I thought I'd share this in its own thread. To be honest, part of why I'm posting this is to highlight a severe balance issue...



This strategy has worked for me and a friend multiple times in a row now. I cannot vouch for its viability on Immortal/Deity (although I will be playing some Deity games this weekend), but on Emperor and below you will win 100% or near-100% of the time. What really bothers me about this strategy is not only how effective it is but how sickeningly easy it is to do. It's clear to me that this game was either a) very poorly playtested from a balance perspective or b) designed around more competent AI that has since been mysteriously nerfed.



Initial Setup:

+ Found capital.

+ Open tech tree. Click "Horseback Riding."

+ Build scout.



Then:

+ Build Worker.

+ Build Settler.

+ Build whatever.

+ Found City 2 next to horses. Send Worker with Settler so you can construct a pasture on City 2's horses immediately.

+ Build whatever in City 2 (Monument, likely).

+ When the pasture finishes you must then immediately switch the production queue of both Capital and City 2 off of whatever you're building. Make them build Horsemen instead.

+ When the first Horseman finishes, buy another Horseman. Let the other Horseman finish building. Now you have three.

+ Steamroll all AI.



Win every time. Every. Single. Time.



AI cannot handle Horsemen at this stage, or really any stage. Abuse the extra moves enjoyed by Horsemen to dodge whatever spearmen they have (likely they have 0). Use all promotions on full heal (save for when your Horsemen get weak). You probably won't need to reinforce these Horsemen, although it couldn't hurt to send one or two more up to the front lines by the time you get to AI #3 or #4. You'll trigger a domination victory by about turn 100 on small maps, turn 140 on standard maps (depending on number of AIs selected). You can even conquer some City-States along the way if you prefer. Turn 90 and lower victories are possible if you just chain declare on AI.



Play Greece and tech Honor (free GG to lead troops, +str for units adjacent to other units, and double XP) for even more lulz.

Click to expand...