Only Viper Can Do This Comeback

mayans vs bulgarians on gold rush. I went very aggressive this game and tried to choke viper out of space and ressources. It was working very well until at some point he managed to expand to the sides and regain control. Game was still very even, and it comes down to details. Hope you guys enjoy!
Watch me Live at: / hera_aoc
Join my Discord: / discord

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

Been posting a lot of games vs viper recently, they are just some of the most interesting games I play on stream, I hope you guys don't mind. In fact you better not mind cuz I have many more coming 11

[@filipmartinovic4594]

Keep em coming! You two are tied for my second favorite players, behind only the Lord ❤️

[@mitchellbaker4847]

Keep em coming, now i'm starting to see some of the type of things your self learn videos try to uncover. -secured your own eco. Walls/castles -Added more eco while ahead -re-scouted or even finish scouting map. This isn't a criticism of your play at all, you already play the game at a level than i could ever hope to.

[@farhanwkwk2233]

next time please dont spoil it man

[@liamhalliday8437]

As a bit of a Viper fanboy, I enjoy the stylistic matches between Hera and Viper (I also enjoy Lierrey and Fat Dragon). In each case you have aggression (or micro or crazy) versus Viper, who's real strength IMO is his incredible macro. In short, thanks for casting / sharing / challenging Viper. I might be a fanboy, but I have a bit of a crush on you and Lierrey, and I think you've become a great player to watch. Also I think it takes balls and confidence to post what you term as "one of your most embarrassing loses"

[@afz902k]

Great game IRregardless, Vipah recently did something similar vs Larry, who was also playing as Mayans and went eagles

[@mihailkondov4773]

"I actually don't care about my economy here" - famous last words 11

[@gauravkolhekar8120]

He said: Rather than making plums, I should have focussed on my economy : 24

[@brokentombot]

Yeah never works. Nowadays maybe you can with Burgundians going all out with the militia unit though.

[@luki00thesecond90]

I really enjoy players uploading their losses as well. Makes the games more unpredictable.

[@mr2octavio]

Viper from time to time uploads losses when the games are interesting. There's one that he lost a few weeks ago, quite a game.

[@Jay_Sullivan]

The title halfway gave it away, though.

[@marksmits1911]

I love a good game. Losses or wins. Its all part of life. But both players a really good. And that makes for good entertainment.

[@JarodBillingslea]

*THE COMEBACK STARTS HERE* _How to comeback with little gold and a food+wood abundant economy:_ [23:45] Hera: This game is way closer to the end than it should be; I feel like. [24:33] (Viper begins to play offense) [25:48] (Viper begins to play defense) [29:20] (Hera goes into defense mode) [31:57] Hera: All my economy is idle now. It's looking like a loss, heh. This is looking like a loss. [32:53] Hera: Ya, he has way more [inaudible] now. [33:05] Hera: I really cannot believe I lost this. That was probably one of my worst losses I think. [33:27] Hera: Ya, I'm dead. I have nothing left. I cannot even [make villagers]. [33:50] Hera: Ya, it doesn't matter. I have so many castles, but it doesn't matter. [34:04] Hera: I thought I had this game won. Not gonna lie. [34:22] (Hera resigns) I like the offense skill both of you displayed. But I gotta take notes. He showed me a WHOLE new way to play this game. You can have an overpowering offensive force, but with an unsecured economy, that force will just deteriorate and become weak to weaker units. He slid to the left and right side of the map and built two bases, no castles at all. Then he expanded on the other side to prepare a counter raid. Then he won simply because he went after your economy, not your army. If you look at your minimap, retaliation was just a diversion (Villager raid moments: 24:33 | 25:07 | 25:26 | 25:58 | 28:20 | 28:30). He saw you had map control at 22:47 and decided to start taking out your villagers first (24:33) before your army. After 29:20, the rest was just a matter of persisting with the same strategy: keep amassing to distract your offensive army while killing off as many villages as he can in the meantime (Villager raid moments: 29:38 | 30:02 | 30:14 | 30:23 | 30:33 | 31:23 | 31:58 | 33:00 | 33:25). Map control didn't even matter anymore. Hera's economy got to the point where it was exhausted and the expendables outlasted the indispensables. The barbarians beat the romans.

