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====== LA Arcoscephale: From Life comes Death [Theory crafted guide]  ======
~~NOTOC~~
[[https://discord.gg/GZDmhBVdHw|{{ :guides:clippy_discord_link.png?300}}]]
//This guide was first featured on [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ieCW-gzxF8pWKUHiC5rguPVVvjAiNlSFO0z_U9UNv2A/edit]]. As such any updates to the guide will happen there first and hopefully make it here.//



Everyone agrees that MA Arcoscephale is a great, flavourful nation. Full-spectrum battlefield domination with powerful communions. ??Mind Hunt??s galore, and Hoplite troops which more than hold the line against MA troops.

On first glance LA Arco looks like time is passing it by.
The durable troops of Arco are now facing down crossbows and platemail galore. LA Arco no longer has access to {{path>S4}} mages for Mind Hunting without boosters, and in the Late Age it feels like everyone has Astral mages to block Mind Hunts. 

In exchange it gets easy access to nature in communions, and what looks like minor death access. 
Does that outweigh the negatives?

I'd argue that it easily does so, and lets LA Arco play fundamentally different to its earlier cousin. This argument comes from three provocative statements: 

  - LA Arco is the best user of Nature gems in the Late Age. 
  - LA Arco loses nothing by rushing ??Mother Oak??. 
  - Only LA Pangaea and Pythium can reliably stop Arco from rushing Mother Oak. 


Let's break this down. 

==== 1; You may be thinking I'm crazy for thinking that Arco is better at using Nature gems than Pangaea. ====
**And you'd be right. ** \\
However, Arco cheats. Arco has a 200g ??Panageis?? mage with a {{abilities:carcass_collector.png?nolink}}'[[carcass collector]]' ability which is not mentioned in the Dom5 Mod Inspector. This ability lets the mage turn {{gems>3N}} into {{gems>3D}} a turn. This lets us reliably convert nature gems into the best gem type in the game, to power Death's amazing summons. More on this later. 
==== 2; LA Arco doesn't need help expanding - its elephants can handle that ====
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie-gLg65B4s)

However those elephants have low magic resistance and morale, which other players can exploit (with fear effects before you get key buffs, and ??Soul Slay??/??Paralyze?? a bit later). This means that relying solely on them to fight off early rushes is unwise, and there is a window of relative vulnerability before Arco's communions can cast the really powerful spells (Summon Elementals, ??Maws of the Earth??, Soul Slay, etc). 

If we take a dormant SC pretender, we can cover this brief window of vulnerability before our communions are online. 
Similarly, Arco can be a bit dependent on its communions, since it lacks recruitable thugs and its troops can have trouble breaking through high protection. It does have a good end game strategy in communions, but more flexibility would be great (LA Arco lacks SCs, high-level death, astral or blood access). So a pretender to cover that would be good. 

One option to give Arco a second late-game strategy is to take Death on the pretender. This lets us summon ??Bane Lord??s, ??Wight??s, and ??Wraith Lord??s ([[immortal]] casters who can moonlight as thugs).

However, we can do better than that. If we take {{path>D5}} on the pretender we can boost all the way up to {{path>D7}} with items, which lets us cast ??Tartarian Gate?? for {{gems>10D}}. This summons a ??Tartarian??. Tartarians are amazingly stated giants who would be top quality SCs/mages, apart from them being units and overwhelmed by afflictions. {{path>N4}} lets us cast ??Gift of Reason?? for {{gems>20N}} gems, which turns them into commanders. The next step is to cast the nature global ??Gift of Health??. Sadly our healers don't work on undead, though a Recuperation bless and ??Shroud of the Battle Saint?? would. ??Legion of Wights?? is also a solid use of death gems in the late game.

So if we take a dormant SC with {{path>D5}} and {{path>N4}}+, we cover our weaknesses in the early game and late game, and get access to usable thugs in the mid-game. That dormant pretender can also cast ??Mother Oak??. A dormant ??Mother of Monsters?? (Dominion 5, {{path>D5N5B3}}) would let you take 4 scales. A ??Titan of the Spring?? (Dom 5 {{path>D5N5}}) would let you take 6 scales. 

