Build Orders

The standard openings every player should know, as step-by-step guides keyed to villager counts. Pick one and follow it click by click.

Archer Rush

Intermediate

Open Feudal with two Archery Ranges. Strong with archer-bonus civs; archers out-range villagers and trade well into scouts when massed.

Map: Open map
Target: Feudal ~ 22 pop

Drush into Fast Castle

Advanced

A small Dark Age Militia push (the 'Drush') to disrupt the opponent, then transition straight into Fast Castle. Buys safety for a greedy follow-up.

Map: Open map
Target: Castle ~ 17 min

Fast Castle Boom

Intermediate

Reach Castle Age and immediately add multiple Town Centers to explode your economy. The standard greedy opening on closed or safe maps.

Map: Economy
Target: Castle ~ 16 min

Fast Castle into Knights

Intermediate

Skip Feudal aggression and rush to Castle Age, then produce Knights from two Stables. Devastating with cavalry civs; punishable if your opponent rushes you.

Map: Open map
Target: Castle ~ 16–17 min

Men-at-Arms into Archers

Advanced

Pressure in late Dark Age with a few Men-at-Arms, then flow into Archers in Feudal. The early aggression buys time for the archer mass to come online.

Map: Open map
Target: Feudal ~ 22 pop

Scout Rush

Beginner

The classic open-map opener: pressure your opponent's economy with Scout Cavalry in early Feudal while staying on top of your own farming transition.

Map: Open map
Target: Feudal ~ 21 pop