

So, What’s Age of Empires IV All About?

Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy game set in the Middle Ages. You take control of one of eight civilizations, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses. Your goal is to build a thriving economy, raise powerful armies, and conquer your opponents. The game features a mix of historical campaigns, skirmish battles, and multiplayer modes.

The Basics of Gameplay

Gathering Resources and Building Your Economy

The foundation of your empire lies in gathering resources. Age of Empires IV features four primary resources: food, wood, gold, and stone. Food sustains your population, wood and stone construct your buildings, and gold funds your military and upgrades.

Assign villagers to work at various resource locations to continuously gather supplies. Building farms, lumber camps, mining camps, and quarries will increase your resource production efficiency.

Building an Army and Fighting Battles

Once you have a stable economy, it’s time to raise an army. Age of Empires IV offers a wide range of military units, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Infantry dominates close combat, cavalry excels at speed and mobility, while archers provide ranged support.

Create barracks, stables, and archery ranges to produce units. Train your troops to improve their abilities and deploy them strategically on the battlefield.

Exploring and Expanding Your Territory

Exploration is crucial in Age of Empires IV. Send scouts to uncover the map and find nearby resources, landmarks, and enemy settlements. Expanding your territory provides you with more space for building and resources to support your growing empire.

Establish outposts and build walls to defend your frontiers. Keep an eye on your opponents’ movements to anticipate their attacks.

Civilizations and Their Unique Abilities

Age of Empires IV features eight civilizations, each with distinctive bonuses, units, and technologies. Understanding their nuances is essential for mastering the game.

• English: Master the art of archery and siege warfare.
• French: Deploy powerful cavalry and use unique royal lineage abilities.
• Holy Roman Empire: Construct defensive landmarks and excel at siege warfare.
• Chinese: Leverage gunpowder units, fire launchers, and a vast workforce.
• Mongols: Dominate with highly mobile cavalry and devastating raids.
• Rus: Focus on building a strong economy, defending with wooden fortresses, and producing powerful infantry.
• Delhi Sultanate: Deploy elephants, construct unique landmarks, and utilize unique scholars.
• Abbasid Dynasty: Build massive cities, research advanced technologies, and harness the power of the House of Wisdom.

Table: Civilization Strengths and Weaknesses

Civilization	Strengths	Weaknesses
English	Strong archers, defensive siege	Vulnerable to cavalry, lacks naval strength
French	Powerful cavalry, unique royal lineage abilities	Expensive units, weak defensive structures
Holy Roman Empire	Strong defense, siege warfare	Slow training times, vulnerable to ranged units
Chinese	Gunpowder units, fire launchers, large workforce	Vulnerable to cavalry, lacks mobility
Mongols	Highly mobile cavalry, devastating raids	Poor economy, weak defense
Rus	Strong economy, wooden fortresses, powerful infantry	Vulnerable to cavalry, slow unit production
Delhi Sultanate	Elephants, unique landmarks, scholars	Weak navy, vulnerable to siege warfare
Abbasid Dynasty	Massive cities, advanced technologies, House of Wisdom	Expensive upgrades, lacks mobility

Conclusion

So there you have it, readers! This guide has covered the basics of playing Age of Empires IV. Whether you’re a history buff, a strategy game enthusiast, or simply seeking a thrilling challenge, this game offers an immersive and engaging experience.

Don’t forget to check out our other articles for more in-depth strategies, civilization guides, and gameplay tips. Conquer your enemies, build your empire, and leave your mark in the annals of Age of Empires history!

FAQ about Age of Empires IV

How do I start the game?

• Double-click on the Age of Empires IV icon on your desktop or click on the Age of Empires IV shortcut in your Start menu.

How do I play the campaign?

• Click on the "Campaign" button on the main menu.
• Select the campaign you want to play.
• Click on the "Start Game" button.

How do I play multiplayer?

• Click on the "Multiplayer" button on the main menu.
• Select the game mode you want to play.
• Click on the "Find Match" button.

How do I control my units?

• Use the mouse to select units.
• Click on the "Attack" button to attack enemies.
• Click on the "Move" button to move units.

How do I build buildings?

• Click on the "Build" button on the bottom of the screen.
• Select the building you want to build.
• Click on the location where you want to build it.

How do I research technologies?

• Click on the "Research" button on the bottom of the screen.
• Select the technology you want to research.
• Click on the "Research" button.

How do I win the game?

• There are two ways to win the game:
  • Conquer all of the enemy’s settlements.
  • Reach the Imperial Age and build a Wonder.

How do I get resources?

• Resources can be gathered from farms, mines, and lumber camps.
• Villagers can be assigned to gather resources.

How do I upgrade my units?

• Units can be upgraded at the barracks, the archery range, and the stable.
• Upgrades cost resources and increase units’ health, attack, and speed.

How do I use the market?

• The market can be used to buy and sell resources.
• The price of resources fluctuates depending on supply and demand.