What counters Malians in AoE4?

Spearmen, Crossbowmen, Horsemen, Knights, Archers. Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine

Is Malians a good civ in AoE4 right now?

Malians wins 48.5% of ranked 1v1 games across all ranks (about 49,412 games), which puts it in tier C on our tier list.

What are the unique units of Malians?

Donso, Vanguard Scout, Javelin Thrower, Mansa Javelineer, Mansa Musofadi Warrior, Musofadi Warrior, Sofa, Warrior Scout, Freeborn Warrior, Musofadi Gunner. - Donso: Spearman replacement. Light melee infantry with increased health and melee armor that can periodically throw a javelin. - Warrior Scout: Light cavalry that can improve damage, move speed, health, and health regeneration. - Musofadi Warrior: Fast, light, anti-armor infantry that can use the Activate Stealth ability. - Javelin Thrower: Anti-ranged infantry that throws a javelin from extende

When is Malians strongest?

4:55 — Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins · 10:30 — 20 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30 · 12:15 — Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Malians guide: strengths, counters and build orders

Gold economy from the Pit Mine and cattle; Sofa and Archers, or Donso and Javelins

Tier C · 48.5% win rate DonsoVanguard ScoutJavelin Thrower Mansa Javelineer Mansa Musofadi Warrior Musofadi Warrior Sofa Warrior Scout Freeborn Warrior Musofadi Gunner

Strengths

Very strong gold from the Pit Mine and Mansa Quarry
TC costs gold instead of stone, so expanding is easy
Safe food from cattle and Ranches
Strong Feudal units: Sofa, Donso, Javelin Throwers and Musofadi
Veteran upgrades at half cost and time

Weaknesses

No boar, and houses give half population
Unique units have low HP and need micro
Weak against Abbasid Dynasty (Camels and Ghulams) and strong tempo
The Pit Mine and houses are outside TC protection

How to counter Malians

Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine
Raid the cattle and Ranches; cattle are slow and Ranches are wood
Against Sofa and Archers: Spearmen and Crossbows
Against Javelins: Horsemen and Knights. Against Musofadi: Archers
Scout: second Pit Mine, Stable count, Mills making cattle, second TC

Units that work well: Spearmen · Crossbowmen · Horsemen · Knights · Archers

Layla's in-game tip: Malians: hit the Pit Mine and cattle, and Spearmen against Sofa

Power spikes and timings

4:55Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins
10:3020 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30
12:15Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Strongest armies per age (simulator)

Open-field fights in Layla's battle simulator against standard armies of the same cost. Score = resources needed per enemy resource (lower is better; 1.0 is an even trade).

Feudal Age

Mansa Musofadi Warrior0.55
Mansa Musofadi Warrior + Musofadi Warrior0.59
Mansa Musofadi Warrior + Hardened Donso0.68

Castle Age

Veteran Mansa Musofadi Warrior0.53
Veteran Mansa Musofadi Warrior + Veteran Musofadi Warrior0.59
Veteran Mansa Musofadi Warrior + Veteran Archer0.64

Imperial Age

Elite Mansa Musofadi Warrior0.52
Elite Mansa Musofadi Warrior + Elite Musofadi Warrior0.55
Elite Musofadi Warrior0.61

Civilization bonuses

Construct Pit Mines on Gold Veins to generate Gold without depleting the deposit.
Produce Cattle from Mills in the Dark Age (I). Malian Villagers harvest Food from Cattle faster than other civilizations or they can be garrisoned in a Cattle Ranch for Food over time.
Musofadi units can use the Activate Stealth ability to setup ambush attacks.
Five unique units with a different take on the counter system.
Veteran unit technologies are researched in half the time and cost.
Gold collected from Trader routes reduce the research time of future technologies.
Traders and Trade Ships that pass by Toll Outposts instantly provide bonus Gold based on the amount of Gold being carried. Does not generate any bonus tax if a toll outpost is built within range of another one.
Fishing Boats drop off 10% of their Food as Gold.
Movement speed of all ships is increased when near Docks.
Transport Ships attack with javelins for each unit garrisoned.

