Top 10 "Naval Civs" through Civ 5, DLCs, and Gods & Kings.

[Austria]

Hello Again, Austria here. : Before I begin, I would like to explain what I mean by "Naval Civs". I'm talking about civilizations that do best at an archipelego or similiar maps, civilizations that are given an edge by having alot of ocean tiles near by. So, without any futher ado, let's get this ball rolling

#10. Spain- Spain thrives in large maps with lots of continents, because of one thing. Conquistadors. They are effective calvary units that specialize in sailing to different continents clearing them out and settling them. Plus if you find a patch of The Great Barrier Reef, your UA gets you tons of money, and your Conquistadors can settle near them to get even more bonuses from the UA.

#9. Byzantium- Byzantium is really only here because of their Dromon UU, but with good reason. While every other civ has to wait for the medieval era to get a ranged naval unit, the Byzantines get one right in the Ancient Era. This is indeed a huge advantage because until you can build a Galleass, all melee naval units can do is fight other melee naval units, and maybe the occasional embarked enemy.

#8. The Netherlands- The Dutch UA will help them trade wise with sea resources such as whales, crabs, and pearls, but that's not what gets them the eighth spot on this list. Like Byzantium, a Unique Unit is responsible for the placing. Enter the Sea Beggar. This unit is the boss of all Renaissance and earlier melee units. With 2 promotion for city attacking and plundering, not to mention the fact they can make defeated ships join them, or that they can heal outside friendly territory.

#7. Korea- Realistically numbers 9-7 can be interchangable depending on personal preferance, but Korea has the best UA/UU combination. Their UA boosted tech lets them research techs that will quickly make their navy the most advanced on the map. Then, release the turtles!

#6 Denmark- The Danes arrive at number 6 due to the combination of the "Viking Fury" Ability as well as the use of the Beserker unit. +1 Movement for embarked units and moving from water to land cost only one movement point means that those Vikings can sail to your peaceful little island in a heartbeat, and beserkers will raze heck when they arrive via sea.

#5. Songhai: (G&K version) Now in Gods & Kings all embarked units can defend, which meant the UA for Songhai needed some revamping and they revamped well. Now all Songhai land units are stronger embarked and have the Amphibious promotion meaning they all attack from sea with no penalty. Songhai is the new guy to watch out for.

#4. Polynesia- There will be people who will swear at me for putting Polynesia this far from the #1 spot but they earned this exact place. Can embark over oceans immediately makes it so before some players have entered the coast you can have cities on different continents. plus the combat bonus near Maois means your navy should be powerful when defending friendly coasts. Plus, the extra sight for embarked units is handy for finding those last hidden ruins hidden on an island.

We've seen 7 on the best naval civilization so far. If you notice #'s 10-7 benfitted mainly from an unique unit and #'s 6-4 had lots of embarked bonus's, but the top three masters of the seas are more specific to their respective fields. Let's see how they line up.

#3. Carthage- This new entry from the G&K expansion is shaking up the naval civ world. They get a free harbor in every city. This means from the beginning of the game you can have trade routes over water centuries before anyone else can even build harbors, an effective strategy for this is build a lot of coastal cities and only coastal cities, so you make all the money from trade routes, but never pay any maintenance for roads. I haven't even mentioned the glory that is the Quinquereme.
This unit guarentees you own the best melee naval unit till the Renaissance Era. The Economic naval powerhouse civ.

#2. Ottomans- (G&K version) This civ should win at least the most improved category for it's transformation in Gods and Kings. Their new UA allows your early game Trireme to create a naval horde of Trireme/Galleys through just fighting barbabrians. You could probably defeat an underachieving civ with this force alone. Plus, you can take over their ships and grow your navy larger through war, and the best part is, you only pay 1/3(!) the usually cost for maintenance for you large armada making it easily affordable. The Militaristic naval powerhouse civ.

