Byzantium

Unique Ability

"Taxis": units gain +3 Combat or Religious Strength for every Holy City converted to Byzantium's religion (including its own), and defeating an enemy or city-state unit spreads that religion to nearby cities automatically. Basil II's own ability, "Porphyrogénnētos," lets Heavy and Light Cavalry deal full damage to cities that already follow Byzantium's religion, and grants the Tagma unique unit once the Divine Right civic is researched.

Unique Unit: Tagma

A Medieval era unit replacing the Knight. Land units within 1 tile of a Tagma gain +4 Combat or Religious Strength, making it as much a support piece as a frontline unit.

Unique Infrastructure: Hippodrome

A district unique to Byzantium that replaces the Entertainment Complex, costs less to build, provides +3 Amenities, and grants a free Heavy Cavalry unit (with no resource maintenance) when it and its buildings are constructed.

How to Play Byzantium

• Found a religion and start winning fights early — religion spreads automatically to nearby cities whenever you defeat an enemy or city-state unit.
• Use Tagma to buff a stack of units near a religious front line rather than as a solo strike unit.
• Build a Hippodrome in cities you plan to garrison — the free Heavy Cavalry unit essentially pays for part of the district itself.

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