Which AI Civ is strongest in your games?

[SanPellegrino]

Which are usually the strongest, which the weakest AI civs in your games?

In my games the Germans were always strong when they participated. They are hard to catch in tech and build a lot of units, often killing smaller civs.

Always good, too: Persians (seems that scientific is good for the AI) and Aztecs (always a really large empire, but a bit behind in tech.

getting killed soon: Japanese, Indians, Egypt,

Don't know why, the Japanese have same traits as aztecs.

It seems that religious is not that useful for AI on higher levels (I play Monarch btw), because they have reduced anarchy w/ or w/o relig!?

What's your experience?

 

[BillChin]

The strongest opponents tend to be an early expansionist that wins that first war. They get about double the land and double the resources. This happens in about 20% of game starts and often makes for a difficult end game no matter how clever I am early. Aztecs and Egyptians sometimes fit this because they have an early unique unit. This is on a standard size map, Emperor level. Like almost all questions about the game, the answers will vary depending on map size and difficulty level.

 

[chiefpaco]

Probably more luck than anything, but Germany has been tough militarily & Egypt usually gives me a run in Culture after usually establishing a solid early land share.

Agreed with the Expansionist AI civ. At least 1 usually does well (the winning side).

 

[Master of Ceremonies]

I think a lot of it has to do with your playing style.

For me, the Americans and French have consistently given me trouble. (I play as Iroquois)

Surprisingly, the English, Egyptians, and especially Japanese seem to be my doormats.

 

[SanPellegrino]

Very interesting! In my games expansionsists never belonged to the top dogs and I play usually large maps! Even the high-praised Iroquois ended as cannonfodder for aggressive civs like aztecs (Iroq hadn't horses that game I remember, too bad).
Of course everyone gets different results, but there is maybe a pattern, like "build units, build culture often" civs do best or something. Expansionist I considered weak for Ais because the early techs are always traded between the AIs, and they get bonus-units on monarch also. But...that seems to be wrong!

More opinions wanted!