Best War Civ?
- Thread starter ttfno
- Start date
Ermm no Eygtians or Persians? Yet their early UU are the easiest to do an early rush with? Missing Korean and China too. Both have very strong UU. Indians with their UU make a great war nation early on for chopping out an army quickly. Char leaders too or creative can be great for war too. Border pops in 5 turns really speeds up a war. Sumerians UU makes them interesting early on.
Not sure why you have included Americans, Greeks, Aztec Portugal and Dutch on here. Thier UU are not great Greeks starting techs are horrible.
Overall the list is missing a lot of good early rush leaders.
Not sure why you have included Americans, Greeks, Aztec Portugal and Dutch on here. Thier UU are not great Greeks starting techs are horrible.
Overall the list is missing a lot of good early rush leaders.
Sorry I will change it right away. I was kinda rushing. Americans:Late game.
Aztecs:Aztecs duh. Greeks:They are Greeks? Portugal/Netherlands:Idk
I don't like the Zulu so yeah.a
Lennier
Emperor
And it's "Chii'-na," not "Chinaaaaa." 
There are plenty of these polls already on the forum. It's just you don't see them as they are not linked in the history pages.
Of course the poll also depends what level you play at. The Incans UU on early levels is pretty strong. Where the American U actually requires you play the game out to the bitter end. I know if I am playing conquest Cuirs or cavalry are often my final builds.
Of course the poll also depends what level you play at. The Incans UU on early levels is pretty strong. Where the American U actually requires you play the game out to the bitter end. I know if I am playing conquest Cuirs or cavalry are often my final builds.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
I thought the Quechua was only good at higher levels where the bonus against Archers actually comes into play?
Navy SEALs make late-game warfare so much more fun. Just take away an enemy's entire coast in a few turns then disembark and march in to finish the rest.
Navy SEALs make late-game warfare so much more fun. Just take away an enemy's entire coast in a few turns then disembark and march in to finish the rest.
Fippy
Mycro Junkie
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Depends how you define higher levels, AIs start with archers on Monarch+ and it's still considered low level.
But even on Prince or so, they may not start with archers but they can tech them..with Qs you could then continue your conquest with only them.
But even on Prince or so, they may not start with archers but they can tech them..with Qs you could then continue your conquest with only them.
Yep with a plains hill start and a FPH you could build a Quechua in 5 turns. In 15 turns you could have 5-6 of them. That would easily take out any AI on any map. Maybe Deity might put up a fight. Human vs humna games strategy would fail as the player would spam warriors. However like most games the Ai is simply not that clever to change strategy. It follows instructions to the letter.
One of the downfalls of the whole Civ series. Least on Civ 4 come immortal and Deity you actually need some decent game play to win the game. Plus some lucky on deity pending on map.
One of the downfalls of the whole Civ series. Least on Civ 4 come immortal and Deity you actually need some decent game play to win the game. Plus some lucky on deity pending on map.
CaiusDrewart
King
Inca/Egypt/Persia/Rome are a cut above everyone else in terms of early rushes. Sumeria and Mongolia are decent too but not as special.
For warring later in the game, the best thing to have is strong economic traits that let you have more and better units faster: Financial, Philosophical, Industrious, etc. UUs aren't so meaningful at this point--though I do like the Spanish Conquistador.
For warring later in the game, the best thing to have is strong economic traits that let you have more and better units faster: Financial, Philosophical, Industrious, etc. UUs aren't so meaningful at this point--though I do like the Spanish Conquistador.
I voted for Egypt because they have a very strong early UU that is easy to take advantage of! Then, for later warring, just as caius points out, egypt's traits combine strong economy to stay ahead of the game, with spiritual which is also strong for warring because it allows for total versatility and reactivity. Added to that, their starting techs are top notch!
But other than that, I think that any expansive civ is actually pretty strong at warring! Cheap granaries and workers make for better food and earlier chopping -> more fast units...
I don't care much for the "obvious" (but ultimately ineffective) Aggressive trait except for the cheap barracks. Charismatic is just so much easier to take advantage of in wars, be it only for the happyness bonus which allows for a "free" whip.
