Age of Empires 4 Rus civilisation guide

The Rus aren't the toughest civilization in Age of Empires 4, but they do have more unique content than the other initial factions. The Rus are better able to exploit their particular specialty for maximum effect, thanks to a distinct resource drop-off point, their own version of the outpost, and three unique units, all without requiring you to re-learn how to play the game.

The Hunting Cabin is the backbone of the Rus economy; it replaces the Mill and accepts food, but it can also make money depending on how many trees are around, however this rate drops if there are too many other cabins nearby. It can also create scouts and house food-production-improvement technology.

Aside from that, they are a defensive-minded society, maybe even more so than the English because they have stronger palisades and gateways. They also have certain naval-focused perks — one of their distinctive units is a ship, and Russian fishing boats don't have to dock their catch. Let's take a closer look at their capabilities.

AGE OF EMPIRES 4 RUS ABILITIES

WOODLAND FEDERATION

Outposts are replaced by wooden fortresses, and wooden walls and entrances are stronger. When villagers drop off wood at lumber mills within an outpost's influence area, yields increase by 20% but make sure you're not harvesting from the same location as your hunting cabins.

The trade-off is that the Rus are unable to construct any of the later stone-based structures, leaving you susceptible to late-game siege engines.

HUNTER PRINCES

Scouts can be upgraded, and the Russians can earn gold bounties by hunting wild animals, with different creatures providing varying amounts of gold. Collect enough bounty to grant your group more benefits, such as higher food collection rates and gold.

AGE OF EMPIRES 4 RUS UNITS

In the Feudal Age (II), the Rus have access to the Early Knight, and their distinctive troops are:

• Streltsy: Gunpowder unit that gets stronger when stationary, but that also has a strong melee attack.
• Warrior Monk: A mounted version of the monk, they inspire nearby units when in combat, providing bonus armour and damage.
• Lodya ships: Can be converted into any type of ship for increased naval flexibility.

AGE OF EMPIRES 4 RUS LANDMARKS

When you build a landmark, the 'Age' next to it reveals which age you will be when you complete it.

• Kremlin (Age II) – Defensive Landmark. Acts as a Wooden Fortress, but comes with stone-based emplacement upgrades.
• The Golden Gate (Age II) – Economic Landmark. Acts like a market in the sense that you can exchange resources, but the rate is more favorable. You’re limited to how often you can do this though.
• High Trade House (Age III) – Economic Landmark. Generates gold like a Hunting Cabin with the value increased by 200%, and can generate a deer every 60 seconds.
• Abbey of the Trinity (Age III) – Religious Landmark. Acts as a Monastery. Produces Warrior Monks at half the cost and comes with unique techs.
• Spasskaya Tower (Age IV) – Defensive Landmark. Acts as a Keep, but has increased health and all weapon emplacements unlocked.
• High Armory (Age IV) – Military Landmark. Contains unique siege technologies, and any Siege Workshop nearby can build siege engines 20% cheaper.

The Russians have huge economic and defensive advantages in the early game, but as other civs get access to better defenses and equally powerful units, they may struggle to compete in the late game.

You'll need to make good use of your cavalry advantage early on, as well as the Warrior Monk's help, to turn the tide before you're overrun.