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Civilization 5: Civilizations and Leaders

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  • Civilization 5: Civilizations and Leaders

    Contents

    America
    Arabia
    Aztec
    China
    Egypt
    England
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    India
    Iroquois
    Japan
    Ottoman Empire
    Persia
    Rome
    Russia
    Siam
    Songhai

    The civilizations you'll face in Civilization 5 all field unique Units and wield special powers which lend themselves to certain kinds of game play. We've compiled a few facts and hints to help you best engage each competing culture in diplomacy, economics, and war.

    Regardless of Leadership or nationality, all rival civilizations in the Civilization 5 are dangerous. Civilization 5's take on world politics is decidedly bloodier in nature than its recent prequels. Some civilizations act more aggressively than others, but any of them will attack you if they smell weakness. Beware.

    America

    George Washington is a treacherous waffler. He can go from your best friend to your worst enemy in about ten turns. This guy can be helpful for a while, but in the long run he's 100% Manifest Destiny, and generally attacks with a well-prepared army.

    Diplomacy is possible with America early in the game, and good relations can sometimes last quite a while once established. Create trade pacts and Research Agreements with Washington, but never trust him.

    The Americans use both colonialism and conquest to grow big in the mid-game. If you have managed a hundred Turns of peace with America, pat yourself on the back and then invade their core Cities as soon as possible.

    When fighting Renaissance and Industrial Era America, prioritize Rifling to counter the advantage of Minutemen.

    If fighting a Modern Era America, build Fighters and AA Assets aplenty. The B-17 is like the Hammer of Thor and must be intercepted to prevent dominating the game.

    Arabia

    The Arabs generate a lot of Gold and grow quickly mid-game. They tend to be expansive but not always vicious. Thanks to the Bazaar, they usually have trade goods available. Partner with them and use their surplus goods to fuel your own progress..

    The best way to exploit Arabia is to kill them with kindness. Make them a friend for as long as you can, and prepare for war with them by stacking your Happiness with other sources. When conflict does come, you're likely to lose some trade goods and your Happiness will suffer if you're not prepared.

    Their Camel Archers are annoying little suckers capable of shoot-and-scoot attacks which are difficult to counter. When warring with Medieval Arabia, try and keep fast horsemen handy to chase the snipers off your flanks. Also note that the Arabs have no Knights, so when forced into a stand-up battle they can usually be beaten down. Don't chase distant Camel Archers with Knights. It often ends badly.

    Aztec

    Montezuma is pure evil. Do not trust him, do not come to depend on him for goods, and do not approach him without a loaded gun.

    Aztec Jaguars are a vicious early-game asset. They fight well relative to their cost and gain health and culture when they kill. The Aztec Cities seem to spawn near fertile ground, so there tend to be a lot of them. Counter them with massed, guarded archers.

    Fortunately for you, Montezuma usually ticks off enough neighbors that the Aztecs are weakened or wiped out near mid-game. You should rarely have difficulty building Alliances against him.

    China

    China enjoys a technical proficiency that ensures their economy and military remain consistently competitive. They have a fair chance of inaugurating the Apollo Program or the first Manhattan Project.

    Chinese Chu-Ko-Nu are among the most dangerous Units in the game. When fighting China, choose your battlefields carefully. Build fast cavalry on your flanks and get in among the Chu-Ko-Nu even if it means sacrificing horsemen to do so.

    You'll need to commit more Units than typical when assulting Chinese cities. The ranged weapons they stock their metropolitan areas with are devastating against besiegers.

    You can befriend China for a time, but it rarely lasts.

    Egypt

    Egypt uses it's advantage in Wonders to the fullest. Keeping pace with Egypt's building projects is a challenge in any game they take part in.

    If you locate Egypt in the Ancient or Classical Eras, allocate your Citizens to Production-oriented Terrain and develop Autocracy early to compete.

    Thanks to Burial Tombs, Egyptian Cities are full of Gold after the mid-game and make appealing targets for conquest.

    Because of their skill in Building Wonders, Egypt is a late game threat to develop the Manhattan Project, Apollo Program or United Nations.

    England

    England tends to be imperialistic but can be reasoned with on occasion and makes a decent trading partner.

    Britannia rules the waves. Stay out of British sea-lanes. Counter old world naval power by going after their ports from inland attacks. Never, ever embark ground Units against them. Their ships are just too fast. Don't go toe-to-toe with their vessels.

    In the modern age, out-plane the English. Bomb their proud ships into dust.

    Beware the range and power of the Longbowman. Attack these Units with a 3-1 numerical advantage and be prepared for high losses. If your Cities are besieged by Longbowmen, relieve them immediately or they will fall.

    France

    Napoleon likes conquest...no surprise there. The French Military tends to be modern, well-equipped, experienced and aggressive in every Era.

    When Napoleon is a neighbor and you find yourself in the Renaissance era, push your technology toward Riflemen immediately. You'll need them to counter French Musketeers, which will flat outfight your Musketmen.

    Later in the game, treat Foreign Legion troops with respect. They're murderous outside of French territory.

    Negotiate with Napoleon, but understand that he views you as a potential vassal.

    Germany

    Bismark is a conqueror. He's a really dangerous foe that swallows up other Civilizations. Bismark cannot be reasoned with in the long run, and you should cripple him at the first opportunity. Try to make him irrelevant by mid-game.

    If he survives to the Modern Era you may find yourself facing the Panzer, a nightmare Unit. Deflect the Panzers with AT Guns protected by layered Infantry, and develop Bombers to deal with the threat. Don't try to match them Tank-for-Tank. They're tough.

