Understanding the Fast Imperial Age Strategy
In that article, highly expert Hera analyzes best civs for the Fast Imp strategy, if you are not familiar with what Fast Imperial Age (Fast Imp) is referring to, it simply is a strategy that revolves around rushing to the last age of the game as quickly as possible, the Imperial Age.
The primary upside of this aggressive strategy is that you get immediate access to the strongest tech and units in the game, such as Gunpowder, Arbalests, Bracer, Chemistry, and Imperial Age monks. The goal is to push your opponent as fast as possible to either end the game or do enough damage that you are now on equal footing in terms of economy.
The main downside, however, is that you have less economy, or “way less economy”, because you are rushing through the ages so quickly and not actually developing your economy or getting out extra town centers for more villager production. Certain civilizations can’t really do a Fast Imperial Age properly. For example, the Persians struggle because their strong units (Savar, War Elephants) are too costly to make or upgrade with a limited economy, and they don’t get access to Bracer.
Ranking the Best Fast Imp Civilizations
5.
Bohemians
Starting off the list at number five, we have the Bohemians. This civilization is considered “absolutely fantastic” and a “very solid one” for the Fast Imp strategy.
The Bohemians provide really good economy for Fast Imp because they receive all gold and stone mining upgrades for free upon hitting Feudal and Castle Age. Since the strategy relies heavily on minerals (gold and stone) to end the game quickly, this free economic boost is essential. Running out of these minerals is not a concern, as the goal is to “burn through it and look for a win”.
Bohemian advantages include:
- ⛪ They allow for a strong monk rush supported by the gold economy.
- ⚗️ They get Chemistry in Castle Age, granting instant access to Bombard Cannon and Hand Cannoneer upon reaching Imperial Age. This provides a strong Imperial Age power spike and push.
- 🚂 They utilize the Hussite Wagon, which is one of the most stubborn and tanky units in the game, working well to support the siege push. Combining Hussite Wagons and cannons with trebuchets (from a forward castle) makes the push “basically unstoppable”.
4.
Italians
The Italians have a really nice Fast Imp path powered by economic discounts. They receive a discount on every age upgrade, making the advance to Imperial Age cheaper.
In Imperial Age, their University technologies cost 33% less, making Chemistry cheaper. Their gunpowder units are also 20% cheaper, making it easier to get Hand Cannon and Bombard Cannon out on the field.
They have several versatile options: Hand Cannon/Bombard Cannon, Arbalests with Bracer and Chemistry, and the Condottiero (a unique unit available at the Barracks in Imperial Age). A fourth option is a monk rush. They can mix these strategies, such as going for Condottiero plus Monks, which creates a very strong fast imp push that “not a lot of civs can beat”.
3.
Malays
The Malay naturally excel at this strategy because their civilization bonus lets them advance to the next age 66% faster. This means they can reach Imperial Age a minute or two ahead of others by default, without sacrificing economy.
A highly effective Malay strategy involves an extended Feudal Age boom to establish farms, followed by a direct Fast Imp, skipping the addition of Town Centers in Castle Age.
Their best options in Imperial Age include the Karambit Warrior or Halberdier, as Malay receive free infantry armor upgrades as they advance through the ages, meaning these units gain full armor for free in Imperial Age, which is “absolutely crazy”.
Their most efficient Imperial Age composition is Halberdier + Monk + Trebuchet. The sources note that “no single castle age composition actually beats that army,” meaning an opponent’s all-in Castle Age strategy will fail “99% of the time”. They also get most necessary monk tech, Arbalests with Bracer and Chemistry, and Bombard Cannons.
2.
Turks
The Turks are the civilization most people classify as number one, and they are probably the best “conventional” fast civ in the game. Their strategy is very good and easy to execute.
The Turks make the strategy easy because they receive Chemistry for free, ensuring Bombard Cannons come out instantly. They also get a nice gold mining bonus and their gunpowder units receive extra HP.
The Turks are the only civilization that can mass a unique unit—the Janissary—while executing a Fast Imp. By getting a castle for base security, they can pursue a safer Janissary + Bombard Cannon push instead of the standard Hand Cannoneer + Bombard Cannon. They also get free Hussar tech, and their Hussars receive a free +1 pierce armor. This abundance of free technology means the Turks get everything “handed to them,” like a “privileged child that doesn’t have to work for anything”. This powerful push puts immense pressure on an opponent “stuck in castle age and begging for his life”. A build order PDF for the Turk Fast Imp is available on the creator’s Patreon.
1.
Portuguese
In the Hera’s opinion, the Portuguese have the most powerful fast imp strategy in the game, which has the “highest ceiling”.
What truly separates the Portuguese from every other civilization on this list is the Feitoria. The Portuguese can launch a strong push and then use the Feitoria to catch up in economy. Spamming four or five Feitorias provides infinite access to gold and stone, equivalent to having a “60 or 70 vill economy” that works perfectly efficiently and never stops. This is “very hard to counterplay”.
The Portuguese have strong options, all with a 20% discount on gold units. They have access to Bombard Cannons with Siege Engineers. Their unique tech, Archabus, grants Ballistics for their gunpowder units (Hand Cannoneer and Organ Gun are affected). Key units include the Organ Gun, Arbalests, and Hand Cannoneer. This strong economy transition allows them to spam powerful units like Cavalier, Organ Guns, or even Bombard Towers because they have infinite stone.
Honorable Mentions
Byzantines
The Byzantines get a significant 33% discount on Imperial Age, making it easy to “sneak in a fast imp while just playing a normal game”. While they lack major gunpowder bonuses, they are arguably the best fast imp skirmisher civ due to their cheap skirmishers. They have decent access to monks and Arbalests. The strategy is decent, especially in scenarios like Arabia where they can go for a faster Imp and oppress opponents with cheap skirmishers and Arbalests.
Vikings
The Vikings are very unique because they are perhaps the only civilization that can decide to Fast Imp without having initially planned for the strategy. They can play a standard 3TC boom and normal Castle Age, yet still reach Imperial Age quicker than their opponent while having a good economy to back it up. They can access Arbalest, Bracer, and Chemistry. Their main drawback is that achieving their strongest Arbalests requires a “very expensive” unique tech. Therefore, players typically settle for regular Arbalests (with Chemistry and Bracer, but lacking Thumb Ring).