[GS] Rate the civs in the hands of the AI - elimination thread

[Loderingo]

This thread is moderator approved.

I thought it would be worth doing a slightly different elimination thread. We have had a lot of discussions about ranking the civs in the hands of the player but I thought it would be good to rank them in the hands of the AI. Which AI civs do you know are going to be trouble and which are frankly a bit of a pushover. I have set the starting scores at 15 as some of the previous threads have dragged on a little but have kept the other rules the same as Bangau’s science victory elimination

Previous Gathering Storm Elimination Threads
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/music-theme-elimination-thread.651945/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/diplomatic-victory-elimination-thread.650579/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/civ-unique-ability-elimination-thread.648643/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/gathering-storm-leader-ability-elimination-thread.649233/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/unique-unit-elimination-thread.647892/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/science-victory-gs-elimination-thread.654506/

Before GS Elimination Threads
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/civilization-ability-elimination-thread.639612/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/leader-ability-elimination-thread.637762/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/unique-unit-elimination-thread.631713/
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/unique-infrastructure-elimination-thread.638688/

Rules:
- Roughly every 24 hours you may vote. You add one point to one feature and take away three points from another.
- Posts with missing upvote or downvote are skipped. Only voting posts are allowed in this thread.
- You must write a reason for each upvote and downvote. We are rating civs mainly regarding power but flavour is also taken into account.
- Voting many times for the same thing is allowed, though it is really recommended to spread your votes among many civs if possible because at some point it starts being annoying and unfair.
- Delete the previous voters comments, and indicate your comments in some way (bold, italicize, color, something that will draw attention)
- We only vote basing on CURRENT power of unique features based on MOST RECENT PATCH for Gathering Storm.

You are free to rationalize your selections however you wish. You are encouraged to include any aspect of the civilization/leader including unique infrastructure, units, or abilities.

Starting scores
1. Alexander/Macedon [15]
2. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
3. Catherine/France [15]
4. Chandragupta/India [15]
5. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
6. Cyrus/Persia [15]
7. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
8. Eleanor/France [15]
9. Eleanor/England [15]
10. Frederick/Germany [15]
11. Gandhi/India [15]
12. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
13. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
17. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
18. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
19. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
20. John Curtain/Australia [15]
21. Kristina/Sweden [15]
22. Kupe/Maori [15]
23. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
24. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
25. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
26. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
27. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [15]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Seondeok/Korea [15]
38. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
39. Shaka/Zulu [15]
40. Tamar/Georgia [15]
41. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
42. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
43. Trajan/Rome [15]
44. Victoria/England [15]
45. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
46. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [15]

Final rankings

Tier 1 - Tough Opponents

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo - No religion means that the AI doesn’t waste it time building holy sites. Consistently builds a strong empire.
2. John Curtain/Australia (Post 369) - His appeal bonuses mean he does well at science and production, while he is also difficult to conquer
3. Seondeok/Korea (post 360) - Her Seowons make her a science powerhouse
4. Amanitore/Nubia (post 346) - Another early threat due to her archers. Builds a strong empire due to district and production bonuses
5. Poundmaker/Cree (post 345) - His mekawaps help him build a solid empire
6. Teddy Roosevelt/America (post 323) - Another early threat due to his +5 continent bonus

Tier 2 - Consistent threats

7. Genghis Khan/Mongolia (post 301) - The strongest cavalry power and can build a strong empire through conquest
8. Trajan/Rome (post 288) - A real threat early on due to his legions and his tendency to be unfriendly due to his agenda
9. Frederick/Germany (post 277) - Builds a strong Empire and his bonus helps him gobble up city states
10. Pericles/Greece (post 273) - Probably the strongest culture civ in the game
11. Saladin/Arabia (post 269) - Guaranteed to get a religion and his religion helps to do well in science
12. Montezuma/Aztec (post 268) - A real threat in the early game due to his Eagle warriors