#1. England- the number one spot goes to a civilization that is the best overal suited for naval domination. Sun Never Sets ability greatly increases the efficiency of all naval units. Combine that with the Great Lighthouse and the Naval Tradition Policy and you really got something going. And the orginal unique ship the Ship of the Line this super ship can dominate both land and sea with it's devestating ranged attack. England really is the top naval civiliazation

Coments? Insults? Questions? Compliments? Let me know, and check out my other lists like Top 10 Civs I want to see added to civ 5 and why.

 

[Glassmage]

I dunno what civs best on water map but on Highland Ottoman = 34th.

 

[Austria]

I dunno what civs best on water map but on Highland Ottoman = 34th.

says it all

 

[smallfish]

The Danes are the best. Even in AI hands, they are now able to capital snipe from a continent or two away.

 

[Gucumatz]

I agree with most of this.

Except for the Polynesians being that high and the Danes/Songhai being that low. I would put Polynesia at 6, Denmark at 5, and Songhai at 4.

Polynesia tends to get poor starting locations due to start bias and will start next to warmonger civs most of the time as well. Incentive for exploring is normally limited and dependant on the map. Denmark's extra sight/movement/embarkment ability allows you a third of England's UA and allows you to sail with massive amounts of troops under your ships so they can land and fire on opposing cities on the same turn. Nothing better than having a fleet of frigates fire on a capital followed by cannons/artillery unloading and attacking as well. Retreat back to the water next turn then continue to move inland.

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With the ability to stack units under ships - Songhai's amphib promotion should be even higher regarded. Plus they have double embarkment defense. Makes for a devastating combo when you can have units ram into a city from the sea without issue.

 

[Austria]

However Polynesia does still get maois, which makes them a naval civ well prepared for a cultural victory. This also is factored to their place.

 

[HammerandSickle]

I salute you: this is very well written. I agree, mostly, except that the Ottomans should be number one, I believe.

 

[Esperr]

The ottomans dominate on ocean maps, just because you amass such a rediculous navy in like two seconds.

 

[Bandersnatching]

The problem with the Polynesians is that their UA and UI don't agree with each other. They can scout earlier (and better) than anybody else, which lends itself to an early expansion strategy. Moais, however, aren't the best for rexing. I usually put Moais on 2nd or 3rd tier tiles and work them last, because generating a few extra points of culture with a wide empire is less useful to me than generating production or gold. The Polynesians can do quite well on water maps, but they aren't so focused that they can excel on them easily. Unfortunate, since without water all they have is a moderately useful UU.

 

[Gucumatz]

The problem with the Polynesians is that their UA and UI don't agree with each other. They can scout earlier (and better) than anybody else, which lends itself to an early expansion strategy. Moais, however, aren't the best for rexing. I usually put Moais on 2nd or 3rd tier tiles and work them last, because generating a few extra points of culture with a wide empire is less useful to me than generating production or gold. The Polynesians can do quite well on water maps, but they aren't so focused that they can excel on them easily. Unfortunate, since without water all they have is a moderately useful UU.

This.

The various aspects don't combine well. You can explore early yes... but other civs can do that now too with a great admiral and as the Maya you can get a free one long before 0 A.D. - With other civs as well. I played a game where I explored another cont finding Polynesia before me with a great admiral I had gotten in combat (was like 700-500 B.C. somewhere there)

 

[Dark_Jedi06]

Proof that England is number one:

I just go owned. Helsinki fell in one turn.

 

[theguy8882]

I think that you should put the dutch over the koreans. I find the sea beggar to be far better then the turtle ship. I took Beijing by capturing their frigates as they tried to prevent my naval assault, I captured two of them and got five frigates instead of the three i brought, then I got to Beijing and took it with no support from land units whatsoever.

 

[Slvynn]

I'd put Danes to 4th (above Songhai and Polynesia, and Polynesia should have much lower place imo)

 

[AwesomeAustin99]

I agree with this list , I actually never knew the Ottomans had an improved UA in G&K but anyways , I believe 4-6th should go Denmark , Songhai (though they can be contested easily , maybe a tie for me) and Polynesia , I don't have the Polynesia DLC but I have saw LPs about them so.. Also , I never thought of using the Spanish like that , by that I mean clearing out a civ and settling by a Natural Wonder. Great list!

