Summary of round 1

TheViper [1] vs BL4CK [32]

Spoiler: Match report



The second game saw Viper pick the Magyars and BL4CK respond with the Indians. Both players opened in the feudal age with scouts, BL4CK ultimately emerging victorious of early fights but reaching the castle age later than TheViper. In the castle age, the top seed went for cavalry archers when BL4CK massed camels. TheViper consistently took better fights and his superior macro enabled him to have a much stronger economy going into the imperial age, ending the game with a large army lead which enabled him to wipe out BL4CK’s camels.



The third game of the series saw Viper pick the Khmer, arguably one of the “weakest” civilizations against the Aztecs, arguably one of the “strongest” of BL4CK. Viper opened with scouts but was caught off guard by the men at arms aggression of BL4CK followed by towers on the top seed’s base. Both players then reached the castle age around the same time, the eagle warriors of BL4CK being met with scorpions and elephants of the Khmer player. BL4CK seized the opportunity to get all five relics and get a lot of map control going into the imperial age and teching into pikemen and monks to counter Viper’s army. Although he was taking better trades, gold-wise, in imperial age, BL4CK never was able to deal a finishing blow to TheViper who slowly crept his way back in the game, assembling a deathball of skirmishers, elephants, scorpions and rams. This ultimately enabled him to mount a devastating push on BL4CK’s central economy, causing him to surrender the series after almost an hour and a half of fighting.



Final score: TheViper 3-0 BL4CK The opening game of the current titlist and top seed of the tournament, TheViper, was a Mongols mirror. Both players opened with scouts, but Viper played very defensively, going into a faster castle age time. BL4CK recognized the threat and moved forward with towers but was unable to prevent Viper from reaching the castle age very early and dropping a castle, producing mangudais. The game was then mostly macro-oriented and Viper took a comfortable army and economy lead enabling him to close the win in the early imperial age.The second game saw Viper pick the Magyars and BL4CK respond with the Indians. Both players opened in the feudal age with scouts, BL4CK ultimately emerging victorious of early fights but reaching the castle age later than TheViper. In the castle age, the top seed went for cavalry archers when BL4CK massed camels. TheViper consistently took better fights and his superior macro enabled him to have a much stronger economy going into the imperial age, ending the game with a large army lead which enabled him to wipe out BL4CK’s camels.The third game of the series saw Viper pick the Khmer, arguably one of the “weakest” civilizations against the Aztecs, arguably one of the “strongest” of BL4CK. Viper opened with scouts but was caught off guard by the men at arms aggression of BL4CK followed by towers on the top seed’s base. Both players then reached the castle age around the same time, the eagle warriors of BL4CK being met with scorpions and elephants of the Khmer player. BL4CK seized the opportunity to get all five relics and get a lot of map control going into the imperial age and teching into pikemen and monks to counter Viper’s army. Although he was taking better trades, gold-wise, in imperial age, BL4CK never was able to deal a finishing blow to TheViper who slowly crept his way back in the game, assembling a deathball of skirmishers, elephants, scorpions and rams. This ultimately enabled him to mount a devastating push on BL4CK’s central economy, causing him to surrender the series after almost an hour and a half of fighting.Final score:TheViper 3-0 BL4CK

Liereyy [2] vs PL_Barles aka Tia_Harribel [31]

Spoiler: Match report



In the second game, Liereyy played with the Franks and Barles chose the Chinese. Both players started the feudal aggression with a bunch of scouts seconded by spears. Hitting castle age earlier than his opponent, Liereyy went aggressive once more with a siege workshop producing mangonels and scorpions to support his knights. A stunning engagement decided the game, when Liereyy’s mangonels flattened Barles’ monks and enabled the 2nd seed to catch his crossbows off guard. Pressured from all angles and behind in army, Barles called the game right after the 30-minute mark.



The third games saw Vikings from Liereyy against Slavs for Barles. Liereyy opened with men at arms who dealt enough damage to Barles’ economy to delay his scouts greatly, enabling Liereyy to build a tower on his first woodline and send a couple of archers and spears forward. The game saw Barles get no rest from the constant aggression by his opponent who displayed his stunning micro in a few engagements. Going archers and scouts in feudal age, Liereyy killed Barles’ army and was about to hit the castle age when he resigned, conceding a 0-3 defeat.



Final score: Liereyy 3-0 Tia_Harribel Liereyy opened with Celts against Mayans, a match-up he was notoriously troubled by when playing the other side during T90’s Hidden Cup. After a successful drush fast-castle, the young Austrian played extremely aggressively, building a siege workshop forward and piling up relentless aggression against Barles. Mangonels danced for a while until Liereyy added knights in his composition and was able to push an already cornered Barles to take the win.In the second game, Liereyy played with the Franks and Barles chose the Chinese. Both players started the feudal aggression with a bunch of scouts seconded by spears. Hitting castle age earlier than his opponent, Liereyy went aggressive once more with a siege workshop producing mangonels and scorpions to support his knights. A stunning engagement decided the game, when Liereyy’s mangonels flattened Barles’ monks and enabled the 2nd seed to catch his crossbows off guard. Pressured from all angles and behind in army, Barles called the game right after the 30-minute mark.The third games saw Vikings from Liereyy against Slavs for Barles. Liereyy opened with men at arms who dealt enough damage to Barles’ economy to delay his scouts greatly, enabling Liereyy to build a tower on his first woodline and send a couple of archers and spears forward. The game saw Barles get no rest from the constant aggression by his opponent who displayed his stunning micro in a few engagements. Going archers and scouts in feudal age, Liereyy killed Barles’ army and was about to hit the castle age when he resigned, conceding a 0-3 defeat.Final score:Liereyy 3-0 Tia_Harribel

Fat_Dragon aka Vivi [3] vs chart [30]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: Fat_Dragon 3-1 chart No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:Fat_Dragon 3-1 chart

TheMax [4] vs GKT_Cloud [29]

Spoiler: Match report



In the second game, TheMax picked Burmese against Cloud’s Aztecs. Both players opened with men at arms, with Max outmicroing Cloud and getting a good trade than enabled him to push forward with villagers to build towers on his opponent exposed golds at the front. Cloud having three golds and the berries forward delayed him a lot. He eventually cleaned Max’ towers with a castle, but played passively, and was a lot behind in economy. Reaching the imperial age first and teching into infantry enabled Max to get the win.



The third game opposed Berbers (TheMax) to Franks (Cloud). Both players opened with scouts and spearmen, but Max seemed to be doing everything slightly better than Cloud: keeping the TC working while microing his units, taking better fights and constantly keeping the pressure up in Cloud’s base, keeping his own base completely safe. He took a quick win to wrap the series 3-0.



Final score: TheMax 3-0 GKT_Cloud Facing a semifinalist of the previous edition of King of the Desert in TheMax, Cloud chose the Mayans to start his tournament with. TheMax perhaps anticipated that move and responded with Celts, a popular counter-pick. Both players opened with men at arms, followed by archers from one range by Cloud and archers and skirmishers from two ranges for his opponent. Max was the first to castle age and he applied a constant pressure on the doorstep of Cloud’s economy, gaining an economy lead and a military momentum, which he transformed in a win in the early imperial age.In the second game, TheMax picked Burmese against Cloud’s Aztecs. Both players opened with men at arms, with Max outmicroing Cloud and getting a good trade than enabled him to push forward with villagers to build towers on his opponent exposed golds at the front. Cloud having three golds and the berries forward delayed him a lot. He eventually cleaned Max’ towers with a castle, but played passively, and was a lot behind in economy. Reaching the imperial age first and teching into infantry enabled Max to get the win.The third game opposed Berbers (TheMax) to Franks (Cloud). Both players opened with scouts and spearmen, but Max seemed to be doing everything slightly better than Cloud: keeping the TC working while microing his units, taking better fights and constantly keeping the pressure up in Cloud’s base, keeping his own base completely safe. He took a quick win to wrap the series 3-0.Final score:TheMax 3-0 GKT_Cloud

Yo [5] vs Daniel [28]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: Yo 3-1 Daniel No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:Yo 3-1 Daniel

DauT [6] vs yinghua [27]

Spoiler: Match report



Game 2 saw yinghua pick the Chinese and DauT opt for the Burmese. The 6th seed opened with men at arms and was met by the scouts of yinghua, who quickly switched to a ball of archers and skirmishers that enabled him to do good damage to DauT’s troops. Going into the castle age, DauT prepared to switch to elephants and the mighty arambai while yinghua went for quick ballistics. They both built up their economy with yinghua continuously pressuring DauT whose arambai were of little use against the crossbows of his opponent. Eventually, the siege rams, arbalests, cavaliers and light cavalry of yinghua proved too difficult for DauT to deal with, levelling the series 1-1.



