25 years is an impressive lifespan for a game series. Age of Empires is therefore celebrating this anniversary with appropriate celebrations. Especially players who Age of Empires 4 call their own can be happy: Because with a big update they get a lot of free new content. We summarize the most important things for you.
In keeping with the occasion, the Anniversary Update will be released on October 25, 2022. An anniversary event and the third ranking list season will also start at the same time, allowing you to earn new rewards.
What’s in the Anniversary Update?
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Age of Empires 4 shows the Ottoman and Mali units in the trailer
Two New Civilizations: Probably the biggest innovation are the two new playable peoples that you get with the update. We’ll introduce them to you briefly, but before that you can catch a glimpse of their forces in action in the trailer above. By the way, strategy expert Fabiano summarized the advantages of the already playable races in Age of Empires 4 in his article:
Age of Empires 4 races
Strengths and weaknesses of factions in detail
Malier
Like the historical model, Mali relies primarily on gold trading to generate a steady income.
The Malians are a civilization characterized above all by their economic strengths. In the first age they can set up mines on gold deposits and thus generate a permanent and stable income. They then invest the gold in early research into technology or in their unique source of food, cattle.
In combat, the Malians rely on raids and brief skirmishes rather than protracted battles. To do this, they bring suitable units into the field:
- Musofadi Warriors: Low health and armor are offset by high speed and lots of damage. Perfect for ambushes.
- javelin thrower: Skirmishers who counter enemy ranged attackers and have a longer range than archers.
- Donso: Melee fighters with large shields and spears, particularly good against cavalry. Possess an additional javelin that is automatically thrown at enemies within range.
Ottomans
The Ottomans have a powerful army that can bring this huge cannon into the field.
The Ottomans, on the other hand, rely primarily on their military advantages. They get bonuses in unit production and have the largest gunpowder siege weapon in the game. Through their military school system, they can even produce some units for free from the first age and raise a larger army than other civilizations. Some special units are already known:
- Big Bombard: A powerful siege weapon whose projectile smashes enemy fortifications with splash damage. Expensive weapon that needs to be well defended.
- Mehter: Drummers on horseback who bolster friendly units in the area. Can improve either attack speed, melee or ranged armor.
- Sipahi: Light Raiding Cavalry. Special ability increases their attack power, but also the damage taken from melee attacks.
Over time, the Ottomans also unlock 9 Viziers, giving them access to unique technologies. Important strategic decisions must be made when selecting technologies.
New maps
In addition to the additional civilizations, the Anniversary Update also expands Age of Empires 4 with eight new maps with two new biomes. How exactly these look like is not yet known.
more on the subject
Age of Empires celebrates its 25th birthday and you get presents
What do you think of the new content in the Anniversary Update? Are you excited to try out the two new races? Or are you more excited to see what new maps there will be for the real-time strategy game? In the end, are you mainly waiting for the innovations of the third season? Write your opinion in the comments!
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