Map Presentation:

Steppe is a “fake nomad” semi-open land map that allows for both aggressive and defensive gameplay. Early aggression is common, as players often try to raid each other’s economies to gain an early advantage. This map is played rather slow compare to some other land maps as players start with a horse which delays the aggression. 

If you’re a high-level player, I recommend checking out the advanced guide for in-depth strategies and advanced insights.

General Tips:

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  • Build your town center right away, you can make it on berries if you see them from the start to prioritize a mill on deers and save some wood.
  • Don’t make houses too early, you will have enough pop space for a while.

  • Practice your Dark Age efficiency and stick to a solid build order.

  • Take the deers with 4 villagers really quickly making a mill and delay your wood eco as you start with enough wood for a while.

  • Prioritize managing your own economy over damaging your opponent’s.

  • Never idle your Town Center.

  • Take safer resources, ideally those located toward the back of your base and place your lumber camp near other ressources.

  • Secure your base early with short walls connecting to your Town Center and finish the wall around your Town Center as soon as possible.

  • Check the back of your base with your horse, there could be some openings through the forest.

  • Scout your opponent well and adapt your strategy accordingly.

  • Play to your civilization’s strengths, whether it’s military units or economic bonuses.

  • You can click up to the feudal age without loom as there is no scout on the field.

  • Don’t hesitate to build a defensive tower in Feudal Age, dying with 200 stone in the bank is a waste!

  • Keep fortifying your walls with houses behind

  • In Castle Age, play for map control and punish greedy booms with a forward castle.

Recommended Build Orders: (it’s a “nomad” map so all build orders have to be adapted a tiny bit)

For Low ELO Players:

For Mid ELO Players:

For High ELO Players:

Suggested Gameplan:

Dark Age:

  • Focus on executing your build order.

  • Scout your map properly to find key resources and walling potential.

Feudal Age:

  • Complete your build order and start walling your base once your main goal is achieved.

  • Add counter units based on what your opponent is creating.

Castle Age:

  • Build a second Town Center on a good woodline, treat it like a large lumber camp.

  • Stick to two Town Centers to maintain military pressure.

  • Add more counter units as needed.

  • Take map control and put pressure on the front of your opponent’s base.

  • Once you gain map control, take a lot of stone and look to drop a forward castle near your opponent to hit his base.