In the third game of the series, DauT picked the Japanese and yinghua the Aztecs. Both players opened with men at arms, DauT’s faster attacking units getting a fabulous trade: he was up 7-0 in K-D in the early stages of the game. After switching into archers, the situation stabilized until the castle age, which yinghua reached first. This enabled him to send eagle warriors raiding into DauT’s unwalled economy, putting him far behind. The sixth seed did not resign and continued pressuring yinghua’s base with a forward castle and guard towers. However, when yinghua reached the imperial age and was able to get trebuchets out, DauT called the game.



In the fourth game of the series, DauT picked Chinese and was met by yinghua’s Japanese. DauT attempted to open scouts but yinghua went forward with the fearsome Japanese men at arms and five villagers, starting to build towers and force his way into DauT’s exposed economy. Not able to stop the towers, DauT had to relocate massive portions of his economy multiple times, even though his villager count was still healthy. He tried to counterattack but yinghua reacted swiftly and advanced to the castle age earlier. Recognizing a tough position, DauT conceded the defeat.



Final score: DauT 1-3 yinghua In the first game of this series between two veterans of the game, both players opted for Mayans, possibly the strongest civilization on Arabia in the current state of the game. DauT opened with men at arms which dealt excellently with the drush of yinghua and followed up with archers while yinghua pushed forward and tried to put some towers in DauT’s economy. In castle age, both players switched to eagles and the game was won by DauT when his successfully dropped a castle on the doorstep of yinghua’s economy, supported by a massive army lead.Game 2 saw yinghua pick the Chinese and DauT opt for the Burmese. The 6th seed opened with men at arms and was met by the scouts of yinghua, who quickly switched to a ball of archers and skirmishers that enabled him to do good damage to DauT’s troops. Going into the castle age, DauT prepared to switch to elephants and the mighty arambai while yinghua went for quick ballistics. They both built up their economy with yinghua continuously pressuring DauT whose arambai were of little use against the crossbows of his opponent. Eventually, the siege rams, arbalests, cavaliers and light cavalry of yinghua proved too difficult for DauT to deal with, levelling the series 1-1.In the third game of the series, DauT picked the Japanese and yinghua the Aztecs. Both players opened with men at arms, DauT’s faster attacking units getting a fabulous trade: he was up 7-0 in K-D in the early stages of the game. After switching into archers, the situation stabilized until the castle age, which yinghua reached first. This enabled him to send eagle warriors raiding into DauT’s unwalled economy, putting him far behind. The sixth seed did not resign and continued pressuring yinghua’s base with a forward castle and guard towers. However, when yinghua reached the imperial age and was able to get trebuchets out, DauT called the game.In the fourth game of the series, DauT picked Chinese and was met by yinghua’s Japanese. DauT attempted to open scouts but yinghua went forward with the fearsome Japanese men at arms and five villagers, starting to build towers and force his way into DauT’s exposed economy. Not able to stop the towers, DauT had to relocate massive portions of his economy multiple times, even though his villager count was still healthy. He tried to counterattack but yinghua reacted swiftly and advanced to the castle age earlier. Recognizing a tough position, DauT conceded the defeat.Final score:DauT 1-3 yinghua

MbL [7] vs miguel [26]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: MbL 3-0 miguel No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:MbL 3-0 miguel

Hera [8] vs PROject_Belgium [25]

Spoiler: Match report



In an all eastern-European clash in the second game, Hera (Magyars) and PROject_Belgium (Slavs) both opened with scouts, built up their economy and advanced to the castle age. Hera’s brilliant move was to anticipate the massive pikemen push attempted by his opponent and to react with longswordsmen of his own. Both players reached the imperial age and Hera’s Magyar Huszars raids brought him the victory.



PROject_Belgium opened drush FC in the third game of the series, playing as the Mayans, while Hera, as the Malay, only created a few scouts, recognizing his opponent’s strategy. The faster aging bonus of the Malay kicked in as Hera reached the castle age only a few minutes after PROject_Belgium. The highlight of the game was the trapping of Belgium’s crossbows by Hera’s skirms. This army advantage enabled the 8th seed to pressure forward and win in the early imperial age after mixing up karambit warriors in his army composition.



