Principles of Water Maps:

Water maps are those where you have little or no land connection to your opponent, making it harder to attack villagers but easier to target fishing ships. As a result, focusing on water is usually a good strategy.

  • Eco Advantage:

    Eco is generally stronger on water maps, thanks to fishing ships, which are considered as extra villagers. The more fishing ships you have compared to your opponent—and the longer they stay alive—the better your economy will be, effectively giving you extra villagers.

  • Fishing Ship Efficiency:

    The more fishing ships you build, the more wood villagers you can make. Boats don’t have wheels, so while controlling water provides map control, it doesn’t guarantee a victory on its own.

  • Value of Fishing Ships:

    Any fishing ship that gathers more than 75 food is considered valuable, as it costs 75 resources to produce. The longer your fishing ships survive, the more resources they’ll bring.

  • Balance is Key:

    Winning water is beneficial, but only if it enhances your economy. Overinvesting in water can lead to an imbalance, and you risk losing the game. Finding the right balance between adding economic value and winning water fights is critical to success.

  • Dock Positioning:

    The location of your first dock can influence the distance to your opponent’s dock and can change the pace of the game. Strategic dock placement is crucial for setting up the flow of the match.

 

How to Play Water Maps:

  • Close on Water (Short Dock Distance):

    Optimal for a fast uptime to Feudal to secure water dominance early.

  • Far on Water (Longer Dock Distance):

    Focus on making more fishing ships, with a later Feudal uptime while playing defensively on water.

  • Very Far on Water (Distant Dock):

    Go for a fast Castle Age with even more fishing ships, which will require a lot of wood villagers.

  • Large Land Space Around Your TC:

    Consider landing as a potential strategy. You can create a transport ship on your way to Feudal and attack your opponent’s land.

Map Examples:

  • Close on Water:
    Baltic, Islands, etc.
  • Far on Water:
    Team Islands (with back dock), etc.
  • Very Far on Water:
    Migration, etc.