Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is more than just a historical real-time strategy game — it’s a test of economy, tactics, and battlefield awareness. Whether you’re new to the series or a veteran of RTS titles, the Anniversary Edition offers new civilizations, balance changes, and quality-of-life upgrades that demand fresh strategies. This guide will take you step by step, from understanding the basics to mastering advanced tactics, so you can rise from casual player to competitive strategist.
How to Get Started in Age of Empires IV
For beginners, the first challenge is learning the interface and basic objectives. Unlike fast-paced shooters, AoE IV emphasizes economy and long-term planning.
Setting Up the Game
Install the Anniversary Edition via Steam or Xbox Game Pass. Adjust graphics and hotkeys for smoother gameplay. Keybindings for unit groups and camera movement are essential for speed.
Understanding the Objective
The ultimate goal is to eliminate your opponents by destroying their landmarks or military might. Victory can be achieved through domination, economy, or building Wonders, depending on your chosen strategy.
How to Understand Civilizations and Their Strengths
Each civilization in AoE IV has unique units, bonuses, and strategies. Mastering them requires both experimentation and adaptation.
Popular Civilizations in Anniversary Edition
- English: Strong defense and farming economy.
- Mongols: Aggressive mobility and early rushing potential.
- Chinese: Powerful late-game with dynasty mechanics.
- Ottomans & Malians: New civilizations with unique strategies.
Matching Your Playstyle
If you enjoy aggressive early play, Mongols suit you. For defensive and economic growth, English or Chinese are reliable.
How to Master Resource Management
Resources are the backbone of every strategy. Without a balanced economy, even the strongest armies will crumble.
Core Resources
- Food: For producing villagers and units.
- Wood: For buildings and ranged units.
- Gold: For advanced units and technologies.
- Stone: For fortifications and unique upgrades.
Tips for Efficient Gathering
- Keep villagers working constantly.
- Balance resource collection according to your strategy.
- Use shift-queue commands to optimize villager efficiency.
How to Build a Strong Opening Strategy
Early-game decisions dictate how the rest of the match plays out.
Basic Build Order
- Train villagers immediately.
- Send some to gather food, others to wood.
- Advance to the Feudal Age as quickly as possible.
Different Openings
- Fast Castle: Rush to Castle Age for strong units.
- Feudal Aggression: Apply pressure with early military.
- Economic Boom: Focus on villagers and upgrades.
How to Manage Military Units and Formations
Knowing when and how to fight is as important as building armies.
Unit Counters
- Infantry counters cavalry.
- Cavalry counters archers.
- Archers counter infantry.
Using Formations
- Line Formation: For steady ranged fire.
- Spread Formation: To avoid siege weapon splash damage.
- Charge Formation: Maximizes cavalry impact.
How to Use the Map and Control Territory
Map control is often the hidden factor that determines victory.
Scouting
Send scouts early to locate enemy bases, resource nodes, and relics. Continuous scouting provides valuable information on enemy strategies.
Map Domination
Secure choke points, control trade routes, and deny enemy resources. Place outposts and castles to solidify control.
How to Balance Economy and Military
Players often struggle between focusing too much on economy or overinvesting in military.
Maintaining Balance
- Always produce villagers until late game.
- Match army size to enemy threats — don’t overcommit too early.
- Protect your economy with defensive structures.
Adapting Mid-Game
If your economy is thriving, switch to heavier units. If behind, consider raiding enemy villagers to equalize resources.
How to Use Technology and Upgrades
Upgrades can turn the tide of war by making units more durable and effective.
Economic Upgrades
Prioritize technologies like Wheelbarrow and Lumber Camp upgrades for long-term efficiency.
Military Upgrades
Don’t neglect blacksmith upgrades. A fully upgraded army can overwhelm a larger but weaker enemy force.
How to Handle Different Victory Conditions
AoE IV offers multiple victory paths beyond direct combat.
Types of Victory
- Military Domination: Destroy all landmarks.
- Wonder Victory: Build and defend a Wonder.
- Sacred Sites: Control all sacred sites for a set time.
Choosing the Right Path
Adapt your win condition to your civilization and enemy playstyle. Defensive civs thrive with Wonders, while aggressive civs pursue domination.
How to Transition into Late Game Mastery
The late game is where high-level strategy truly shines.
Population Management
Max out population cap efficiently by balancing villagers and military. Too many villagers can weaken your army; too few cripple your economy.
Strategic Depth
Use trebuchets, cannons, and elite units to break enemy defenses. At this stage, positioning and micro-management decide outcomes.
Conclusion
Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition is both accessible and endlessly deep. Mastery requires patience, economic discipline, and the ability to adapt strategies against different civilizations and opponents. From managing resources efficiently and developing solid opening builds to controlling the map and choosing victory conditions, every decision counts. With practice, you’ll not only improve your mechanics but also sharpen your ability to read and counter enemy strategies.
Whether you prefer a booming economy, lightning-fast aggression, or calculated late-game pushes, following this guide will bring you closer to mastery.
