Spring is officially here, and Age of Empires IV is almost ready to blossom with a new ranked season! This update brings with it a fresh map pool and a bundle of balance changes, along with the kickoff of Ranked Season Ten. Be on the lookout for the Clash of Champions mini event, along with a unique new map feature.
Alongside this update, we will be releasing the Knights of Cross and Rose DLC across all platforms! Players can look forward to two new variant Civilizations, the valorous Knights Templar and the ever-capable House of Lancaster. Additionally, the DLC will contain the new Historical Battles game mode, ten unique maps, and new achievements. Check out the announcement here, and from pre-order here, or read on for more details!
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Thanks again to our amazing community members, all of whom have helped to make Age of Empires what it is today!
—The Age of Empires Team
Please Note: As part of updating to this latest build, any saved games and observable matches made on previous builds will be unable to be loaded or replayed.
This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!
◆Update 13.0.4178◆
DLC Spotlight: Knights of Cross and Rose
We will be launching our Season Ten update alongside our newest expansion, Knights of Cross and Rose! This DLC features new variant civilizations for the French and English, as well as a new game mode and ten maps.
Variant Civilization: Knights Templar
The Knights Templar are making their debut as a new variant civilization for the French. Founded with the goal to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, the Templars became renowned for their financial sophistication and defensive fortresses in the Levant. We aimed to highlight their cultural and military excellence through unique, highly flexible gameplay. The Knights Templar do not progress to the next age when a landmark is built, but rather age up with Town Centers. This allows them to select one of three Templar Commanderies per age, each providing their own set of powerful unique units and features. For example, players can select the Kingdom of Poland for a tanky Heavy Cavalry unit and a massive boost to Cavalry charge damage, or the Knights Hospitaller for a new Man-At-Arms variant and a civilization-wide boost to economic unit heath and healing received. This variant civilization foregoes the French’s standard Trade Economy trait in favor of the new Pilgrimage trait. Instead of relying on Traders for gold generation, the Knights Templar gain gold by sending Pilgrims to Sacred Sites. In addition to this, they also reveal all Sacred Sites at the start of the game, so be sure to use this extra intel to plan out your pilgrimages! This only scratches the surface of the many tricks the Knights Templar have up their sleeves, and we are beyond excited for Knights of Cross and Rose players to maximize their potential. The Knights Templar’s creative, game-bending playstyle not only shakes up established gameplay norms, but brings the rich history of one of France’s most renowned military orders to life.Variant Civilization: House of Lancaster
Fearless combatants in the Wars of the Roses, the House of Lancaster established themselves as Europe’s most dominant military force after winning the famous battle of Agincourt against the French. The House of Lancaster variant civilization showcases their undeniable military capability while also providing a streamlined, intuitive gameplay experience. The House of Lancaster’s notorious prowess at range is well illustrated through their unique units. The variant civilization replaces the Longbowman with the all-new Yeoman unit. Not only is the Yeoman stronger and more mobile than your average archer, they can also rain down a volley of arrows with their unique Synchronized Shot ability. We all know it can be a delicate art balancing your army’s survivability with enough range to whittle down the enemy. However, you can have the best of both worlds with the House of Lancaster’s Earl’s Guard unit! This unique Man-At-Arms possesses the bulk and power you’d expect from a Heavy Infantry unit, but can also toss daggers at range to deal huge burst damage. In addition to its powerful military units, the House of Lancaster gains several new traits that help players amass a veritable horde of resources. The Wool Industries trait grants players free sheep when a Town Center is built and allows villagers to gather from sheep faster. Additionally, players can construct several Manors throughout the game, providing the House of Lancaster a consistent stream of gold for each one built. The Manor’s abilities only grow as new unique Technologies are unlocked. The House of Lancaster will provide a familiar, comfortable gameplay experience for Age of Empires IV players while also offering a bevy of unique traits to keep things fresh. We think this new variant civilization will be a favorite for new and old fans alike!Game Mode: Historical Battles
In the Knights of Cross and Rose expansion, players can dive into four new single player Historical Battles. Unlike the more narrative-centric campaigns, these scenarios focus on key moments throughout the history of the Knights Templar and the House of Lancaster. By narrowing our scope to singular, larger-than-life battles, we are able to provide an even richer historical experience than Age of Empires IV players have seen before! In contrast to previous game modes, players are scored and ranked based on their performance during each Historical Battle rather than solely on their ability to secure a victory. Each battle is filled with secrets and traps for players to uncover, which can significantly affect their final score. Players can explore the intricacies of each map and use their discoveries to improve future playthroughs. Historical Battles are designed to be more than a one-time experience – we want players to feel compelled to attempt them time and time again!
Season Ten
It’s time to flex your true strength. Season Ten runs from April 8th to June 25th. Our first event of the season, Clash of Champions, is an opportunity to show your excellence in all forms, whether it be your skills in archery or jousting on horseback. Dominate the competition and display your rewards proudly. Come join us in our first of several seasonal events, Clash of Champions, in a celebration of competitive spirit from April 8 through April 28th.Clash of Champions Event
Ranked Season Ten Updates
It’s time to kick off a brand-new season! Season Ten follows the lords of the land and the citizens under their protection. Lead your people to victory and prosperity with a host of rewards for your efforts! Season Ten runs from April 8th to June 25th.
Map Pool Rotation
We feel confident introducing our new maps directly to the Ranked Map pool! Test your mettle on this season’s new terrain and unique mechanics. 1v1 Ranked Map PoolTeam Ranked Map Pool
- Prairie → Carmel
- King of the Hill → Enlightened Horizon
- Lipany → Relic River
- Golden Heights → High View
- Archipelago → Migration
- Mountain Clearing → Waterlanes
- Hideout → Volcanic Island
- Lake Side → Wasteland
- Nagari → Shadow Lake
- Cliffside → Enlightened Horizon
New Feature: Points of Interest
Points of Interest are dynamic reward locations being added to several maps. They feature neutral map objectives that provide players with various reward types. Some may grant a consistent flow of resource yields, while others can uncover a relic. While it can be tempting to focus exclusively on capturing them, your opponents can capture them back to steal the benefits. Just be warned that the wolves of the Wolf Den are more dangerous than ever before! More information can be found in the Maps section of the patch notes.
This is just a small taste of what is coming in the latest update. For a more complete list, please visit our site and check out our blog. Happy Gaming!
:alertalert: DISCLAIMER
This list is subject to change and should not be considered a comprehensive list of all the known issues we’re tracking. The above is to inform you of the team’s current priorities, which will change as other issues arise or take precedence. For the latest updates and announcements, please visit our social channels.