Spearmen · Towers — Knights Templar AoE4
Spearmen and an Outpost in their base (0:00–4:35)
Block the opponent’s gold, stone or berries with 3 Spearmen and an Outpost in their base, then send 6 woodcutters to gold at 3:05, when you have 15 villagers.
- 0:00 — 4 villagers on the isolated trees, 2 on sheep; rally on sheep up to 8. Send the Scout into the enemy base to locate the gold, stone and berries.
- 0:30 — At 150 wood, a woodcutter builds the Barracks.
- 1:00 — At 50 wood, a woodcutter builds a House.
- 1:05 — The Barracks produces Spearmen: only 3, unless the opponent makes defensive units.
- 1:35 — When the second Spearman is out, a woodcutter goes to build an Outpost in the enemy base.
- — Where to put the Outpost: on gold against civilizations with Age II heavy cavalry or a fast Age III (French, Jeanne d’Arc, Jin, Dragon Order, Japanese, Sengoku, Malians, Ayyubids, Macedonians, Ottomans); on stone against 2 Town Center civilizations (Templars, Abbasid, Tughluq, Golden Horde); on berries against berry bonuses (Byzantines, Delhi). Avoid it against the Holy Roman Empire, Chinese, Zhu Xi, English, Lancaster, Mongols and Rus.
- 2:05 — Rally on wood.
- 2:50 — The wood for the Outpost is in. If the opponent makes units to defend, produce more Spearmen.
- 3:05 — When 200 food is banked and the Spearmen are done, 6 woodcutters to gold: 1 builds the Mining Camp, the other 5 gather gold.
- — Mine 50 stone and 25 gold to upgrade the Outpost with Arrowslits.
- 4:05 — Pick the Age II advance. Principality of Antioch: Serjeants, good against Age II Knights but expensive and weak against Archers. Knights Hospitaller: sturdy, good for an all-in with Archers and Horsemen. Kingdom of France: very strong Age II heavy cavalry, which comes out faster.
After the Outpost (4:35)
Pick what comes next while the opponent deals with the Outpost: an all-in, 2 Town Centers or a fast Age III.
- — All-in: a Stable for Horsemen or Chevalier Confreres, an Archery Range for Archers, a Blacksmith for Iron Undermesh and Siege Engineering. 2 Town Centers: villagers on wood and stone during the age-up. Fast Age III: food and gold while the opponent tries to take down the Outpost.
Tips
- Do not play it against the Holy Roman Empire, China, Zhu Xi, the English, Lancaster, the Mongols or the Rus: they make many units very early, or have ranged villagers.
- Only 3 Spearmen, unless the opponent defends with their own units; they block the gold, stone or berries while the Outpost holds.
- The Outpost goes on gold, stone or berries depending on the opposing civilization: see the dedicated step.
- Arrowslits cost 50 stone and 25 gold: an upgraded Outpost keeps the opponent busy longer.
Source: AoE4 Guides