Persia, under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, is one of the most dynamic and potent civilizations in Civilization VI. It is a civilization that rewards aggressive expansion and strategic economic management, making it a top-tier choice for players who favor a Domination Victory. This guide provides a comprehensive analysis of the Persian civilization, offering a detailed roadmap to achieving military supremacy through a powerful combination of early-game aggression and a robust gold-backed economy.
Understanding Persia’s Strengths: The Path to Conquest
Analysis of high-level gameplay reveals that Persia’s strength lies in the powerful synergy between its leader ability, unique unit, and civilization ability. Mastering these interconnected advantages is the first step toward world domination.
Cyrus the Great’s “Fall of Babylon”: A Declaration of Dominance
Cyrus the Great’s leader ability, “Fall of Babylon,” is the cornerstone of Persia’s early-game military strategy. Upon declaring a surprise war, all Persian units gain +2 movement for 10 turns. This is a tactical game-changer, effectively allowing most units to move and attack in the same turn. Slower units, such as battering rams and siege towers, can keep pace with the main army, ensuring a swift and decisive assault on enemy cities.
Furthermore, “Fall of Babylon” reduces the grievance penalty for declaring a surprise war and for capturing cities. This allows for more aggressive expansion without completely alienating the rest of the world. Finally, the ability grants +5 loyalty in occupied cities that have a garrisoned unit, a crucial tool for maintaining control over newly conquered territories and preventing them from rebelling.
Persia’s “Satrapies” Ability: The Engine of Empire
While “Fall of Babylon” provides the military impetus, Persia’s civilization ability, “Satrapies,” provides the economic engine to fuel the conquest. Upon unlocking the Political Philosophy civic, Persia gains an additional trade route capacity. More importantly, all internal trade routes provide an extra +2 gold and +1 culture.
Many professional gamers suggest that this ability is one of the strongest economic advantages in the early game. By establishing a network of internal trade routes, a Persian player can generate a significant and reliable income stream, which can be used to support a large army, purchase buildings, and upgrade units. The additional culture from these trade routes also accelerates progress through the civics tree, unlocking powerful policy cards and governments sooner.
The Immortal: A Versatile and Deadly Force
The Immortal is Persia’s unique Classical Era melee unit, replacing the Swordsman. What sets the Immortal apart is its ranged attack, effectively making it a hybrid of a Swordsman and an Archer. This versatility makes the Immortal a formidable force on the battlefield. It can weaken enemy units from a distance before closing in for the kill, and it is particularly effective at clearing out enemy defenders before the main assault. The Immortal’s ranged attack also means it can effectively attack cities without taking damage from city defenses, making it an excellent siege unit in the early game.
The Pairidaeza: A Garden of Prosperity
The Pairidaeza is Persia’s unique improvement, a garden that provides gold, culture, and appeal. It also gains adjacency bonuses from City Centers, Commercial Hubs, Holy Sites, and Theater Squares. While the Pairidaeza is a key component of a Persian Culture Victory, it also plays a vital role in a domination-focused strategy. The additional gold and culture it provides contribute to the overall economic and civic strength of the empire, and the appeal bonus can help to maintain amenities in a sprawling empire.
The Early Game: Forging an Empire (Turns 1-100)
The early game for Persia is all about executing a swift and decisive “Immortal Rush” to conquer a nearby neighbor and establish a strong foundation for the rest of the game.
Initial Build Order: The First 50 Turns
A popular strategy is to follow a specific build order to optimize the Immortal rush:
- Technology Path: The primary goal is to unlock Immortals as quickly as possible. The recommended tech path is Mining -> Bronze Working -> Iron Working. Bronze Working is essential as it reveals iron on the map, a prerequisite for producing Immortals.
- Civic Path: The civic path should focus on unlocking the policy cards and government that best support the Immortal rush. The recommended path is Code of Laws -> Craftsmanship -> Political Philosophy. Craftsmanship unlocks the Agoge policy card, which provides a +50% production bonus to ancient and classical era melee and ranged units. Political Philosophy unlocks the Oligarchy government, which provides a +4 combat strength bonus to all melee units, a bonus that also applies to the Immortal’s ranged attack.
- Production Queue: The production queue should be focused on building a military and expanding the empire. A common production order is Scout -> Slinger -> Warrior -> Settler. The Scout is for exploration and finding the first target. The Slinger and Warrior are for defense and to trigger the eureka for Bronze Working by killing a unit. The Settler is for expanding to a second city, ideally one with access to iron.
The Immortal Rush: A Step-by-Step Guide
Once the necessary technologies and civics are in place, it’s time to launch the Immortal rush:
- Massing Immortals: With the Agoge policy card active, begin mass-producing Immortals. Aim for a force of at least 6-8 Immortals before declaring war.