Tier 3 - Above average

13. Lautaro/Mapuche (post 234) - Like Georgia he is unlikely to get rolled over due to his ability. Doesn't tend to challenge for victory though
14. Cyrus/Persia (post 232) - Can sometimes do quite well with surprise wars and Pairidaizas but unlikely to challenge for either victory
15. Suleiman/Ottomans (post 221) - Capable of conquering cities and winning wars but unlikely to challenge for victory
16. Tamar/Georgia (post 219) - Her UB and ability mean she is a real turtle civ and is unlikely to lose cities but also unlikely to win the game
17. Chandragupta/India (post 218) - Capable of conquering a neighbour with his Varu but unlikely to push for victory
18. Gorgo/Greece (post 215) - Can be a real culture powerhouse. Struggles to win wars though
19. Gandhi/India (post 211) - One of the few AIs capable of pulling off an RV. Vulnerable to conquest though due to not building troops
20. Pedro/Brazil (post 206) - Often builds a good solid empire with lots of GPs but vulnerable mid game due to not building enough troops
21. Pachacuti/Inca (post 204) - Can do well due to his mountain start bias but the AI doesn't often make the most of his bonuses

Tier 4 - Below average

22. Cleopatra/Egypt (post 183) - Can be a problem early on with her chariot archers but doesn't develop a strong empire.
23. Hojo Tokimune/Japan (post 180) - Reasonably competent but not able to leverage adjacency bonuses to the same degree as a human player
24. Wilhelmina/Netherlands (post 177) - River bonuses can help her create a solid empire but never builds her UU
25. Peter/Russia (post 167) - Often gets lots of great people but doesn't build enough theatre squares or develop his cities enough
26. Gilgamesh/Sumeria (post 166) - Often builds a solid Empire but tends to go for RV rather than focusing on science or domination as he should
27. Robert the Bruce/Scotland (post 161) - Often hogs the early great people but struggles to build up a large empire
28. Qin Shi Huang/China (post 155) - Can do well culturally but vulnerable to conquest as doesn't build enough troops
29. Shaka/Zulu (post 153) - Can sometimes do well but often isn't as frightening as he should be. Builds too many Ikandas.
30. Dido/Phoenicia (post 147) - Struggles to take advantage of her continents bonus and builds too many ships

Tier 5 - Pushovers

31. Gitarja/Indonesia (post 130) - Struggles on maps without many islands and often settles inland negating her advantages
32. Eleanor/France (post 126) - Does slightly better with Court of Love than English Eleanor but never comes close to culture or domination victory
33. Jadwiga/Poland (post 119) - Tries to be good at everything and ends up falling behind.
34. Catherine/France (post 113) - Doesn't make the most of her espionage abilities and doesn't challenge for cultural victory.
35. Eleanor/England (post 107) - Struggles to use her ability and as England has nothing to help her acquire great works.
36. Tomyris/Scythia (post 104) - Builds too many Kurgans and overvalues religion over conquest.
37. Kristina/Sweden (post 103) - Overvalues diplo favour and doesn't know how to get the most out of her Nobel prizes.
38. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary (post 93) - his game is all about levying city states but the AI never does
39. Alexander/Macedon (post 92) - Should be a fearsome opponent but never does that well. It may be that he wars too much and doesn't build new cities.
40. Jayavarman/Khmer (post 90) - The AI struggles to take advantage of his strengths and doesn't build aquaducts
41. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada (post 82) - Likely to start in bad terrain. The AI overvalues diplo favour.
42. Philip/Spain (post 79) - Doesn't use religious units with conquistadors. Often too aggressive
43. Victoria/England (post 71) - Spreads her cities about as per her agenda but tends to succumb to loyalty issues.

Tier 6 - Complete pushovers

44. Harald Hardrada/Norway (post 43) - Builds too many ships and not enough land units
45. Mansa Musa/Mali (post 37) - Highly vulnerable to the player and other AI early on and then struggles to catch up
46. Kupe/Maori (post 7) - In the hands of the player starting in the ocean is a novel gimmick, in the hands of the AI it is a disaster

 

[Loderingo]

1. Alexander/Macedon [15]
2. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
3. Catherine/France [15]
4. Chandragupta/India [15]
5. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
6. Cyrus/Persia [15]
7. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
8. Eleanor/France [15]
9. Eleanor/England [15]
10. Frederick/Germany [15]
11. Gandhi/India [15]
12. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
13. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
17. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
18. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
19. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
20. John Curtain/Australia [15]
21. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
22. Kupe/Maori [12] - 15-3 - The Maori are a strong civ in the hands of the player but AI Maori tends to struggle badly. The starting at sea ability often means AI Maori gets boxed in or has a far flung empire on 1 tile islands. This leaves it vulnerable to other civs, loyalty and global warming.
23. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
24. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
25. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
26. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
27. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [15]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Seondeok/Korea [16] - 15+1 - Korea is often said to be a good civ for beginners, which also makes it a good civ for the AI. It can't go too far wrong with the Seowons and Korea's hill start means it often gets defensible terrain and is less likely to be rolled over.
38. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
39. Shaka/Zulu [15]
40. Tamar/Georgia [15]
41. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
42. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
43. Trajan/Rome [15]
44. Victoria/England [15]
45. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
46. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [15]

