How to win game on immortal difficulty (speculation)

Levgre

King
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Jul 24, 2006
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So after trying Deity and seeing how rapidly the AI grows, I thought I'd set on winning on Immortal difficulty, on continents mainly since that is sort of the 'default' map,, or on pangaea. If anyone else has their own strategies or tricks on how to win at immortal, please add!



Here's the facts:

AI researches MUCH faster than you, and produces much faster I believe. You try to play fair, and you'll lose.
AI WILL attack you most likely, if not multiple civs at once (in a recent game Rome and England simultaneously warred me on turn 50 or so).

Ways to take advantage of AI/game:

AI still sucks at war, Early assault to take out an AI neighbor or two may be the best strategy, if not the only viable strategy.
techs, population, etc. from huts can give huge bonuses.
City-states are still friendly and still give huge bonuses. They are very much your friends on Immortal difficulty.
a great land start can make a big difference... settling on a hill for 2 hammers is nearly a must, and a 3 food tile to start would be good. Precious metals are nice, so less useful calendar or masonry aren't needed for happiness.

So who would be the best leader? Germany could be, to conscript a quick barbarian army and conquer a nearby competitor. Siam or Greece both let you use city-states more effectively, and also have early UUs. I personally prefer Greece. Montezuma could possible get you fast culture down the honor path, giving you great generals and other benefits for a strong early war effort.

Right now I am trying to win with Greece or Germany.

Also, unit upgrading seems to cheap to almost a broken level, so upgrading a key advanced unit (perhaps after a great scientist bulb) could lead to a military win. I'm looking for other routes to win though, not just a combo that might be nerfed :p
 
I won my first immortal game using chu-ko-nus upgraded to rifles, upgraded to infantry, upgraded to mech inf. (This was the screen on the victory turn. Note that this was before the patch that removed ROP abuse).

 
I've noticed that upgraded Spearmen keep their bonus against mounted, and Scouts->Archers keep the movement bonus. Do upgraded CKNs keep the double attack? If so, that'd be extremely powerful, building CKNs and upgrading them through the tree.
 
I've noticed that upgraded Spearmen keep their bonus against mounted, and Scouts->Archers keep the movement bonus. Do upgraded CKNs keep the double attack? If so, that'd be extremely powerful, building CKNs and upgrading them through the tree.

Yes (That's what the leftmost triangle promotion is).
 
Selling Resources at the start of the game really helps. I think its key on higher difficulties. I got rushed by montezuma on immortal at around 2700 bc and he brought 7 units.. too bad he was outnumbered. 1 resource easily nets you enough for 1 good unit or two wariors at the start of the game.

Best opening seems to be steal a worker from a city state while building one if you have luxuries nearby, buy the tile if needed, improve, sell rush, win.
 
Build horsemen and warriors, use 3-4 horses to crush the closest AI before they crowd you too badly. Upgrade warriors to swords in friendly territory when you can; ie, take AI city 1 with horses, acquire iron from somewhere, upgrade warriors to city taking swords since you are now in friendly territory and march on city 2. Its pretty straightforward from then on if you avoid a dogpile. In every war, hit someone else up to be a partner.

Also, build trading posts!
 
If you're struggling on immortal you are still doing something very wrong.

Grab an early UU and stomp over the AI.
 
I won my first immortal game using chu-ko-nus upgraded to rifles, upgraded to infantry, upgraded to mech inf. (This was the screen on the victory turn. Note that this was before the patch that removed ROP abuse).

Stupid question: What is "ROP" abuse?
 
Stupid question: What is "ROP" abuse?

It's a throwback to Civ3, where you could sign open borders (known as "Rite of Passage" or RoP then), march up to the other civ's capital, declare war, and take it that same turn easily. Civ4 got rid of it by kicking you out of the enemy's territory if you declared war, and Civ5 has done the same with the first patch.
 
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