- Declaring the Surprise War: Once the army is assembled, move it to the border of the target civilization and declare a surprise war. This will trigger “Fall of Babylon,” giving all units +2 movement for 10 turns.
- Siege Tactics: Use the Immortals’ ranged attack to clear out any enemy units defending the target city. If the city has walls, a battering ram is essential. The extra movement from “Fall of Babylon” will allow the battering ram to move and attack in the same turn, quickly breaking down the city’s defenses. Once the walls are down, use the Immortals’ melee attack to capture the city.
Economic Foundation: Fueling the Conquest
While the military is engaged in conquest, it’s crucial to build a strong economic foundation to support the war effort:
- Establishing Internal Trade Routes: As soon as Political Philosophy is unlocked, begin building traders and establishing internal trade routes between your cities. This will provide a steady stream of gold and culture, allowing you to field a larger army and progress through the civics tree faster.
- City Placement: When settling new cities, prioritize locations with strategic resources, especially iron. Also, consider the defensibility of the location and its potential for future growth.
Mid-Game Transition: Consolidating Power (Turns 100-200)
After the initial Immortal rush, the mid-game is about consolidating your gains, expanding your empire, and preparing for the next phase of conquest.
Governor Strategy: The Right Leaders for the Job
Analysis on forums shows that the choice of governors is critical for a successful Persian game:
- Magnus (The Steward): His “Provision” promotion, which allows settlers to not consume a population in the city they are trained in, is invaluable for early expansion.
- Victor (The Castellan): His “Garrison Commander” promotion provides extra loyalty and combat strength to units within the city’s territory, making him an excellent choice to place in a newly conquered city to quell dissent and defend against counterattacks.
- Amani (The Diplomat): Placing her in a city-state can help you become its suzerain, providing you with valuable resources, strategic locations, and even military units.
- Pingala (The Educator): His “Grants” promotion doubles Great People points, accelerating the acquisition of Great Generals who can provide crucial combat bonuses to your Immortals.
Wonder Selection: Monuments to Your Power
While wonders are not the primary focus of a domination strategy, some can provide significant advantages:
- Terracotta Army: Building this after assembling a force of Immortals will grant them all a promotion, creating a highly experienced and formidable army.
- Colosseum: The amenities and culture provided by the Colosseum are invaluable for managing the happiness of a growing empire, especially one expanded through conquest.
- Alhambra: An extra military policy slot and Great General points further bolster Persia’s military might.
Policy Card Management: Optimizing Your Government
The right policy cards can provide a significant boost to your military and economy:
- Military Policies: Agoge, Feudal Contract, Chivalry.
- Economic Policies: Colonization, Triangular Trade.
- Diplomatic Policies: Diplomatic League.
Technological and Civic Progression
Continue to prioritize technologies and civics that support your military and economic goals:
- Key Technologies: Apprenticeship, Machinery, Education.
- Key Civics: Divine Right, Mercantilism, Nationalism.
Late-Game Domination: The Final Push
The late game is about leveraging your mid-game advantage to achieve a decisive Domination Victory.
Military Modernization: From Immortals to Tanks
As the game progresses, Immortals will become obsolete. It’s crucial to upgrade your army to keep pace with the technology of other civilizations. Your strong gold reserve will be essential for upgrading units to their modern equivalents, such as tanks, artillery, and bombers.
Economic Warfare: Bankrolling Your Victory
Your economy should be a well-oiled machine by the late game. Maximize your trade route income by sending trade routes to every other civilization, and use policy cards like Ecommerce to further boost your gold output. Don’t forget the power of pillaging. Raiding enemy districts and improvements can provide a significant boost to your treasury.
Managing a Global Empire
A vast empire requires careful management. Keep a close eye on loyalty and amenities to prevent rebellions. The strategic use of surprise wars can still be a powerful tool in the late game, allowing you to quickly reposition your armies and launch swift attacks.
Advanced Strategies and Considerations
Adapting to Different Opponents
- Facing other Domination-focused Civilizations: The key is to strike first and decisively. Use the Immortal rush to cripple them early before they can build up their own military.
- Dealing with Science and Culture-focused Civilizations: These civilizations are often less defended in the early game, making them prime targets for an Immortal rush.
Map-Specific Strategies
- Pangaea: This is the ideal map for a land-based Immortal rush.
- Continents and Islands: A strong navy is essential for transporting troops and controlling the seas.
The Culture Hybrid Option
If the opportunity arises, Persia can pivot to a Culture Victory. The Pairidaeza, combined with wonders like the Eiffel Tower and Cristo Redentor, can generate a significant amount of tourism.
Conclusion
Persia under Cyrus the Great is a civilization with a clear and powerful path to a Domination Victory. By mastering the early-game Immortal rush, building a strong economic foundation, and strategically managing your empire, you can lead the Persian army to conquer the world. The combination of military might and economic prosperity makes Persia a force to be reckoned with in any game of Civilization VI.