 

[Noble Zarkon]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [16] +1 Being forced to ignore religion works in Kongo's favour.
1. Seondeok/Korea [16]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [15]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [15]
46. Kupe/Maori [9] -3, the AI doesn't really understand how to choose the best place to settle

 

[Nassim]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [16]
1. Seondeok/Korea [16]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16] 15+1: If I play for culture they are an annoying opponent, if I play for religion too, if I play dom or science I have to watch out they are not winning RV in the mean time... their bonus is good enough for it to work with AI, no matter what !
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12] 15-3 : well, I haven't seen a lot of civs eliminated by other civs, but almost every time it has been Netherlands
46. Kupe/Maori [9]

 

[Dotsworthy]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [16]
1. Seondeok/Korea [16]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16] 15 + 1: his focus on production helps him keep up.
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]
46. Kupe/Maori [6] 9-3: I'll take settling your capital on a one tile snow island for 500 Alex.

 

[Chefofrats]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [17] (16+1) - probably due to not getting sidetracked by religion, Kongo does consistently well in the AI's hands. It might also have something to do with jungle tiles providing decent food and production when unimproved - the AIs rarely seen to build tile improvements, and a 2f/2p jungle hill beats any other unimproved, generic tile.
2. Seondeok/Korea [16]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]
46. Kupe/Maori [3] (6-3) - "I'll settle my capital on this 1 tile tundra island, and my other cities where they will instantly succumb to disloyalty".

The numbers on the list are wrong and some civs seem to be missing. I only just noticed this, having copied from the previous post.

 

[Mahi]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [17]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17] (16+1) she's just a really good challenge for SV and is often the most dominant AI in its region. I guess there are AIs that are a bigger military threats but an AI you don't have a science advantage on can be a pain in the ass to deal with.
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [15]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]
46. Kupe/Maori [0] (3-3) - yeah let's just kill Maori off for the obvious reasons already mentioned.

 

[Kmart_Elvis]

I want to say that starting at 15 is a great idea. I think future elimination threads should start there, not just this one.

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18] (17+1) Absolutely Godlike, ironically because of no religion. The AI loves to go overboard with holy sites and apostles and once you take them out of the equation, all that focus has to go somewhere else - like culture, science, etc.
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12] (15-3) Not that powerful of a civ to begin with, but proper use requires a human to leverage their strengths. They won't necessarily take River Goddess or Reliquaries with them. The AI also fails to plan farms around aqueducts. The result is a very plain civ that doesn't use it bonuses.
22. John Curtain/Australia [15]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[OmegaDestroyer]

This is a fun contest because it's ultimately picking who is the least pathetic of the lot.