[@ratafili]

Underappreciated comment. Thanks, cheers!

[@oktaymeyt]

Says "He has way more population now."

[@osman_k]

He attacked exactly the same way Putin attacked on Ukraine. And Russia will lose exactly the same way he lost! ))

[@ihmpall]

@@ashenronin7410 your English teacher should have beated you

[@TheEarlofBronze1]

Hey Hera, been watching Vipeys streams off and on for a few years now and watched many of his games with you. Just want to say that im saddened by the criticism you seem to be getting on this vid at least, you're a phenomenal player and viper likes playing you and I think you're enjoyable to watch! Keep up the work and practice!

[@ASapphicKitsune]

Loving the content Here you're quickly becoming one of my favourite AOE2 content creators and one of my favourite players! Much love from Australia.

[@theBeT95]

hi Mr. Content, how you doin'?

[@TamimAlNasri]

I’d resign if the enemy secured two towers in my base... hera placed three castles and bunch of towers too. Just wow. Amazing play from both players.

[@ryanrobinson4415]

I remember watching this game from Viper's perspective. He actually snuck out of his initial base pretty early to set up the hidden TC. You can see it here at about 14:40 or so -- when you move a mangonel over and it reveals that a section of his palisade is no longer there. He'd already snuck out by then. ;) He even had to fight 3 wolves on his way! It was pretty crazy how calm he was - I don't think he ever felt he didn't have a chance at coming back.

[@mahmoud.ahmed1211]

How can I watch it from viper perspective

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

viper never panics, its crazy 11. He might post his pov to his youtube eventually

[@jforozco12]

@@HeraAgeofEmpires2 you still did awesome man, your games vs viper are the most interesting and competitive I've watched, keep em coming!

[@jaimie3818]

@@HeraAgeofEmpires2 I love watching games from both players' perspectives. And bonus points for a caster's perspective. Some of the most memorable games are like that

[@PrinzEugen39]

@@mahmoud.ahmed1211 Viper just uploaded it todAY

[@lesliegrayson1722]

Its actually good to see it from both points of view - "Wolf dumping" - However, the first time I went WOLF dumping I deleted my spear man so the wolves jumped forward onto the next target faster.. Viper missed this opportunity, he was probably like me when I do it, I'm laughing my ass off so hard, I fall off my chair, and the whole LAN is erupting :D Whilst the player who just got 7 wolves is professing "Bullshit that's Cheating", or the worst one I heard was from my brother, after I sent one at a time, "Hey common, is someone hacking, a wolf attacked my scout, hey wait on where the F>>> are all my Villages, they have been replaced with wolves."

[@EliasHasle]

He was trying to get the wolves into the base to distract/kill villagers, but Hera's quickwalling almost blocked it. If he had deleted the bait, he would have lost control over the wolves, and Hera could then even proceed to tug them into Viper's base instead.

[@bdoeden64]

I've seen you play before when watching Viper's videos, but I just wanted to say, you are an amazing player. It looked like you were dominating him. Thanks for uploading this, it was really nice to see from your perspective.

[@georgechanturidze1409]

I have to say, bringing those wolves was a sick move by Viper

[@adelaideromain8949]

Hera my friend, if you stop looking for the shortest path to victory you will become legendary in this game, overprepared, overconfident but missing the obvious.Still, I love you bruh, keep it up, happy new year

[@jaimie3818]

Totally agree! Of course it is easy to say in hindsight, and as a spectator, but a touch more scouting and perhaps a single defensive castle with all that stone could have solidified the victory.

[@Layershift53]

@@jaimie3818 or building new tcs next to the four castles in vipers base

[@Zeno_One]

Daut Castle. The way Hera viper or t90 speak it. It's like it's an actual word in the dictionary.

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

it is tho

[@mauriciorossi8477]

it has shared meaning

[@justinwhitchurch9860]

I really really enjoy watching you play. I'm to the point in my playing that I'm able to understand and follow what's going on despite your insanely rapid jumping around. Keep up the great content, and hopefully I'll find you in a ranked game some day :)

[@DavidAxelrodP]

Sickest game I've seen in a while. Can't wait till viper uploads his perspective

[@EagleTopGaming]

Looking at Viper's Stream the Bulgarian's -50% stone cost on TCs made a big difference here as well.

[@cristianbarriostoro589]

I really enjoy watching Viper's games, sometimes I watch yours too 11 and I think you took this loss with great humility, to learn from mistakes, congrats, you have earned a follower!! From Chile!! :D

[@rafaelaizpun7842]

The thing about Viper is not only is he one of the best, he is also super entertaining as a streamer. I'd love for vivi to learn english and stream in english, he looks like he would be entertaining as well.

[@lesliegrayson1722]

THE WOLVES - Trust me Hera its not about the disarray that it causes, its about him chuckling his ass off, I, having done it in a 4vs 4 I grabbed wolves from all over the map and dumped them on one guy, after 2mins, the guy just left, leaving 3 vs 4, 10mins game over. I found it hilarious in the replay as vill after vill got devoured and he had no answer except to run as they got run down, it was world war Z. I think the video The Viper is making is "The Vipers greatest trolling chuckles" he is a very naughty naughty little boy :)

[@Muhlum24]

Watched this live on Viper's stream, fuck what a game. Watching it now from Hera's pov and seeing the overconfidence of his chat while he let his eco dangle for so long was pretty entertaining. Sneaky Viper, it ain't over til its over. gg wp to both sides.

[@geryfischer4294]

The comeback is real! Really interesting, great game, congrats! Keep it up, I really like your content! :) What do you think, maybe an eagle switch would've been better about halfway through? I believe eagles could do much better against skirms and light cav. Curious about your opinion!

[@radiantav]

When you started throwing towers in the base and built the 3rd castle, I thought "there's no point for Viper to defend this much, he will probably expand". You did not scout third of the map until

[@Ancient_Regime88]

WP overall Hera, this a good game to learn from. I think you're right on needing more eco, but better map awareness is a main takeaway for me. Instead of fixating on that central castle push you could have fanned out, secured map control and perhaps could have prevented Viper's side base. Being greedy about covering the map is a mindset worth having in general and it could have changed this game.

[@Rome895]

U sir and viper playing AOE inhuman... Its really sick love u guys keep playing! Next match is urs!

[@Michal235]

16:38 - the relic on the east (minimap) disappears. HMM :D

[@baguettelauncher8839]

omg

[@rinaldisuryansyah554]

viper took it.

[@Michal235]

@@rinaldisuryansyah554 no shit xD

[@WillyMacShow]

Amazing video Hera. Awesome upload

[@devinosland359]

Jesus, this is this first Hera game I've seen, Viper is fast but Hera litterally looks like the footage is sped up, it's insane

[@ThisIsMyRoad]

Why Plumed Archers? When you control the middle you wish to force your opponent to make gold units, this is why people go for Eagles. Plumed is countered by trash. (Skirm/Scout)

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

I talk about that at the end. Plumes was fine for a while but i should have added a bit more eco after the 2nd castle and did a switch to eagles!

[@benjaminlamey3591]

@@HeraAgeofEmpires2 I agree with him, you had nothing to counter the trash, even if you deny the gold, trash is then the way to go for him, you have to have a plan ready for light cav and skirms. on your side, mangonels, eagles or even skirms could have been an option.

[@Djuntas]

Sick....I figure if Hera had seen it in time, or focused more on eco, but who knows....Such a good sneak.

[@LokirofRoriksted]

17:48 you had 6 vills on food and 21 on stone 111

[@DaniiCasco]

How humble you are Hera, Total respect! hug from Paraguay!

[@StraightEdgeNexus]

Ah the classic Mayan blunder, refusing to let go off the archers and move to eagles. I remember Viper also lost game where he never switched to eagles and got gobbleb by siege

[@JamesFromAustralia]

Tough to watch but so good to see losses every now and then. It's neat to see great players having off games but even better, it keeps the suspense in games because you know wins and losses get uploaded.

[@JohnWilmerding]

You are magnificent. Best play I have ever seen, and yet you lost?!?! You and Viper are quite well-matched.

