Byzantines

A highly defensive civilization with versatile options and the powerful Cataphract. Masters of countering enemy strategies.

Difficulty: Medium Defensive

Civilization Bonuses

Building HP

Buildings have +10/20/30/40% HP in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial

Trash Units

Skirmishers, Spearmen line, and Camels cost -25%

Fire Ships

Fire Ships attack 25% faster

Imperial Age

Imperial Age costs -33%

Town Watch Free

Town Watch is free

Unique Unit

Unit Age Cost HP Range Attack
Cataphract Castle Age 70 Food, 75 Gold 110 Melee 12

Cataphracts are resistant to anti-cavalry bonus damage, making them effective against Halberdiers.

Unique Technologies

Greek Fire

Castle Age

Fire Ships +1 range

Logistica

Imperial Age

Cataphracts deal trample damage, +6 attack vs infantry

Build Orders

Fast Imperial Trash

  1. Standard fast castle build
  2. Skip heavy military in Castle Age
  3. Boom with 3-4 TCs
  4. Click Imperial ASAP (cheap upgrade)
  5. Mass cheap Halberdiers and Elite Skirmishers
  6. Add siege for push

Cataphract Push

  1. Fast Castle into Castle
  2. Produce Cataphracts
  3. Research Logistica in Imperial
  4. Cataphracts counter almost everything
  5. Support with siege

Strategy Tips

Strengths

  • Excellent trash units for late game
  • Cataphracts counter infantry and cavalry
  • Cheap Imperial Age for faster power spike
  • Tanky buildings for defense

Weaknesses

  • No civilization-specific bonuses for archers
  • Cataphracts are expensive to produce
  • Requires good game sense to counter
  • Jack of all trades, master of none

Counter Matchups

vs Goths Cataphracts with Logistica destroy infantry
vs Franks Cheap Camels and Halberdiers counter Knights
vs Turks Use cheap Skirmishers vs Janissaries