In Age of Empires 4, there are a couple of ways to achieve victory in a skirmish match. One of those methods is a Wonder Victory, a win condition that longtime fans of the franchise likely remember. The premise is rather simple: build a Wonder and defend it for a set period of time.
However, depending on the difficulty of the opponents, achieving this goal can be easier said than done. Building and defending a Wonder requires time and a measure of preplanning. For new players especially, following these general tips and strategies should help make securing a Wonder Victory a breeze.
The Object Of A Wonder Victory
The win condition that characterizes a Wonder Victory is straightforward. Players must construct a Wonder (preferably somewhere secure) and defend it against enemy attacks for 15 minutes. When either the player or the opponent satisfies this condition first, the match is over.
If the enemy manages to fully construct their Wonder first, players must destroy it before the countdown reaches zero. In this situation, opponents will become very aggressive in their attempts to destroy the player's Wonder when built. Both parties are notified whenever either side constructs a Wonder. Destroying a Wonder, of course, disrupts the timer.
How To Build A Wonder
First and foremost, Wonders can only be built in the Imperial Age (IV). Players can start a match in any age they choose. Therefore, progressing through the ages may be required depending on the settings. Like any other structure in the game, a Wonder is built by Villagers. They're quite large, so be sure to retain sufficient room if building it inside one's own base.
Wonders are very expensive to build. They require 3,000 units of each resource (Food, Gold, Stone, and Wood) in order to be built. As such, players must prioritize the economy right from the start of their skirmish. More is always better when trying to secure a Wonder Victory. Fans will need plenty of resources not only to construct the Wonder, itself but to recruit soldiers and build other defensive buildings as well.
Beginner Strategies For A Wonder Victory
Now that players have the end goal in mind, it's time to start making preparations. For beginners, it is recommended to start with the English civilization. Since securing a Wonder Victory hinges on a successful defense, the English are the prime choice. This is a very defensive-minded faction that also benefits from a strong farming economy, which makes Food easy to collect.
Most importantly, the English can make use of their Network of Castles ability, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of troops stationed near Keeps, Outposts, Towers, and Town Centers. Once firmly entrenched, the English are difficult to dislodge. Their excellent Longbowmen, when fully upgraded and produced in large numbers, are deadly, perfect for defending the Wonder once built.
Prioritize Food Production First
The English have an easier time quickly building up a Food reserve than most other civilizations. For them, Farms are cheaper to build; meanwhile, planting them close to Mills results in the player netting even more Food. Because Villagers and military units all need Food, prioritizing this resource early is a logical first step. Always play to the strengths of one's selected civilization.
Stone Collection Is Key
Since building defenses is one of the strengths of the English civilization, Stone production is also very important. Players will need to make sure their Wonder is securely defended behind a network of Keeps, Towers, and Stone Walls. To construct all these defenses, Stone collection needs to be at the top of the player's "to-do" list.
A Booming Economy
Ensuring the economy runs smoothly is the key to winning any type of match. Villagers must be produced immediately and in sufficient numbers. Around 40 Villagers is usually a good number, although playing against aggressive human opponents will require more. Build plenty of Houses to increase the population cap, and sell excess resources at a Market to gain what is needed.
Defending The Wonder
Wonders take a long time to build, so it's preferable to assign a few dozen Villagers to make sure it's constructed speedily. Try to secure a portion of the map that's easy to defend, and ensure that enemies can only attack from one direction. Funnel them into "kill zones" where they have no other choice but to confront Keeps, Towers, and Stone Walls. Here are some suggestions for defense:
- Using Stone Walls, seal off the area where the Wonder is located. Consider building Towers where there's room.
- Longbowmen are difficult to kill atop Stone Walls. Position plenty of them on the walls to rain arrows down on the attackers.
- If room permits, build 3+ Keeps around the Wonder. To increase the effectiveness of the Keeps, build them close together so they can work in tandem.
- Keep a modest infantry/cavalry reserve on hand to eliminate enemy siege engines. Let the defensive structures and Longbowmen prioritize enemy foot soldiers.
- Have a few Mangonels handy to rain death upon any troops who manage to break through the walls.
- Purchase upgrades for troops and structures to enhance their effectiveness and increase their staying power.
Age of Empires 4 was released on October 28, 2021 and is currently available on PC.