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [15+1=16] Curtain is a survivor and always seems to be one of the AIs to avoid getting wiped off the map.
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [15-3=12] You'd think with the bonus against golden age civs, Lautaro would be an absolute nightmare in the hands of the AI. Nope. In my latest emperor game, he could have easily wrecked my house if he chose to attack, but no, he just sat there, focusing on whatever until my golden age was over, and then I crushed him.
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Arianrhod]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [15]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria[15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [16]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [15-3=12] I've never once seen AI Scotland actually survive. The AI seems all but completely incapable of using any of their bonuses, and never lives long enough to exploit their strengths.
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [15+1=16] Honorable mention to Tamar, who will not win but tries painfully hard not to lose. One of the most annoying civs to take out if they can get going for pretty much any victory other than Scientific because they rarely suffer from loyalty and staunchly refuse to die.
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [15]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[kryat]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [12] (15-3) He has ok bonuses for warmongers, but he isn’t as aggressive as you’d think. I am not afraid to spawn next to him because someone else is likely to declare war first, which Thanks to his agenda of liking people who are involved in war, means one of history’s most famous conquerors isn’t conquering.
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [16]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [16]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16] (15+1) Terrifyingly aggressive, has a sizeable combat bonus on his neighbors. I rarely see him struggle.
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Mr. Shadows]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [12]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [15]+1=16 Starting next to Nubia scares me because those Pitati Archers can and will put your lights if you aren't careful.
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [16]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [15]
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [16]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [15]-3=12 Mansa doesn't build a lot of troops and seems to get roughed up by the other AI. He frequently gets roughed up by me because I want the Commercial Hubs he's been building in all of his cities.
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [16]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
46. Trajan/Rome [15]
45. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Chefofrats]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [17]
3. Alexander/Macedon [12]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [17] (16+1) - the scripted aggression towards city states helps Germany expand faster and wider than in the case of other AI civs. Having more districts per population, and good production, are not half bad either.
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [12] (15-3) - In the hands of the AI, Gilgamesh usually gimps himself by spamming Ziggurats everywhere, sacrificing housing and food production. I often see Uruk sitting at 4 population for thousands of years, and other Sumerian settlements usually do not grow beyond village-size either. And the AI's inability to properly wage war means that War Carts do not give Sumeria as big of an advantage as they do for a human player.
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [16]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [12]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [16]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
42. Trajan/Rome [15]
43. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Kmart_Elvis]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [18] (17+1) Korea runs away with science - every game. If left to their own devices, they will easily be an era or two ahead of the rest. I foresee see this game coming down to Korea and Kongo. Both are juggernauts when wielded by AI.
3. Alexander/Macedon [12]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Catherine/France [15]
6. Chandragupta/India [15]
7. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
8. Cyrus/Persia [15]
9. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
10. Eleanor/France [15]
11. Eleanor/England [15]
12. Frederick/Germany [17]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [15]
15. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [9] (12-3) - I have to agree on this one. Sumeria is always in a sad, backward state. Their biggest advantage is an immediate war cart rush, which the AI spectacularly fails to do every time. All to often by midgame, I'll see Sumeria spreading their religion for some unknown reason while they still have war carts for defense, never upgraded.
16. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
17. Gorgo/Greece [15]
18. Harald Hardrada/Norway [15]
19. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
20. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
21. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
22. John Curtain/Australia [16]
23. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
24. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
25. Mansa Musa/Mali [12]
26. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
27. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
28. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
29. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
30. Pericles/Greece [15]
31. Peter/Russia [16]
32. Philip/Spain [15]
33. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
34. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
35. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
36. Saladin/Arabia [15]
37. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
38. Shaka/Zulu [15]
39. Tamar/Georgia [16]
40. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
41. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
42. Trajan/Rome [15]
43. Victoria/England [15]
44. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
45. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Loderingo]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [18]
3. Frederick/Germany [17]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Tamar/Georgia [16]
6. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [16] - 15+1 - A tough opponent. I think it helps the AI that Genghis is strong in cavalry as it helps the AI move troops around more easily. In addition, Genghis' start bias for horses tends to mean he starts in fertile terrain near the centre of the map.
7. John Curtain/Australia [16]
8. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
9. Peter/Russia [16]
10. Chandragupta/India [15]
11. Eleanor/France [15]
12. Eleanor/England [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
17. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
18. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
19. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
20. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
22. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
21. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
23. Pericles/Greece [15]
24. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
25. Catherine/France [15]
26. Cyrus/Persia [15]
27. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
28. Philip/Spain [15]
29. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
30. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
31. Saladin/Arabia [15]
32. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
33. Shaka/Zulu [15]
34. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
35. Trajan/Rome [15]
36. Victoria/England [15]
37. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
38 Alexander/Macedon [12]
39. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
40. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
41. Mansa Musa/Mali [12]
42. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
43. Harald Hardrada/Norway [12] - 15-3 - AI Norway often struggles for similar reasons to the Maori with strung out cities here and there. In addition Harald's agenda gets him into trouble as he hates civs who don't have a strong navy. This often means he ends up fighting wars against land powers who are going to have an advantage (Harald's agenda should be changed to hate civs who have lots of coastal cities and a weak navy)
44. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]
45. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [9]

 

[Connor_CivFan]

1. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
2. Seondeok/Korea [19] 18 + 1 Very good contender for science in all my games, Korea is definitely a civ that I struggle to deal with.
3. Frederick/Germany [17]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Tamar/Georgia [16]
6. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [16]
7. John Curtain/Australia [16]
8. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
9. Peter/Russia [16]
10. Chandragupta/India [15]
11. Eleanor/France [15]
12. Eleanor/England [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
17. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
18. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
19. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
20. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
22. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
21. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
23. Pericles/Greece [15]
24. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
25. Catherine/France [15]
26. Cyrus/Persia [15]
27. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
28. Philip/Spain [15]
29. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
30. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
31. Saladin/Arabia [15]
32. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
33. Shaka/Zulu [15]
34. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
35. Trajan/Rome [15]
36. Victoria/England [15]
37. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
38 Alexander/Macedon [12]
39. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
40. Lautaro/Mapuche [12]
41. Mansa Musa/Mali [9] 12 - 3 They are never any real competitor in my games. They seem to fail at using their abilities in any 'normal' way. When at war they are even worse and just crumble so quickly.
42. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
43. Harald Hardrada/Norway [12]
45. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [9]

 

[Leucarum]

I would vote that we should stop reordering. I think someone has been bumped off the list but I can't work out who.

