Acropolis
Acropolis gives each player a defensible plateau above a resource-rich valley. Starting Wall segments and Battery Towers help protect the high ground, but the plateau has few natural resources and cannot support a passive long-term economy.
Map character
Phanariotes are the distinctive Native option. Scout a safe descent from the plateau and the workers’ route into the valley, where continued gathering is possible. The starting defenses help secure the initial position; they do not replace an army that can protect expansion below.
What to scout
Use the protected start to stabilize the opening, then move toward valley resources before the plateau’s limited stock runs out. Guard workers on the descent and claim the Phanariot settlement when the army can hold it. Do not wait behind the starting towers until the opponent controls the valley.
Defensible plateaus above a resource valley
In the Age III version, each player starts on a separate Acropolis plateau that can be defended with a few Wall segments and starting Battery Towers. Few resources are present on the plateau, so players must descend into the valley to continue gathering natural resources. Phanariotes know the area and may join the player’s forces.
Expand beyond the walls
The elevated start creates a safe opening but should not encourage a passive economy: workers eventually need access to the resource-rich valley. Scout a descent route and protect the workers who move below the plateau. The Phanariot option can support expansion, while the starting towers help defend the initial position. Acropolis was added to Definitive Edition in update 13.18214.