Age of Empireseasily rivalsCommand and ConquerandStarCraftas one of the most influential real-time strategy franchises. Many still considerAge of Empires 2the greatest RTS of all time, and it still has an active online multiplayer community. So naturally,Age of Empires 4has some big shoes to fillwhen it releases on PC and Xbox Game Pass October 28th.
Most for the series predates the rise of Gamerscore. However, a AAA title in 2021 wouldn’t feel complete without an array of achievements for players to earn. Achievement hunters now have something to look forward to, as Xbox recently revealed the full list of Achievements forAge of Empires 4. While Achievements won’t make or break a game, the comprehensive list gives clues about what players can get up to in the upcoming RTS.
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There are 89 in all, covering a range of in-game accomplishments. Predictably, there’s one for each ofAge of Empires 4’sCampaigns, with a fifth achievement for completing all four. Including the tutorial, that’s six achievements for 95 points in all. There are also 11 achievements worth a combined 140 points for completing all the game’s Mastery tasks. This is also the first direct mention ofAge of Empire 4’smastery system, which appears akin to expanded tutorials focusing on the nuances of the game’s eight civilizations. However, fans will have to wait a bit longer before more details are available.
Master of the English
Master of the French
Master of the Mongols
Master of the Rus
Master of the Chinese
Master of the Abbasid
Master of the Ages
Challenge Taker
Earn your first gold medal in an Art of War challenge.
The Faithful
Convert 30 enemies without holding a Relic as the Abbasid Dynasty.
All the World’s Knowledge
During a match, research everything in the wings of the Abbasid House of Wisdom.
Shifting Winds
Defeat 1,000 enemy cavalry units with your Camel Riders as the Abbasid Dynasty.
A Golden Age
Achieve the third tier of the Golden Age as the Abbasid Dynasty.
Hope Is Kindled
Extend the Network of Castles alarm across 12 buildings simultaneously as the English.
Lancerlot
Charge an enemy with 50 Royal Knights simultaneously as the French.
Big Shot
Destroy 1,000 enemy units with gunpowder siege engines as the French.
Do You Deliver?
Accrue 1,000 Food from Traders in a single match as the French.
Wild’s Bounty
Accrue 2,000 Gold with Hunting Cabins in a single match as the Rus.
Big Game Hunter
Earn 500 Gold from bounties in a match as the Rus.
In Memory of Kulikovo
Enhance 10 units with a single Saint’s Blessing strike as the Rus.
Raiding Party
Raid an enemy building in the Dark Age (I) as the Mongols.
Jagutu-iin Darga
Enhance 100 units with a single Khan Signal Arrow as the Mongols.
Long Live the Khan
Win a match without your Khan being killed as the Mongols.
Who Needs Cavalry?
Win a match without producing cavalry as the Holy Roman Empire.
Inspired Economics
Have at least 60 simultaneously inspired Villagers as the Holy Roman Empire.
Servants of the Land
Swift Site
Begin capturing a Sacred Site immediately upon entering the Castle Age (III) as the Holy Roman Empire.
Herd You Like Elephants
Destroy 100 enemy buildings with your elephants as the Delhi Sultanate.
Field Construction
Build a Stone Wall, Gate, and Tower using infantry as the Delhi Sultanate.
Higher Education
Have 20 Scholars garrisoned in a Madrasa as the Delhi Sultanate.
Be Subtle
Reveal 300 Villagers with a single use of Imperial Spies as the Chinese.
Move Like Wind, Attack Like Fire
Defeat 1,000 enemy units with the Nest of Bees as the Chinese.
Four Histories
Establish all of the Dynasties in a single match as the Chinese.
All Creek, No Paddle
Sink an enemy Transport Ship that is garrisoned to maximum capacity.
Coast Is Clear
Win a match during which fishing was your only source of gathered Food.
Secret achievement
Examining the list, a few other achievements stand out. “Recorded History” grants 5 points for viewing a replay. This confirms players will be able to record and possibly even sharetheirAge of Empires 4matches. Other achievements may hint at civilization-unique abilities or mechanics. For example, players can earn “The Faithful” for converting 30 enemies as the Abbasids without holding any Relics. Relics inAge of Empires 2mainly were just pots of free money. However, this achievement suggests that the Abbasids get unique benefits from collecting them.
Meanwhile, players unlock “Hope is Kindled” by expanding the English Network of Castles. Again, it’s not 100 percent clear what this mechanic is. Historically, the English developed castles to protect the kingdom’s rivers and coastlines from Viking raiders. Presumably, this mechanic will reflect that role in some way. Other achievements encourage players to perform extraordinary feats with a Civilization’s unique units. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be anything specific to usingAge of Empires 4’strebuchets, which hijacked part of the game’s last E3 presentation.
The list also includes 16 “secret” achievements that have names and points but no descriptions. Still, a player might find some clues in the names themselves. They include things like “Careful Cannons,” “Keep the Change,” and “Du Bois Are Back in Town.” Fortunately, players don’t have much longer to wait beforejumping intoAge of Empires 4and finding out.
Age of Empires 4releases for Windows PC and Game Pass on October 28th, 2021.
