What are the strengths of the Malians?

[Blackhood]

Because i don't really get it, you'll have to excuse me if they're actually good, because i'm not a particularly good player, but i have to ask partly out of curiosity and partly out of doubt.

What do the malians have that makes them stand out? Because as far as i can tell all they've really got going for them is their unique unit, and huskarl-esque infantry. I mean since they lack both Bracer AND Blast Furnace, it feels like their choices are extremely limited, and their unique tech for +5 cavalry attack (or net +3) seems abit out of place since it's an expensive* Imperial age upgrade.

So give me your input, because i really want to know how you think around them, and i apologize if this post sounds negative; it is NOT my intention, i really DO want to know what other people - and better players in particular - think about them and perhaps could shed some light on how to think about balance in general, since i have practically no experience with these things.

*EDIT: I thought the cost was higher than it is for Farimba, i just checked ingame and it's not nearly as expensive as i first thought.

[Freeman1302]

No need to apologize. Resonance has made a nice video about the Malian's strenghts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng36C8rCSdg

[Blackhood]

Alright, thanks!

[Experienced Noob]

The best civs are the civs with the big economy bonuses. You couple big economy bonuses with any kind of decent military and you've got a good civ.

Malians have 2 economy bonuses. Cheaper buildings and free gold-mining techs. This makes them a good rushing or booming civ.

Yeah they might not have the strongest possible Imperial army, but they have very good trash units -- halbs with very high pierce armor, and light cav with 3 more attack than anyone else's hussars. They get siege onagers, but admittedly don't get siege engineers tech.

Thing is they're likely to be in Imperial before most other civs. They could champ flood with the high pierce armor champs in early Imp, then switch to trash and onagers.

But I think they're best off rushing. Those two eco bonuses would make for good archer army in early game with the wood savings on buildings and extra gold. Could also do a man-at-arms rush in Feudal with extra pierce armor, or a late castle age attack with Longswords and siege.

[davo2041]

Maybe not the right post, but as seen in the video the gbeto seems to be an axethrower with mor range, attack and speed. So it is axethrower 2.0. Or are they any differences where the frankish UU shines and the gbeto not?

[Freeman1302]

The gbeto is faster with an higher attack so it's excellent at raiding. The throwing axeman on the other hand is slower but with more hp so not that great at raiding but good against infantry.

[Soully]

Originally posted by davo2041:

Maybe not the right post, but as seen in the video the gbeto seems to be an axethrower with mor range, attack and speed. So it is axethrower 2.0. Or are they any differences where the frankish UU shines and the gbeto not?

Health and armor. the Gbeto is incredibly weak and can do nothing in defense. Siege, cavalry, even infantry if they get close enough, will butcher them. The throwing axeman can hold its ground much better.

[Full Korbe]

iirc, the Gbeto also costs 15G more than T.Axeman, and it really adds up when you want to have a good number of them.

[davo2041]

Really! When I look at the stats (without upgrade) the elite axemen has 60 lp/ 8 attack / 1 armor/ 0 pierce armor and 4 range. The gbeto has 45 lp/ 14 attack / 0 armor /0 pierce armor and 6 range. Ok full upgraded we have 12 attack (axemen) and (16 attack) gbeto.

I tested both and the axemen feels so weak compared to the gbeto. Or i really don't know how to use it ;-)

[Semiwestern]

Personally I think the strongest part of this civilization, and the thing that stood out to me immediately when I looked at their civ bonuses was the +1 pierce armor per age starting at feudal. This is HUGE! Having halberdiers with 7 pierce armor fully upgraded is insane and makes them essentially "huskarl-esque" in their ability to withstand arrow fire. The lack of blast furnace does hurt though, so there is a definite trade off, but I still think that is an extremely strong bonus to have.

[Eenhorn Flonkerglans]

Low wood costs are amazing, as you can build faster than anyone else. You save on houses, farms, rax... You could either save on lumberjacks for more food or gold or get the bigger buildings and farms out quicker.
The pierce boost is pure gold. True, they lack in offense, but last game I managed to stall on swordsmen in favor of skirmishers and halberds, held of the first pushes and then went all out with champions because I could save all the gold. You also have the option to go gunpowder.

While they do not have as many bonuses as other civs, their few ones really hit hard.