[@anttikaikkonen1460]

26:26 That daut castle cost you the game.

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

Yeah i agree i needed to make that one and 2 more at home rhen boom

[@siumanchong4430]

I think he lost just because he only got plum,viper very easy to counter it

[@MrSendermen]

Here from viper's video, nice to see your perspective, keep up the content!

[@fanslifejapan255]

your aggression was immense, but it's also astonishing to see how viper handled it and still managed to expand elsewhere

[@occido]

viper is incredibly good at expanding over the map

[@DanishCamp]

Viper is incredibly good at not dying and have infinite stamina no matter how much he is hurt

[@climcool200]

@@DanishCamp viper is incredibly good

[@thearianrobben]

13:36 that castle placement is a few tiles back than it could be. it could deny the stone and take out the tower once up imho. thus saving the time later invested in taking out the tower. viper was probably making his eco on the bottom- right side at that time

[@Katsuumo]

Something to note here, and not just for Hera, but to all players. Don't scout just once. Be constantly scouting, even if it's one unit patrolling edges.

[@MatheusLima-dk5jt]

Yeah, i think that Viper and Hera are Top 1 world with a draw. And i was watching the stream in this moment, really unbelievable. Awesome game. #FromBrasil

[@mahmoud.ahmed1211]

Does anyone know if the viper uploaded this game on KZbin? I wanna watch this from the viper point of view so bad, really awesome game, didn't expect Hera to lose that was crazy

[@virgileusa]

hey, he did this morning, enjoy :)

[@mahmoud.ahmed1211]

@@virgileusa he didn't though

[@virgileusa]

@@mahmoud.ahmed1211 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmimpaqkps9msKc there u go

[@mahmoud.ahmed1211]

@@virgileusa thank you 😍 I literally opened it like 5 minutes ago 😂

[@barsni4779]

Always check Viper's holes. If there a hole in a whall you didn't forced him to do - there is definetely a sneak out there. Also, when wouldn't Viper have sneaks on the map...

[@ruffymaru]

I watched the whole video thinking: how on earth can he lose that? Sick game. Viper is a beast.

[@Oberon4278]

Hi Hera, I know this is old but please respond. At 10:00 why did you not bring your additional archers inside Viper's base? It seems like you would have had a chance to pick off more vills that way, while still being able to cover the stone.

[@HeraAgeofEmpires2]

If i go in he would trap me and he had a tower to zone me out a bit. The archers inside are walled in there so they cant come out and he would maybe get skimrs later

[@EliasHasle]

He did enter Viper's base with crossbowmen at 16:20, though. And lost all of them to skirmisher and mangonel/onager fire.

[@jacksta3772]

omg the wolves lol! Classic Viper!

[@UiskaumM]

this is the kind of game that reveal the potential of both players on attacking, defending and counterattacking

[@Janovich]

Is there a video of this match from Vipers perspective?

[@Janovich]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmimpaqkps9msKc Got it

[@Bizmoments]

Only Lord Daut and his student Viper can do this comeback

[@SalmanZahidSz]

Where can I watch The Viper's perspective? can't find on his KZbin channel. Can anyone help?

[@JokeR664music]

Hi @hera, I did not understand why you continue making plume archers when Viper was full cavalry and skirmishers ?? Why not change to eagle warriors ?? Your gameplay is still a million times better than mine, just wondering

[@skistunt7598]

Can you explain why didn't u make any counters to skirms(just a few mangonels)? What's the good counter when there is no cav for mayans?

[@mcadder]

Great video!! Greetz from Sweden!

[@Mr_ACarvalho]

Insane game, great play by Hera, not sure how Viper came back, I guess the title is right, probably only Viper would be able to come back from such an aggressive play!