    Greece

    The Greeks like to get buddy-buddy with City-States. Don't even try subverting their Allies - you simply can't keep up with the huge Influence benefit Alexander holds. A hearty application of the mailed fist against their satellite City-States is recommended.

    Alexander has no hesitation about riding straight through City-State territory, so watch your flanks. He's pretty aggressive.

    Greek Hopilites are tough little suckers. Never attack them with cavalry. Build your own shield wall on high ground and let lose your archers, or use massed Swordsmen. Greek Companion Cavalry are the best horsemen in the early game and can be a real pain. Again, protected Archers are the best solution.

    India

    India is composed of big, often peaceful Cities. Ghandi can usually provide a few decent trading goods. He tends not to be too conquest-minded, and can sometimes be reasoned with.

    Indian War Elephants are not all that dangerous. Treat them as tougher Archers. The Indian Cities tend to build fortifications, so besiege them with large, well-prepared forces when forced to fight.

    Iroquois

    The ability of Iroquois Units to move effortlessly through rough Terrain can not be underestimated. Forests and Jungles act like roads for all Iroquois. This means that they are moving three times as fast or more than your Units on the same Terrain. Iroquois Units can appear from outside your scope of vision and attack your Units before you ever get a chance to respond.

    Couple this with the fact that Civilization 5 seems to start the Iroquois in wooded areas and you have a real problem. Newly built Units come screaming to the front, and wounded ones often retreat too quickly to be finished off.

    Also beware Mohawk Warriors. Bombard them or fight them in the open. In Forest, these guys gain combat bonuses.

    To beat the Iroquois, fight on your own turf whenever you can and stick to the clear. Stay away from the edges of wooded land, and take more trouble than normal protecting your artillery from infantry attack.

    Attack their Cities with 50% more soldiers than you normally would to counter their ability to move troops quickly.

    Japan

    Throw away the book on Civilization tactics when you fight Japan. Unlike every other civilization, their Units retain full Combat Strength when wounded. Japanese Units must be wiped out the turn they are first engaged, or else they will reciprocate with crippling (often fatal) suicide counter-charges.

    Focusing multiple attacks on a single healthy Japanese Unit is essential. Don't engage the Japanese without either a numerical or terrain advantage at the point of contact. Playing fair, their Units will beat yours.

    Nobunaga tends to be polite, obey the forms and act in a trustworthy manner. He can be warlike but usually telegraphs a changing mood against you. He can be traded with.

    Ottoman Empire

    The Turks are a resourceful, happy bunch. They tend to get embroiled in conflicts alongside Allies, so try to get them on your side as often as possible.

    The Ottoman Empire fields the Sipahi, probably the best horse Unit in Civilization 5. They are lightning fast and can tear your flanks to shreds if the catch you enfilade. The Ottoman Janissary is tougher than a Musketman and heals much like a Jaguar.

    To beat the Turks, try joining them. They really seem to have a thing for partnering up. Failing in that, they have a lot of trouble with massed, protected artillery in tight formations that negates their Units' mobility.

    Persia

    Persia gets beat up a lot. Their powerful Immortals are poorly used by the AI, and the empire tends to be weakened by the time their wonderful Satrip's Court comes into play.

    Darius is kind of a jerk. He can be traded with but tends to get greedy.

    Persia often launches wars in concert with other powers, so be wary of changing attitudes. If you sense the wind shifting, attack them first.

    Rome

    The Romans are politely imperialistic. They will out-build you if allowed to do so, and their early game Units have a lot of offensive punch.

    Counter their aggressiveness with your own. If Rome is a neighbor, keep a strong, modern military.

    Rome's quick Building powers give them a strong advantage in long games. It is best to cripple or defeat Rome early, as the more Buildings they generate, the more their margin of advantage grows.

    If forced into a Late-Game conflict with Rome, try to build an alliance against them. Failing in that, methodically reduce intervening Cities and make your way to Rome proper. The loss of the Capital usually takes the fight out of them. Don't rush toward late-game Rome. It's too well defended for quick victory.

    Russia

    Catherine is land-hungry. She's usually peaceful enough until there's no more free real-estate nearby. Then she'll come after yours.

    As long as Catherine has other matters to attend to, she can be traded with. She often has more Strategic Resources than she can use.

    Cossacks feast on wounded Units. Rotate injured troops away from them or counter their advantage with flanking and terrain bonuses.

    Siam

    The Siamese are a diplomatic lot. They cultivate friendship with City-States and often make good trading partners.

    Do not field cavalry against Naresuan Elephants, not even Knights. Engage them with infantry and artillery only. They can be beaten with relative ease when treated with respect.

    Songhai

    Askia talks a friendly talk, but like George Washington he's a wishy-washy backstabber with a mind for conquest.

    Songhai embarked Units can shoot back. Never, ever forget this! Unlike all other Civilizations, Askia's transports are not defenseless against attackers. While they are still no match for dedicated battle wagons, they can give weaker assailants trouble.

    Do not allow Songhai horsemen near your Cities. Mandekalu Cavalry have enough punch to reduce even a strong City quickly. When in an early to mid-game military conflict with Askia, keep Pikemen between his forces and your territory, and even then be wary and cautious. Mandekalu are ridiculously tough.

    GO TO BUILDING YOUR CITY
    GO TO EXPLORATION
    GO TO DIPLOMACY

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