How to Make the Most Out of the Early Game in Strategy Games
By someone who’s spent way too many hours trying to perfect it
If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent countless hours trying to dominate the early game of a strategy game, only to get blindsided in the mid-game. Seriously, it’s like you’ve spent all this time carefully planning your every move, and then – bam! – something goes horribly wrong. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
But I’ve learned that the early game is more important than I ever thought. Sure, it feels like it’s just a slow build-up before the real action begins. But making the right moves early on can set you up for success later. I’ve made plenty of mistakes, but each one has helped me refine my approach. So, let’s dive into some strategies I’ve learned for making the most out of the early game in strategy games. Hopefully, you won’t have to make the same mistakes I did.
The Power of a Strong Economy
In many strategy games, whether you’re building cities, managing resources, or expanding your influence, one thing’s for sure: an economy that’s struggling early on will be the downfall of your entire game.
I can remember the first few hours I spent in Civilization VI. I was so eager to start expanding my empire that I totally neglected my economy. I built cities without thinking about the food and resources I’d need to sustain them. Fast forward a few turns and boom – my population couldn’t grow fast enough because I wasn’t generating enough food. My empire was stunted, and all that early investment in cities was wasted.
Now, I make sure to build up a solid economic foundation before going on any aggressive expansion sprees. Whether it’s securing early resources, upgrading infrastructure, or making sure your workers are assigned to the right tasks, focusing on your economy early can be the difference between becoming a powerhouse or fizzling out. Don’t forget: a strong economy lets you scale quickly in the mid and late game.
Key Early-Economy Tips:
- Focus on Food and Production: In most games, food is crucial for population growth, and production allows you to build things faster. It’s easy to get distracted by military units or other flashy buildings, but keep these basics in check.
- Prioritize Resource Collection: Whether it’s gold, wood, or any other resource, you need to make sure you’re gathering the essentials early. No point in having a huge army if you can’t support it.
- Don’t Overextend Early on: I know, it’s tempting to expand early, but having too many cities or units without the economic backing to support them can cripple you.
Expanding at the Right Time
I’ve learned the hard way that rushing into expansion too quickly can seriously backfire. The first time I played Age of Empires II, I expanded rapidly in the early game, thinking I’d overwhelm my opponents. But, guess what? My military was weak, and I ended up losing to a much smaller force.
The key here is timing. If you expand too early, you stretch yourself thin, and you might not be able to defend your newfound lands. If you expand too late, you’ll fall behind in territory and resources. The sweet spot is somewhere in between – expand when your economy is strong enough to support it, and when you can defend your new territories.
When to Expand:
- Don’t Expand Until Your Economy Can Handle It: Make sure your core cities or base can produce enough resources to sustain new buildings, units, and military forces.
- Expand When You Can Defend It: If your new expansion can be easily overrun by enemies or wildlife, wait a bit longer. If your military is underdeveloped, that’s a red flag.
- Look for Strategic Locations: Always aim to settle near important resources, choke points, or defensible terrain. Expanding into hostile territory might work, but it’s a huge gamble.
Research & Tech Progression – Don’t Skip It!
Another mistake I’ve made over the years is neglecting research early in the game. In Starcraft II, for example, I used to think that just building more units and barracks would win the day. But without upgrading my units or unlocking new techs, I was always behind in terms of firepower. Eventually, I learned that prioritizing research in the early game is crucial for staying competitive.
Tech advancements can unlock more efficient units, stronger defenses, and game-changing abilities. But here’s the kicker: you need to balance tech progression with resource management. Investing too much in research early can leave you vulnerable if your economy can’t support it.
Tech Tips for the Early Game:
- Start with Basic Upgrades: In RTS games, things like unit upgrades, building speed, or resource collection boosts can pay off big time.
- Don’t Skip on Defense Tech: I’ve been caught off guard more than once when an enemy rushes me with units that outclass mine simply because I skipped defense upgrades.
- Research New Units Strategically: Don’t waste resources on tech that you won’t use in the immediate future. Think about what units you’ll need for defense and offense in the near term.
Map Control & Vision – The Hidden Key to Early Game Success
I can’t count how many times I’ve been caught out by a well-timed attack from an opponent who had the map control advantage. Having vision and control over key points on the map is an underrated tactic, but it’s one that has saved me from a ton of heartache.
By early on, you should have scouts, observation points, or anything that can give you a sense of what your opponents are up to. Vision is not just about being aware of enemy movements – it’s also about denying them that same intel. In Total War, for example, controlling key resources early can prevent your enemy from expanding or getting powerful units.
Map Control & Vision Tips:
- Use Scouts Early: In games like Age of Empires, I always prioritize sending out scouts to gain vision. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to get intel.
- Deny Enemy Expansion: In games where map control is important, setting up early blockades or ambush zones can prevent your enemies from grabbing critical areas.
- Monitor Choke Points: If there are natural chokepoints (mountains, rivers, etc.), controlling them can give you an edge over any player trying to expand.
Don’t Forget the Basics of Defense
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of growth and expansion, but early defense is crucial to avoid being blindsided. I’ve been in games where I thought I had everything under control, only to have a well-timed attack wreck all my progress.
Whether it’s setting up walls, investing in early military units, or scouting for enemy movement, make sure you don’t leave yourself wide open. Early defense doesn’t have to be massive; it just needs to be enough to hold off small attacks while you grow.
Early Defense Tips:
- Build Defensive Structures: Even if it’s just a few towers or barricades, setting up defense lines early can buy you valuable time.
- Position Units Smartly: I’ve lost battles just because my units were too spread out or not positioned in strategic locations. Even if you don’t have many units, make sure they’re in a spot where they can respond to threats.
- Constantly Scout for Enemies: If you’re playing a game with fog of war, regularly scout key points around your territory to spot enemies early.
Table 1: Early Game Economy Building Tips
| Tip | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Prioritize food and production | These two resources are the backbone of early expansion |
| Secure essential resources early | Without them, you’ll be stuck in a resource crunch |
| Avoid overexpansion | Too many cities early on can cripple your economy |
Table 2: Key Tech Upgrades in Early Strategy Games
| Upgrade | Why It’s Worth It |
|---|---|
| Unit speed/strength upgrades | Helps you get ahead in both defense and offense |
| Resource gathering efficiency | Maximizes resource collection for faster development |
| Defensive techs | Early fortifications or defensive units are critical |
Wrapping It Up
Making the most of the early game in strategy games takes patience, planning, and a little bit of trial and error. You’re setting the stage for everything that follows, so getting the basics right can make a huge difference later on. Don’t rush things, don’t get distracted by flashy units or expansions, and always remember: a solid economy, defense, and tech progression can set you up for success. Keep experimenting, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – I sure have.