Fertilization is a technology in Age of Empires IV that can be researched at any dedicated food drop-off building or various landmarks starting in the Castle Age. Once researched, it increases Villagers' gathering rate for Food by +10%. It does not affect food gathered from hunting or fishing. It is available to all civilizations, except the Japanese, Sengoku Daimyo, and Golden Horde.
Civilization bonuses[]
Abbasid Dynasty: Research speeds are +15%/+20% faster while Golden Age tiers 2/3 are active. If Preservation of Knowledge has been researched, this technology costs -20%.- Ayyubids: Research speeds are 25% faster while Golden Age tier 2 is active
- Byzantines: Research speeds are 30% faster per water level at buildings within the influence of a Cistern with the Dialecticus ability active.
- Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy: The technology researches 150% faster when the Mill or Granary is supervised by an Imperial Official. For Zhu Xi's Legacy, this can be improved to 300% faster after researching Regional Inspection.
- Delhi Sultanate: The technology is free, but takes 5x as long to research (300 seconds instead of 60 seconds).
- French and Jeanne d'Arc: Economic technologies are 35% cheaper.
- House of Lancaster: This technology is 15% cheaper if King's College has been constructed.
- Malians: Technologies take less time to research based on how much gold has been obtained through trade.
Changelog[]
- Originally, the Mongols' Improved Fertilization provided an additional 5% gathering rate (for a total bonus of 20%). With Season Two Update 17718, it provided an additional 7.5% gathering rate (for a total bonus of 22.5%). With update 12.0.1974, it was decreased back to 5% (for a total of +15% after the base bonus reduction). With update 14.0.4963, it was increased back to 7.5% (17.5% total). With update 15.1.6970, the effect of all improved food gathering technologies was combined into Improved Horticulture to provide 20% additional gather rate (+30% total), and Improved Fertilization was removed.
- Originally, Fertilization cost 150 wood, 350 gold and took 75 seconds to research. With update 24916, it costs 100 wood, 250 gold and takes 60 seconds to research. The additional stone cost of the Mongol improved version subsequently decreased from 500 to 350.
- With update 24916, Fertilization is now available in the Granary
- Originally, Fertilization improved gather rate by +15%. With update 12.0.1974, the bonus was decreased to +10%.
- With update 12.0.1974, the icon was changed to its current version. It previously used the same icon as Horticulture.
Campaign version[]
Because the campaigns have not been rebalanced since the release of the game, Fertilization has different stats there:
- It only increases villager food gather rate by +10%
- It costs 400 gold and takes 75 seconds to research
- The Mongol improved version costs +400 stone and increases gather rate by an additional 5% only (for a total of +15%).
