On anything lower than intermediate difficulty, it's just as easy to bombard your enemy with a single, massive army unless you're playing for practice.Īnd that's really all you need to know about control groups and groupings in Age of Empires 4. Otherwise, there's no real reason to use the function. There is no limit, outside of the population cap, on how many units can be in a single group, though it's best to build clusters based on strengths and strategy.
The number above the units will disappear, meaning the grouping has been dissolved. Click a blank spot on the map, then hold CTRL and press the number assigned to the group. To remove units from or delete a control group, you must dissolve the group entirely. Things can get a bit pesky since two batches can have the same number assigned to them, defeating the purpose of the mechanic completely. Tapping the number once simply selects the grouping. Lastly, you can also jump to specific groups across the map by double-pressing their corresponding number. Hovering over that icon will show its unit make-up.
You can also see the group, its number, and how many units are assigned to it by looking at the icon on the middle-left side of the screen. Now these units are in a single grouping, and you will see a small number above each unit, designating their cluster. You can do this with the numbers across the top of your keyboard or with the Numpad hotkeys. Once you've done so, hold CTRL and press any number 1-9. To create a control group, select the units you wish to cluster together.
You can have groups of cavalry run-down footsoldiers, for example, or have longbowmen rain arrows from above with two quick clicks. Grouping comes in handy during combat, especially when you want specific unit types attacking from the high ground or flanking vulnerable portions of an enemy army.