Sauromatia is a nation of nomadic warrior tribes ruled by women. Men and women fight side by side and all prominent tribes are ruled by warrior queens. This is a legacy of the Sauromatians merging with the Amazon tribes in times past. The Amazons leaders were not accepted, because they were not warriors, but they influenced the Sauromatians, and women warriors gained power and prestige. Only the tribe of the Androphags has totally rejected the notion of female leadership. The Androphags are ruled by ancient Witch Kings who introduced cannibalism and man flaying to the Sauromatians. The Androphags also use hydras from the Marshes of Pythia in warfare.

"Sauromatia is a nation based on Herodotus' accounts of the Scythian peoples in The Histories. Here Scythians, Amazons, Sarmatians, and Androphags are described with their strange traditions and unsavory practices, and the book is a splendid source for any modder seeking inspiration for a new nation. Grave goods, archaeological findings and Osprey military books have given the nation further life. Finally, Witch Kings and elements of the Pythian predecession (serpents, swamps and hydras) were added to the Androphags to make the nation more sinister and Dominion-esque." -Illwinter

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Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
4 (rare 5) 2 (rare 3) 2 (rare 3) 1 (uncommon, rare 2) 1 1	Hero 2442 243	Light and medium cavalry Serpent riders Lizard riders Hydras	Magic Snake Tattoo Magic Horse Tattoo Mobile Archer Skilled Rider Pillager	Standard Forts

Capitol Gems: 1312

Blood Sacrifice: Priests can sacrifice a blood slave at a temple to help extend the dominion.

Magic Tattoos: Most of Sauromatia's units have magic tattoos. The Awaken Tattoos spell (11) gives those units limited Invulnerability. The Magic Snake Tattoo also grants Magic Resistance and the Magic Horse Tattoo also grants increased Defence Skill and Speed.

• Awaken Tattoos: (Enchantment 3)
  11
  Essentially a buff that only applies to Sauromatia's national units, Awaken Tattoos provides Invulnerability and a minor stat increase. Those with Snake tattoos get Magic Resistance equal to their tattoo's score, while those with Horse tattoos get Defense Skill and Combat Speed instead. Those with both get both stat increases but only one application of invulnerability.

• Hydra Skin Armor (Construction 7)
  2 and 8
  Commentary here.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

Blood gives access to Bind Demon Lord which gives a 3 in 6 of 3, 3 in 6 of at least 4, and a chance of every other path except for Water.

EA Sauromatia does not have the right paths for the major boosters.

No native access.

Bind Heliophagus Limited
2 Witch King (1 in 4) +
One in four chance of Amaimon - Heliophagus with 4.

No native access.

Ether Gate
41 Enarie +
Ether Lord which has a 1 in 4 chance of 1

Highest Starting: 1 Witch King (1 in 4) or Warrior Sorceress (1 in 4) Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress, the hero, starts with 2, which can save you a level of empowering.

Contact Naiad
11 Witch King (1 in 4) or Warrior Sorceress (1 in 4) +
Naiad which has 3 and can use the two easy Water boosters.

Streams from Hades
13 Witch King (1 in 4) +
Getting the third Water booster is tricky. It might require getting a unique.
Kokythiad also has 3 and can use the two easy Water boosters.

No native access.

Hidden in Snow in Mountains
13 Witch King + Unfrozen Mage with a 7 in 8 chance of at least 1.

Forest Troll Tribe
Three mages have 1. Each will need in boosters. The second booster is tricky.
Results in Troll Shaman who has a 1 in 4 chance of 1.

Highest Starting: 1 Enarie
Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 2. (If given Glamour boosters, she can attempt the unique The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. Otherwise, she's not much additional help.)

Ether Gate is potentially accessible, but getting the three Astral boosters is difficult.

Highest Starting: 4 Witch King (1 in 4 chance)

The Black Book of Secrets Unique
32 Witch King (1 in 4)

Abominable Arms
12 Witch King +
Allows holding multiple Death boosters.

Skögu - Man Eater is a hero with 413, which can make the Death path easier.

Highest Starting: 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance) Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 4, which makes the progression easier. She also can make a Moonvine Bracelet.

Armor of Twisting Thorns Unremovable
12 Witch King (1 in 4 chance) +

Moonvine Bracelet
11 Enarie +

Contact Naiad
11 Witch King (1 in 4 chance) + Naiad has 3.

No recruitable access. Two EA Sauromatia heroes have Glamour, Kirke - Pharmakeia and Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress.

Summon Spectre 3 Witch King Spectral Mage has a 7 in 16 chance of Glamour.

Highest Starting: 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance) A relatively easy climb. Skögu - Man Eater is a hero with 413, which can make the Blood path easier.

The Black Book of Secrets Unique 32 Witch King (1 in 4 chance)

Armor of Twisting Thorns Unremovable
12 Witch King (1 in 4 chance) +

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.

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 • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia