The kingdom of Arcoscephale is yet to be founded and in its place is a loose collection of city states. Bronze is more common than iron and hoplites have yet to see the light of day. Instead, myrmidons and chariots compose the core of the armies. In this time, slaves are commonly used and most free men have plenty of time to spend on fine arts and good living. Philosophers gather in the cities to discuss esoteric truths and engineers manufacture clever contraptions for civil or military use. At the heart of Arcoscephale lies Mount Cephalos, abode of the Awakening God. At the foot of the mountain is a great temple where sacred Pegasus Riders are trained. Icarids, men with mechanical wings, are also used in warfare. The philosophers are better at magical research in a slothful Dominion.

"Arcoscephale is together with Pythium the first nation conceived in the creation of Dominions. After having played GMT's Great Battles of Alexander and S.P.Q.R. I got fascinated by ancient warfare, and the hoplites were among the first units to appear in Dominions. At first the two nations were one, with a troop rooster of ancient units, while Man and later on Ulm had troop roosters with a more medieval touch. Soon, however, it became clear that Pythium and Arcoscephale should be two distinct nations. Arcoscephale is heavily influenced by ancient Greek city states and Hellas. The Golden Age is influenced by the mythical past and the archaic age. Later ages boast Hellenic and Mesopotamian influences: elephants, mysteries and Chaldean astrologers." -Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
4 (rare 5) 3 (rare 4) 2 2 2 (rare 3) 2 1	Hero 1113 Summons 11 (req. 2 & GoR) 3 (req. 4) 121 (req. 3 & GoR)	Heavy Infantry Chariots Flying infantry Sacred Pegasus Riders Engineers	Formation Fighter Mason Old Age Healer	Standard Forts ( Can be upgraded into Castles by Engineers) Labs cost 250

GoR: Gift of Reason or Divine Name make a unit into a commander, rarely with magic paths.
Capitol Gems: 222

Scry: Arcoscephale will scry on all provinces under its dominion. This scrying is very accurate and will also reveal enemy units that are using the glamour ability to hide. The information gained from this will be available to disciple players as well.

Engineers can upgrade Forts into Castles. But, while it does increase other stats such as Recruitment Point Percentage, it does not increase Commander Points. This means the build cost of 600 might not be worth it.

• Stymphalian Wings (Construction 7)
  4 and 20
  Commentary here.

This guide supplements the general Magic Access guide.

EA Arcoscephale has the right paths and crosspaths for most of the major Multi-path boosters, (except Robe of the Magi,) but the levels of its mages are so low it makes it difficult to get any of them.

Highest starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8)
A difficult and expensive climb.
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Skull of Fire
Empower any Fire mage in Death. Cheaper than empowering multiple Fire mages.

The Staff from the Sun Unique
12 Mystic (1 in 8) +
Requires Unique Astral boosters.

The Mystic can have the right crosspaths for the unique The Forbidden Light, but getting a 12 Mystic up to the required 55 is impractical.

Highest starting: 3 Oreiad (1 in 4)
Requires an expensive level of empowerment to get to 4 and the first Air booster.
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Tome of High Power Unique
11 Mage Engineer (1 in 5) +
Remember, getting the Air booster requires an expensive level of empowerment.

Highest starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8)
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Contact Naiad
13 Oreiad (1 in 4) +
Then give the Naiad the boosters, which brings it to 5.

Trident from Beyond Unique
12 Mystic (1 in 8) +

Orb of Atlantis Unique
11 Mystic (4 in 16), Mage Engineer (1 in 5), Oreiad (1 in 4) +
The third booster needs to be either the unique Orb of Elemental Water or the unique Trident from Beyond. Or, a 30 empowerment can be used.

Highest starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 8), Mage Engineer (1 in 5), Oreiad (1 in 4)
The difficult part in climbing Earth is the second Earth booster for the Troll King. There are two options, both uniques, the Orb of Elemental Earth or The Tome of Gaia. Without at least one, the Troll King needs to be empowered to 4, which costs .
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Tome of Gaia Unique
23 Oreiad (1 in 4)

Highest starting: 2 Mystic (1 in 4)
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Coin of Meteoritic Iron
12 Mystic (1 in 8) + Earth Boots
The Coin of Meteoritic Iron is necessary for getting the 2 Mystic to the first Astral booster.

Golem Construction
12 Mystic (1 in 8) +
Golem with Coin of Meteoritic Iron and Starshine Skullcap bring it to 4.

Tome of High Power Unique
11 Mage Engineer (1 in 5) +
Remember, getting the Air booster requires an expensive level of empowerment.

No national access.

Contact Forest Troll Tribe
Oreiad
Troll Shaman has 1.

Highest starting: 4 Oreiad (1 in 4)
See Magic Access for path increase guide.

Tome of Gaia Unique
23 Oreiad (1 in 4)

The Copper Arm
11 Mystic (1 in 4), Mage Engineer (1 in 5) +
With The Copper Arm, the Oreiad can hold both the Thistle Mace and Treelord's Staff at the same time.

No national access.

Troll King's Court
2 Mystic (1 in 8), Mage Engineer (1 in 5), Oreiad (1 in 4) +
Troll King has 1.

Forest Troll Tribe
3 Oreiad
Troll Shaman has a one in four chance of 1.

No national access.

Awaken Treelord Limited Amount, Stationary
4 Oreiad (1 in 4) +
One in three chance of Treelord, who has 1.

Ker Mage
First step, summon the Ker: Bind Keres
2 (Not available natively.)
Second step, make the Ker a commander: Gift of Reason
4 Oreiad (1 in 4)
The new commander Ker has 1. Kers are units, that, when made into commanders, have magic paths.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Dominions 6: EA Arcoscephale Pre-game - Babel Builder
Dominions 6 - EA Arcoscephale - National Overview - Top Guides

Thanks to Top Guides for commentary.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Zemaitia • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia