Who do you root for when all your favorite players are squaring off under the guise of historical heroes and villains? Well, while you enjoy the truly *incredible* levels of play, you look for the small details while picking out the quirks and clues that will help you guess which pro player is behind the name!
This has been the foundation of the Hidden Cup series each year: from its humble beginnings in 2018 to its record-breaking third edition one year ago. Sixteen of the best players in the world will participate in the fight for a prize pool of more than $77,000—the largest bounty for a 1v1 tournament since 2001! Fourteen of them are returning from previous installments, including:
- Hidden Cup 1, 2, and 3 champion: TheViper
- Hidden Cup 3 runner-up: Hera
- Other superstars such as Liereyy, DauT, TaToH, and more!
Over the last three weeks, 64 players were whittled down to 8 pros who emerged victorious from a historically challenging bracket. Two of them will make their Hidden Cup debut: Barles and Vinchester. Hailing from Poland and Russia, respectively, the two outclassed their competitors to qualify for the prestigious event for the first time in their careers.
New Maps
The Hidden Cup series is built around crowning the most well-rounded player on a variety of battlefields. The tournament is played on a variety of special maps designed to promote inventive strategies and rigorously tested to offer a competitive balance to all the different civilizations. Long-time favorites such as Bay and Cup—introduced during Hidden Cup 2—return with some slight adjustments, while Slopes and High Tides will also make their return from Hidden Cup 3.
Hidden Cup 4 will also feature three brand-new maps designed for the event:
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BypassA novel take on the classic Hideout map. Players are connected through a narrow corridor within the forest. Fertile pastures rich in deer and berry bushes can also be found on the sides, leaving the players with multiple options to approach the map. |
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MudflowA crossover between El Dorado and Atacama. There is an abundance of starting resources, but the shallow terrain under the town center will make farming space harder to protect as the game goes on. Players will want to expand towards the middle for access to stone and larger forests, but will need to be wary of stealthy demolition ships in the central swamp area. |
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QuarryA circular, open-area with only a single layer of trees separating the two opponents around the desert pit. This map can be played either aggressively or defensively: shining the spotlight on powerful late-game civs and allowing for sneaky plays on those who fail to protect their flanks. |
To win the tournament, competitors must be at the top of their game at all times. The bracket isn’t seeded, so players won’t have the benefit of knowing their opponent. This rewards preparation and adaptation, and only a truly well-rounded player will be able to win Hidden Cup.
New Heroes
During the tournament, players have adopted a pseudonym based on historical heroes from Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. You’ll meet newcomers such as Jacqueline of Hainaut or Philip the Good—a feud you can explore in the brand-new Lords of the West campaigns—the great sovereigns, Sundjata and King Bela IV, national icons such as Le Loi or Ivaylo, and even fan favorites like Little John and the mighty Cobra Car! With a variety of heroes, you can cheer for the one’s dearest to you; and, if you feel adventurous, attempt to guess who among this elite group will emerge victorious by making a prediction on the official tournament bracket:
Better Gameplay Than Ever Before!
The past year has been one of the most amazing for the competitive scene in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. The level of play has seen vast improvement all across the board, with many players now fighting for the top spots in high-profile tournaments. TheViper won the previous edition of Hidden Cup against Hera, but since then, others such as Mr Yo, Liereyy, and DauT have risen to the occasion and scored major victories in other tournaments.
After a few months of Red Bull Wololo and the all-Arabia King of the Desert tournament, we finally return to the Hidden Cup settings: favoring players capable of preparing and executing tactics on all kinds of maps. This has historically favored strategists such as TheViper, Mr Yo, or TaToH. However, Liereyy is an exceptional force to reckon with: having won two of the last three major events. His teammate, Hera, is also not to be underestimated: reaching the finals last year and training to take on any challenge!
Players coming from the qualifications also have an advantage: having already battled on some of this year’s tournament maps, which can provide them with additional experience over the invitees. This is the beauty of Hidden Cup: anyone can beat anyone; and this year, the competition is more open than ever!
Finals Schedule
Hidden Cup 4 will be broadcast all this weekend, starting Thursday, March 18 through Sunday, March 21, on T90Official’s Twitch channel. Make sure to tune in for four days of intense action and top-level Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition gameplay.
| Round | EVENT DAYS | STARTS @ |
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| Round of 16 | Thursday, March 18 – Friday, March 19 | Starts at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET / 7:00a PT / 11:00a ET) |
| Quarterfinals | Saturday, March 20 | Starts at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET / 7:00a PT / 11:00a ET) |
| Semifinals & Grand Final | Sunday, March 21 | Starts at 14:00 UTC (15:00 CET / 7:00a PT / 11:00a ET) |
Whether you are an expert to the competitive scene or a casual viewer who just wants to enjoy brilliant plays, the sixteen participants will bring their most exceptional skills for an unforgettable spectacle!