Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend - The Defense of Tyre

Here's a guide on how to complete The Defense of Tyre in Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend.

Set in 1111, The Defense of Tyre is the opening mission of the Damascene campaign in Age of Empires 4: The Sultans Ascend. The port city of Tyre is under siege by Baldwin, King of Jerusalem, and his Frankish army. Tyre's governor calls on Damascus for aid, and Toghtekin answers with a force of Turkic Horse Archers sent to strike fast and break the siege from the outside.

Clearing the Frankish Camps

The mission opens with the objective to clear four Frankish Camps. Move fast, the Franks are gathering resources, and once they hit 4,000, the mission advances to the next phase, whether the camps are cleared or not. Clear them in order of proximity to avoid wasting time.

The first camp is just up the road and only has a few Militia guarding it, straightforward to take down. The second is to the east and equally light on defenders. The third has Spearmen, which hit hard against cavalry, so kiting is important here. An Outpost guards the front, so use Toghtekin to draw its fire since he has more health than regular units.

Not every villager in the camp needs to be eliminated; move on as soon as the camp clears. The fourth camp is best approached from the left, through the back of the third camp, since an Outpost covers the road entrance. Horsemen guard this one and will chase for a distance before returning to position, so bait them out, pull back, and pick them off in stages.

After each camp is cleared, collect the Resource Crates left behind, which give a head start on base building in the next phase. If units take heavy damage during the raids, look for the Mosque on the map. Defeating its guards unlocks three Imams who will heal the army.

Setting Up the Settlement

With the camps cleared, a Settlement is handed over; it comes with a Town Center and a few buildings already in place, but not much else. The next objective is to advance to the Feudal Age, so getting the economy moving is the priority straight away.

Put enough villagers on food to keep Villager production running, then send the rest to wood. Build Docks along the coastline closest to the Deep Water Fish and get Fishing Boats out as soon as possible, as they become the main food source for the rest of the mission.

Aim for at least two to three Docks with several boats at each. When the time comes to advance, pick the Military Wing Landmark. The Boot Camp bonus it provides makes infantry more durable, which matters a lot in the fights ahead in Age of Empires 4: The Sultans Ascend. Wheelbarrow and Double Broadax are also worth researching early.

Building the Army

Start producing a mixed force of Spearmen, Horsemen, and Archers. Spearmen and Horsemen counter enemy Knights and Archers, respectively, and both have torch attacks that will be needed to bring down The Beast later. Archers handle enemy infantry well. Avoid spending too much on Turkic Horse Archers at this stage; they are expensive and struggle in direct combat against Frankish Archers.

Keep gold focused on Blacksmith technologies and key upgrades, then shift villagers back to food and wood. The Franks will send waves of Archers, Militia, and Horsemen during the buildup, hold them off with the help of Town Center fire while the army grows. Keep production buildings running and replace losses quickly.

Preparing for the Final Assault

As the army reaches full strength, push toward the entrance to Tyre and clear the forward Frankish base near the isthmus. Wall off the base to stop raids from cutting into the economy. Consider sending some Villagers into Tyre to build additional military buildings inside the walls. Once The Beast starts moving, the Frankish attacks become relentless and can cut off reinforcements coming from the main base.

Destroying the Beast

Baldwin's forces finish construction on The Beast, a massive ram built to break through Tyre's walls. Once it starts moving across the land bridge, position the full army on the isthmus and block its path. The Beast is slow and clunky, and units placed directly in front of it will slow its advance.

Do not get drawn into fighting the entire Frankish army; focus fire on The Beast itself using units with torch attacks. Tyre's own defenders are too weak to rely on. Under enough sustained pressure, the Beast breaks apart, and the surviving Frankish crew retreats. Tyre holds, closing out the first mission of Age of Empires 4: The Sultans Ascend