Some leaders in Civilization VI are builders, some are diplomats, and others are conquerors. Amanitore of Nubia is decidedly the latter. While other civilizations are just starting to build their cities, a skilled Nubian player can already have a powerful army ready to dominate the continent. This guide will show you how to use Amanitore’s unique abilities to achieve an early domination victory, focusing on the devastating power of the Pítati Archer rush.
The player community consistently ranks Nubia as a top-tier civilization for early aggression. The reason is simple: a perfect storm of bonuses that synergize to create a military machine in the Ancient Era. From faster unit production to a unique, powerful archer unit, Amanitore has all the tools to cripple a neighbor before they can even build their first walls. This guide will provide a clear, actionable blueprint for harnessing that power, turning the sands of the early game into a graveyard for your rivals.
The Nubian Advantage: A Symphony of Synergy
Understanding Nubia’s strengths is the first step to mastering them. Amanitore’s abilities are not a loose collection of bonuses; they are a tightly integrated set of advantages that feed into a single, focused strategy: early and overwhelming ranged warfare.
Ta-Seti: The Archer’s Forge
Nubia’s civilization ability, “Ta-Seti,” is the cornerstone of this strategy. It provides two critical bonuses:
- +30% Production Towards Ranged Units: This is a massive advantage in the early game. It means for every two Pítati Archers your opponent builds, you can produce almost three. This production bonus allows you to build a large army much faster than other civilizations.
- +50% Experience for Ranged Units: Your Pítati Archers will level up faster, gaining powerful promotions that increase their combat effectiveness and survivability. A promoted Pítati Archer is a fearsome foe, capable of taking on stronger units and surviving encounters that would destroy a normal archer.
Amanitore’s Legacy: The Pyramid Builder
Amanitore’s leader ability, “Kandake of Meroë,” complements the military focus with a powerful economic and production engine:
- +20% Production Towards Districts: This bonus increases to +40% if there is a Nubian Pyramid adjacent to the City Center. This allows you to build up your cities’ infrastructure much faster, even while you are heavily invested in military production.
- Nubian Pyramid: This unique improvement can be built on Desert, Desert Hills, or Floodplains tiles. It provides Faith, and additional yields based on adjacent districts. For the purpose of our early domination strategy, the key feature of the Nubian Pyramid is its synergy with Amanitore’s leader ability to boost district production.
The Pítati Archer: The Star of the Show
The Pítati Archer is the unit that makes this entire strategy possible. It replaces the standard Archer and has several key advantages:
- Higher Combat Strength: The Pítati Archer has a base combat strength of 17, compared to the standard Archer’s 15. This makes them more effective in combat and more likely to survive enemy attacks.
- Increased Movement: Pítati Archers have 3 movement points, compared to the standard Archer’s 2. This is a game-changing advantage. It allows them to move and shoot in the same turn, giving them unparalleled tactical flexibility. They can close in on enemies, attack, and then retreat to a safe position, all in a single turn.
The Early Game: Forging the Archer Horde (Turns 1-50)
The first 50 turns are the most critical phase of this strategy. Every decision you make should be geared towards a single goal: assembling a large force of Pítati Archers as quickly as possible.
Initial Build Order and Technology Path
Your opening moves should be precise and focused.
- Technology: Immediately start researching Archery. This is your single most important priority.
- Production: Your first build should be a Slinger. Follow this with a second and then a third Slinger. These units are essential for a few reasons: they will defend your fledgling empire from barbarians, they can trigger the Eureka for Archery, and they will be upgraded into your first Pítati Archers.
- Exploration: Use your starting Warrior to explore the surrounding area. Your primary goal is to find your nearest neighbor. The ideal target is a civilization that is close by and does not have any early-game military advantages.
Triggering the Eureka for Archery
To speed up your research of Archery, you need to trigger the Eureka. This is done by killing a unit with a Slinger. The most common way to do this is to find a barbarian scout or a barbarian camp and use your Slingers to take them out.
