The very foundation of Age of Empires is its diversity of civilizations, and the available civilizations are more varied than ever in Age of Empires 4, creating a more asymmetrical emphasis on gameplay. But which are the best civilizations to choose first?
If you're picking up the series for the first time, it can be difficult to decide which civilization to pick first. Some civilizations are more powerful than others against all enemies, while others have steep learning curves and should only be used once players become familiar with the AoE 4 systems.
Keep in mind that this is not a list of the best civilizations in Age of Empires 4. This is intended for new players looking to start AoE 4 on the right foot. For example, while the Rus are probably one of the strongest empires in the game at launch and great for longtime veterans and the current meta, they might not be the best for new players.
Best civilizations for beginners in Age of Empires 4
English
English civilization is by far the easiest to assimilate and learn. They have the fewest unique mechanics. Part of what makes the English so easy to master is that they have incredibly high defense and very powerful ranged units.
The network of castles can create an impassable defensive line, and even better, the English dungeons can produce units. Add to that the fact that Farms are less expensive, meaning they put less emphasis on hunting and gathering, and gain a bonus for being built near Mills, and you have a civilization that welcomes new arrivals.
Longbowmen are also invaluable, guaranteeing you a strong army early on. Playing as an Englishman should help you learn the ins and outs of Age of Empires 4's core gameplay, and civilization's high defense can help make up for any mistakes you might make along the way.
French
The French are the other valid choice for a great starting civ, as they have a fantastic initial economy, fast unit training, and devastating cavalry. As the French get older, the city center produces units faster, which means more villagers for gathering and building.
At the same time, civilization has the extremely useful ability to create traders who can trade with trading posts or other civilizations to bring back any resource. This can be a game-changer if you're struggling to figure out how to effectively collect a specific resource.
The other major advantage of the French is that stables and archery ranges near a dungeon produce units at a lower cost, which can result in more units at a faster rate than other civilizations.
Move to more advanced civilizations
All of the other civilizations in Age of Empires 4 have incredibly unique mechanics that can take players a while to master. After understanding how Age 4 works with the British and French, new players will want to move to Rus or the Holy Roman Empire, and avoid:
- Abbassid Dynasty
- Chinese
- Sultanate of Delhi
- Mongols
That is until they are confident in the mechanics of the game. After learning English and French, however, a good civilization to settle towards is Rus or the Holy Roman Empire.
Rus have an incredibly unique playstyle that focuses on aggression, and they can earn gold and stat bonuses by hunting animals and earning bounties. They cannot build stone walls but have stronger palisades and a cavalry of warrior monks who can heal units.
The Holy Roman Empire, on the other hand, emphasizes religion, while being fairly well balanced. By storing relics, the Holy Roman Empire can earn additional income and improve the defense of buildings.
For even more tips, tricks, and help, be sure to head over to our Age of Empires 4 guides hub.
