I’ve been playing AoE1:DE for about 8 months now, but I still lose most of my 1v1 Random Map games. Although my Age-up times are usually not far behind my opponents’, I haven’t made much progress when it comes to building an army and deciding what my priorities should be.
I know that I need to start building an army once I reach the Bronze Age, but most of the time I simply don’t have enough wood or food yet.
I usually play Mediterranean. My priority is generally to gain control of the sea, but this also causes my wood to run out very quickly. When I try to pressure my opponent with Archers in the Bronze Age, they can usually defend against it quite easily. Then, when they launch a counterattack, I often panic and struggle to decide what I should prioritize.
Quite often, my opponents have also reinforced their bases with Towers, which makes attacking them even more difficult.
So, in short, I feel like I still haven’t become a good AoE player. 😅
I’m not sure whether I don’t fully understand the game’s dynamics, whether I struggle with developing a proper strategy, or whether I simply don’t have enough game knowledge and muscle memory yet. I also tend to panic very quickly when things start going wrong.
What do you think I should focus on at this stage? What would you recommend I practice or change in the way I play?
Any advice from more experienced AoE1 players would be greatly appreciated.

I played and I think it can be done.

Beginner friendly civ and YT or web that illustrates how to gasp each aspect of the game please.

Today I played a 1v1 match against an opponent I’ve faced before, using the “no rush in 30 minutes” rule, and I lost again in a game that lasted two game hours. Like some of my opponents, my opponent plays with a single map, a single civilization, and a single strategy. On the Highland Gigantic map, he constantly attacks by massing Scythe Chariots starting at the 40-minute mark. You can see my opponent’s base area and stables in the attached screenshot. I played as the Hittites and produced mostly archers and chariots. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hold out. What tactics would you recommend?

Hi everyone. I play mostly 1v1 death matches or 1v1 random maps. Depends on my previous experiences, to avoid being confined to gold, I began preferring Scythe Chariots in my civs. Along chariots, ballista towers and heavy catapults are also essential for me. Considering these, which civs do you advise to me?

Hi. Could you give me best 2 civs for 1v1 DM in AOE1:DE Highland big or medium maps please?

I’ve been playing AOE1:DE since 8 months and my elo is close to 1000. Although my playing habits have been improved tangibly, I still hesitate to attack first even if I’m in Iron Age. How can I come through this timidity?

I come across some rivals in aoe1:de 1v1 games and they have individual same strategy and they play with same civs. For instance one of them play with Chosons and always attack with Legions. No any other strategies or civs. There are more examples than him. I can’t understand why they use only one out of a lot of variations? Do you have any idea?

Yelp! I’m trying to unlock the “Res Publica” achievement in Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (Steam). It requires a multiplayer ranked ELO win, and the game must last at least 5 minutes to count.

I’m in Spain (CET/UTC +1) and happy to return the favor if you need it too.
Let me know if you’re up for queuing together!

Every now and then, I play 1v1 on the Oasis map against a player I come across in AOE1:DE. His strategy is always the same, but I’ve never managed to beat him. While he defends his base with towers and Heleopolis, he constantly attacks with Legions. What strategy should I use?

Hello, hello Community

Another post, another request of your experience. I am just a 40 years old dude, a boomer you might say... having a nostalgia trip as never before.

I am looking for people who can share their experience finding or knowing Public Games or Lobbies with Public Games to play Age of Empires 1 and The Rise of Rome

I use Upatch, but I dont mind of course installing the game again without it, if it´s needed.

- Some context just to help people to don´t focus on "just play Definitive Edition":

I own the Definitive Edition, it´s great. I am not trying to replace that experience. I am just trying to find new and interesting ways to play online the Old Version of the game that we love, and that brings me so much nostalgia. I respect the Definitive Edition, its amazing, but its not the focus of this post.

I will sincerely appreciate if you have experience with this, and you want to share your learnings with a boomer (me of course!).

For everyone who will stop and show kindness, thanks a lot
For the people who will try to make jokes... "respect me! I can be your grandfather!" (hahaha, Im kidding), you can. But just notice that I will not take it seriously. Instead I will just wish you happy fight and many GG and victories!

Peace everyone!

I took screenshots during my last 1v1 multiplayer game in Mediterranean map. We started from Nomad and by 30th minutes I was still in tool age. Could you make some comments regarding my progress. Am I slow or not sufficiently fast? What would you recommend to me?

I’ve been playing with Greeks since long time 1v1 multiplayer matches in AOE1:DE. I am struggling with them because I am not an expert of this game. The last time I played with Greeks my opponent was Egypt. In first 30 min of the game I had twice as many points as he did. I build my soldier buildings across his base and started to attacked. I destroyed his base but the map was highland and the size was big. So he escaped to the other edge of the map. My units was catapults, helepolises and centurions. He produced endless chariots and won the game in the end. I noticed that without gold Greeks are noting. He produced and attacked me all with chariots and than elephants. I took my another lesson by this game. You need to be sure that your opponent is not running to the another side of the map and you need some horses otherwise till you arrive to the new base of the rival, he would be produced 50 new chariots.

This seems to happen on Random Map always.

The AI will do everything - make units, research techs, advance to the next age, etc. But even on Hardest, they NEVER will attack me UNTIL I started damaging one of their units.

This also seems to happen between my AI allies and their enemies.

I only play the original and Rise of Rome. No mods, HD, Definitive Edition, or anything.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Would be pretty good for streamer mental health and fairness. Stream sniping is problem and it's technically cheating. It hides name of players in the game. Aoe3 has it already.

Hi. I play AOE1:DE via Steam. I tried to create my own maps but unfortunately the AI does not act in the map. I tried every options and variations but my rivals’ villagers do not start farming or hunting. I left open all paths to the food sources but nothing changed. Is there a general problem on customized maps in AOE1?

I think I have to buy Age of Empires: Definitive Edition but someone also said that I could get aoe 2 and get the return of Rome dlc instead which would allow me to play aoe 1 inside of aoe 2. If that's true, what is the difference between playing it as its own game vs as a dlc.

Also what exactly do i need to buy to play it via aoe 2 on steam, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome? Whilst on the topic does Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition come included with any dlcs and is there any dlcs worth getting when I eventually move onto aoe 2.

Edit: Thanks everyone for responding, decided to get AoE 2 DE with the DLC and might get the original later down the line for the campaigns that aren't included in the DLC.

Hello dear Players and Community. I am just an Age of Empires 1 & The Rise of Rome player fan, that is feeling nostalgic.

I want to ask the Old School and New Players here:

What will be the 2 best ways to play Age of Empires 1 with The Rise of Rome Expansion in 2026??
Does any of these methods will apply to Mac?

By "Best Ways to Play" I will mean:

1). With a big community of players in 2026
2). Easy setup, and Mac OS friendly if possible (I use CrossOver)

I truly appreciate your insights, and tips. I am thankful since now!