[@EliasHasle]

Viper followed Sun Tzu's advice of appearing weak when one is strong. The walling indicated strong commitment to defence, as if it were his only base or contained crucial resources. He also used counters that required a lot of Hera's attention to a lot of micromanagement (while still losing a lot of archers, e.g. when pushing in at 16:20, ouch! 😖). The relatively low-gold army composition made him look "poor" while actually keeping Hera busy and committed to attacking Viper's original base. Viper's later counter-attack with knights seemed to come as a surprise. In conclusion, the "comeback" seen by Hera may, at least in part, have been an illusion. That is not to say Hera could not have pulled off a victory at some point. I doubt that the Hera of today would so adamantly insist on a "monoculture" of plumed archers when facing all the counters at once (everywhere at the same time!). Or neglect scouting and protection of his economy. (Or even leave the offensive castles idle when he could have established extra economy around them.) But even then, he already was a truly marvellous player! 👏

[@nickw6229]

this is a masterpiece of tactics

[@jacobbos2208]

Top fav Aoe2 game!!! So glad u posted it

[@amyasseektruth8246]

T90Official brought me here. Hera, massive fan. Watching this video - looks like you deliberately lost to Viper. If this wasn't the case, Viper won, because you lost it.

[@beetoven8193]

You're APM is insane. Did Viper cast this match? I'd like to see it from his POV.

[@DevAnon]

I know it's easy when you watch, but i feel like most AOE pro lack the ability to keep scouting, in this game it was kinda obvious he had his eco somewhere, and he had only 2 ways to go, which you scouted extremely late, when he already reboomed. Probably is just to much confidence, but i see this so often of focusing just on 1 side and don't even send 1 unit to check if something is going on on the other side.

[@Josuegurrola]

After the wolf shitty raid Viper had all kinda traps set up around the map. When Hera walled he should have committed to that!! More walls more defensiva Castles and more TCs even in Vipers start zone why not... with 4castles close...

[@UnfamiliarPlace]

27:10 the kind of commit that you do when you think you're in a very strong position but have slightly miscalculated

[@mrbatukhan6791]

In AOE2, the moment you focus on defending your economic resource instead of attacking the enemy means the opponent will starts to gain the upperhand slowly. If the opponent has no access to gold, then they will use trash unit like scout & skirms to harrass you. Its still a good strategy. Simple battlefield strategy in war but to micro-manage them in AOE2 is a skill that takes years of practise ;)

[@kankantona9070]

crazy game from both, worth a revision

[@manuelballesteros2689]

24k views? Nice! Is everyone here like me? Old players watching games hoping we'll find time in the near future to play again?

[@Diego-ul1bs]

hera, do u think trash is too strong in de? i lost as mayans too with too much gold VS skrims + scouts

[@Diego-ul1bs]

this doenst make sense, lost with gold

[@samwisegamgee8318]

@@Diego-ul1bs Even the best gold units can only take out so many trash units before they're just plain outnumbered. That's how the Persian empire around the time of Alexander won most of their battles IRL. I think that's a valid game mechanic, as just gold alone and only 70 pop shouldn't necessarily be better than a fully boomed 100 vill eco of just wood and food.

[@fakn9159]

Is there a Upload from Vipers perspective also?

[@lesliegrayson1722]

I was a bit amazed about doubt having 21 winning streak coz every time I see viper cast Viper is kicking his ass lol :D and trolling him as well, its lucky they are friends.

[@markv.r.4238]

omg .... haha the viper is a pain in the ass! i would like to watch the match from his point of view. is the a record of it?

[@huypham.iprostore]

someone has this game link on viper's stream? I wanna know how can he hide out like this! wonderful game for 2 players! :D

ward

[@5950155]

I watched Vipers upload first..Started Hera's version...paused it...Opened Viper's in a new window to watch both views at once.....Had it synced...Try it...

[@ivanstrydom8417]

So many castles and yet not one defensive castle to protect your towns people. That was the reason of the defeat .

[@seanwhitehall4652]

Why no eagles? You were fighting cav/skirms/rams with Plarchers while you had the gold control.

[@Kruncklenucker]

Is there a version of this from Viper's perspective?

