Players can customize their factions and lead them to victory across procedurally-generated realms in Age of Wonders 4. The Empire Skill tree is one of the most comprehensive customization systems available, providing players with incredible bonuses, rewards, and essential abilities to secure victory. These skills are tailored to the player's chosen affinities, making them ideal for their faction's playstyle. Divided into different branches, the Empire Skill Tree covers every affinity, and this guide highlights some of the best skills available in each branch.
Best Empire Skills in Age of Wonders 4
Empire Skills come in various forms, including abilities required for players to traverse specific environments, immediate payouts of rewards, and enhancements for resource gathering. The following table showcases some of the premium skills from each branch of the Empire Skill Tree.
General Skills
Basic Navigation Cost: 50 Imperium Enables Units to embark and utilize vessels to cross water bodies. Allows Flying and Floating units to travel over water.
Expanded Governance Cost: 200 Imperium Increases the City Cap by +1.
Forced March Cost: 150 Imperium Unlocks the ability for Armies to utilize Forced March.
Materium Affinity
Rite of the Armorer Cost: 150 Imperium Grants the Breastplate of the Champion hero item.
Master Masons Cost: 250 Imperium City Structures cost 20% less Gold to build.
Martial Ancestry Cost: 500 Imperium Unit Upkeep is reduced by 10% per Rank that unit has.
Chaos Affinity
Impressment Cost: 75 Imperium Tier I Units cost 30% less Unit Upkeep.
Spoils of Destruction Cost: 350 Imperium Razing Cities yields a permanent income of +20 Gold.
Rites of Possession Cost: 500 Imperium The Throne City loses -1 Population but immediately summons a Balor with Power from Slaughter.
Shadow Affinity
Shadow Binding Cost: 100 Imperium Magic Origin Unit Upkeep is reduced by 20%.
Rite of the Cryptblade Cost: 150 Imperium Grants the Cryptblade hero item.
Spying Shadows Cost: 500 Imperium Reveals the full World Map immediately. The Throne City gains infinite Sensing Range. Armies in Sensing Range reveal their numbers and allegiance.
Astral Affinity
Casting Reserves Cost: 50 Imperium Grants +20 Combat Casting Points and World Map Casting Points.
Rite of Conjuration Cost: 350 Imperium Immediately conjures a defended Magic Material near each City in the player's Empire.
Astral Binding Cost: 500 Imperium New Magic Origin Units gain +3 Ranks.
Order Affinity
Rite of Allegiance Cost: 150 Imperium Instantly gains +20 Allegiance with all Free Cities.
House Levies Cost: 350 Imperium Recruiting Units during the Rally of the Lieges costs 50% Gold. Time between Rallies of the Lieges is reduced by 5 Turns.
Rite of the Banners Cost: 500 Imperium Calls a Rally of the Lieges event, where players may recruit units at no cost. Gain +10 Recruitment Points.
Nature Affinity
Fruitful Integration Cost: 50 Imperium Founding or Absorbing Cities takes 2 fewer turns. Newly Founded or Absorbed Cities gain +1 Population.
Expansive Reach Cost: 200 Imperium Cities may expand to Provinces located +2 Provinces further from the center.
Druidic Empire Cost: 500 Imperium Acquiring new Population requires 50% less Food.
Age Of Wonders 4 is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
