Darius, The Best Leader.

[CivIVMonger]

King Darius is probobly the best as he has probobly the best traits in the game, and it's a good combo. A very Solid UU as it get's a bonus vs. archers. And a good UB, and to top it off good starting techs!

 

[ahmedhadzi]

De gustibus non est disputandum.

 

[reverend oats]

The Immortal? A solid UU? My dear sir, it is one of the most effective in the game!

But the title of best leader still goes to Huanya Capac, who has traits nearly as good as Darius', a better UU, and an extremely useful UB.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Julius Caesar has the traits and UU to compete with either of them.

 

[ahmedhadzi]

Asoka and Gandhi, Zara...

 

[ParadigmShifter]

And Hatty and Liz...

 

[kochman]

I find myself using Wilhem, Louis XIV, Roosevelt and Augustus Caesar the most... and to great effect.

Any leader can be "the best" if you use him/her appropriately.

I like the Dutch a lot because the Dike is an great upgrade, as is the East Indiaman.
The USA's unique items are kind of lame, admittedly.
Forums are great in the place of marketplaces!

New to the forum, hi!

 

[Ai Shizuka]

And Toku and Saladin...

oh wait.

 

[brianb1974]

I agree that Darius is great, but I have to put him at #3 after HC and the Caesars (which I'll combine for this purpose). Conquering 1-4 neighbors by 2000BC or shortly thereafter (as HC does) usually sets you up to win very easily. And praetorians usually dominate the game long enough to conquer a fairly large continent. Darius has a slightly smaller window to dominate--you have to hook up horses and get an army out there before your targets hook up metal and field spearmen.

 

[madscientist]

I say HC is the best. Darius is close, and I agree with MIT about Julius.

Another not mentioned much is Pericles. Creative and Phil he get's very fast libraries and thus extremely fast GS production. The UU has no early counter until HAs. The Odeon is pretty darned useful all the way through radio where it still get's additional bonus's for happiness (I don't remember which modern happiness wonder get's the bonus). Pericles is extremely strong in a spacerace or Culture game.

Mehmed also has alot of discounted buildings (5 of them), cheaper workers, a powerful UU, and decent UB especially lategame where you want extra health and offsetting the happiness losses of fur/ivory/whale.

Toss in Asoka, Elizabeth and Mansa into the discussion.

EDIT: Yeah, Willem and the Americans too. All three Americans are pretty damned strong based on starting techs and traits, plus the UB is better than most credit it here.

 

[Valivator]

Welcome, and i think best leader depends on the map....rome isn't nearly as good as carthrage or the porteguse or the dutch on an archipelago map. However on a pangea, the romans destroy. thats why no leader is the hands down "best."

 

[§L¥ Gµ¥]

no love for kublai?

The traits may not make him much to look at but the synergy of his UU and UB make him extremely dangerous for a beeline to HBR

 

[kossin]

Every leader has the potential to be the strongest depending on the map...

Granted some have a tendency to fulfill that statement more than others though!

 

[madscientist]

no love for kublai?

The traits may not make him much to look at but the synergy of his UU and UB make him extremely dangerous for a beeline to HBR

I prefer Ghengis for the Imperialistic trait to produce faster GGs.

 

[DigitalBoy]

Another not mentioned much is Pericles. Creative and Phil he get's very fast libraries and thus extremely fast GS production. The UU has no early counter until HAs. The Odeon is pretty darned useful all the way through radio where it still get's additional bonus's for happiness (I don't remember which modern happiness wonder get's the bonus). Pericles is extremely strong in a spacerace or Culture game.

He also gets a production bonus for odeons. So in summation, Pericles gets production bonuses for libraries, odeons, and theatres, which all provide culture and specialist slots. And fast universities later down the road. His trait/uniques synergy is second to none.

EDIT: I notice Hannibal hasn't been mentioned yet. No love for Cha/Fin with a strong UB and okayish UU?

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

Kneel before Chucklemagne!

 

[CivIVMonger]

Rome it's hard to wage war in the dark ages 1/500 AD due to walls and longbowman, which puts Rome farther down in my book. Darius is still the best in my book. Why would H. capac beat darius other than the q. warrior?

 

[Van Hohenheim]

Whatever traits you have it won't help against Praetorians.

Boudica of Rome, that is fun to play on Multiplayer

 

[Maronae3]

I have to agree with Mad on demonstrating the usefulness of Pericles... With just a little food surplus in the capital its incredibly easy to have 2-3 GS in the BC's. By timing your GPProduction with the running of scientists in other cities (quick libraries arguably making the best synergy possible with Philosophical) you can bulb up to Lib easily in the 500's.

As for Darius, his warmongering potential is so amazing that even without using his UU you can capture city after city (In one game I had 2 civilizations destroyed in 5 BC... Standard size with 7 civs) and keep the economy rolling amazingly. Putting out insane BPT in the mid-end game and still rolling over your enemies is something quite incredible. UB obviously good as well if you even make it to Assembly Line.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Kneel before Chucklemagne!

He has it his way on the battlefield. Or something.