[@shaifuseth5566]

2 of the best current players, Idk why but mbl is my fav maybe cuz i watch his matches for the laughs and for less learning XD, daut too has funny matches

[@Janovich]

Definition of choosing a hill to die on brah Should have just build a defensive castle in your own base bro. You were stacking a 1000 unused stone

[@qallavi6172]

disrespectful push costed a dramatic loose

[@makotoshirogane]

This game is nuts Was almost sure theViper wont be able to survive all of that, until he bring all the bois to town and raid your economy out of nowhere

[@lesliegrayson1722]

@ 18mins, Knowing The Viper and his feinting chess like ability, and knowing he lets you in, and lets you think your winning and so you commit to the over extension whilst he is secretly doing really well and simply moving his eco somewhere else, it was freaking me out Hera that you never sent anyone to the left to keep an eye on what was being built there.... Id have at least sent 4 scouts inside his base after having broken down the walls so as to see what he does have and can make... or even worse, has made and they are on their way to attack you base... back to watching :)

[@blingkid6]

Only the Viper...

[@KhevaKins]

Good game @Hera Keep up the great games

[@raffia16thblaze10]

holy shit that click speed.... luckily i could keep up with what he was doing but i could not do that myself.

[@almandyn1]

22:10 no chances to viper comeback, no one comback from this terror, impossible 34:30 Glory to Master Viper!!!

[@tacobell4660]

That Wolf Rush though x)

[@j.walker6845]

That last castle was like sticking your ---- in a hornets nest

[@lancelotdulac6076]

well done for uploading a loss, and was totally worth it!

[@crisuar1989]

OMG ... I suffered a lot wanting to create a few battering rams there.

[@brokentombot]

When you went for that doubt castle was your tipping point. You should have realized he had a new massive base over there, that's why that was getting so much attention. Why throw 20+ villagers to die there? Crazy game.

[@marksmits1911]

How does your keyboard does not get on fire with all the friction of pushing buttons. Damn man

[@BeholdEmir]

This was indeed in fact a good game to watch but I am sorry but this isn't Viper's victory but rather your loss. I honestly thought that you could not have lost the game after gaining the control of the middle gold in an undisputed manner. But boy was I wrong. Your emphasis on stone was simply the wrong choice, not only did it consume SO MUCH of villager time but it also gave you nothing proper. 5 or 6 castles which meant nothing in the end. He has not access to gold yet you still continued on making expensive and futile plumed archers AGAINST ELITE SKIRMS and cavalry. You could've easily overwhelmed him with eagles(for the skirms and raiding) and monks(for the knights) after getting the control of the middle. Well anyways, you boom well and applied the pressure well but just didn't know how to capitalize on your lead.

[@stephenh9483]

Viper is so rediculous at defending. He is just tenacious

[@dfhwze]

Kudos to Viper for playing you so much, he has everything to lose, the stakes are high. Sooner than later you'll surpass him.

[@TheEarlofBronze1]

One of the reasons viper ( and most of the top AOE players ) are well loved is that the community is so small and close that even if there where to be a big "upset", like Hera or Tatoh taking Vipers N01 spot, there'd be likely very little hard feelings and mostly just good banter :)

[@sgutierrezcruz]

anyone have the link to this game from viper's perspective?

[@TeleportingBread161]

It takes a micronerd to beat a micronerd Pro stuff at 6:56

[@Ancient_Regime88]

Yessir. I don't think Hera lost a single villager through that whole sequence with the wolves.

[@ratedmark4704]

That was pretty cool pulling all the wolves go hide base lol. Didnt work very well though.

[@arunababaginda4291]

@@Ancient_Regime88 The main point of the wolf rush was not to kill Hera's vills, but to idle his economy for some time. And I think just for the cost of 2 militia, it was totally worth it. Tbh, I think Hera could have handled it better.

[@tamaskosa3283]

Maybe an earlier eagle switch next time? I know it's freaking hard though. Especially with that many castles you just wanna produce plumes :)

[@rigdigwus]

at 20:49 i thought how would you ever come back from these castles?... thats crazy

[@benzo7613]

^^ He is insane, he isn't a normal player.

[@Legend2KiII]

At the points you could see that this was not everything that he had in the upper corner. Anyway GG

[@niki8280]

Why no switch to eagles?

[@premmagar1170]

To much investment on that castle which didn't go up + I didn't understand y u stuck to only plumes, eagles were necessary. Any way great game!

[@juansanchez9357]

Gods of Chaos, how do you even beat that?

[@MickeyasGilliady]

i commented on viper's video with " how did you win that ? " i was 100% sure he lost that game .