Civics and Policies: Fueling the War Machine
While your science is focused on Archery, your culture should beeline towards Craftsmanship. This unlocks the Agoge policy card, which provides a +50% production bonus to Ancient and Classical era melee and ranged units. This policy is absolutely essential for this strategy, as it stacks with Nubia’s natural production bonus, allowing you to churn out Pítati Archers at an astonishing rate.
Choosing a Pantheon
If you are able to found a Pantheon, God of the Forge is the clear choice. It provides an additional +25% production towards Ancient and Classical military units. Combined with the Agoge policy and Nubia’s innate bonus, you will have a +105% production bonus to your Pítati Archers. This is how you build a truly overwhelming force in the early game.
The Assault: Unleashing the Pítati Swarm (Turns 50+)
With your army of Pítati Archers assembled, it’s time to go on the offensive. The window for this attack is small; you need to strike before your opponent can build walls, which will significantly hamper your archers’ effectiveness.
Declaring War and Tactical Positioning
Once you have a force of at least 4-6 Pítati Archers and a couple of Warriors or Spearmen, it’s time to declare war. The Pítati Archers’ 3 movement points are your greatest asset. Use them to quickly close the distance to your opponent’s cities.
Analysis on forums shows that one of the most effective tactics is to use the “move and shoot” capability to its fullest. Position your archers on defensible terrain like hills or forests to gain a defensive bonus. This allows them to rain down arrows on the enemy while being protected from counter-attacks.
Focusing Fire and Capturing Cities
Your Pítati Archers cannot capture cities on their own. You will need your melee units for that. Use your archers to focus fire on the enemy’s units first. Once the defenders are eliminated, turn your attention to the city itself. Whittle down the city’s health with your archers, and then move your Warrior or Spearman in to deliver the final blow.
A popular strategy is to rotate your archers. Move a damaged archer back from the front lines and bring a fresh one forward. This will keep your army healthy and maintain a constant barrage of arrows on the enemy.
Mid-Game Transition: From Conqueror to Emperor
After you have successfully conquered your first neighbor, you will have a significant advantage. You will have more cities, more land, and a larger economy than your remaining opponents. The next step is to leverage this advantage and transition into the mid-game.
Consolidating Your Gains
After capturing a city, you will need to repair any damage and get it productive as quickly as possible. Use your gold to purchase builders and improve the surrounding tiles. Build a Nubian Pyramid if possible to accelerate district production.
Economic Development
With your first war concluded, it’s time to focus on your economy. Build Commercial Hubs in your cities to increase your gold income. A strong economy is essential for maintaining a large army and upgrading your units.
Scientific and Cultural Advancement
While you have been focused on war, your opponents have likely been advancing their science and culture. It’s important to catch up. Build Campuses and Theater Squares in your cities. The production bonus from Amanitore’s ability will help you build these districts quickly.
Advanced Strategies and Nuances
This section will be expanded with more detailed information on matchups, contingency plans, and advanced tactics. I will conduct further research to provide the most comprehensive and actionable advice possible.
Matchup Analysis
- Ideal Targets: Civilizations with no early military bonuses.
- Difficult Matchups: Civilizations with strong early-game units or defensive bonuses (e.g., Sumeria, Aztec, Rome).
Contingency Planning: When the Rush Fails
- Pivoting to a Different Victory Condition: If your initial rush is unsuccessful, you will need to pivot to a different strategy. Nubia is also a capable civilization for a religious or cultural victory, thanks to its production bonuses and the faith generation from Nubian Pyramids.
Advanced Tactics
- Promotion Trees: A detailed breakdown of the best promotion paths for your Pítati Archers.
- Siege Support: The role of catapults and other siege units in the mid-game.
- Great Generals: How to maximize your chances of earning a Great General to further boost your army’s combat strength.
Conclusion
Amanitore of Nubia offers one of the most powerful and satisfying early-game domination experiences in Civilization VI. By following this guide, you will be able to harness the full potential of the Pítati Archer rush and establish a dominant position that will carry you through to victory. The key is to be aggressive, be decisive, and never give your opponents a moment to breathe. The sands of Nubia will be stained with the blood of your enemies as you carve out an empire worthy of a true Kandake.