But other than that, I think that any expansive civ is actually pretty strong at warring! Cheap granaries and workers make for better food and earlier chopping -> more fast units...
I don't care much for the "obvious" (but ultimately ineffective) Aggressive trait except for the cheap barracks. Charismatic is just so much easier to take advantage of in wars, be it only for the happyness bonus which allows for a "free" whip.
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DieselCat18
Chieftain
And it's "Chii'-na," not "Chinaaaaa."
....Hits the nail on the head like a laser guided Tomahawk missile. 
Did very well recently with Japan for a domination victory. Mongols and China also seem good choices.
MegaLurker
King
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I'd nominate Hannibal. Charismatic is a really underrated trait, although less now than it used to be. Financial normally might not help him in this category but it has great synergy for economic recovery after a Numidian rush. Speaking of Numidians...super underrated, probably because they're only good on the highest difficulties and best on Deity.
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I already gave my answer to the poll thread "Best Civ". To me, "Best War Civ" is the same thing, since an early rush is the typical way to catch up to the AIs on Deity level. So, I will just link my response to that other thread here:
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/best-civ-that-is-your-favorite.607907/#post-14613430
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/best-civ-that-is-your-favorite.607907/#post-14613430
ArchGhost
Prince
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Best war trait is Charismatic by a mile. Expansive and Aggressive are also helpful for early attacks, with an economic tech being a better pairing for later warring. Financial helps pay for expenses through more commerce for income. Organized cheapens the cost of those cities you take and you can further reduce it by whipping angry faces away into a courthouse as soon as any 4+ pop city comes online. SPI civs deserve a special mention because they can flip into war civics at a moment's notice or toggle between a couple civics constantly to benefit from both as needed.
-When rushes came to mind, the first one I thought of was Qin Shi Huang. Cho-ko-nu rush is crazy and he's backed up by the IND trait.
-UU + traits says Cyrus. Immortal is good for rushes while CHA+IMP means super promoted units in the long run with all those GGs and cheaper XP costs.
-UB+ traits Shaka is awesome and my favorite for early rushing Axes or Swords. Slap down a granary and Ikhanda while securing your metal and looking around with your scout. Impi make awesome choke units and serve well cutting off resources because of Mobility. Shaka is crutched by having to make his early game advantage work for him though, by capturing cities/getting land or eliminating close opponents.
-Boudica has the best trait combo for early war but crappy UU, UB and techs slow her down a lot for anything early, which wastes her AGG trait. Melee units also disappear after Maces, meaning she doesn't even get a good window to use it at all really. Brennus is not really any better, with the same problems, but SPI is better than AGG for anything past the early game.
-Washington is surprisingly good for early attacks because of his trait combo of EXP/CHA. EXP speeds up rushes by cranking that granary for whips and workers for chops faster, and CHA helps you whip more leniently. The other two, not so much, even though Lincoln is CHA, there is no UU or UB help and PHI isn't exactly a war tech unless you do some tricky stuff with Great Merchants+upgrading after CoL.
-Tokugawa is utterly gimped getting to the gunpowder stage of the game, but if he gets there his Rifles are insane, almost like a UU themselves and way better than the Samurai. He also can handle warfare earlier pretty well, with AGG for offense and PRO for when you have to fall back and weather an assault.
-Churchill is similar to Toku, but with a good UU to go along with the traits that pump it up. He lacks the early game punch of AGG, but makes up for it later.
-Gandhi can pull off macro-oriented upgrade-based rush attacks at the drop of a hat. Get CoL (Oracle might be a nice way), run merchants, build a bunch of warriors while collected some Great Merchant. When you're ready to attack, cash in and upgrade, flip your civics to war focus for your reinforcements and power through the enemy with a wave of suddenly upgraded axes/maces. Any PHI can potentially do this but Gandhi never need worry about anarchy when swapping in and out of war mode at any time. I actually think Lincoln might be better at this in terms of unit promoting, but Gandhi's UU, UB (which helps in later war) and no anarchy ever put him ahead
-Obligatory Romans response. AC better for later, JC for earlier. Praetorians are nothing to sneeze at if beelined.
-I have used Glgamesh well in early wars. The Vulture UU trashes Archers with CR upgrades, can deal with horses, swords and catapults, even other axes well, and his Ziggurat helps with the expenses of conquering cities.