Suggested early research is Thaumaturgy 2 (Communions, ??Mind Burn??), Construction 2 (SC items), then Alt 5 (??Swarm??, ??Maws of the Earth??).

Interestingly, you can also cast Mother Oak without this pretender. Get a {{path>W1N1}} ??Sibyl??, add a ??Robe of the Sea?? and a ??Water Bracelet??, summon a ??Naiad??, then finally add a ??Moonvine Bracelet?? and ??Thistle Mace??. However, that needs Construction 6 and Conjuration 5. You'll get most of the {{gems>W}} gems for this from nation-specific events. Late game you can also funnel gems from ??Mother Oak?? into ??Well of Misery??, for more free gems. If people are willing to trade {{gems>N}} and {{gems>D}} gems 1:1, then your carcass collector ability is less useful. However, it still gives flexibility and a backup. If nothing else, you can spend your time trading your other gems for Death gems.
==== 3; Nature gems are rare in the Late Age ====

Arco's capital brings in {{gems>3S1N}} a turn (the equivalent of 2.5{{gems>N}} gems with Alchemy). 
This is significantly more than most nations, with only LA Pythium (3.5{{gems>N}}), LA Man (3{{gems>N}}), Pangaea (3{{gems>N}}) and Vaettihelm (2.5{{gems>N}}) higher or equal. 

Arco can afford to send out several ??Orphic Mystic??s (100g, {{path>N1}} mages with other paths) early to site-search, since it doesn't need priests to lead sacreds and has good researchers. There are 6 nations which can send out better site-searchers, but only Pythium and Pangaea have significant default gem income and better site-searchers ( Pythium (265g, {{path>N2}}), Pangaea (255g, {{path>N3}}, slow to recruit)). FYI the other good site-searchers are Tien Chi (220g, {{path>N2}}), Gath (195g, {{path>N2}}), Mictlan (125g, {{path>N2}}) and Xibalba (145g, {{path>N2}}). There are several other nations which might race you to Mother Oak of course. 


==== TLDR ==== 
<WRAP box round>
  * LA Arco is weak after enemies have elephant counters, and before it has working communions. 
  * It would also like a bit more flexibility in the mid/late game. 
  * Taking a dormant SC pretender with {{path>D5N4}}+ fixes both these issues. 
  * That pretender can also cast Mother Oak. 
  * You can turn those {{gems>N}} gems into {{gems>D}} gems, which give you more flexibility and a stronger late game.
</WRAP>

===== Suggested Pretender and Scales =====
<WRAP column half>
<WRAP box round centeralign>
<WRAP column half>
{{ :pretenders:mother_of_monsters.png?73 |}}</WRAP><WRAP column half>**Dormant Mother of Monsters** \\ {{path>D5N5B3}} \\ \\ {{scales>Dom5T3P3H3G3L3M1}} </WRAP>
Withering Weapons, Undead Command, Recuperation \\
**OR** Stygian Skin, Berserker \\ \\
//Better SC, 0 points left over so objectively best. \\ Vampire hijinks possible//
</WRAP>
</WRAP>
<WRAP column half>
<WRAP box round centeralign>
<WRAP column half>{{ :pretenders:titan_of_the_spring.png?42 |}}</WRAP><WRAP column half>**Dormant Titan of the Spring** \\ {{path>D5N5}} \\ \\ {{scales>Dom5T3P3H3G3L3M3}} </WRAP>
Withering Weapons, Undead Command, Recuperation \\
**OR** Stygian Skin, Berserker \\ \\
//More magic scales, but a weaker chassis//
</WRAP>
</WRAP>


===== In game tactics =====

We’ve seen a high level view of this strategy, but what about the details?
Let’s look at some key units summons and mages, and a suggested research path.


