A tier list for the game The Battle for Polytopia.
Can change over time.
S Tier[]
Yaddak[]
Not only do they one of the best soundtracks in the game, but they also start with the “Roads” tech, allowing them to increase travel time between cities early on, a crucial advantage late and early as it allows your armies to move quickly to enemy tribes. The “Roads” tech will also upgrade your capital(and the city that is connected) for every city that is connected, allowing you to upgrade your capital depending on how many cities you conquer. Their downside is, when playing with either a lot of people or a small map, it can be hard to amass the required amount of cities to upgrade your capital to an equal or better city than your rivals.
Luxidouor[]
The most powerful economy in the game, while everyone starts at 2 stars, Luxidouor begins with a level 2 city (since the first balance pass) with a workshop, so three stars a turn. They often have three fruit in there terrain (spawn rate of double other tribes) so they can upgrade their capital to level 3 by turn 3/4. This makes all the difference as the first few turns of the game can determine victory. Luxidouor will find it easier to amass an army and develop technology while also remaining versatile.
Bardur[]
Starting with the "Hunting" technology makes Bardur the ultimate glass cannon tribe. With a head start in Forestry (essential for population) as well as both of the game's terrestrial ranged units, Bardur is a powerful offensive tribe. Stay away from knights and overall just keep an eye on your catapults.
Kickoo[]
Contested S Tier
Polaris[]
Even after its post-launch nerf, Polaris is still the powerhouse disruptor tribe. As long as its Moonis are freezing both areas and soldiers solid (preventing precious resources from being harvested for a turn and soldiers from fighting). The Battle Sled is basically a faster if not also tankier swordsman, and the access to what is an instant land-roaming battleship in the form of the Ice Fortress is ridiculous. As long as the ice is up, Polaris can be unstoppable. Its super unit, the Gaami, also assists in maintaining and spreading ice as it auto-spreads it. A hard counter to the Kickoo tribe as well as any army strong navally.
A Tier[]
Zebasi[]
Beginning with farming basically means you spawn with a level 3 city instead of a level 2.
[]
Oumaji[]
Begins with riding research and a horse soldier meaning one can start villaging expanding faster and higher speed.
B Tier[]
C Tier[]
Vengir[]
Vengir is a super-aggressive tribe that can only grow early game through attacking other tribes. This means a 1 on 1 means almost instant defeat, but a 4 player match increases chances of victory as the tribes are closer together. It does start with a powerful swordsman.
Xin-Xi[]
Hoordick[]
Imperuis[]
D Tier[]
Aquarion[]
While unique, Aquarion suffers for a chunk of Domination has land-battles and collection as uber-essential. Overall its amphibious tech tree fails to save it, not to mention 10-player maps (such as a player against 9 crazy bots) will usually deprive the player of water and make Aquarion easy prey for aggressive opponents.
Ai-Mo[]
If you don't have your altar up you're dead. But hey, at least you get to Philosophy faster.