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In this video, I break down a recent 1v1 ranked match that I had vs a Japanese player on the ranked ladder in Age of Empires IV. I’m currently a Gold III player at the time of this recording.
I was playing as the House of Lancaster during this game. The purpose of this video is to analyze my gameplay. Take a look at the pros, cons and ultimately evaluate ways to improve. Feel free to like, follow, share, subscribe and comment below!
After watching my gameplay, feel free to check out the detailed stats below!
If you’ve ever lost a ranked game and thought:
“Yeah… that was just bad everything.”
That’s exactly how this match felt.
This was a House of Lancaster vs Japanese 1v1 ranked game, and honestly, it exposed a lot of my weaknesses—especially my poor micro and poor macro.
I’m not a high-level player. I’m still learning, still improving, and still making mistakes. But this game taught me something important:
You don’t lose because of one mistake—you lose because of patterns.
What “Poor Micro and Macro” Actually Means
Before breaking down the match, it’s important to understand what went wrong.
- Micro = your unit control, fights, positioning, and execution
- Macro = your economy, decision-making, and overall strategy
In competitive games, micro wins fights, but macro wins games.
And in this match?
I struggled with both.
Why This Matchup Is Tricky
The Japanese civilization thrives on:
- Strong scaling economy
- Efficient production
- Clean, disciplined gameplay
Meanwhile, House of Lancaster relies on:
- Manor-based economy
- Defensive stability
- Scaling into late-game strength
So the matchup becomes:
- If you mismanage macro → you fall behind economically
- If you mismanage micro → you lose every fight
And I did both.
Early Game (0–8 Minutes) – Where Things Started Going Wrong
My Biggest Issue: No Clear Plan
I went into the game thinking:
“I’ll just play standard and react.”
That’s a mistake.
Because without a plan:
- My build order was sloppy
- My scouting was inconsistent
- My decisions were reactive, not proactive
What I’m Learning to Do Instead
As an improving player, here’s what I should be doing:
- Prioritize clean Manor setup early
- Scout the opponent consistently
- Decide early: Am I playing defensive or applying pressure?
Right now, I’m stuck in between—and that’s costing me games.
Mid Game (8–16 Minutes) – The Game Slipped Away
This is where the match really fell apart.
Micro Mistakes
- Bad unit positioning
- Taking fights I shouldn’t take
- Not paying attention during engagements
Micro is all about execution in the moment, and mine just wasn’t there.
Macro Mistakes
Even worse than the fights… my decisions:
- Floating resources instead of spending
- Not expanding when I should
- No clear objective (no pressure, no map control)
Macro is about the big picture—economy, map control, and timing.
And I wasn’t managing any of it well.
The Biggest Lesson: You Can’t Ignore Either One
Here’s what this game made painfully clear:
- Good micro alone won’t save bad decisions
- Good macro alone won’t win fights
You need both.
And right now, I’m inconsistent with both—which is why I’m stuck where I am.
What I’m Actively Trying to Fix
If you’re an average player like me, this is what I’m focusing on improving:
1. Simplify My Game Plan
Instead of trying to do everything:
- Pick a strategy
- Stick to it
2. Spend My Resources Faster
If I have resources sitting there… I’m already behind.
3. Take Better Fights (or Avoid Them)
Not every fight needs to happen.
4. Focus on One Improvement Per Game
Trying to fix everything at once doesn’t work.
Right now:
- One game = focus on macro
- Next game = focus on micro
The Honest Truth About Climbing Ranked
I used to think:
“I just need one clean game.”
That’s not it.
Improvement comes from:
- Repeated mistakes
- Recognizing patterns
- Fixing one thing at a time
Most average players (myself included) don’t lose because of mechanics alone—we lose because of decision-making under pressure.
Final Thoughts: This Was a Bad Game… But a Useful One
Yeah, my micro was bad.
Yeah, my macro was worse.
But this is the kind of game that actually helps you improve—if you’re honest about it.
I’m not trying to play like a pro.
I’m just trying to:
- Make fewer mistakes
- Play a little cleaner each game
- And slowly climb
If you’re in the same spot, keep going.
We’re not there yet—but we’re getting better.
Overview
Timeline
Total Score
Military
Economy
Technology
Society
Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment in partnership with World’s Edge and published by Xbox Game Studios.
It is the fourth installment of the Age of Empires series, and the first installment not developed by Ensemble Studios. The game was released on October 28, 2021 for Windows, and on August 22, 2023 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
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