Beginners Tips

Below are several tips to help new players.

Grab Town Centers As Fast As Possible

In all games, with the exception of some campaign levels, town centers are key to producing more units. Train fast units to explore and take over town centers before the enemy takes them. Scouts cannot take over town centers. Train defensive units to protect your newly conquered towns from enemy exploration units.

Start Building immediately

Buildings are very important. If an attack is expected, build walls or defensive towers. If enemies are not nearby, build troop generation buildings such as barracks to help generate an army.

Build A Mixed Army

Creating an army out of a single unit type will result in that army being eliminated by an enemy mixed army. Use a combination of defensive/melee units, ranged units, and healing units to fight against enemy armies. Train a mix of spearmen and swordsman, as they have different strengths and weaknesses

Pick Battles Wisely

Units are weak to some and strong against others. Attack enemy units with units that are strong against them (NEEDED: type matchup pic)

Matchups:

Archers: Weak to cavalry, skirmishers and heavy infantry; Strong against swordsmen and flying

Skirmishers: Weak to cavalry particularly (but low hp); Strong against archers

Heavy Crossbowmen: Weak to cavalry, heavy infantry, and skirmishers; Strong against swordsmen, flying, heavy infantry, cavalry

Cavalry: Weak to pikeman, heavy crossbowmen; Strong against swordsmen, archers, skirmishers, and heavy infantry

Pikemen: Weak to none specifically (but low hp); Strong against cavalry

Swordsmen: Weak to archers and cavalry; Strong against structures, siege machines, and ships

Shielders: Weak to cavalry; Strong against structures, siege machines, and ships

Heavy Infantry: Weak to cavalry; Strong against structures, siege machines, ships, swordsmen, and archers

Siege Machines: Weak to melee units; Strong against structures and ships

Attack Ships: Weak to anti-ship ships, siege machines, swordsmen; Strong against transport ships

AntI-Ship Ships: Weak to siege machines, swordsmen; Strong against ships, siege machines, and structures

Flying: Weak to ranged units (especially archers); Strong against melee units

Avoid engaging stronger enemy units with weaker units in melee (ranged attacks have no risk of retaliation in most cases). If you have to (as in some campaign maps), try attacking first and minimising damage received.

Defend Your Support Units, While Attacking Your Enemy's

Builders, Healers, and Archers are generally low heath. Eliminating enemy builders prevent your opponent from building structures that can swing the battle. Eliminating enemy healers prevents your enemy's army form recovering health.

Utilize Choke Points

A narrow area, such as a bridge, or mountain pass can slow the progression of a large army. This will can give you time to train, move, or heal units as well as pelting the enemy army with projectiles.

Use Waypoints to save time

When the battle is not directly near your training areas, migrating newly trained units can take some time. Waypoints can automate the repetative process of moving units. Set waypoints to bring units to the general area of a battle.

Research Technologies

Try to research technologies if you have spare capacity or in a large map. They will pay off in the end. A Blacksmith or Advancements Centre is very useful. You can delete them later to free up space for training units.

Improve Logistics

Logistics are the most important part of a battle. Try building roads, bridges, transports, wagons, and factories (especially mines) when you have the time.