Final score: Hera 3-0 PROject_Belgium Playing as the Aztecs, PROject_Belgium attempted to steal Hera’s boar in the first game, only to lose his own eagle before minute 4. He opened with men at arms and towers while Hera, playing the Huns, opened with scouts and dealt perfectly with the 25th seed’s forward. After losing multiple villagers on his gold and being dramatically behind, he resigned before minute 20.In an all eastern-European clash in the second game, Hera (Magyars) and PROject_Belgium (Slavs) both opened with scouts, built up their economy and advanced to the castle age. Hera’s brilliant move was to anticipate the massive pikemen push attempted by his opponent and to react with longswordsmen of his own. Both players reached the imperial age and Hera’s Magyar Huszars raids brought him the victory.PROject_Belgium opened drush FC in the third game of the series, playing as the Mayans, while Hera, as the Malay, only created a few scouts, recognizing his opponent’s strategy. The faster aging bonus of the Malay kicked in as Hera reached the castle age only a few minutes after PROject_Belgium. The highlight of the game was the trapping of Belgium’s crossbows by Hera’s skirms. This army advantage enabled the 8th seed to pressure forward and win in the early imperial age after mixing up karambit warriors in his army composition.Final score:Hera 3-0 PROject_Belgium

TaToH [9] vs St4rk [24]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: TaToH 3-2 St4rk No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:TaToH 3-2 St4rk

Nicov [10] vs Zuppi [23]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: Nicov 3-1 Zuppi No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:Nicov 3-1 Zuppi

Tim [11] vs LaaaaaN [22]

Spoiler: Match report



Both players chose Aztecs in the second game. They mirrored each other until the feudal age, which they reached three seconds apart. Tim went forward to build towers in LaaaaaN’s base, putting him on the back foot until he decided to do the same thing, causing massive migrations on Tim’s economy. The game balanced itself but using a tech advantage, LaaaaaN killed a lot of Tim’s villagers to get the economy lead while both players were heavily investing into eagle warriors. Ultimately, LaaaaaN’s ability to keep his villagers alive granted him a massive economy advantage and enabled him to take a 2-0 lead.



Going into the third game with a 0-2 disadvantage, Tim chose the Spanish against LaaaaaN’s Chinese. Both opened with men at arms, Tim going forward to put towers. Instead of sending his military back at home to defend, LaaaaaN built towers and pushed forward, preventing Tim from access to stone and being a nuisance with his men at arms. Reaching castle age with ten villagers more, LaaaaaN built three stables and sent a flow of knights to Tim’s economy. Tim built a desperate castle, but he was already too far behind to stand a chance.



Final score: Tim 0-3 LaaaaaN Despite being the favorite coming into the match, Tim drafted very strong civilizations, with both players choosing three of the same civilizations out of five. For the first game, Tim opted for Slavs while LaaaaaN chose the Mayans. LaaaaaN’s opening men at arms dealt a lot of damage to Tim, delaying his scouts and forcing him to build an archery range, enabling LaaaaaN to prepare his eagles and be the one dictating the play. Reaching castle age first, he was constantly putting pressure, reached the imperial age with a massive villager lead and took the first game in a convincing fashion.Both players chose Aztecs in the second game. They mirrored each other until the feudal age, which they reached three seconds apart. Tim went forward to build towers in LaaaaaN’s base, putting him on the back foot until he decided to do the same thing, causing massive migrations on Tim’s economy. The game balanced itself but using a tech advantage, LaaaaaN killed a lot of Tim’s villagers to get the economy lead while both players were heavily investing into eagle warriors. Ultimately, LaaaaaN’s ability to keep his villagers alive granted him a massive economy advantage and enabled him to take a 2-0 lead.Going into the third game with a 0-2 disadvantage, Tim chose the Spanish against LaaaaaN’s Chinese. Both opened with men at arms, Tim going forward to put towers. Instead of sending his military back at home to defend, LaaaaaN built towers and pushed forward, preventing Tim from access to stone and being a nuisance with his men at arms. Reaching castle age with ten villagers more, LaaaaaN built three stables and sent a flow of knights to Tim’s economy. Tim built a desperate castle, but he was already too far behind to stand a chance.Final score:Tim 0-3 LaaaaaN

slam [12] vs saymyname aka Yellow [21]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: slam 3-0 saymyname No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:slam 3-0 saymyname

