Emperor Edition is the free September 2014 overhaul that rebuilt ROME II's politics, building chains and campaign AI after a rough 2013 launch. It ships the Grand Campaign across 57 provinces stretching from Britannia and Hispania to Bactria, plus the Imperator Augustus campaign covering the Second Triumvirate's civil war. Turn-based empire management feeds into real-time battles of thousands of men, and these are the rules everyone still plays under.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Carthage | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Macedon | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Egypt | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Parthia | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition tier list.
A-Tier: Rome
Rome is a top-performing option in Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Legionary Cohorts | Rome's line infantry after the Marian reforms, throwing pila before contact and grinding through sustained melee. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Province and region system | The Grand Campaign splits into 57 provinces, each built from two to four regions with a single provincial capital. |
How to Play Rome
Rome focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Legionary Cohorts does the damage and Province and region system keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Carthage
Carthage is a strong option in Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Pike phalanx | Sarissa blocks fielded by Macedon, the Seleucids and Ptolemaic Egypt. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Public order and food | Food surplus feeds growth while a shortage causes attrition and unrest across an entire province. |
How to Play Carthage
Carthage focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Pike phalanx with Public order and food and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Macedon
Macedon is a strong option in Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | War elephants | Carthaginian and Eastern shock units that break morale on impact and trample formed infantry. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Army traditions and generals | Armies are permanent objects tied to a general and accumulate traditions over campaigns, granting real bonuses such as faster movement or better ambush odds. |
How to Play Macedon
Macedon focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Army traditions and generals covers the gap War elephants leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Egypt
Egypt is a specialized option in Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Horse archers | The Parthian and Steppe answer to heavy infantry: fire, withdraw, repeat until morale breaks. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Political parties and civil war | Your faction is divided between rival houses, and Emperor Edition rewrote how their influence moves. |
How to Play Egypt
Egypt focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Political parties and civil war rather than raw numbers, and Horse archers is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Parthia
Parthia is a specialized option in Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Scorpions and onagers | Field artillery that outranges everything and shreds packed formations and gates. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Combined land and naval battles | Coastal battles put fleets and land armies on the same map, with marines landing straight into the fight. |
How to Play Parthia
Parthia focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Scorpions and onagers and Combined land and naval battles pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Carthage: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Rome once you understand core mechanics and have access to Legionary Cohorts
- Keep a Macedon setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Parthia for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Province edicts only unlock once you own every region in a province, so half-conquered provinces cost you unrest without giving you the tools to fix it. Finish one province before opening the next front.
- Food is calculated per province, and a shortage causes attrition and public order damage across every region in it. Build farms in the low-value regions and keep at least a small surplus everywhere you hold.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Guides
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Overview
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Tier List
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Walkthrough
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Beginner's Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Tips & Tricks
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Weapons Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Combat Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Boss Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Maps & Locations
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Crafting Guide
- Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Builds: strategy game with similar mechanics
