This Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | English | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | French | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Mongols | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Ottomans | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Malians | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
English (A-Tier)
English is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Longbowman. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
French (A-Tier)
French is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Royal Knight. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Mongols (A-Tier)
Mongols is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Mangudai. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Ottomans (A-Tier)
Ottomans is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Janissary. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Malians (A-Tier)
Malians is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Musofadi Warrior. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Longbowman | Defensive English play where massed archers sit behind a spear screen near a Keep. | The English unique archer, with longer range than a standard archer and the ability to plant palings that stop cavalry charges dead. |
| Royal Knight | Early raids on villagers and punishing an opponent who over invests in archers. | The French unique heavy cavalry, which gains a damage bonus from its charge. |
| Mangudai | Hit and run raiding and pulling enemy armies out of position across large maps. | The Mongol horse archer, which fires while moving. |
| Janissary | Late game Ottoman pushes escorting Great Bombards toward enemy Landmarks. | The Ottoman handcannoneer, which does extra damage to cavalry and can repair siege engines in the field. |
| Musofadi Warrior | Malian raiding, cutting off trade routes and picking off isolated villagers. | The Malian stealth infantry, lower on health and armour but fast and dangerous in ambush. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Longbowman: The English unique archer, with longer range than a standard archer and the ability to plant palings that stop cavalry charges dead.
Royal Knight: The French unique heavy cavalry, which gains a damage bonus from its charge. Cheap and fast to produce out of the School of Cavalry Landmark.
Mangudai: The Mongol horse archer, which fires while moving. It cannot fight heavy cavalry head on, but it makes any static defence impossible to maintain.
Janissary: The Ottoman handcannoneer, which does extra damage to cavalry and can repair siege engines in the field. It arrives with gunpowder and hits armour that arrows bounce off.
Musofadi Warrior: The Malian stealth infantry, lower on health and armour but fast and dangerous in ambush. It can hide in terrain and open fights on its own terms.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition centers on Landmark ageing up and Relics and Sacred Sites. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- English with Longbowman is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Counter unit triangle builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- Mongols remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- French is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Mangudai offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Malians builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | English | Longbowman | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | French | Royal Knight | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | Mongols | Mangudai | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Ottomans | Janissary | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Malians | Musofadi Warrior | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Guides
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Overview
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Best Builds
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Walkthrough
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Beginner's Guide
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Tips & Tricks
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Weapons Guide
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Combat Guide
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Boss Guide
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Maps & Locations
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Crafting Guide
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Tier List: strategy game with similar mechanics