BacT [13] vs Lyx [20]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: BacT 1-3 Lyx No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:BacT 1-3 Lyx

F1Re [14] vs RiuT [19]

Spoiler: Match report



F1Re chose the popular Slavs for the second game, to which RiuT answered with a Chinese pick, a civ made stronger on the KotD 2 version of Arabia. Despite calling a first restart, F1Re was afflicted with a poor map and made the choice to go forward with villagers, infantry and towers. However, RiuT quickly and efficiently reacted to the aggression and was able to send his army of scouts forward, killing a lot of villagers. Being ten villagers behind at minute 20, F1Re recognized his position was too far behind and conceded defeat.



In the third game of the series, F1Re played Aztecs against RiuT’s Slavs. The 14th seed stole his opponent’s boar and went forward with men at arms and villagers building towers. RiuT chose to open with scouts. In a similar fashion as the second game, RiuT defended the aggression well and showed excellent micro of his scouts to pick off weak villagers and avoid F1Re’s spearmen. He was able to raid his economy, reach castle age earlier, and take a comfortable win.



Final score: F1Re 0-3 RiuT Both players drafted four of the same civilizations in the exact same order before going for a different final pick. In the first game of the series, F1Re and RiuT gave us a Mayan mirror match. They opened with militias, who fought before the men at arms upgrade, and continued with skirmishers. RiuT, very aggressive, forced two towers from F1Re and reached the castle age first. Both players played a fairly defensive game from that point, with RiuT getting a sizable economy lead when F1Re decided to go for eagles. Ultimately, the plumes and superior economy of RiuT enabled him to take the win.F1Re chose the popular Slavs for the second game, to which RiuT answered with a Chinese pick, a civ made stronger on the KotD 2 version of Arabia. Despite calling a first restart, F1Re was afflicted with a poor map and made the choice to go forward with villagers, infantry and towers. However, RiuT quickly and efficiently reacted to the aggression and was able to send his army of scouts forward, killing a lot of villagers. Being ten villagers behind at minute 20, F1Re recognized his position was too far behind and conceded defeat.In the third game of the series, F1Re played Aztecs against RiuT’s Slavs. The 14th seed stole his opponent’s boar and went forward with men at arms and villagers building towers. RiuT chose to open with scouts. In a similar fashion as the second game, RiuT defended the aggression well and showed excellent micro of his scouts to pick off weak villagers and avoid F1Re’s spearmen. He was able to raid his economy, reach castle age earlier, and take a comfortable win.Final score:F1Re 0-3 RiuT

Villese [15] vs BlackMamba aka StrayDog [18]

Spoiler: Match report



In the second game, Villese opted for Japanese and BlackMamba chose the Celts. Opening with a drush, BlackMamba lost the advantage when Villese’s men at arms cleaned his militias and put pressure on his front. Very open, StrayDog’s base was vulnerable to the raiding conducted by Villese’s skirmishers and archers. StrayDog tried to put a tower on Villese’s woodline but he could relocate easily. In the castle age, Villese invested heavily into knights and developed a much healthier economy than his opponent’s, granting him a comfortable win to level the series 1-1.



Opening with the Huns in the third game, BlackMamba opted for his signature strategy again and went with skirms and spears forward. However, the men at arms opening of his opponent, playing with the Chinese, dealt a lot of damage to his economy at home. Villese dealt well with StrayDog’s aggression and the game switched into a standard feudal age play with scouts, skirmishers and archers from both parts. Taking better trades enabled Villese to get an army advantage. He reached the castle age first, causing StrayDog, who was far behind, to resign.



The fourth game saw a classic AOC Arabia matchup in an Aztecs mirror. Both players opened with a drush, which Villese followed up by walling his base while StrayDog switched to a few skirmishers and archers. He tried to go forward but his attempt failed and enabled Villese to earn a small economy lead. Both players switched to full eagle play in castle age with Villese coming up on top with superior numbers, enabling him to close the series.



