25+4 Vils Knight Rush
KnightsThe fast-castle-into-knights baseline: skip Feudal military, push to Castle Age with ~25 vils, add a stable and pump knights. No early aggression; the first military unit is the knight.
Recommended civs: Franks, Persians, Lithuanians, Berbers, Cumans
Source: Hera strategy guide, p. 24
Timeline
Dark Age

6 villagers to sheep
6 vils · 6 pop
Feudal Age@ 10:00 · 22 vils

Loom + wheelbarrow eco, no military, click to Castle
Castle Age@ 15:20 · 29 vils

Stable(s), pump Knights, bloodlines

Add a second stable + forging/armor
Steps
- 01dark age6 vils — 6 villagers to sheep
- 02feudalLoom + wheelbarrow eco, no military, click to Castle
- 03castleStable(s), pump Knights, bloodlines
- 04castleAdd a second stable + forging/armor
Age targets
Feudal
10:00
22 vils on click
Castle
15:20
29 vils on click
What's next
- Knights + siege into Imperial
- Add monks vs heavy knight mirror
- Boom behind knight map control