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In this video, I break down a recent 1v1 ranked match that I had vs a Gold III Rus player on the ranked ladder in Age of Empires IV. I’m currently a Gold II player at the time of this recording.
I was playing as the Ayyubids 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!
Every once in a while, you play a ranked game where one unit completely changes the way you think about a matchup.
This was one of those games.
This was an Ayyubids vs Rus 1v1 ranked match in Age of Empires IV, and honestly, it felt like the entire game revolved around one thing:
Camels.
Not just because they’re strong—but because I clearly didn’t understand how to use them properly yet.
I’m still an average player trying to improve. I’m learning matchups, trying to clean up my macro, and figuring out when to pressure versus when to stabilize. And this match exposed a lot of my weaknesses immediately.
But it also taught me why Ayyubids can feel incredibly powerful once things start clicking.
Why Ayyubids Feel So Different
The Ayyubids are one of the more unique civilizations in Age of Empires IV because they combine:
- Flexible age-up options
- Camel-focused armies
- Aggressive tempo play
- Strong tactical adaptability
Unlike many civilizations that follow predictable build orders, Ayyubids constantly force decisions:
- Which wing do you age with?
- Do you pressure early?
- Do you scale?
- Do you rush Castle Age?
As an improving player, that flexibility is both exciting and overwhelming.
Because flexibility also means:
More opportunities to make bad decisions.
And I definitely made a few.
Why Rus Can Be So Difficult to Face
The Rus civilization is built around:
- Strong food economy through hunting
- Early map control
- Fast cavalry pressure
- Defensive Wooden Fortresses
Whenever I face Rus, I immediately feel pressured to keep up with their tempo.
They expand aggressively, control resources early, and force you to react constantly.
And if you fall behind economically against Rus, it gets hard to recover.
The Camel Problem (Or Solution)
The biggest thing about Ayyubids is obviously their camel units.
The civilization has access to:
- Desert Raiders
- Camel Lancers
- Camel-based anti-cavalry mechanics
Camel units apply a debuff called Camel Unease, reducing nearby enemy cavalry damage.
And against Rus cavalry?
That matters a lot.
At least… it does when you actually control your units properly.
Early Game (0–8 Minutes) – Trying Not to Panic
The early game felt stressful almost immediately.
Rus pressure always makes me feel rushed because I know they can:
- Control hunts
- Raid quickly
- Snowball momentum fast
My Biggest Mistakes
- Scouting too late
- Floating resources
- Overreacting to cavalry movement
- Delaying my own aggression
Instead of focusing on my own game plan, I kept worrying about what the Rus player might do next.
That uncertainty creates hesitation.
And hesitation usually creates mistakes.
What I’m Starting to Understand About Ayyubids
The more I play Ayyubids, the more I realize this civilization rewards confidence.
Not reckless aggression.
But decisive gameplay.
A lot of players online describe Ayyubids as a strong “tempo civ” built around pressure and momentum.
And honestly, that feels accurate.
Whenever I hesitate:
- My macro slips
- My pressure disappears
- My unit composition gets messy
The civ feels strongest when you stay proactive.
Mid Game (8–16 Minutes) – One Camel Started Changing Everything
This is where the match became really interesting.
Once I started mixing camels into my army more effectively, the matchup started feeling completely different.
Rus cavalry pressure suddenly felt less overwhelming.
That’s when I realized:
The camels weren’t just units—they were controlling the pace of the fights.
Even Reddit discussions around camels mention how strong the cavalry debuff mechanic can feel in practice.
And honestly?
I finally started understanding why.
The Biggest Mistake I Still Make
Even when things started going better, I kept making one recurring mistake:
I would panic every time momentum shifted.
Instead of:
- Staying calm
- Stabilizing macro
- Rebuilding efficiently
…I’d start panic-producing units and abandoning my original strategy.
That’s becoming a pattern in a lot of my ranked games.
Why Matchup Knowledge Matters So Much
This game reminded me how important matchup familiarity really is.
When you understand:
- Enemy timings
- Unit strengths
- Power spikes
…you play with more confidence.
But when you don’t fully understand the matchup:
- Every attack feels scarier
- Every cavalry movement feels dangerous
- Every fight feels uncertain
As an average player, that uncertainty affects decision-making more than mechanics sometimes.
What I’m Trying to Improve After This Match
If you’re also an improving ranked player, here’s what I’m personally focusing on after this game:
1. Scout More Consistently
Information reduces panic.
2. Stop Overreacting to Pressure
Not every cavalry movement requires a full response.
3. Trust My Unit Composition
If the camels are doing their job, I don’t need to panic-switch armies constantly.
4. Keep My Economy Stable During Fights
Macro still matters—even during chaos.
The Honest Truth About This Match
This wasn’t clean gameplay.
This wasn’t some flawless strategic masterpiece.
This was:
- Pressure
- Panic
- Camels
- Chaos
- And slowly figuring things out in real time
Which honestly describes most ranked games for average players trying to improve.
Final Thoughts: Maybe One Camel Really Can Rule Them All
This match taught me something important:
Sometimes improvement isn’t about learning twenty new strategies.
Sometimes it’s just understanding:
- Why a unit works
- When to use it
- And staying calm enough to let it do its job
The camels didn’t magically win the game for me.
But they helped me realize that I’ve been overcomplicating things sometimes.
And honestly?
That’s probably one of the most useful lessons ranked can teach you.
Overview
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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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