==== Key Troops ====


**??War Elephant#1555?? (100g 62r):**
{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:war_elephant.png?84&nolink |}}This is the key to your early expansion. A handful of these on the flank with some fodder in the middle to distract indies can super-charge your expansion. They are also scary for other nations- 64 hps and prot 17 is hard to take down with basic troops. Sadly they can be hard countered by spells hitting their magic resistance (such as Soul Slay). However having a small force of them join a mid-game fight buffed with berserk, iron warriors and ethereal can turn fights if they aren’t expected. If you get air mages, cast flight on them and laugh. Berserk needs Thaum 4, so this tactic is probably better on a build more focused around Mind Hunt than the one in this guide.

Try to bargain for items which can hide them on the strategic map (Gossamer Cloth, Cauldron of the Elven Halls), to help surprise your opponents. Or take a little air on your pretender to build them yourself. Best mixed with other strategies. Bait your enemy into bringing out his soul slay communions to deal with them. Then turn up with buffed hoplites, foul vapour traps or Elemental swarms.


{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:hoplite.png?49&nolink |}}**??Hoplite#14?? (13g, 31r):** The mainstay of your army. Row after row of these can buy you a lot of time with their shields, length 4 repel weapons and prot 18. Sadly they won’t win too many wars on their own with a strength 14 attack. Of course that is what your buffs are for. Even a simple ??Strength of Giants?? would raise their strength to 17. Their piercing attack reduces the prot of anything they hit by 20%, meaning they are rolling flat dice against protection 21. That’s much more likely to win wars. If you don’t want to buff them, your mages will have enough time to win another way.

??Phalangite??s are a faster map move option, with less protection.

{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:heart_companion.png?49&nolink |}}**??Heart Companion?? (20g, 31r):** Your cap-only sacred. With this strategy we are taking a god with {{path>D5N5}}. This means we can give these troops Withering Weapons, for a decent anti-elite option against human hp troops (Knights, some sacreds, etc). Alternatively Stygian Skin and Berserker make them a useful generic troop option when our god is out. Not vital to the build either way, but nice to have.

{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:agema_companion.png?42&nolink |}}**??Agema Companion?? (35g, 40r):** A nice backup option. With a mounted defence of 18 (only ??Van??s have a higher defence in Late Age) they can stay in the fight, and lances are always good to have. Back them up with a Mystic for point buffs and go raiding. 

==== Key Mages ====


{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:mystic.png?20&nolink |}}**??Mystic?? (135g):** Your default battle-mage, giving you powerful communions with S, F, E, and W. Starts with {{path>S1,100%FWES,50%FWE}}, is guaranteed a FWES random, and has an independent 50% chance of a FWE random. Also a solid researcher, with 12RP. Having a research core full of these is great for immediate combat power.

Figuring out good communion strategies with these is 80% of the game with Arco. As a short list of suggestions, ??Iron Warriors?? + ??Body Ethereal?? + ??Weapons of Sharpness?? to buff your troops, Summon Elemental spam for super units, or ??Gifts from Heaven??/??Soul Slay?? to stop elites. Remember you can always raid with them when you have Summon Elemental, though you may have better options.

{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:orphic_mystic.png?18&nolink |}}**??Orphic Mystic?? (100g):** Your most gold efficient research mage at 11RP, and one of your best raiding options. Orphics are spell-singers, so any spells they cast are half-fatigue (though take longer to cast). They start with {{path>N1D1,50%FWE,50%SDN}}, and have a 50% chance of a FWE random, and a 50% chance of a SDN random.

The elemental randoms can get you ??Skulls of Fire??, ??Mossbody?? and research monkeys, but the real gems are the sorcery randoms.
{{path>S}} randoms give you {{path>N}} and {{path>D}} in your communions. With the half-fatigue from spell-singer, this opens up the Nature and Death trees to you. ??Wooden Warriors??, ??Soul Vortex??ed communion slaves with regenerating bodyguards, ??Howl??, ??Charm??. the options here are wide and varied.

{{path>D2}} and {{path>N2}} randoms are great raiders. At {{path>D2}} with spellsinger you can spam ??Horde of Skeletons?? without a communion. At {{path>N2}} you get reduced fatigue on Swarm, on top of your spellsinger reduced fatigue. Keep a few of these with any doomstack you have, to break out and raid provinces. A {{path>N1}} Orphic can also do Swarm raiding, of course. Remember to follow swarm raiders with scouts carrying {{gems>N}} gems.