Edit: It was Wilhemina. I have readded her. Thanks @Connor_CivFan. Corrected her score, thanks @Sjtevel

On the other hand starting at 15 is an awesome idea! Great choice Loderingo!

1. Seondeok/Korea [19]
2. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
3. Frederick/Germany [17]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Tamar/Georgia [16]
6. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [16]
7. John Curtain/Australia [16]
8. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
9. Peter/Russia [16]
10. Chandragupta/India [15]
11. Eleanor/France [15]
12. Eleanor/England [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
17. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
18. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
19. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
20. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
22. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
21. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
23. Pericles/Greece [15]
24. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
25. Catherine/France [15]
26. Cyrus/Persia [15]
27. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
28. Philip/Spain [15]
29. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
30. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
31. Saladin/Arabia [15]
32. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
33. Shaka/Zulu [15]
34. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
35. Trajan/Rome [15]
36. Victoria/England [15]
37. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [15]
38. Lautaro/Mapuche [13] (12+1) I don't think Lautaro should be voted down yet. He forces you to either manage your era score tightly or face an AI with +10 strength on all units... I've been hit by him a few times on deity games and it definitely makes a difference.
39. Alexander/Macedon [12]
40. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
41. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
42. Harald Hardrada/Norway [9] (12-3) On the other hand Harald's focus on the least useful type of naval unit usually leaves him a pushover.
43. Mansa Musa/Mali [9]
44. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [9]
46. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]

 

[Connor_CivFan]

46. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [15]

We are missing Wilhelmina
Lets stop re-ordering

 

[Sjtevel]

She had 12 iirc

 

[Chefofrats]

1. Seondeok/Korea [19]
2. Mvemba a Nzinga/Kongo [18]
3. Frederick/Germany [17]
4. Amanitore/Nubia [16]
5. Tamar/Georgia [17] (16+1) - I do not really understand why but AI Georgia does consistently well in my games. Could it be the hill start, giving them decent production? Anyway, along with Canada, Georgia is the civ I least enjoy playing as, but unlike Canada, the AI can handle controlling it rather well.
6. Genghis Khan/Mongolia [16]
7. John Curtain/Australia [16]
8. Teddy Roosevelt/America [16]
9. Peter/Russia [16]
10. Chandragupta/India [15]
11. Eleanor/France [15]
12. Eleanor/England [15]
13. Gandhi/India [15]
14. Gitarja/Indonesia [15]
15. Gorgo/Greece [15]
16. Hojo Tokimune/Japan [15]
17. Jadwiga/Poland [15]
18. Kristina/Sweeden [15]
19. Matthias Corvinus/Hungary [15]
20. Montezuma/Aztec [15]
22. Pachacuti/Inca [15]
21. Pedro/Brazil. [15]
23. Pericles/Greece [15]
24. Cleopatra/Egypt [15]
25. Catherine/France [15]
26. Cyrus/Persia [15]
27. Dido/Phoenicia [15]
28. Philip/Spain [15]
29. Poundmaker/Cree [15]
30. Qin Shi Huang/China [15]
31. Saladin/Arabia [15]
32. Suleiman/Ottomans [15]
33. Shaka/Zulu [15]
34. Tomyris/Scythia [15]
35. Trajan/Rome [15]
36. Victoria/England [15]
37. Wilfrid Laurier/Canada [12] (15-3) - the tundra start with no real benefit to it, unlike in the case of Russia who at least get production and faith out of it, dooms Canada to fail in the hands of the AI. The fact surprise war cannot be declared against them is not much help. A very weak Civ under any circumstances, and horrible under the AI's control.
38. Lautaro/Mapuche [13]
39. Alexander/Macedon [12]
40. Robert the Bruce/Scotland [12]
41. Jayavarman/Khmer [12]
42. Harald Hardrada/Norway [9]
43. Mansa Musa/Mali [9]
44. Gilgamesh/Sumeria [9]
46. Wilhelmina/Netherlands [12]