How to beat
Maliansas Rus
Matchup tips
When you invest in pro scouts as Rus and go for the deer as well as additional scouts, it does slow down your early timings a bit and gives Malians the space to either get up a second pit mine earlier or to begin a very early cow boom.
Musofadi Warriors are not that great up against Horsemen because Horsemen have way more health, especially up against Rus Horsemen with Boyar's Fortitude. Horsemen are the right unit to mix in as a main front line unit against Musofadi Warriors.
Rus can't do a fast castle into Men-at-Arms against Malians because Musofadi are a nightmare for them.
Javelin Throwers move at normal speed and with a Farimba Garrison playstyle they get even more speed, making it very easy to deal with Rus Horse Archers.
You want to make Men-at-Arms? Well, they got Musofadi Warriors. You want to make Knights? Well, tough luck, they got Donso.
Javelin Throwers have only 3+1 pierce armor (4 with Iron Undermesh), so Horse Archers can rip through them with their base damage.
Warrior Scouts don't get bonus damage against ranged until Castle Age, so early Horse Archers can kite them freely.
I don't think you can find a timing attack before the age-up upgrades come in against Malians, because the veterancy upgrades cost half and research twice as fast.
Malians play differently; you're not worried about taking down villagers as much, you're looking at taking down their buildings — cows, cattle ranches, pit mines.
Mangonel is probably the number one unit to use against Malians because of all that ranged mass of foot soldiers.
Professional Warrior Scouts are on another level: they beat other scouts, so they're like Horsemen and Scout in one unit, and they also get more movement speed than a normal scout, which means while carrying deer they have more movement speed than other scouts.
With the Biology upgrade from the High Armory, Elite Horsemen become much tankier against Malians' Poison Archers.
Malians Unique Units
Malians Landmarks
Age of Empires IV © Microsoft Corporation. AOE4.pro was created under Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules using assets from Age of Empires IV, and it is not endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft.