| “ | Tough infantry with good damage. Move faster than Men-at-Arms, but with reduced armor. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Palace Guard is a heavy melee infantry unit in Age of Empires IV and is unique to the Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy. While the former can train it starting in the Castle Age, the latter can start training it in the Feudal Age itself. It replaces the Man-at-Arms at the Barracks. Palace Guard have 1 less armor than Man-at-Arms, but +22.2% movement speed, and cost 5 gold more. The Elite Palace Guard is also available to the Mongols as a random spawn of a group of 5 from the Khaganate Palace landmark.
Tactics[]
Palace Guards are comparable to Men-at-Arms, with slightly less armor, but higher movement speed. For the most part, they can be utilized in the same situations, with the same advantages, disadvantages, and counters. Exactly what bonuses the unit has over the standard Man-at-Arms varies based on the civilization using it.
For the Chinese, Palace Guards have an additional 30 hit points on top of 10% more in the Ming Dynasty, meaning they are much more durable than a common Man-at-Arms despite the lower armor. This allows them to serve as a durable front-line unit to protect Zhuge Nu and Nest of Bees.
For Zhu Xi's Legacy, Palace Guards benefit from the 15% damage bonus in the Ming Dynasty, putting them on par with Holy Roman Empire or Delhi Sultanate Men-at-Arms. With Divine Haste from the Temple of the Sun Landmark, they approach cavalry speed, and can more easily run down all kinds of infantry. They can also benefit from the resource discount in the Yuan Dynasty, making them easier to mass.
While Mongols can only obtain Palace Guards randomly through the Khaganate Palace, they are granted the additional 30 hit points afforded to Chinese Palace Guards, and can additionally benefit from Mongol improved attack, hit points, and torch damage. Palace Guards are therefore both a faster and more durable alternative to the Mongol Man-at-Arms.
Unit comparison[]
 Man-at-Arms
|
 Palace Guard
| |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100 food, 20 gold | 100 food, 25 gold |
| Movement speed | 1.125 | 1.375 |
| Melee armor | 3 (Early) 4 (Regular) 5 (Elite) |
3 (Early) 3 (Regular) 4 (Elite) |
| Ranged armor | 3 (Early) 4 (Regular) 5 (Elite) |
2 (Early) 3 (Regular) 4 (Elite) |
| Melee attack | 10 (Early) 12 (Regular) 14 (Elite) |
9 (Early) 12 (Regular) 14 (Elite) |
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Spearmen, Archers |
| Weak vs. | Crossbowmen |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Hit points |  Elite Army Tactics (+20%) Battle Hardened (+30,  Chinese)
|
| Attack |  Bloomery (+1) Decarbonization (+1) Damascus Steel (+1) Elite Army Tactics (+20%)
|
| Armor |  Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
|
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Ability |  Siege Engineering (Can build Battering Rams and Siege Towers)
|
| Aura enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Regeneration |  Divine Vitality (2 hp/s out of combat,  Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Damage resistance |  Wall Defense (-25% ranged, -50% siege)
|
| Movement speed |  Divine Haste (+15%, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Creation speed |  Supervision (+150% for Chinese; +150% for Zhu Xi's Legacy or +300% with Regional Inspection)
|
| Civilization bonuses | |
|---|---|
| Hit points | Chinese (+15% in  Ming Dynasty)
|
| Attack | Zhu Xi's Legacy (+15% in Ming Dynasty)
|
| Movement speed | Chinese (+15% in  Yuan Dynasty)
|
| Resource cost | Zhu Xi's Legacy (-10% in Yuan Dynasty)
|
Khaganate Palace Guard[]
The Elite Palace Guard is also available to the Mongols, having the capability to spawn randomly from the Khaganate Palace. They are granted Battle Hardened for free and, in addition to generic upgrades, can additionally benefit from unique Mongol upgrades and bonuses:
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Hit points | Elite Army Tactics Improved: (+30%)
|
| Attack | Elite Army Tactics Improved: (+30%) Additional Torches (+3 fire); Improved: (+5 fire)
|
| Ability | Siege Engineering Improved: (can construct Springalds, Mangonels, and Traction Trebuchets)
|
| Aura enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Hit points |  Khaganate Palace (+30, grants Battle Hardened)
|
| Attack |  Kurultai Aura (+20%) Saint's Blessing (+2)
|
| Armor |  Defense Arrow (+2 melee and ranged for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows) Saint's Blessing (+1 melee/ranged)
|
| Movement speed |  Maneuver Arrow (+33% for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows) Yam Aura (+15%, requires Yam Network)
|
Changelog[]
- Originally, the elite upgrade took 90 seconds. With update 8324, it takes 60 seconds.
- With Season Two Update 17718, all melee units now attack siege engines with their melee attack, instead of their torch attack.
- Originally, all infantry had a minimum charge attack trigger distance of 2 tiles, and a duration of 5 seconds. With update 24916, this was changed to a 1 tile minimum distance and a 7 second duration.
- Originally, the Palace Guard shared its icon with the Man-at-Arms. With update 6.0.878, it received its own icon.
- Originally, it cost 100 food, 20 gold. With update 7.0.5861, it costs 100 food, 25 gold.
- Originally, the Early Palace Guard had 120 hit points. With patch 11.1.1201, they have 130 hit points.
Gallery[]