Final score: Villese 3-1 BlackMamba For the first game of the series, Villese chose the Malians while StrayDog opted for the Mongols. Using his trademark strategy, he went forward with barracks, an archery range and a few towers defending his villagers with spearmen and skirmishers. Villese stabilized the situation with towers and was even the first to the castle age, albeit quite behind in villagers. Both players fought with camels, monks and mangonels but StrayDog was getting more out of these trades, reaching the imperial age first with a bigger economy and ending the game with a castle drop on the front of Villese’s base.In the second game, Villese opted for Japanese and BlackMamba chose the Celts. Opening with a drush, BlackMamba lost the advantage when Villese’s men at arms cleaned his militias and put pressure on his front. Very open, StrayDog’s base was vulnerable to the raiding conducted by Villese’s skirmishers and archers. StrayDog tried to put a tower on Villese’s woodline but he could relocate easily. In the castle age, Villese invested heavily into knights and developed a much healthier economy than his opponent’s, granting him a comfortable win to level the series 1-1.Opening with the Huns in the third game, BlackMamba opted for his signature strategy again and went with skirms and spears forward. However, the men at arms opening of his opponent, playing with the Chinese, dealt a lot of damage to his economy at home. Villese dealt well with StrayDog’s aggression and the game switched into a standard feudal age play with scouts, skirmishers and archers from both parts. Taking better trades enabled Villese to get an army advantage. He reached the castle age first, causing StrayDog, who was far behind, to resign.The fourth game saw a classic AOC Arabia matchup in an Aztecs mirror. Both players opened with a drush, which Villese followed up by walling his base while StrayDog switched to a few skirmishers and archers. He tried to go forward but his attempt failed and enabled Villese to earn a small economy lead. Both players switched to full eagle play in castle age with Villese coming up on top with superior numbers, enabling him to close the series.Final score:Villese 3-1 BlackMamba

ACCM [16] vs CL aka happyhappy [17]

Spoiler: Match report



Final score: ACCM 3-1 CL No match summary due to lack of time!Final score:ACCM 3-1 CL

Civilizations statistics

Openings

Age of towers

In 35 games (out of 57) at least one side decided to go for aggressive towers, meaning that 61.4% of the games featured at least some form of tower aggression

In 4 games, both sides went with aggressive towers for more chaotic fun!

In 12 games, the winner trushed, but the loser did not

In 19 games, the winner did not trush, but the loser did

With that in mind, the winrate of trushing can be estimated at 38.7% (12 out of 31)

