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

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) 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.

No native access. 5 and Bind Heliophagus has 1 in 4 chance of 4.

No native access. 41 Enarie can cast Ether Gate, which has a 1 in 4 chance of 1.

Start with a 1 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Follow the path as normal. Its crosspaths allows for a lot of the water summons.

Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress, the hero, starts with 2, which can save you a level of empowering.

No native access. A 1 in 4 chance 1 Witch King can cast Hidden in Snow. 3 and Forest Troll Tribe give a 1 in 4 chance of 1. 5 for Awaken Treelord gives a 1 in 3 chance of 1, although it's stationary.

The Enarie is the only normal recruit option. Follow the path as normal. Its crosspaths means you can cast Ether Gate but that's it.

Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 2. If given Glamour boosters, she can create The Trapped Dreams of Hruvur. Otherwise, she's not much additional help.

Start with a 4 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Skull Staff gets you to 5 and the Skullface. A Witch King with 24 can create Abominable Arms, which is helpful with Death boosters.

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

Start with a 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). A 23 Witch King can create Armor of Twisting Thorns, but otherwise it is a difficult climb.

A Witch King with 24 can create Abominable Arms, which allows holding both the Thistle Mace and the Treelord's Staff.

Kirke - Pharmakeia, a hero, has 4, which makes the progression easier. She also can make a Moonvine Bracelet.

Two EA Sauromatia heroes have Glamour, Kirke - Pharmakeia and Delgnat - Partholonian Sorceress.

If the heroes aren't available, 3 allows Summon Spectre which gives a 7 in 16 chance of Glamour. 3 and Forest Troll Tribe gives a 1 in 4 chance. 8 and Bind Demon Lord gives a 3 in 6 chance.

A relatively easy climb. Start with a 2 Witch King (1 in 4 chance). Go along the standard path. 22 will get The Black Book of Secrets, so long as no one else has it, and that will avoid empowering for a level. 23 gets the Armor of Twisting Thorns.

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

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 • Zemaitia • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia