Ethiopians strategy
Ethiopians develop an Influence economy alongside conventional resources and use alliance choices to shape their army. Mountain Monasteries connect mining, age advancement and alliance research.
Civilization identity & tools
Mountain Monasteries can gather Coin and Influence from a mine, with workers and Abuns improving collection. Each age advance provides a Monastery Builder and increases the building limit. Alliance technologies and other researches at the Monastery can alter the economy, timing or army; some choices change how the monastery contributes after its mine is exhausted.
Matchups & timing
Place monasteries where a mine can support the intended resource plan, then choose an alliance for the units or technologies needed in the next age. Keep track of Influence spending across mercenaries, artillery and alliance options.
Practical plan
Use the age-up route to set a clear timing such as an earlier Fortress Age or a later economy. Scout before committing to a specialized alliance and maintain enough food and coin for the chosen force.
Influence, alliances and Mountain Monasteries
The Ethiopian economy uses Influence alongside Food, Wood and Coin. Mountain Monasteries can be placed on mines and toggled between Coin and Influence collection; Villagers and Abuns can work there to increase gathering. Each Age-up grants a Mountain Monastery Builder and raises the build limit by one, so expansion can turn an age advance into additional resource sites. The monasteries also research alliance technologies, linking economic placement to army composition. Cattle raised at the Livestock Market are another Influence source. When a mine runs out, ordinary monasteries stop generating resources; the Habesha alliance and Ark of the Covenant research can change that late-game limitation. Choose an alliance based on the next roster need, and plan Influence spending across mercenaries, artillery and alliance research instead of assuming it is interchangeable with Coin. Secure the mine and the workers before investing in several monasteries, and leave enough conventional resources to maintain unit production. This economy rewards matching the mine setting and alliance to the timing of the next attack.
Age-up choices and resource conversion
A Mountain Monastery placed on a mine converts the mine’s output into Coin, Influence or a selected mix; Villagers and Abuns can work at the building for added collection. Each age-up gives a Monastery Builder and raises the allowed monastery count by one. Cattle at the Livestock Market provides another Influence stream. This makes the age-up choice and mine placement part of the same plan: secure a mine, decide how much Influence the next alliance or mercenary purchase requires, then set the monastery accordingly. Without the Habesha alliance and Ark of the Covenant research, a monastery stops generating resources when its mine is exhausted. Maintain enough Food and Wood for the ordinary unit queue, since Influence cannot pay those costs. Choose alliance research for the next battlefield need, then reserve Influence for artillery or mercenary support.
Build Influence around the army you intend to field
Ethiopian planning uses ordinary resources and Influence, so decide early which units will consume each budget. Set the Mountain Monastery to Coin or Influence according to the next age’s costs, and avoid changing its focus without a reason. Select an African alliance that fills a gap in the core army rather than duplicating a role already handled by Ethiopian units. The Palace’s selected force can reinforce a timing, but ordinary military production is needed to replace losses. Keep Villagers gathering Food and Coin for the base army while the special resource accumulates, and scout whether the opponent is pressuring the Monastery or the resource sites.
Choose the age-up reward for its follow-through
An Ethiopian age-up should connect its reward to the next production and map objective. A resource or Influence reward can complete a unit batch; a military force can protect the Palace or help secure a Trading Post. Place the Mountain Monastery where it can be defended and set it to the resource that unlocks the intended alliance units or technologies. Avoid purchasing several expensive allied units without enough ordinary income to support Villagers and core troops. If the opponent fields cavalry, prepare suitable infantry or ranged support; if the opponent relies on infantry, select units that can pressure that line. The goal is a combined army, not a collection of unrelated age-up rewards.