 

[Austria]

I think that you should put the dutch over the koreans. I find the sea beggar to be far better then the turtle ship. I took Beijing by capturing their frigates as they tried to prevent my naval assault, I captured two of them and got five frigates instead of the three i brought, then I got to Beijing and took it with no support from land units whatsoever.

Yes, but that also factored in the Korean UU which helps science, which gets you to naval techs faster, and I've personal seen one of my Sea Beggars fall to a Turtleship.

 

[MaximusK]

When I look at naval powers I don't think the Songhai/Denmark UAs are that crucial.

What makes a navy is upgraded frigates/effective privateers.

Dromons upgrading to Galleass' and later frigates ensures decent frigates out the shute. Also UA buffs the civ as a whole.

Also the Sea Beggar is more important that you give it credit for - granted it's fragile and you have to be careful with it on the oceans.

And Maoi aren't as good as they should be. They need a buff.

 

[Slvynn]

When I look at naval powers I don't think the Songhai/Denmark UAs are that crucial.

What makes a navy is upgraded frigates/effective privateers.

Dromons upgrading to Galleass' and later frigates ensures decent frigates out the shute. Also UA buffs the civ as a whole.

Also the Sea Beggar is more important that you give it credit for - granted it's fragile and you have to be careful with it on the oceans.

And Maoi aren't as good as they should be. They need a buff.

I Actually Do think That in some cases Danmark/Songhai UA is crucial to win combined land/naval battles. Ever tried to Travel with Frigate which have cannon under him? You come to island, put line of Priv/Frigates, land cannon on isle, same turn you prepare to shoot and same turn you shoot.
Same could be done with Arty / Ironclad - shore battles. Arty goes under Ironclad, lands if needed and from shore shoots 3 tiles out to sea, at same turn

Siege units which land from see and bomb city same turn?
Melee units which have amphibious (upgrades have them as well) promotions, and you approach cities to attack with 2 units per tile?
Thats Awesome, and it's also kinda MP oriented. You underestimating Songhai/Denmark civs very much.

They are mixed land/sea, and they are #1 and #2 at invading land from sea.

 

[Himmurabi]

Songhai and Denmark's UA isn't for naval battles, it's for naval invasions and it's very effective at that.

 

[GhostSalsa]

When I look at naval powers I don't think the Songhai/Denmark UAs are that crucial.
...
And Maoi aren't as good as they should be. They need a buff.

As Denmark I went colonizing with an unescorted settler while at war with two Civs. The settler landed, saw a French invading force, and hopped back into the water. He saved himself, and warned me about an invasion, went on to found a city across the bay. Denmark is the best at getting off of boats.

For Maoi, the ideal buff would be if they could be stacked with farms.

 

[Halcyan2]

I agree on the Top 3, though I would probably put Carthage in #2 and Ottomans in #3.

Polynesia's embarkment allows you to grab lots of early ruins (not just later ones left behind). If you're lucky, they can give you a massive boost, especially on Archipelago maps while everyone else is just piddling along. I would agree with #4 position.

I would probably drop Korea. While Turtleship/Ironclad is far better than in vanilla, it's not enough to make my personal list.

Byzantine Dromons rock! Also, the extra belief can be very helpful.

In addition to the conquistadores (which really come far too late IMHO), Spain benefits because Archipelago puts a serious slowdown on exploration. If you beeline naval techs, you can vastly improve your chances at being first to find the Natural Wonders.

Honorable mentions (for a different perspective):

Naval wonders make certain wonders (most notably the Great Lighthouse and Colossus) insanely good. As a result, Egypt gets a slight bump since it has a better chance of snatching those key wonders.

Religions can also be very good. God of the Sea can be spectacular, and maybe Monument of the Gods if you want the Great Lighthouse / Colossus. So Celts and Ethiopia can gain the most here.