I have to flag up a special case - if you get any {{path>N2W1}} or {{path>W1S1N1}} randoms, they can cast Foul Vapors without boosters. This is a meta-defining spell and one that enemies might not be expecting you to have. Drop the spell, cast ??Poison Ward?? on all your troops with your other Orphic Mystics, and watch as your foes choke to death. 

{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:panageis.png?13&nolink |}}**??Panageis?? (200g):** We are mainly getting these {{path>N1H2,100%ND}} for the Carcass Collector ability to convert {{gems>3N}} gems a turn into {{gems>3D}} gems. As a side benefit, they have Healer 2, which lets us use Mind Hunt freely. They let you convert {{gems>N}} gems into {{gems>D}} gems for an opportunity cost of about 3-4 RP per gem, which is a reasonable price.

{{:nations:la:arcoscephale:sibyl.png?19&nolink |}}**??Sibyl?? (230g):** These {{path>S2N1H2,100%WSND,10%WSND}} mages are a way to reliably get Nature into our communions, and get {{path>S3}} mages for Mind Hunting. {{path>W}} random Sibyls can also cast ??Foul Vapors?? in a communion, giving you another way to use that strategy. The strategy in this guide doesn’t use them that much, but if you like Mind Hunts, they are key.

===== Default research path =====

Start with **Thaumaturgy 1** for your communions, then look at your neighbours. You may need to research a spell to counter a neighbour looking to rush you in the first year. 
  * **Conjuration 3** for small elementals for better troops, 
  * **Thaumaturgy 2** for ??Mind Burn??, 
  * **Alteration 2** for ??Earth Meld?? to stop elves. 
  * **Alteration 3** for point buffing with ??Protection??, ??Luck?? and potentially ??Mossbody??. 
  * Worst comes to worst, **Construction 2/4** for SC equipment will definitely push back rushes when your god comes out.

If there is no particular research need, head up to **Alteration 5** for Mother Oak. This lets you pick up the important economy global, while also picking up a decent selection of spells for an early war. 
  * ??Destruction?? to break armour and ??Curse of Stones?? to fatigue out heavy infantry. 
  * ??Swarm?? to let your Orphics raid. ??Arouse Hunger?? for chaff and remote raiding.
  * ??Maws of the Earth?? to kill elves (and as a generic attack spell). 
  * ??Wooden Warriors?? for a good AOE armour buff. 
  * ??Incinerate?? for a weak anti-SC spell.
  * Oh, and ??Body Ethereal??/??Twist Fate??/??Luck??/??Quickness??/??Mossbody??/??Iron Warriors?? to point buff your Elephants/Agema Companions.
Make sure to site search with your Orphics and Mystics- you will need the gems later.

With 6 strong point buffs, getting some better troops who won’t immediately die to soul slay sounds good.
Next step is researching **Conjuration 3**. This gets you Wights for {{gems>20D}} gems for 5, and Bane commanders for {{gems>7D}} gems each.

**Conjuration 5** is next, getting you full-sized elementals and Bane Lords ({{gems>12D}} gems). Now you have great targets for the point buffs if you want to use them. Or you could just spam elementals. The banes can also be used for raiding or anti-thugs.

At this point you are sitting in a good place. You’ve got an income of {{gems>N}} gems which you can use for Swarm raiding, or turn into elite infantry or solid thugs. Those are all things which poor MA Arco didn’t really get to use. Picking up **Construction 4** for better thug/SC gear is good around now. That also gives you Legions of Steel.

On top of that you have the standard Mystic communions, which can spam Elementals, backed up by ??Howl??, and any other Alteration spells you like. If another nation beat you to Mother Oak, now is a good time to take it back by stabbing them in the face.

Next step is up to you, but the obvious option is to keep moving up Alteration. **Alteration 7** gives you ??Marble Warriors??/??Mass Protection??, with good backups in ??Creeping Doom?? and ??Fog Warriors?? (though you need to break into Air for the last one. Though only a little, since you can make Crystal Matrices). **Alteration 9** will give you ??Army of Gold??.

