# Introduction to Polytopia
- Polytopia = Turn-based strategy game, with tradeoffs to make between economy, military and technological development
- [Critical Play: The Battle of Polytopia | by Donovan Tokuyama | Game Design Fundamentals | Medium](https://medium.com/game-design-fundamentals/critical-play-the-battle-of-polytopia-62bd5270f05c)
## List of units
- [List of Units | Polytopia Wiki | Fandom](https://polytopia.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Units): cost, attack, defence, movement, range, skills
- [Attack Reference Chart : r/Polytopia](https://www.reddit.com/r/Polytopia/comments/1bg07np/attack_reference_chart/)
## City upgrades order
- Level 2 : Workshop or Explorer
- Level 3 : City Wall or Resources
- Level 4 : Border Growth or Population Growth
- Level 5+ : Park or Super Unit
# Strategies
## Best tribes to pick
- [Ranking all the polytopia tribes - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK8t2aPVMIs)
![[Polytopia - Best tribes.png]]
- [The Ultimate Sequel to the Tribe Guide - (Updated for the Ocean)](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=german&id=3005850953)
## Best opening moves
- [Polytopia - The BEST Opening Moves for Each Tribe! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg6SNGM3iYE)
- How to know which tribe your opponent is using at the beginning of a game:
> **Starting score by tribe:**
415 Aquarion
465 Luxidoor
515 Xin-xi, Imperius, Bardur, Elyrion, Kickoo
520 Oumaji
530 Polaris
565 Bardur, Imperius, Kickoo (with upgraded capital)
615 Zebasi, Yadakk, Ai-Mo
620 Quetzali, Hoodrick
630 Cymanti
650 Yadakk (with roads diagonal expansion and new warrior)
665 Zebasi (with upgraded capital)
730 Vengir
> If someone spawns in a corner, then the starting score is 5 less than usual.
## Main strategies
- Slightly outdated resources, because they contain things about 'customs houses' and 'whales' that were removed with game updates, but the rest is still accurate:
- [Strategies | Polytopia Wiki | Fandom](https://polytopia.fandom.com/wiki/Strategies)
- Make decisions based on “Turns to return” (TTR) for the stars (income) you spend.
- [Combat | Polytopia Wiki | Fandom](https://polytopia.fandom.com/wiki/Combat#Damage_Formula)
- [The Battle of Polytopia (game) - NoskeWiki](https://andrewnoske.com/wiki/The_Battle_of_Polytopia_(game)):
- "Build Order" section - Main approach presented
- Explorer on the capital, Workshops for your others cities when upgrade comes
- Riders (and Climbing and/or Forestry later so that riders can move quickly), Knights, Giants & Navigation
- "Order of Priority Each Turn" section
1. Purchase new tech
2. Capture cities and ruins
3. Move, heal or sell all remaining units
4. Build
5. Buy new units
- "Generic Strategies" section:
- Guards to Hold Checkpoints
- Mind Bender Against Guards and Giants
- Roads for Attack
- [Polytopia - The Ultimate Guide to Bardur (Read Description) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KxLBcDIOzg)
- Advanced - General aggressive strategies: rider spam & giant rush
- [How to Play Aggressively: An Advanced Polytopia Strategy Lesson : r/Polytopia](https://www.reddit.com/r/Polytopia/comments/1ed5s9j/how_to_play_aggressively_an_advanced_polytopia/)
- Advanced - Specific strategies per tribe (2024/2025)
- Zebasi: [Zebasi Strategy Guide - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKJGTn5sbqI)
- Imperius: [Imperius Game & Strategy - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9h3q4Qytns)
- Cymanti:
- [Cymanti Strategy Guide - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PptvMxR2-vY)
- [Polytopia guide - Innofunni's Cymanti Strategies - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw4ePg1LOBI)
- Using mycellium: [Strategy with cymanti on tiny pangea - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjdWnUWCDXM&list=PLzCCy4bpbUf2Yvz7pxHSUgl1_4L8yp_OV&index=10)
- Elyrion: [Elyrion Strategy Guide - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBpqrRC6Kys)
- Oumaji: [Oumaji Strategy Guide - YouTube](https://youtu.be/0xwnxUbUZYs?feature=shared&t=50)
- Aquarion: [Aquarion Strategy Guide - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpnZO8rL3Ik)
## Tips for beginners
- Replays are available after each game. They are a good way to learn.
- [Polytopia - Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bvj4h-QkmE&ab_channel=GullYY)
- Ignoring Riding & Roads
- Poor opening moves
- City leveling order
- Always picking city wall
- Partially upgrading cities
- Playing too fast
- Picking the wrong tribe depending on the map
- [Polytopia - MORE Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Fix Them!) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3exsZ55QxOs)
- Never picking Explorer
- Picking the wrong technology
- Upgrading cities to max level
- Not balancing units and economy
- Poor combat interactions
- [Polytopia Hints & Tips - Google Docs](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZvDRejjXxgwr-NjIavDckoCeHrz4zUkagzpt9Xk0Nl8/edit)
- Get 5 stars from City upgrade FIRST
- Scout before you kill
- Check your Tasks
- It Takes Two / Leapfrogging
- Finish him off with your ⅔ unit
- Kill his ⅔ unit first
- The Giant Push-Out
- Push Direction
- Scorched Earth
- Note: Slightly outdated, because it contains things about 'customs houses' and 'whales' that were removed with game updates, but the rest is still accurate
## Going further
YouTube channels of some high ELO players:
- [Justeeni Lingueeni - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@JusteeniLingueeni)
- [Innofunni - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Innofunni/videos)
- [Ramdingler - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Ramdingler)
# Battle - Dommage calculator
- Tip: Before deciding on attacking an opponent you can hold you click and see how much damage you would do to see if it's worth it.
- You can use my own [Polytopia Damage Calculator App](https://polytopia.cporet.com/)
- It's a fork of this [one](https://polytopia-damage-calculator.firebaseapp.com/#) just with a better and faster UX.
_Written in 2024_