Mexico (revolution)
Mexico is an Industrial Age Revolutionary Nation for the Spanish, with Mexico City as its Home City. This page describes the Spanish Revolution route, not the playable Mexican civilization and its separate paths. Settlers become Cuerudos, joining revolver fire with livestock gathering and changing the food economy after transition.
Access & effects
Cuerudos replace Settlers, gather livestock and use revolvers. The combination links military movement to food but removes ordinary workers for broad resource gathering. Their value is mobility, ranged attack and animal interaction rather than the role of a Hussar or standard Revolutionary infantry. Livestock must be accessible and safe enough to repay gathering time.
Availability
Spanish only; Industrial Age. Home City: Mexico City. Settlers become Cuerudos; distinct from Mexican civilization paths.
Army & economy
Use the path when animals are available and Cuerudos can exploit an Industrial timing. Scout livestock, travel as a group and do not expose the converted force merely to gather. Prepare shipments and resources first. This Spanish route is distinct from the Mexican civilization’s alternate Revolution choices.
Cuerudo role and livestock
Cuerudos combine a revolver attack with livestock gathering, giving the converted force an economic task that can be performed while it moves around the map. This does not restore ordinary Settler production or provide a broad economy, so animal access and safety matter. Use the unit’s combat ability to control the space around livestock rather than sending isolated groups into enemy territory. If the opponent controls the herds, the economic part of the revolution becomes harder to realize.
Spanish access and identity
This page concerns the Spanish Revolution called Mexico, with Mexico City as its Home City. It is not the Mexican civilization’s own choice among its revolution paths. That distinction affects access, decks and the starting army, so players should check which civilization they selected before planning around Cuerudos. Prepare resources and shipments before the Spanish transition, then use the new units as a cohesive mobile force and avoid expecting them to replace specialized siege or anti-cavalry roles.
Conversion, population and economy
Mexico is a Spanish-only Industrial Age Revolution. Population space becomes 200, Settler and Fishing Boat training stops, and the existing Villagers become Cuerudos rather than ordinary Revolutionaries. Cuerudos remain trainable at Town Centers and can build Livestock Pens, train Cows and gather from herdable animals, but they are not a general replacement for every worker task. The transition therefore converts the economy into a mobile cavalry-based workforce with a specialized food source. Prepare resource crates and shipments before revolting, then use the new units to secure livestock and map space. Keep in mind that this path belongs to the Spanish civilization; it is separate from the Mexican civilization’s own Revolution choices.
Cuerudos: specialist cavalry and counters
Cuerudos are outlaw ranged heavy cavalry descended from the Comanchero line. They have 180 base hit points, 40% ranged resistance and 20% siege resistance, with a specialist role against light infantry and artillery. Their hand attack is particularly dangerous against targets they counter, and they have a cavalry lance classification that lets Caballeros improve their charge and attack range. Their ranged mode can trade more evenly against other troops, but they are fragile compared with a Hussar and should not remain in a bad matchup. Use speed to reach a flank, strike artillery or light infantry, and pull them back when the opponent brings dedicated cavalry counters.
Ranged and hand attack choices
Cuerudos have different attack modes for different targets. Their hand attack benefits from stronger multipliers against the units they counter, and they lack the reduced hand multiplier against Villagers that applies to their ranged mode. Their ranged attack offers a safer way to trade and can be micro-managed to maintain distance, but does not make them an all-purpose skirmisher. The player should switch modes deliberately: close on artillery or light infantry when the hand bonus matters, use ranged fire while repositioning, and avoid a long fight against units outside their counter profile. Because the unit has high resistance but limited base health, preserving it for favorable targets improves the value of the conversion.
Livestock and food production
Livestock connects Cuerudo movement to the post-revolution economy. The units can build Pens, train Cows and gather from herdable animals, so safe livestock can become food without sending ordinary Settlers across the map. Cattle Drivers provides semi-fattened Cows and a Homestead Wagon, while Guadalajara Ranching adds a Cow for each shipment already sent. Barbacoa gives Haciendas an automatic livestock-gathering function: they can gather up to two fattened herdable animals within range and improve their livestock gathering rate. These effects reward preparing animals before the transition and choosing a safe place for Pens or Haciendas.
The Saloon and three Mexican outlaws
The Tavern becomes a Saloon, which unlocks Desperados, Cuatreros and Bandidos. These Mexican outlaws do not replace the existing Pistolero, Comanchero and Renegado options, so the player gains another roster rather than simply renaming every outlaw. Desperados, Cuatreros and Bandidos have charge abilities and can be supported by outlaw upgrades. Theaters reduces outlaw population costs, making repeated shipments and a larger outlaw force easier to field. Plan the Saloon as a production point and keep it protected; a new unit option has little value if it cannot train during the timing window.
Bandidos and siege pressure
Bandidos are outlaw light infantry with a strong siege role and a Dynamite Demolition ability. The infinite eleven-Bandido shipment can pressure buildings and dense unit groups, especially when the army already has a screen. Outlaw Combat improves outlaw and mercenary hit points and damage, and Theaters reduces the population burden of the outlaw force. Their siege damage can make a raid threaten more than Villagers, but they remain vulnerable to counters and should not replace the Cuerudos’ anti-artillery task or Soldados’ frontline role. Use Bandidos to force a response and open space for the main army.
Soldados, Chinacos and supporting armies
Mexico has several ways to add conventional military strength alongside Cuerudos. Viceroyalty of New Spain supplies Hacienda Wagons and enables Haciendas to spawn Soldados; the Revolution upgrades the relevant Soldado line to Guard without a separate unit-upgrade cost. Army of the Three Guarantees delivers Soldados, Chinacos and Heavy Cannons, while a six-Soldado shipment provides a smaller reinforcement. Charreada lets Haciendas spawn Chinacos, and Charros improves that unit line. These units fill roles that the specialized Cuerudos do not: Soldados anchor the infantry, Chinacos add cavalry and Heavy Cannons provide siege. Protect Haciendas if relying on them for production.
Cards that define the Mexico deck
The deck supports several plans. Caballeros improves lance cavalry and increases the Cuerudo’s range and attack against infantry. Cattle Drivers and the ten-Cuerudo shipment provide livestock, Pens and a Homestead Wagon; Guadalajara Ranching rewards shipment volume. Barbacoa improves Hacienda animal gathering, and Viceroyalty of New Spain establishes Soldado production. Central American Allies opens Apache, Maya, Navajo and Zapotec units through Native Embassies. Other options include Gatling Guns, a Fort Wagon, Zacatecas Silver, Bandidos, Outlaw Combat, Chipotle Tactics and Port Veracruz. Chipotle Tactics returns Food when buildings are destroyed, while Port Veracruz increases Fort line of sight and range and lets Forts attack other buildings. Choose cards for the army and map rather than trying to send every line.
Economy and recovery through Haciendas
Haciendas are central to Mexico’s longer game. They can support livestock gathering, create economic value and, with the relevant cards, train Settlers, Cows or Soldados. Citizenship supplies Citizens and enables training them at Town Centers for Coin; it also reopens Fishing Boat production. Spanish Gold can add recurring Coin through shipments and gives the player a reason to preserve a Home City shipment cycle. If the initial military attack fails, use these economic tools to rebuild instead of assuming that converted Cuerudos alone can maintain a broad economy. Place Haciendas where they can be protected and where livestock is close enough for Barbacoa to matter.
Outlaw upgrades and card conflicts
Outlaw Combat is a strong early post-revolution shipment because it improves the main outlaw force. Theaters helps make Bandidos, Desperados and Cuatreros easier to field, while Folk Heroes and Wild West are separate upgrade paths that can conflict with access to Mexican Peacemakers at Cantinas. The source warns that researching Folk Heroes before the relevant Cantina sequence can prevent taking the Mexican upgrade path. Decide which outlaw technologies matter before spending resources at the Tavern or Cantina. Cavalry Combat supports Cuerudos, Chinacos and other mounted units; Liberation March improves movement and training time for infantry, cavalry and shock troops.
A staged revolution plan
A prepared Mexico strategy can send Cavalry Combat, Theaters, Viceroyalty of New Spain and Factories before revolting, then use Outlaw Combat to improve the converted force. During the transition, choose whether the first objective is livestock access, a Soldado/Hacienda base or immediate pressure. Cuerudos can secure open ground, while Haciendas generate resources and production. Once population and shipment timing allow, combine Guard Soldados, Cuerudos, Bandidos and Heavy Cannons for a push. The order is not fixed: on an open map, Cuerudos can raid early; against a fortified opponent, establish artillery and outlaw siege support first. Keep resources for the cards that complete the composition.
Forts, demolition and late-game pushing
The Fort Wagon and Port Veracruz can create a late-game siege route. Port Veracruz increases Fort sight and range and enables attacks against other buildings; Castrametation can help the Explorer rebuild lost Forts. Chipotle Tactics returns Food when buildings are destroyed, so Fort fire, Heavy Cannons and Bandidos can turn siege into economic value. This works only if the army protects the Fort and can keep the push supplied. Improved Buildings supports the structural plan, while the Fort Wagon increases the build limit. Do not advance the wagon or Explorer alone; establish a position the army can hold.
Matchups and map selection
Mexico rewards maps with open approaches, herdable animals or space for a Hacienda economy. Cuerudos can raid exposed Villagers and attack light infantry or artillery, but their lower hit points make them vulnerable when caught by cavalry or other counters. Dense defensive positions call for Soldados, Bandidos and Heavy Cannons rather than repeated Cuerudo charges. On maps where livestock is scarce, the specialized food economy is less convenient, so prepare more resource support. Water access is not the defining strength of this route; compare it with revolutions whose main benefit is naval control. Scout first, then decide whether the deck is prepared for a cavalry raid, an outlaw push or an economic transition.
Age-up politicians and final checks
The Naturalist and Philosopher Prince can support a fast route to the Industrial Age, especially when the deck already invests in herdables. The Bishop provides a Covered Wagon that can establish another Town Center and help recovery, while The Scout’s Hussars pair with the Cuerudos. The Cavalry Marshal suits a mounted attack, and The King’s Musketeer provides additional Musketeer support for Spanish Soldados. Before revolting, confirm that the Town Centers and Haciendas can remain safe, that important pre-revolution cards have been sent, and that the first shipments cover the matchup rather than leaving the army without siege or infantry.
Shipment sequencing and specialized support
Several Mexico cards do different jobs and should be chosen with the intended transition in mind. Guadalajara Ranching scales with shipments already delivered, so it is stronger after a developed Home City sequence than as an isolated opening card. Cattle Drivers instead gives immediate livestock and a Homestead Wagon, while a separate card supplies ten Cuerudos and ten Cows. Zacatecas Silver adds a Coin source, Gatling Guns and the Fort Wagon provide direct combat or positional support, and Central American Allies opens four Native Embassy rosters: Apache, Maya, Navajo and Zapotec. Those allied units broaden the available counters but require the Embassy infrastructure and population room. The three-shipment Army of the Three Guarantees is a major committed delivery; plan the shipment queue around it rather than expecting an immediate one-card arrival.
Citizenship, fishing and post-revolution recovery
Citizenship changes the economy more deeply than a simple resource shipment. It supplies Citizens, permits their training at Town Centers for Coin, and restores Fishing Boat production at Docks after ordinary Fishing Boat training has stopped with the revolution. This can be valuable when the map offers safe water or when the converted army has bought enough time to rebuild. It does not remove the need to defend Town Centers and Docks, and it competes for a Home City shipment slot with immediate military options. On land maps, the Citizenship route may be less useful than Cattle Drivers, Hacienda support or an army shipment; on water maps it gives a way to add a new gathering line while keeping the Cuerudos active on land.
Preparing the revolt and choosing its first objective
Mexico’s timing is easier to manage when the deck is divided into cards that must be sent before the change and cards that remain useful afterward. Cavalry Combat, Theaters, Viceroyalty of New Spain and Factory support can shape the army before the transition; Outlaw Combat then strengthens the outlaw group after it is available. Decide whether the opening objective is to claim herdables, establish Soldado production through Haciendas or attack with the units already on hand. An opponent who can defend artillery and light infantry can blunt a Cuerudo raid, so do not assume that the converted cavalry alone is enough to force a decisive fight. Keep a plan for Heavy Cannons or other siege, an infantry screen and a protected economic base. The revolution can change the available units sharply, but a coherent shipment order is what turns the changed roster into a playable army.