Malians

The Malians are an economically powerful civilization with exceptional gold efficiency and strong infantry. Their unique tech Farimba gives all cavalry +5 attack. Buildings are 20% cheaper, significantly reducing construction costs for a fast-booming strategy. Infantry have +1 pierce armor per Age starting in the Dark Age — making Malian infantry surprisingly durable against archers. The Gbeto unique unit is a fast, ranged infantry with high attack damage. Gold mining works faster, giving Malians an economic edge in gold-rich maps. Malians are versatile — capable of aggressive cavalry pushes, tower spam, or infantry flooding. They are a strong pick in both 1v1 and team games due to their economic flexibility.