Iron Age

Iron Age
Age
Availability
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Civilization	All civilizations
Age number	4
Preceded by	Bronze Age
Required buildings	Two of the following: Academy Government Center Siege Workshop Temple
Research
Researched at	Town Center
Food	1,000
Gold	800
Time	160 seconds

The Iron Age is the fourth and final Age in Age of Empires, and follows the Bronze Age. To reach this age, 1000 food, 800 gold is required. This age is often characterized by military conquests and economic expansion as well as the difference between victory and defeat.

During the Iron Age, players often are limited by the comparatively high cost of minute unit upgrades, such as Centurions and Heavy Horse Archers, which require almost as many resources as Wonders. Therefore, it is often in this age in which a player will invest in a more specific strategy. Wonders are available to construct in this age.

Buildings available

• Wonder
• Fortified Wall
• Fortified Gate
• Guard Tower
• Ballista Tower

Units available

• Long Swordsman at Barracks
• Legionary at Barracks (Prerequisites Fanaticism)
• Horse Archer at Archery Range
• Heavy Horse Archer at Archery Range (Prerequisites Chain Mail Archers)
• Elephant Archer at Archery Range
• Scythe Chariot at Stable (Prerequisites Nobility) (Rise of Rome)
• Heavy Cavalry at Stable
• Cataphract at Stable (Prerequisites Metallurgy)
• War Elephant at Stable
• Armored Elephant at Stable (Prerequisites Iron Shield) (Rise of Rome)
• Catapult at Siege Workshop
• Heavy Catapult at Siege Workshop (Prerequisites Siegecraft)
• Ballista at Siege Workshop
• Helepolis at Siege Workshop (Prerequisites Craftsmanship)
• Phalangite at Academy
• Centurion at Academy (Prerequisites Aristocracy)
• Heavy Transport at Docks
• Trireme at Docks
• Catapult Trireme at Docks
• Juggernaut at Docks (Prerequisites Engineering)
• Fire Galley at Docks (Rise of Rome)

Civilization bonuses

• Greeks: Advancing to the Iron Age is 10% faster.

History

“	Characterized by a dependence upon precious metals to drive economies, empire building, expansion, construction of massive cities supporting huge populations, sophisticated military organizations, siege tactics, armor and weaponry, dominance of seaways with war galleys and triremes and enormous construction projects including the Wonders of the Ancient World.	”
—Age of Empires manual

Gallery

Iron Age East Asian architecture set

Iron Age Egyptian architecture

Iron Age Greek architecture

Iron Age Mesopotamian architecture

Iron Age Roman architecture

Iron Age East Asian architecture before the Definitive Edition

Iron Age Egyptian architecture before the Definitive Edition

Iron Age Greek architecture before the Definitive Edition

Iron Age Mesopotamian architecture before the Definitive Edition

Iron Age Roman architecture before the Definitive Edition