Pushing up to **Conjuration 8** is a nice option. This gives you ??Well of Misery??, which you can turn into Immortal Wraith Lords - a great long term advantage. Alternatively **Construction 7** for ??Weapons of Sharpness?? will turn your basic hoplites into major threats (particularly when combined with the high level Alteration battlefield buffs). You can also get ??Lightless Lantern??s along the way. Sidestepping into **Enchantment 3** to pick up Strength of Giants can be done at almost any time in this process, if you are having trouble breaking through protection.

If that doesn’t close out the game you can push up to **Conjuration 9** for ??Legion of Wights?? and ??Tartarian Gate??. Pick up **Thaumaturgy 5** for ??Gift of Reason?? and potentially **Enchantment 7** for ??Gift of Health?? to turn on the Tartarian factory.

And you can always go into **Blood** for vampires. Probably not worth the effort, but amusing none-the-less. Particularly if you can convince a blood nation to trade you slaves for {{gems>N}}/{{gems>D}} gems.

I recommend not going too deep into **Evocation**, **Enchantment** or **Thaumaturgy** - at least too early.
While they all have great options for you, rushing important research targets is key. You can always go back for ??Soul Slay?? or ??Mind Hunt??. 

===== Appendix of Arco Tricks =====


**Point buffing (Alt4):** Choose a solid basic troop, such as Heart Companions, Hoplites or Agema Companions. Mix with roughly 1 Mystic for every 4 ‘squares’ of your troops. Cast Body Ethereal on everything. Mix in Iron Warriors and any other buffs you have. Profit.


**Elephant Surprise (Alt5 Thaum4):** Hide a group of elephants a province or two away from your main army. Move them up when your enemy tries to start a fight. Buff the elephants with key buffs (Body Ethereal, Iron Warriors, Rage of the Cornered Rat) and charge. Works very well if you can break into Air, for -ArmySize items and Gift of Flight.


**Foul Vapor Traps (Ench5):** Get an Orphic Mystic with {{path>N2W1}} or {{path>N1W1S1}} (Water Sybils work too). Cast Foul Vapors and multiple Poison Wards to save your army. Watch as your enemy dies.


**Mass army buffing (Alt7 Ench3 Const7):** Marble Warriors. Mass Protection. Strength of Giants. Weapons of Sharpness. Legions of Steel. All spells with large AOEs, perfect for buffing your end-game armies. If you can break into air, Mass Flight is amazing.


**Elemental spam (Conj5):** Slightly over half of your Mystics will have any particular elemental path. See what types of armies your enemy is using, then bring out a communion full of the relevant mages to spam an elemental which counters it. (Spamming skellies? Throw out multiple fire elementals. Heavy infantry? Buffed earth elementals. Heavy thugs/SCs? Consider water elementals).


**Mind hunting (Evoc6 Thaum5 Const6):** Get a Sibyl with {{path>S3}}. Add a ??Starshine Skullcap?? and a Neokoros. Spam remote Soul Slays with no risk of permanent harm. This can be done at Const4 with a ??Crystal Coin?? if you are happy spending {{gems>30S}} gems on promoting a {{path>S1E2}} Mystic to {{path>S2E2}}.

**Gem economy (Alt5 with pretender. Alt5 Conj5 Const6 without a pretender):** Use Orphic Mystics early to site search for nature gems. Rush up the Alteration tree to Alt5, then cast Mother Oak with your pretender. Optionally, turn {{gems>N}} gems into {{gems>D}} gems with your Panagris mages (and consider Well of Misery in the end game).
Interestingly, you can also cast Mother Oak without a pretender. Get a {{path>W1N1}} Sibyl, add a water robe and bracelet, summon a Naiad, then finally add a moonvine bracelet and thistle mace. However that needs Construction 6 and Conjuration 5

**Raiding methods:**
  * Swarm casting Orphic Mystics.
  * 2 Elemental casting Mystics.
  * 10 Hoplites.

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