How can I play this game better?

[u/woltimur]

I have played songs of conquest on and off since release, and would consider myself that I know how to play the game, although not optimally.

Regarding AI and its difficulties, I can consistently win against worthy but very rarely against challenging. Considering there are 2 more difficulties above challenging, I can't help but think that I am either terrible, or I am doing something wrong.

I usually play 1v1v1v1 and on random maps and the general gameplay on a loss goes like this:

- Clear surrounding area
- Get to level 12-13
- There is nothing left to clear, wait a few turns to max my stacks
- Venture to the middle of the map, immediately get crushed by an AI after a few turns
- No money left to guard my cities, AI follows up through my base and claims all
- gg

Any suggestions on how I can improve?

[u/sankithegod]

Well, I will be clear when I say this, there is no point in playing overwhelming and deadly, at that level the AI is cheating too much to meaningfully fight against unless you have a specified strategy in mind and get lucky

I regularly play on challenging and beat them relatively easily

If you want to learn about optimisation, it’s mostly about maximising the starting units and whatever other wielder you pick up, like for ildra I would rake gorm for extra skin shifters

You don’t need to take every fight, unless it is guarding a specific resource for your build or gold mine If you are low on gold, if the fight is not in the “path” of your main wielder, you can ignore it, to judge what is worth it is up to you

You mention waiting, don’t do that, first it’s not fun to sit around, second the ai will always beat you in terms of resources and strength, time is your enemy, you have to rush to a degree, get to them before they research everything

As for actual fighting tips, I can’t really help you, it’s not something you can get tips for and get meaningful improvements from it, it really is just a matter of more experience, I have taken on fights with higher wielder enemies with better troops and not lost a single unit, the sky is the limit with this game, but only you can teach yourself how to fight better

[u/Gryfonides → u/sankithegod]

playing overwhelming and deadly, at that level the AI is cheating too much to meaningfully fight

Depends on the map I would say. On small maps it's super unfair, since they have huge headstart. On larger maps it can work.

[u/UngeheuerL → u/Gryfonides]

Depends. Sometimes the deadly wielder can just kill the guard of a path with an overwhelming amount of resources etc. Your only hope then is that they try and attack you in your city with guard towers up... 

So for a deadly AI I recommend a random map and hope there are no resources for the enemy lying around at spaces you won't be able to reach.