The English is one of the primary civilizations a player may lead to glory in Age of Empires 4. With an emphasis on a strong farming economy and a network of formidable defenses, the English are the best civilization for new players learning the ropes.

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Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the English civilization is crucial for achieving victory while playing as them. They're a powerful, yet uncomplicated faction that can grind opponents down with their excellent Longbowmen and Men-at-Arms. With this guide, players will possess a clear outline of what it means to play as the English in Age of Empires 4.

An Overview Of The English Civilization

English Civilization Flag From Age Of Empires 4

The English can steadfastly rely on a tough defense while preparing to go on offense. Their unique unit, the Longbowman, makes the English the bane of enemy light infantry. Meanwhile, the exclusive upgrades that can be made to their Men-at-Arms grant them a highly efficient pool of heavy infantry.

As far as resources are concerned, the English prioritize farming. Farms cost less Wood to build while planting them close to Mills bestows a bonus to Villagers' gathering speed. With the Network of Castles ability, troops stationed nearby Town Centers, Keeps, Outposts, and Towers receive a bonus to their attack speed. Lastly, many English Landmarks serve as fully functioning Keeps for added defense.

Unique English Units

Longbowmen From Age Of Empires 4
  • Longbowman
  • Armed Villager
  • Ribauldequin

The English Longbowman represents a significant improvement over the generic archer. Longbowmen possess a greater range compared to regular archers and also inflict more damage. They can plant stakes in the ground to disrupt enemy cavalry charges. Their Campfire ability allows them to heal on the fly. Finally, Longbowmen can acquire the Volley ability, which increases their rate of fire.

Although of minor consequence, English Villagers also make use of a bow while in combat. As such, they stand a better chance against wild animals since they can attack from a distance. Nevertheless, English Villagers still won't stand a chance against enemy military units. It's also worth noting that English Town Centers fire more arrows at approaching enemies than other civilizations.

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In terms of siege equipment, the English (and the French) have access to the Ribauldequin. This gunpowder unit is superb in an anti-personnel role. It can shred through the ranks of advancing infantry foolish enough to approach it. It's slow to reload, so be sure to protect it in between bursts.

Unique English Technologies & Abilities

English Farming From Age Of Empires 4
  • Network of Castles/Citadels
  • Armor Clad
  • Shattering Projectiles
  • Island of Agriculture
  • Mill Influence
  • Enclosures
  • Defensive Byrig

With Network of Castles, enemies spotted by a Keep, Town Center, Outpost, or Tower buffs nearby friendly troops with a +25% attack speed bonus. This jumps to +50% when upgraded to Network of Citadels. Armor Clad gives Men-at-Arms a +2 bonus to their ranged and melee armor rating. Shattering Projectiles increases the area-of-effect of a Trebuchet projectile.

Island of Agriculture allows Farms to be produced with 50% less Wood. Mill Influence increases the harvest rate for Farms built within the influence of a Mill. Enclosures provide a +1 Gold every 3.5 seconds for every Farm that's tended by a Villager. Finally, Defensive Byrig lets the English recruit Vanguard Men-at-Arms starting from the Dark Age.

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English Naval Advantages

The English also possess a few advantages when it comes to their naval forces. All military ships receive a +1 range bonus, which typically allows the English to strike first in an encounter. Furthermore, the Shipwrights upgrade at the Docks reduces the cost of ship production by -10%.

English Landmarks

English Landmark From Age Of Empires 4
  • Abbey of Kings (Feudal Age, Religious) – Heals all nearby friendly units that are out of combat by +4 every 1.5 seconds.
  • Council Hall (Feudal Age, Military) – Produce Longbowmen at +100% speed from the Landmark. Contains Longbowmen upgrades.
  • The White Tower (Castle Age, Defensive) – Acts as a Keep with all the behaviors, technology, and bonuses.
  • King's Palace (Castle Age, Economic) – Acts as a Town Center with all the behaviors, technology, units, and bonuses.
  • Wynguard Palace (Imperial Age, Military) – Produce the Wynguard Army from the Landmark. Army includes one each of Man-At-Arms, Spearman, Longbowman, Knight, and Trebuchet.
  • Berkshire Palace (Imperial Age, Defensive) – Acts as a Keep with all the behaviors, technology, and bonuses. Possesses a +50% greater weapon range and double the number of arrowslits.

Tips For Playing As The English

Age of Empires 4 - Feature

Based on their unique technologies and abilities, the English excel in the early game. The fact that they can recruit Vanguard Men-at-Arms in the Dark Age, while everybody else has to wait for the Castle Age, gives them a significant edge. A smart player may want to consider mobbing their opponent right from the start, thereby taking advantage of the faction's superior quality units in the early ages.

Building several Mills and Farms is a great way to jumpstart Food production. With the Enclosures upgrade, English players can rely on a small stream of Gold to supplement their income. Lastly, don't be afraid to construct plenty of defenses and station Longbowmen nearby. An efficient defensive network gives the English player time to build their army and purchase upgrades before going on the offensive.

Age of Empires 4 was released on October 28, 2021 and is currently available on PC.

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