Dark Age (Age of Empires IV)

This article is about the Age in Age of Empires IV. For other uses, see Dark Age.

Dark Age
Age
Availability
Introduced in	Age of Empires IV
Age number	1
Followed by	Feudal Age

The Dark Age is the first and typical starting Age in Age of Empires IV. It is characterized by the execution of build orders to establish a game plan, map exploration, and light harassment with weak units. The Dark Age is followed by the Feudal Age.

Tactics

In most standard games, the following are typical Dark Age strategies and tactics for many or all civilizations, regardless of build order

• Explore the map while gathering sheep to return to the Town Center
• Gather enough resources to advance to the Feudal Age
• Build a Dock and Fishing Boats on water or hybrid maps
• Harass opponent's resources (especially gold mine) using available Dark Age units or Outposts to delay their Age-up and force a certain response that may prevent them from countering a risky strategy (such as a fast castle or trade boom)

Available units

• Villager
• Imperial Official - only Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy
• Fishing Boat (variation for Rus)
• Scout - All civilizations except Malians
• Malian Scout - only Malians
• Khan - only Mongols
• Spearman - All civilizations except Byzantines, English, and Malians
• Donso - only Malians
• Limitanei - only Byzantines
• Vanguard Man-at-Arms - only English
• Samurai - only Japanese
• Katana Bannerman - only Japanese
• Early Horseman- only Mongols
• Scholar - only Delhi Sultanate
• Prelate - only Holy Roman Empire
• Battering Ram - only Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
• Siege Tower - only Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
• Cattle - only Malians

Available buildings

• House - All civilizations except Japanese and Mongols
• Mill - All civilizations except Japanese, Mongols, and Rus
• Farm - All civilizations except Byzantines and Mongols
• Lumber Camp - All civilizations except Mongols
• Mining Camp - All civilizations except Japanese and Mongols
• Town Center - All civilizations, Nomad mode only.
• Barracks
• Dock
• Outpost - All civilizations except Malians and Rus
• Palisade Wall - All civilizations except Mongols and Rus
• Palisade Gate - All civilizations except Mongols and Rus
• Village - only Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy
• Pasture - only Mongols
• Stable - only Mongols
• Ger - only Mongols
• Ovoo - only Mongols
• Hunting Cabin - only Rus
• Farmhouse - only Japanese
• Forge - only Japanese
• Pit Mine - only Malians
• Cistern - only Byzantines
• Aqueduct - only Byzantines
• Wooden Fortress - only Rus
• Fortified Palisade Gate - only Rus
• Fortified Palisade Wall - only Rus
• Toll Outpost - only Malians
• Military School - only Ottomans
• Mosque - only Delhi Sultanate