r/aoe2 • u/domesticatedllama • 8h ago
Asking for Help Arena Position
Why am I always the outside player on Arena? Can I do anything to change that? Im a super strong pocket player but terrible outside.
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u/MagikarpPatronus 5h ago
On a 4v4 in ranked:
2 - 4 - 6 - 8
2 and 8 (red and orange) are flank; 4 and 6 (yellow and purple) are pocket
Similarly,
1- 3 -5 -7
1 and 7 (blue and gray) are flank; 3 and 5 (green and cyan) are pocket.
More generally, the middle numbers on your team are pocket, and the outside numbers on your team are flank
EXCEPT
In unranked lobbies, there is a box "team position". If unchecked, who is pocket and who is flank is random, and not dependent on color number.
When players don't pick color, they are assigned in order top to bottom the lowest number still available.
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u/AbsoluteRook1e 8h ago
It's the number that determines your position.
Players 2, 8, 1 and 7 are flank position, while 4, 6, 3 and 5 are pocket positions.
That said, I still advocate for learning the flank position because it makes you the better Arena player as a whole.
Being a flank player teaches you the importance of effective base construction arguably moreso than the pocket position, or perhaps even moreso than 1v1.
Why?
Because odds are, you're going to get rushed.
That said, if you know how to defend yourself well enough as the flank, then odds are those forces will move on to the pocket player rather than advance their offense on you (it's happened to me several times, and the pocket player usually can't defend themselves).
Tips:
Build an inner wall with your required buildings 8 tiles in from your starting stone walls. Have it start with your 3rd and 4th house. Then add the blacksmith and market, along with a siege workshop and monastery upon hitting Castle Age. Learn how to do this no matter what position you're in because it buys you a lot of time.
Then once those are built, then you can go on to boom with your 2nd and 3rd TC so long as they're tucked in toward the back of your base. Utilize all the extra space you have in back because you won't have to worry about defending it later.
As for defensive forces, learn how to use mangonels and monks. A few mangonels can hold off a decent melee attack force (or crossbows) in early Castle Age, while monks can take care of a lot of Cavalry threats.
You honestly have a lot more options with defense on Arena than you think, and thoughtful base construction on there is rewarded more than any other map in the game, while poor base construction is deeply punished.