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This article is about the Age in Age of Empires IV. For other uses, see Dark 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[]
Generic[]
Unique[]
- Economic units
- Melee infantry
Limitanei - Byzantines- Donso - Malians
- Gilded Spearman - Order of the Dragon
- Vanguard Man-at-Arms - English
- Samurai - Japanese
- Katana Bannerman - Japanese
- Cavalry
- Other
- Scholar - Delhi Sultanate
- Prelate - Holy Roman Empire
- Battering Ram - Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
- Siege Tower - Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
Available buildings[]
Generic[]
- House
- Mill
- Farm
- Lumber Camp
- Mining Camp
- Capital Town Center - Nomad game mode.
- Barracks
- Dock
- Outpost
- Palisade Wall
- Palisade Gate
Unique[]
- Cistern - Byzantines
- Aqueduct - Byzantines
- Village - Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy
- Mosque - Delhi Sultanate
- Farmhouse - Japanese
- Forge - Japanese
- Pit Mine - Malians
- Pasture - Mongols
- Stable - Mongols
- Ger - Mongols
- Ovoo - Mongols
- Military School - Ottomans
- Hunting Cabin - Rus
- Wooden Fortress - Rus
- Fortified Palisade Gate - Rus
- Fortified Palisade Wall - Rus
| Ages in the Age of Empires series | |
|---|---|
 Age of Empires | |
 Stone Age ·  Tool Age ·  Bronze Age ·  Iron AgeCut: Prehistoric Age · Republic Age | |
 Age of Empires II | |
 Dark Age ·  Feudal Age ·  Castle Age ·  Imperial Age | |
 Age of Mythology | |
 Archaic Age ·  Classical Age ·  Heroic Age ·  Mythic Age ·  Titan Age (Removed) ·  Wonder Age | |
 Age of Empires III | |
 Exploration Age ·  Commerce Age ·  Fortress Age ·  Industrial Age ·  Imperial Age Revolution | |
 Age of Empires IV | |
 Dark Age ·  Feudal Age ·  Castle Age ·  Imperial Age | |
 Chronicles | |
 Archaic Age ·  Civic Age ·  Classical Age ·  Imperial Age |