Trivia stats

Hello!As the first round comes to a close, I thought it would be a nice thing to have some statistics about the fabulous 57 games that were already played, looking forward to some more great games for this weekend.Links:This year’s edition of King of the Desert uses a different system as last year (which used to totally prevent mirrors), allowing players to draft five civilizations each, with no restriction based on the picks of the other player. The catch is that, any civilization used by the players in the first three rounds cannot be repeated (civilizations that are drafted, but not used, can be reused in the further rounds).With that in mind, it was expected that the favorites would “save” their strongest civilizations for the further rounds… but still make sure they would actually qualify for the next round of the tournament. Lower seeded players, in turn, were expected to make use of the most powerful civilizations in their arsenal to give their higher rated opponents a run for their money.The first round heavily featured four civilizations that were largely more played than the other 27: Aztecs, with 18 games, Mayans (16 games), Chinese (15 games) and Slavs (13 games). Celts, Franks, Japanese and Mongols make up the second tier of popular civilizations with 5 games each.Interestingly, despite being played 15 times (which means, in every single match but one –TheViper vsBL4CK), the Chinese always matched up against another civilization. Aztec mirrors and Mayans mirrors happened, with 3 mirrors for each of these civilizations. The only other mirror of the first round was a Mongols war opposing, again, TheViper and BL4CK.Excluding mirror matches and civilizations with only one or two games played, Chinese reign supreme with an 80% winrate, winning 12 games out of 15. Chinese at the hands of the higher seed lost only once, during the upset ofDauT byyinghua.Japanese are joint first with 4 wins out of 5 games (80%). Berbers and Incas also did well with a 67% winrate (2 out of 3) although the numbers of games played are sill too low to infer anything meaningful.Due to the crushing strength of Chinese, the three other most popular civilizations do more poorly: Mayans save a 40% winrate (4 wins, 6 losses), Slavs are just behind with 38% (5-8) and Aztecs lag behind at a mere 25% (3-9). It should however be noted that 7 out of the top 10 remaining seeds have yet to use the Aztecs.It is still too early to make conclusions on specific civilization match-ups. However, Chinese played the Slavs with good success, winning their three encounters. In all three matches, the higher seed was playing as the Chinese.Slavs were successful against the Aztecs (2 wins out of 2 games) and the Mayans (2 wins out of 3).For the matches of the first round, I tried to gather statistics about the openings used by the players in their matches. By opening, I mean the first strategy chosen by the players. Observing the initial build order and strategies of the 57 games of the first round, I stopped at 7 different openings: straight archers, drush into feudal age, drush FC, naked FC, classic spearmen & skirmishers forward, men at arms, scouts and straight skirmishers. Itake into account the follow-up strategies such as tower defense, men at arms into archers or eagle warriors, scouts into skirmishers, etc. Furthermore, in the specific case of FC openings, I did not take into account whether the FC attempt was successful: a drush FC attempt switched to feudal play due to the pressuring of the other opponent still is categorized as a drush FC. Finally, towers and trushes will have their own little paragraph, so don’t worry, we’ll get to the juicy parts.With that in mind, the most popular openings were, by far, men at arms (53 times) and scouts (40 times). Drush FC (9 times) was seen a couple of times, and so was the simple drush (6 times).BlackMamba aka StrayDog was the only player to open with a classic forward play with skirmishers and spearmen, which he did twice in his first round againstVillese.CL aka happyhappy was the only player to open with a naked fast castle, trying it against ACCM, also twice.BacT was the only player to open straight into archers, met byLyx who responded with the only straight skirmishers opening of the first round.Excluding mirrored openings, Drush FC, although not played a in comparison to the two most common strategies, was the most successful opening with 5 wins and 2 losses (71%). Scouts also did quite well with 15 wins and 9 losses (63%). Men at arms enjoyed mix success (41%, 11 wins, 16 losses) and drush into feudal play was not a very successful strategy (25%, 1 win in 4 non mirror attempts).Head to head, we find the same numbers with scouts slightly edging the men at arms, with 12 wins out of 19 games where these two openings were matched against each other.One of the most notorious topics in the community today is, and has been for quite some time, the prevalence of tower aggression. Similar to the opening strategies statistics, I tried, for every single game of the first round, to gather numbers of the games where the players built aggressive towers, and defensive towers. As always, keep in mind that there is no science behind that; I tried to use my better judgment each time and mark down a play as “aggressive tower play” if that was at the core of one player’s strategy: a sneaky villager droppingtower on a woodline hardly qualifies as aggressive tower play. Three towers? Now we’re talking.With that in mind, I have a few numbers for you:I have not tried to study correlation between trush and opening strategies (although I expect trush to overwhelmingly come with men at arms), nor to look at comparisons between lower seed trush and higher seed trush.The shortest game of the first round was the second game of the all-brazilian derby betweenF1Re andRiuT, with RiuT taking the win in 19:11 game time. The longest game was the third game of the match betweenTheViper andBL4CK, which lasted 1:26:32. The average game time of the first round was 40 minutes and 32 seconds and the combined game time of all 57 games is just under 40 hours at 38:30:26.The last game between BL4CK and Viper was also the one with the most units killed (1647), with Viper killing 1061 units and BL4CK 555. Only one other game passed the 1000 total units killed mark,TaToH vsSt4rk’s 4th game at 1410 kills (800-610).BacT andLyx were close, ending their first game at 991 kills (570-421). The record for least units killed is shared betweenHera –PROject_Belgium’s first game (12-3, 15 kills) and BacT and Lyx’ third game (3-12).Only two games ended with both players having a negative K-D, the first game betweenBlackMamba (-7) andVillese (-2), and the third game between St4rk (-19) and TaToH (-12). That game is also the one with the most monk conversions (35).LaaaaaN won his series with a clear 3-0 sweep despite having negative K-D in the first two games and overall.ACCM is the player who had the worst K-D, but still eventually won the game, in his fourth game againstCL where he ended with 45 kills and 153 death (-108).The shortest series of the first round was RiuT beating F1Re in 1:18:51 while the longest was TaToH edging St4rk in 4:15:22. There were 4 games going past the 1 hour mark, all four being ultimately won by the higher seed.Thanks toMemb andChrazini for the awesome tournament and to everyone casting these beautiful games, it has been an absolute delight to watch KotD 2 so far. Looking forward to more great games!