-Spanish can be crazy in the mid game all the way to modern. Powerful Cuir UU that gets defensive bonuses and eats pikemen, when Cuirs are already great, UB makes for some monster Trebs and Cannons if you want to go the slow and steady route. Suffers in the early game though, and she has no economic help.
-Hannibal has an okay UU rush and great overall trait combo for being good at both econ and war. Even without a successful Numidian rush, his FIN economy and CHA units make him a good general warfarer.
-When rushes came to mind, the first one I thought of was Qin Shi Huang. Cho-ko-nu rush is crazy and he's backed up by the IND trait.
-UU + traits says Cyrus. Immortal is good for rushes while CHA+IMP means super promoted units in the long run with all those GGs and cheaper XP costs.
-UB+ traits Shaka is awesome and my favorite for early rushing Axes or Swords. Slap down a granary and Ikhanda while securing your metal and looking around with your scout. Impi make awesome choke units and serve well cutting off resources because of Mobility. Shaka is crutched by having to make his early game advantage work for him though, by capturing cities/getting land or eliminating close opponents.
-Boudica has the best trait combo for early war but crappy UU, UB and techs slow her down a lot for anything early, which wastes her AGG trait. Melee units also disappear after Maces, meaning she doesn't even get a good window to use it at all really. Brennus is not really any better, with the same problems, but SPI is better than AGG for anything past the early game.
-Washington is surprisingly good for early attacks because of his trait combo of EXP/CHA. EXP speeds up rushes by cranking that granary for whips and workers for chops faster, and CHA helps you whip more leniently. The other two, not so much, even though Lincoln is CHA, there is no UU or UB help and PHI isn't exactly a war tech unless you do some tricky stuff with Great Merchants+upgrading after CoL.
-Tokugawa is utterly gimped getting to the gunpowder stage of the game, but if he gets there his Rifles are insane, almost like a UU themselves and way better than the Samurai. He also can handle warfare earlier pretty well, with AGG for offense and PRO for when you have to fall back and weather an assault.
-Churchill is similar to Toku, but with a good UU to go along with the traits that pump it up. He lacks the early game punch of AGG, but makes up for it later.
-Gandhi can pull off macro-oriented upgrade-based rush attacks at the drop of a hat. Get CoL (Oracle might be a nice way), run merchants, build a bunch of warriors while collected some Great Merchant. When you're ready to attack, cash in and upgrade, flip your civics to war focus for your reinforcements and power through the enemy with a wave of suddenly upgraded axes/maces. Any PHI can potentially do this but Gandhi never need worry about anarchy when swapping in and out of war mode at any time. I actually think Lincoln might be better at this in terms of unit promoting, but Gandhi's UU, UB (which helps in later war) and no anarchy ever put him ahead
-Obligatory Romans response. AC better for later, JC for earlier. Praetorians are nothing to sneeze at if beelined.
-I have used Glgamesh well in early wars. The Vulture UU trashes Archers with CR upgrades, can deal with horses, swords and catapults, even other axes well, and his Ziggurat helps with the expenses of conquering cities.
-Spanish can be crazy in the mid game all the way to modern. Powerful Cuir UU that gets defensive bonuses and eats pikemen, when Cuirs are already great, UB makes for some monster Trebs and Cannons if you want to go the slow and steady route. Suffers in the early game though, and she has no economic help.
-Hannibal has an okay UU rush and great overall trait combo for being good at both econ and war. Even without a successful Numidian rush, his FIN economy and CHA units make him a good general warfarer.
Quoth the Raven
Warlord
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Churchill. Drill 4 Redcoats and collateral damage 3 Cannons can take on anything.
Cyrus is better than Churchill though once you get enough faster Great Generals to make up for Churchill's 2 free promotions.
Cyrus is better than Churchill though once you get enough faster Great Generals to make up for Churchill's 2 free promotions.
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Well yes. I suppose most units with Drill IV and siege units with Collateral III would kill of any army!
Quoth the Raven
Warlord
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Even without the Redcoat, Churchill's traits make it so an English unit can get Drill 4 with just 8 experience.
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