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In this video, I break down a recent 1v1 ranked match that I had vs a French player on the ranked ladder in Age of Empires IV. I’m currently a Unranked 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!
Whenever I see French on the loading screen, I already know what’s coming.
Knights.
More knights.
And somehow… even more knights.
This was a House of Lancaster vs French 1v1 ranked match, and honestly, it felt like pure chaos from start to finish. Between constant cavalry pressure, panic reactions, and my own bad decisions, this game turned into a perfect example of what ranked matches feel like when you’re an average player trying to improve.
I’m not a pro player. I’m still learning the game, still figuring out matchups, and still making plenty of mistakes. But games like this are useful because they expose exactly what needs work.
And in this game?
A lot needed work.
Why French Feels So Difficult to Play Against
The French civilization is one of the most aggressive and pressure-heavy civs in Age of Empires IV.
They are known for:
- Early Royal Knights in Feudal Age
- Strong cavalry pressure
- Economic bonuses
- Fast tempo gameplay
The moment French starts getting momentum, it can feel overwhelming—especially for average players trying to multitask under pressure.
And honestly?
That’s exactly what happened to me.
The “Lil Ponies” Problem
I jokingly call them “Lil Ponies,” but French Royal Knights are no joke.
They:
- Raid constantly
- Punish bad positioning
- Force you to react immediately
- Make macro much harder under pressure
As soon as the first cavalry pressure started, my entire game plan started falling apart.
What Makes House of Lancaster Strong
The House of Lancaster is built around:
- Manor-based economy
- Defensive scaling
- Long-term resource generation
Manors generate passive resources while also functioning as drop-off buildings and population support.
On paper, this should allow Lancaster to stabilize and scale into strong mid and late-game positions.
But there’s a problem:
Your economy only matters if you can stay calm enough to manage it.
And against French pressure… I definitely struggled with that.
Early Game (0–8 Minutes) – Panic Started Early
The moment the first cavalry units appeared, I immediately started making mistakes.
What Went Wrong
- Poor scouting
- Late reactions
- Floating resources
- Overcommitting to defense
Instead of calmly defending and continuing my macro, I started playing scared.
And once that happens, everything becomes harder.
The Biggest Mistake I Made: Respecting French Too Much
I think a lot of average players do this against French.
We see early cavalry and immediately assume:
“I’m already behind.”
That mindset changes how you play.
I became:
- Too defensive
- Too reactive
- Too focused on surviving instead of improving my position
Meanwhile, the French player kept controlling the pace of the game.
Mid Game (8–16 Minutes) – The Match Became Chaotic
This is where the game really slipped away from me.
My Problems
- No clear strategy
- Constant panic unit production
- Weak map control
- Poor resource spending
I wasn’t playing with confidence anymore.
I was just reacting.
And that’s dangerous against French because they thrive on momentum.
What Better Players Probably Do Differently
Watching higher-level players has made me realize something:
They don’t panic against cavalry pressure.
Instead, they:
- Scout consistently
- Wall earlier
- Keep macro stable
- Force better engagements
Meanwhile, I tend to:
- Chase knights unnecessarily
- Forget villager production
- Lose focus on economy
That difference adds up fast.
The Hard Truth About Playing Against French
French doesn’t just test your military control.
It tests:
- Your composure
- Your multitasking
- Your macro under pressure
- Your decision-making
And honestly?
That’s why I struggle against them.
Not because the civ is unbeatable.
Because pressure exposes weaknesses in my gameplay.
What I’m Trying to Improve After This Match
If you’re also an average player trying to improve, here’s what I’m personally working on after this game:
1. Scout Earlier and More Often
Most panic comes from missing information.
2. Stop Overreacting to Cavalry
Not every knight raid is game-ending.
3. Keep My Economy Running During Pressure
If villager production stops, the game snowballs quickly.
4. Commit to a Game Plan
Constantly changing strategies creates chaos.
What This Match Taught Me
This game reminded me that:
Panic is often more dangerous than the opponent’s strategy.
The French player pressured consistently, but most of my problems came from my own reactions.
That’s actually encouraging in a weird way.
Because it means improvement is possible.
Final Thoughts: Chaos Is Part of Learning
This wasn’t a clean game.
It wasn’t high-level gameplay.
It was one player trying to survive French cavalry pressure while slowly realizing:
- My macro needs work
- My scouting needs work
- My decision-making needs work
But honestly?
That’s what ranked improvement looks like for most average players.
Messy games.
Bad decisions.
And slowly learning from them over time.
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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