IMPROVEMENT HUB

Learn & Improve

Curated build orders, strategy guides, pro VODs, and tools — everything you need to climb.

Learning Paths

Start here

New to Ranked?

Learn the fundamentals: economy, build orders, and your first civ.

  1. 1Pick Franks or Britons
  2. 2Learn scouts or archers build order
  3. 3Practice eco benchmark
  4. 4Play 20 Arabia games
Break through

Stuck at Your Elo?

Find your weaknesses, fix your build order, and understand the meta.

  1. 1Analyze your profile
  2. 2Identify your worst maps
  3. 3Study the current meta
  4. 4Fix your weakest civ
Go deep

Master a Map

Pick one map, learn the best civs, openings, and transitions for it.

  1. 1Choose your main map
  2. 2Learn the top 3 civs for it
  3. 3Study the opening strategy
  4. 4Watch pro games on that map

Showing 21 resources

Scouts into Knights

Beginner

The most common 1v1 opening. Learn the 21-pop scouts build and how to transition into Castle Age knights.

build orderfeudalcavalry

Straight Archers

Beginner

22-pop archers — the most versatile feudal aggression. Works on Arabia, Steppe, and most open maps.

build orderfeudalarchers

Men-at-Arms into Archers

Intermediate

Aggressive early pressure with MAA followed by archer support. Strong against scouts openings.

build orderfeudalinfantry

Fast Castle

Intermediate

Skip feudal aggression and boom into Castle Age. Essential for Arena, Black Forest, and closed maps.

build ordercastle ageboom

Drush into Fast Castle

Advanced

Dark Age militia rush to disrupt opponent's economy, then fast castle. Requires precise timing.

build orderdark agemilitia

Best Civs for Beginners

Beginner

Franks, Britons, and Aztecs are forgiving and powerful. Learn why these civs are recommended for new players.

beginnerciv selectiongetting started

Economy Fundamentals

Beginner

Idle TC time, villager production, and resource balance. The three pillars of AoE2 economy.

economybeginnerfundamentals

Arabia Strategy Guide

Beginner

The most-played ranked map. Open terrain rewards aggressive feudal play. Learn the meta openings and transitions.

map guidearabiaopen map

Arena Strategy Guide

Intermediate

Walled starts mean you can boom safely. Learn fast castle timings, unique unit strategies, and how to break walls.

map guidearenaclosed map

Nomad Opening Guide

Intermediate

No starting TC means chaotic early game. Learn how to place your TC, secure resources, and survive the opening.

map guidenomadtc placement

TheViper — Arabia Mastery

by TheViper
Advanced

Watch the world's top player demonstrate perfect Arabia execution: eco management, feudal aggression, and transitions.

pro playarabiaTheViper

Hera — Coaching & Analysis

by Hera
Intermediate

Hera's coaching videos break down common mistakes at every Elo. Excellent for 1000–1600 players.

coachinganalysisHera

Spirit of the Law — Civ Analysis

by Spirit of the Law
Beginner

Deep-dive civ breakdowns explaining unique units, tech trees, and strategic strengths. Essential reference.

civ analysiseducationSpirit of the Law

T90Official — Casted Games

by T90Official
Intermediate

High-quality casted games with commentary explaining decision-making. Great for learning game sense.

casted gamescommentaryT90

Interactive Tech Tree

Beginner

Explore every civ's full tech tree. Filter by unit type, see what's missing, and plan your strategy.

tech treeciv comparisonreference

Damage Calculator

Intermediate

Calculate exact damage between any two units with any tech combination. Know your counters precisely.

damagecountersunits

Army Advisor

Intermediate

Get unit composition recommendations based on your civ, enemy civ, and map. Stop guessing your army.

armycountersunit composition

Eco Benchmark Tool

Intermediate

Compare your economy numbers against top players at your Elo. Find exactly where you're falling behind.

economybenchmarkimprovement

Franks — Beginner Cavalry Civ

Beginner

Free farm upgrades and the best Paladins in the game. Simple, powerful, and forgiving for new players.

civ guidefrankscavalry

Britons — Archer Specialists

Beginner

Extra range on Arbalest and Longbowmen make Britons the premier archer civ. Great on open maps.

civ guidebritonsarchers

Mayans — Top Tier Archers

Intermediate

Mayans have the best archers in the game with El Dorado Eagles as backup. Consistently top-tier.

civ guidemayansarchers
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