You’re five minutes into a match. Your scout is frantically circling the enemy’s gold mine, and you see it—the little progress bar on their Town Center. They’re hitting the Feudal Age. Suddenly, your plan to mass spearmen feels like a massive mistake.
In Age of Empires 4, the "Ages" aren't just fancy timers or milestones. They are the literal heartbeat of the game. If you miss a timing by thirty seconds, you aren't just behind; you're basically dead. Every civ handles the jump from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age differently, and honestly, if you're still playing every game with the same build order, you're leaving wins on the table.
Why the Age of Empires 4 Ages Are More Than Just Tech Trees
Think of the Dark Age as the awkward preamble. It’s all about sheep and wood. But once you hit the Feudal Age, the game truly starts. This is where the Landmark system changes everything compared to the old Age of Empires 2 style. Back in the day, everyone clicked a button and waited. Now, you’re making a permanent choice that defines your mid-game.
Take the English, for example. Do you drop the Council Hall to pump out Longbowmen and end the game early? Or do you go Abbey of Kings because you’re feeling defensive? That choice matters. You can't undo it.
The Feudal Age: The First Real Test
The Feudal Age is where most players lose their nerve. It’s the era of the "Early Knight" if you’re playing the French or the Rus. It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s where you find out if your opponent actually knows how to micro-manage their economy while being raided by three horsemen.
Most people think they need to rush to the next age as fast as possible. That's a trap. Sometimes, staying in Feudal for an extra five minutes to build a massive archer ball is exactly what wins the game. It’s all about tempo. If you spend 1,200 resources to go to the Castle Age while your opponent spends those same resources on twenty veteran units, they are going to walk into your base and burn your Landmarks down before your upgrade even finishes.
Breaking Down the Castle and Imperial Power Spikes
Once you hit the Castle Age, the complexity of Age of Empires 4 ages spikes. This is where the "heavy" units come out. Armored knights, crossbowmen to counter them, and the dreaded mangonel.
The mangonel is the great equalizer. One good shot can delete an entire army. If you’re the Holy Roman Empire, you’re likely sprinting to this age to grab Relics. The Regnitz Cathedral isn't just a building; it's a gold-generating monster that lets you ignore mining for the rest of the match.
The Imperial Age: The End Game
Then there’s the Imperial Age. It’s expensive. 2,400 food and 1,200 gold is a lot. But this is where the "Great Bombards" of the Ottomans or the "Streltsy" of the Rus come out to play.
In the Imperial Age, the game shifts from tactical skirmishes to total war. You aren't fighting over a gold vein anymore. You’re fighting over the entire map. The introduction of Chemistry and Elite upgrades means units that were once fragile now have hundreds of health points. It’s a completely different game than the one you started in the Dark Age.
What Most Players Get Wrong About Timing
I see it all the time in Platinum and Diamond ranks. A player gets so focused on their "Fast Castle" build that they forget to scout. They click the button to age up, and suddenly, ten Royal Knights are in their woodline.
- Timing is everything. A "naked" age-up (going up with no army) is a gamble.
- Landmark selection. Choosing the "wrong" Landmark because a pro did it in a specific tournament is a mistake. Adapt to the map.
- Resource balancing. Don't just click the age-up button because you have the resources. Ask: "Can I defend the 2-minute window while I'm vulnerable?"
For instance, the Malians play the ages differently than anyone else. They rely on their Open Pit Mines and Cattle Ranches. Their transition to the Castle Age is often smoother because their passive income is so high. Meanwhile, the Mongols are constantly moving, trying to secure Stone from the Oovoo to double-produce units. Their age-up isn't just about tech; it's about positioning.
The Strategy of the Landmark System
The Landmark system is arguably the best thing about the Age of Empires 4 ages progression. It forces you to look at the map. If there’s a lot of water, you might pick a Landmark that helps with trade or naval production. If it’s a dry map like Lipany, you’re looking for military dominance.
Look at the Chinese civ. They have the Dynasty system. They don't just age up; they can build both Landmarks from an age to trigger a Dynasty. This gives them unique units and buildings, but it's incredibly expensive. It’s a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that requires you to stay in an age longer than your opponent just to reap the benefits later.
Actionable Steps for Mastering Your Transitions
To actually improve your win rate, you need to stop treating age-ups as a checklist and start treating them as a tactical weapon.
First, learn the specific timings for your main civilization. If you play English, you should know exactly when you can hit Feudal while still having enough wood for a Blacksmith and a Siege Workshop shortly after.
Second, scout the enemy's Landmarks. If you see the French player building the School of Cavalry, you know knights are coming. Build barracks immediately. If you see the Abbasid Dynasty building the Culture Wing in their House of Wisdom, expect a fast tech jump.
Third, don't be afraid to delay. If you are under heavy pressure, use your age-up resources to buy more units instead. A living Feudal army is better than a dead Castle Age economy.
Fourth, prioritize your upgrades. hitting the next age gives you access to the "Veteran" or "Elite" versions of your units. These are often more important than the new units themselves. An army of Veteran Spearmen will shred early-game knights, even if you don't have Crossbows yet.
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Finally, manage your villager distribution early. You need a massive influx of food and gold to age up, but if you leave your woodline empty, you won't have the houses or production buildings to actually use your new tech. Balance is the only way to survive the jump between eras.