Build a Strong Defense in Age of Empires 3

Do you always have the bad feeling when attacking your enemy that your hometown will get destroyed by a sneak attack or from another enemy? This article will show you how you to set up your defences and attack with a good feeling.

Steps

  1. Build the buildings with a little structure and not everywhere you want. For example: Don't build the market or the mills at the front or in the middle of the map. Build it in the centre of your village or behind it. When the enemy attacks, your resource-places should be in a safe place. Build all your military buildings in the front so you can pump out troops fast in case your enemy attacks or you want to attack fast. This structure is one of the most important things in the game.
  2. From your hometown you will get defense-towers if you have them selected in the menu. Place those at points that need a little defense. Like outposts or just some villagers who need to be defended. They can also build towers. You should also place towers in front of your city because they will help your troops to defeat the attacking enemy. Just build towers everywhere where you think this place needs a defense but not a whole army.
  3. Build walls around your main part of your village. If you have walls, the enemy can't walk in without destroying something first. Walls will stop your enemy and will give your troops which are defending a short amount of time to reach to the action.
  4. When you are attacking, always leave troops at your village in case the enemy attacks you too. Because some enemies try to sneak around with their troops to avoid a big fight between your main troop and his main troops (which is clever by the way, you should do that too). When you have your troops at home, don’t let them stand around near the barracks where they came out. Spread them near the walls so the most important places of your village will have a defense when the enemy destroys the wall. Where the enemy attacks you send your troops. But also here, don’t use all the defensive troops to fight against the enemy because good players will attack at two spots and you will have to fight at two points at the same time.
  5. Build your fort from the hometown behind your walls. Many people use the fort to pump troops out near the enemy. Which is very good, but you can also build barracks or stables with two villagers. The fort is very good to push enemy troops back because it does huge damage to infantry. Try to spread your defense-troops near the fort and all along the wall. It is very important to spread your army. Try to have crossbows for defense because they can shoot through the wall and do very good damage against attacking infantry.
  6. Manage your defense line and your attacking troops. I recommend you to first set up the defense-line and afterwards you start attacking. Most of the time the big troops fight in the middle, then it depends on how good the army is. If you also want to learn how you can build a very effective army you can read my guide to: "How to Build a Good Balanced Army in Age of Empires 3"

Tips

  • Always watch your resources. Don't spend them all because maybe you need to send more troops to the front when you know that you can win. And if you don't have any resources left you have to attack again. Never hesitate too much, take your time and think tactical and know what happens at the battlefield. It takes practice to watch everything (resources, front, defense etc.) but you will improve and learn to be safe and attack really hard.
  • If you're Dutch or British, you can send a church card which will allow your church to make 30 musketeers (Dutch) or 30 skirmishers (British). These troops are made in a matter of seconds and are always guard level. This card can be used in an emergency if your enemy does sneak around you when you attack their base. This allows you to take all your troops to attack and if you have some walls and good defenses you will be safe from a sneak attack. This card also allows you to make some type of mercenaries but they are not cheap.

Warnings

  • Take your time to build your defense, it is very important. Because you never know if your attacking troop gets destroyed at the front. So a good defense will save you!

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