head to head
vs
Age of Empires IVvsSmite
Age of Empires IV leans Optimization (Grand Arena); Smite leans Execution (Grand Arena).
Age of Empires IVSmite
Axis by axis
Execution7 vs 7
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads7 vs 7
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance2 vs 3
Smite leans harder on variance: Buff timers and minor RNG only.
Optimization8 vs 7
Age of Empires IV leans harder on optimization: civ build orders well solved
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.