Iron Pagoda

Age of Empires IV IV - Discussion
1

Out the gate!!

I’m convinced the earlier version of this unit must have been overpowered which likely merited the cost and training time penalties?? Or maybe this is copium…

Whatever the origins… this version is feckless.

  1. The splash dmg is niche (useful on raids)
  2. Unit doesn’t not compete cost for cost vs many lancer unit types
  3. The unit doesn’t synergize with Grasslands, it desperately depends on the mechanics!!

Now if it’s useless, how do we fix it?

One idea is to keep the performance unchanged but reduce the cost and training time which then leverages Grasslands making the unit exceptional on sheer mass alone!!

Another idea is to increase melee armor by 1 across the board. This will improve lancer bouts and other similar fights but not change spearman counters (at least not in feudal) and crossbow counters!

3rd idea is a general buff. If Grasslands mechanics improves to 100F discount cost instead of 25F and in the case of tribesman Grassland makes them complete free (95 resources saved). This buff helps with how FOOD intensive this faction is, and the cost savings can go towards massing more of this mediocre unit roster.

2 Likes
2

I agree this thing needs an urgent buff, or fix. Iron pagoda seems also suffering from the attack animation causing its attack speed longer than intended but yet to be confirmed. Several facts I have tested out are, first, if produced from grassland, iron pagoda is as cost effective as regular knights with the discount. Second, with the great pasture and grassland horse maxed, it has same hp as templar brothers. Third, if iron pagoda hits two additional targets, they do same total damage to regular knights as they will do to them with armor being counted. I always assume they will get 10 more hp as iron pagoda should not be binded with specifically one landmark, then have either +2 damage where the non-guaranteed aoe damage is treated as a bonus, or an increased aoe radius so that they always hit two additional targets, not sure what will be presented eventually, but there have to be some buff

3

Increasing the food discount of grasslands is interesting. 25 food is not much. They can reduce the cost and build time of the unit, it is way to high right now. The problem with the AOE is that it is to small to hit larger Cavalry units, so increasing it would help greatly. Splashing vs spearmen is not really that great.

2 Likes
4

I’ve been using Jin more lately. I do think the grasslands do make the difference for this unit. For example I’ll use the war stable to produce their mohe tribesman but once I get that horse discount I’ll use it on the iron pagoda. It’s efficient to create the counter and always get the iron pagoda with a small discount but instant production and since you get a horse eventually at the same rate of its build time especially with multiple grasslands it seems to work best in that way. While it’s not a mass of them, it does produce them as that tanky splash unit. They are the fast moving landshkanect (spelling?). And best in group fights sprinkled in.