MetaAOEAoE4 for beginners
Which civ to pick, which build order to learn first and what to do when knights ride into your base. Answers from ranked games and the builds players use.
- Most-played civ
- English419,419 ranked 1v1 games on the map pool.
- Best of the 6 most played
- Knights Templar53.6% win rate in ranked 1v1.
- Usual Feudal click
- 4:20Median of every civ's popular builds.
Which civ to start with
Pick a civ many people play: it has more build orders, guides and replays to learn from. The most-played civs in ranked 1v1:
| Civ | Win rate | Games | Style | Feudal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 English | 47.3% | 419,419 | Mostly macro | 4:15 |
 French | 50.6% | 407,276 | Aggressive | 4:25 |
 Knights Templar | 53.6% | 335,834 | Mixed | 4:15 |
 Order of the Dragon | 52.6% | 188,288 | Mostly macro | 4:22 |
 Japanese | 51.3% | 186,651 | Mostly macro | 5:55 |
 Ottomans | 47.8% | 168,148 | Mostly macro | 4:40 |
Which build order to learn first
Learn one build and replay it until your Feudal Age click lands on time. Their authors made these popular builds for new players or keep them simple:
| Build | Civ | Feudal |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner Friendly Vortix Spear + Fast Castleby taktaktab | Japanese | 5:55 |
| New Player Guide to HREby Shaada |  Holy Roman Empire | — |
| Simple Macedonian Dynasty - Beastyby Niki45nk |  Macedonian Dynasty | 4:15 |
| New Player Guide to Mongolsby Shaada |  Mongols | — |
| Simple Golden Horde - Beastyby Niki45nk |  Golden Horde | 4:50 |
| Simple Jeanne D'arc Feudal Aggressionby Valdemar1902 |  Jeanne d’Arc | 4:14 |
| Simple Tughlaq Dynasty - Beastyby Niki45nk |  Tughlaq Dynasty | 4:05 |
| Simple Sengoku Daimyo - Beastyby Niki45nk |  Sengoku Daimyo | 5:05 |
How to counter knights
Knights are heavy cavalry: fast, armored, and deadly once they reach your ranged units. Do not chase them with the same units they beat.
They make knights: answer with
The safest answer comes first.
- Knights, Lancers, Royal knightsSpearmen · Crossbowmen · Camel riders
What knights beat
Keep these away from them, or play knights against them:
- KnightsHorsemen · Men-at-arms · Handcannoneers · Gunpowder infantry (Streltsy, Janissaries) · Zhuge Nu · Grenadiers
Your first builds, with the clock over your game
MetaAOE shows your build over the game, step by step with the match clock, and keeps the counters one key away (Alt+C). Free, on Overwolf.
New to Age of Empires II: DE?
MetaAOE runs on AoE II too: builds from known players, under their name, the build that fits your civ's bonus, and the same overlay. The cavalry you will meet first:
Knights and scouts: answer with
The safest answer comes first.
- KnightsSpearmen / Pikemen · Camels · Monks
- ScoutsSpearmen / Pikemen · Long swordsmen
What AoE II knights beat
Keep these away from them, or play knights against them:
- KnightsArchers · Skirmishers · Eagle warriors · Hand cannoneers · Light cavalry