Bhakti Temple
Asian religious Minor civilization from The Asian Dynasties; ally by building a Trading Post or, for the Inca, Tambo at its holy site. Maps: Bengal, Ceylon, Deccan, Himalayas, Himalayas - Upper and Silk Road. Its economic option can be as valuable as its army.
Settlement & allied options
Tiger Claw is fast hand shock infantry for light infantry and exposed artillery, but is fragile. War Elephant is heavy cavalry with area damage, ranged durability and siege pressure; both units share speed and upgrades. Yoga (200 Food, 200 Coin) gives infantry, cavalry and shock infantry +5% damage. Reinforced Gauntlets (300 Food, 300 Coin) gives Tiger Claw +50% hit points. Vegetarianism (100 Wood, 100 Coin) gives Villagers +40% Berry Bush gathering.
Units, technologies & maps
Consider Bhakti as hunts run low and your economy shifts to berries; Vegetarianism researches quickly. Choose the warriors for mobile pressure or durable area damage, but avoid sending Tiger Claws into heavy infantry. Definitive Edition associates War Elephant with Bhakti, although earlier settlement tables list it differently.
When to ally
The Bhakti options can shift a match from an early Food economy to an army investment. Vegetarianism only improves Berry Bushes, so scout remaining bushes and protect the workers before paying for it; it does not help once the economy has moved to Farms or hunts. Tiger Claws attack ordinary Infantry well but suffer against Heavy infantry, while the War Elephant has 425 hit points and area trample pressure at a high Food and Wood cost. If the goal is a durable front unit, budget for Elephant production; if the opponent fields lighter Infantry, Tiger Claws are the cheaper specialized choice. Yoga improves eligible classes broadly but offers only 5%, so compare its cost with producing the unit needed for the immediate fight.
Tiger Claw pressure and War Elephant durability
Tiger Claws cost 60 Food and 50 Wood and train in 30 seconds. They have 160 hit points, 20% ranged resistance and 6.0 speed; their 15-damage hand attack deals double damage to Infantry but half damage to Heavy infantry, so they are better used against lighter targets than heavy frontliners. War Elephants cost 200 Food and 80 Wood, take 40 seconds to train and have 425 hit points with 30% ranged resistance. Their 20-damage hand and trample attacks and 36 siege damage create area and structure pressure, but the high cost makes them a commitment.
Three upgrades serve berries, Tiger Claws or the army
Vegetarianism costs 100 Wood and 100 Coin and raises Villager gathering from Berry Bushes by 40%, useful only while safe bushes remain. Reinforced Gauntlets costs 300 Food and 300 Coin and adds 50% hit points to Tiger Claws. Yoga costs 200 Food and 200 Coin and improves damage by 5% for Infantry, Cavalry and Shock Troops. Each takes 10 seconds. Choose the berry upgrade for a food transition, Gauntlets when using Tiger Claws, or Yoga when the army already contains eligible classes.
Holy-site access and version distinction
A Trading Post or Inca Tambo on a Bhakti Temple holy site unlocks the alliance; the Native Embassy is another training route for its units. Sites are listed on Bengal, Ceylon, Deccan, Himalayas, Himalayas - Upper and Silk Road. Definitive Edition associates War Elephant with Bhakti, while earlier settlement tables list it differently, so use the active release’s alliance roster.