The Mongols represent one of the more challenging civilizations players will find in Age of Empires 4. It's fair to say that the Mongols are arguably the most unique faction in the game. Their playstyle is quite different from any of the other civilizations, which makes them a prime choice for advanced players.
The Mongols specialize in raiding and pillaging their enemies with fearsome cavalry. As such, the Mongols can place an enormous amount of pressure on their opponents in this manner. Getting used to playing as the Mongols in Age of Empires 4 may take some time, but mastering what makes them unique in the first place is worth it.
An Overview Of The Mongols Civilization
The Mongol economy possesses a few key differences compared to other civilizations. Special buildings for resource collection are available to them. Furthermore, their structures are mobile, able to be packed and unpacked at will to reflect the faction's nomadic nature. In addition, the Mongols don't utilize Houses as they start every match with the maximum population limit.
The primary force driving a Mongol army is their cavalry. Mangudai, archers on horseback, can be recruited in significant numbers to overwhelm their enemies. The Mongols also gain extra resources (+50 Food and Gold) by setting enemy structures ablaze. Thus, the more damage that gets done, the stronger the civilization becomes.
Unique Mongol Buildings
- Ger
- Pasture
- Ovoo
Instead of constructing lumber camps and mines, the Mongols use the Ger. With the Ger, Villagers can drop off Food, Wood, and Gold. The standard upgrades for resource buildings can all be purchased from the Ger. Pastures replace Farms, which automatically produces a gatherable Sheep every 90 seconds.
Mongolian Villagers can't mine Stone, nor can they purchase it from a Market. Instead, players must construct an Ovoo on a pile of Stone to generate it. Additionally, the Ovoo provides double unit production and improved versions of upgrades to buildings within its area of influence. It's worth noting that Traders can still yield Stone as part of their activities.
Unique Mongol Units
- Khan
- Mangudai
- Traction Trebuchet
The Khan is the Mongolian version of the Scout. Khans can fire Signal Arrows to increase the movement speed of nearby units. They can also release a Scouting Falcon that reveals more of the map for 30 seconds. As players progress through the ages, Khans gain the ability to fire Attack Speed Arrows, which increases the reload speed of nearby ranged units. Finally, Defense Arrow increases the armor of nearby units by +3 for 5 seconds.
Mangudai are mounted archers who can fire their bows while moving. Their high rate of fire makes them formidable in large numbers, especially if they stay mobile. The Traction Trebuchet functions as an improved version of the generic siege unit available to other civilizations.
Unique Mongol Technologies & Abilities
- Superior Mobility
- Whistling Arrows
- Raid Bounty
- Stone Bounty
- Additional Torches
- Yam Network
- Stone Commerce
- Siha Bow Limbs
Superior Mobility allows packed buildings to move and pack/unpack +50% faster. Whistling Arrows increases the Khan's Signal Arrow duration by +5 seconds and range by +2 tiles. Raid Bounty increases the raid income for igniting a building to +100 Food and Gold. In a similar vein, Stone Bounty adds +75 Stone to the raid income for igniting a building.
Additional Torches increase the torch damage of all infantry and cavalry by +3. Yam Network increases the speed of all units when near an Outpost. With Stone Commerce, having 9 or more active Traders causes them to supply Stone as well as Gold. Siha Bow Limbs increases the ranged damage of Mangudai and the Khan by +1.
Mongol Naval & Religious Advantages
The Mongols also receive a few unique benefits when it comes to their religious units and naval forces. Transport Ships have +50% health and move +15% faster. With the Piracy upgrade, the player gains +50 Wood and +50 Gold when sinking an enemy ship.
Mongols have access to the Prayer Tent, their version of a Monastery. There, players can purchase the Monastic Shrines upgrade, which grants Prayer Tents improved production in their districts even without an Ovoo.
Mongol Landmarks
- Deer Stones (Feudal Age, Military) – When set up, Deer Stones provide the Yam Speed Aura. Upon completion, instantly grants the Yam Network technology.
- The Silver Tree (Feudal Age, Economic) – Acts as a Market. Can build Traders +50% faster and at a -50% reduced Gold cost.
- Kurultai (Castle Age, Military) – When the Khan is nearby, the Kurultai heals all nearby damaged units and provides a +25% damage bonus for 30 seconds.
- Steppe Redoubt (Castle Age, Economic) – Acts as a Ger. Gold dropped off at this Landmark is increased by +50%.
- The White Stupa (Imperial Age, Economic) – Acts as an Ovoo and produces 240 Stone per minute without a Stone outcropping.
- Khaganate Palace (Imperial Age, Military) – Spawns a cavalry army of Horsemen, Mangudai, or Lancers every 90 seconds.
Tips For Playing As The Mongols
Playing as the Mongols is all about mobility. In prolonged matches especially, players can't always stay in one fixed location. This civilization's ability to pack/unpack their base makes finding better ground a viable proposition. Most importantly, seek out Stone deposits for Ovoos and place buildings next to them for better technology and troop recruitment.
The Mongols can harass their opponents into oblivion. They get access to Early Horsemen in the Dark Age and Early Lancers in the Feudal Age. As such, groups of cavalry raiders can be churned out almost immediately. Enemies who can't get a proper economy underway in the early stages are going to have a hard time facing down the threat of constant Mongol horsemen at their gates.
Age of Empires 4 was released on October 28, 2021, and is currently available on PC.