Landmarks

Mansa Quarry (built in Age 1; 400F 200G · 190s) Generates 75 Gold per minute. Can be toggled to generate Stone instead.
Pit Mine (built in Age 1; 150W · 15s) Must be built on a Gold Vein. Mines 36 Gold per minute without depleting the deposit. If a deposit has been depleted, the Pit Mine can be re-placed on…
Saharan Trade Network (built in Age 1; 400F 200G · 190s) Acts as a Toll Outpost that comes with Defensive Javelin Emplacement researched. Unlocks Javelin Emplacement for Outposts. All Traders and Trade Ships taxed…
Toll Outpost (built in Age 1; 100W · 60s) Offers extensive line of sight and detects units stealth or disguises. Can be upgraded with weaponry and fortifications. Attacks while garrisoned. Passing…
Cattle Ranch (built in Age 2; 125W · 15s) Cattle garrisoned in this ranch generate +25 Food per minute. This value is increased by the food upgrades.
Farimba Garrison (built in Age 2; 1200F 600G · 220s) Enlist one of three units to enhance your roster for free: the Mansa Musofadi, Mansa Javelineer, or Freeborn Warrior. The other two can be enlisted for an…
Grand Fulani Corral (built in Age 2; 1200F 600G · 220s) Nearby cattle provide 18 Food per minute.
Fort of the Huntress (built in Age 3; 2400F 1200G · 250s) Acts as a Keep that shoots poison arrows. Infantry units nearby the Landmark enter Stealth for 30 seconds. Musofadi Warriors and Musofadi Gunners gain First…
Griot Bara (built in Age 3; 2400F 1200G · 250s) Begin a festival for 300 Gold, providing global enhancements to Food gather rates, unit production speeds, or damage of torches and siege attacks. One…
Great Mosque (built in Age 4; 5000F 5000W 5000G 5000S · 600s) Build and defend a Wonder to secure victory. Rival civilizations will be aware of its construction and seek to destroy it.

Malians build orders

Fast Pit Mine and CattleboomFeudal 4:11Castle 12:15
2 Stable Sofa and ArchersaggressiveFeudal 4:24

How Layla reads build orders out live

Malians matchups

Best matchups

Hardest matchups

All matchups

vs Sengoku Daimyo55.8% · 1,371
vs Jeanne d'Arc54.3% · 1,632
vs Holy Roman Empire54.1% · 4,533
vs Rus53.6% · 4,184
vs Chinese52.3% · 3,770
vs House of Lancaster52.3% · 3,028
vs Jin Dynasty51.9% · 2,113
vs English50.9% · 12,124
vs French50.9% · 12,008
vs Ayyubids50.4% · 2,315
vs Mongols49% · 3,900
vs Order of the Dragon48.3% · 5,830
vs Ottomans47.2% · 4,959
vs Delhi Sultanate47% · 2,100
vs Japanese46% · 5,550
vs Macedonian Dynasty45.8% · 4,629
vs Byzantines45.5% · 3,461
vs Golden Horde45.2% · 3,503
vs Tughlaq Dynasty44.8% · 1,397
vs Knights Templar42.9% · 10,097
vs Abbasid Dynasty42.1% · 2,760
vs Zhu Xi's Legacy40.4% · 3,559

FAQ

What counters Malians in AoE4?: Spearmen, Crossbowmen, Horsemen, Knights, Archers. Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine
Is Malians a good civ in AoE4 right now?: Malians wins 48.5% of ranked 1v1 games across all ranks (about 49,412 games), which puts it in tier C on our tier list.
What are the unique units of Malians?: Donso, Vanguard Scout, Javelin Thrower, Mansa Javelineer, Mansa Musofadi Warrior, Musofadi Warrior, Sofa, Warrior Scout, Freeborn Warrior, Musofadi Gunner. - Donso: Spearman replacement. Light melee infantry with increased health and melee armor that can periodically throw a javelin. - Warrior Scout: Light cavalry that can improve damage, move speed, health, and health regeneration. - Musofadi Warrior: Fast, light, anti-armor infantry that can use the Activate Stealth ability. - Javelin Thrower: Anti-ranged infantry that throws a javelin from extende
When is Malians strongest?: 4:55 — Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins · 10:30 — 20 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30 · 12:15 — Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Data from the open game data (aoe4world/data), patch 16.2.10884, public ranked statistics, and Layla Coach's battle simulator. Layla Coach is an independent tool, not affiliated with Microsoft, Relic Entertainment or World's Edge.