Civ 6 | This Civ 6 Strategy Is OP, Let Me Show You Why! - (#1 Deity Basil Byzantium Civilization VI)

To try everything Brilliant has to offer-free-for a full 30 days, visit brilliant.org/UrsaRyan . The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant’s annual premium subscription.
This video was sponsored by Brilliant #Brilliant #sponsored #ad
In this game of Civ 6, we’ll be playing as Basil’s Byzantium, and I’ll be showing off one of the most broken strategy combinations in Civ 6 right now.
I’ve maintained for many a tier list that Byzantium is the most powerful civ in the game, and under Basil I really do stand by that. Why? Well let me show you why. We’re going to use Byzantium’s many abilities to crusade, pillage and cavalry our way to victory. Tagma ahoy!
In this game, I’ll be showing you just why this strategy with Basil can be considered to be so overpowered. Some would even say… BROKEN. Overlook him at your peril!
All maps, mods and tech support on getting these games to work are available on my discord, so swing by! If you want to help plan this series, consider becoming a channel supporter using the links below.
Find the full playlist here:
00:00 - Hello & Welcome! Game Explain
01:33 - Brilliant! Today's Sponsor
02:39 - Turn 1
05:45 - Explaining Byzantium's Abilities
09:42 - Pantheon Time
13:55 - Settle Me Silly!
17:51 - It's A War You Love To See
22:08 - Dromon!
25:44 - Naval Raiding
29:54 - The Barbs Are Just Hilarious
34:01 - Culture Is Good!
Make sure you subscribe below so you don't miss more Deity Civilization VI fun!
Ko-fi - ko-fi.com/ursaryan
Patreon - / ursaryan
Discord - / discord
Subscribe - / @ursaryan

[@UrsaRyan]

To try everything Brilliant has to offer-free-for a full 30 days, visit brilliant.org/UrsaRyan . The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant’s annual premium subscription!

[@FARBerserker]

preach . . byzantium . . i see what you did there

[@sefaunal141]

Huzzah! My favourite war criminal got sponsorship!

[@Antowan]

Sponsored bear he is!

[@marioalessandrini7405]

27:00 After you eliminated all norwegian naval units there should be a button to go to Harald and tell him "Hey Harald, your seas are unprotected, friend. All too easy to raid."

[@UrsaRyan]

A button of pure satisfaction

[@Krossfyre]

Basil is so fun. Domination tends to be kind of tedious, especially when it takes so long to move units, takes so much effort to break walls, and enemy units are annoying to slog through. He completely overturns this. Cavalry are fast, walls melt in a few hits, and killing enemy units is effortless and powers up your army.

[@UrsaRyan]

A truely unstoppable snowball when you get going

[@datorres67]

Which Civ leader gives me the greatest opportunity to say, 'Source of horse?' 😏

[@UrsaRyan]

Saucimus Of Horsimus

[@lesbaguette4381]

(Also, either Scythia or Mongolia. The answer is probably Scythia, though - you'll want earlier wars with them.)

[@dariocarelli859]

You truly are the scourge of horse

[@kassandranna]

Yay, more civ! Congrats on sponsorship! HUZZAH!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah! Cheers =)

[@trumpet-titan4122]

HUZZAH

[@Dutch_is_a_Weird_Language]

Fear not the Byzantium player who knows how their kit works. Fear the Byantium player that looked up the translation of their abilities

[@SourceOfBeing]

You know, for some reason I want to see a Civ/Leader that has a unique version of the Giant Death Robot.

[@abelgonzalez158]

The unofficial mascot! ❤️

[@gabeat_]

Japan

[@jameshall1300]

​@@gabeat_ gotta be Japan. Just has to.

[@bigfudge2031]

@@jameshall1300Nah, it's North Korea

[@flaggy185]

Imperium of Man

[@SourceOfBeing]

£501 - Just got back from a conference at the University of Sankore. What did I miss?

[@UrsaRyan]

Absolutely nothing. Don't stress about it

[@SuperExplosivegames]

Love this series! Recently joined the discord so I could snag those pretty UI mods too.

[@UrsaRyan]

Fingers crossed you enjoy them =)

[@bigmanroadman3910]

When you made peace with Norway, normally you can get a better peace deal by taking the city and making them pay you to return it in the peace deal, plus since it loses pop it makes them slightly weaker for the full invasion later so generally I do that if i can take the city but don't want it yet.

[@Lyarrah]

me, seeing "15 seconds ago" oh, so THIS is what time of day these go up, I've never been awake for that before! anyway, I've always failed hard as Basil so I'm looking forward to learning how to use him right!

[@UrsaRyan]

Ah man, Basil is so much fun, stick at it!

[@z284pwr]

Oh yes. Always enjoy watching Basil playthroughs. The games just hit differently when it's so clear it's Ursa's favorite Civ :)

[@UrsaRyan]

I literally can never wait to play them!

[@wilsontheknight]

I feel like the real reason you hold Byzantium in such high regard is because it rhymes with Ryzantium

[@UrsaRyan]

Woah...

[@abelgonzalez158]

The statesman, the artist and most of all the Ursa Bear Ringleader 🐻 ❤

[@Xaphe23]

Smooth transition into the sponsorship!

[@UrsaRyan]

Ta!

[@thecameron3996]

Given her disposition towards horses and friendship, I am thoroughly convinced that Tomyris is, in fact, Megan Williams.

[@Flamezie]

Montezuma on a continent split is one of my favourites eagle warriors to get the builders to build the luxuries to slaughter someone early then ur on par/above the AI in terms of units but with even more combat strength and a special entertainment building that gives general points its just a cake walk to easily chain wars and less effort then byzantium imo.

[@scooseedwards8587]

Congrats on the sponsorship!!! This is the second time youve been sponsored by them right?

[@UrsaRyan]

Third! And thank you = )

[@Paielai]

Always cool to see an Eleanor game, and awesome to see you on the civ game night 😁

[@SweenyMarc]

Taking Choral Music just to spite the AI that loves that belief was the real power move.

[@UrsaRyan]

Couldn't help myself = )

[@konplayz]

Congratulations on getting the bag

[@timurt4311]

Congratulation on the Sponsor!

[@UrsaRyan]

Cheers = )

[@insaeculasaeculorum]

It seems like your "Neigh" bour is the one with all the Horsies!!! 🐎

[@UrsaRyan]

Tehehe

[@turbinesurgeon6470]

Undomesticated equines could not keep me away.

[@paulgaofei]

ooh, OP Basil! Bring it on!

[@Deamon93IT]

The Tacma printer, huzzah!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@Deamon93IT]

@@UrsaRyan a shame that the RNG gods didn't grant a source of horse, but this is a mild inconvenience for Basil the chad

[@clinthenness7186]

Here we go!!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@DenkaSaeba3]

Early Ursa sponsor!!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@KArchine]

Hay well done on the sponsor mate 😊

[@UrsaRyan]

Cheers!

[@maxnguyen665]

@Ursa, do you have any plan to try out Bear's wonder mod? I want to see you break the game with 10k+ science culture and 10k gold per turn. My best run was turn 153 with 15k science, culture, gpt, and faith but with a modded civ.

[@UrsaRyan]

Still need to check them out!

[@maj.kingkong3004]

Why the long face…OK, you got me with that one.

[@UrsaRyan]

Tehehe

[@Stevedawhoop]

You have sponsor!!! Congratulation

[@UrsaRyan]

Cheers = )

[@frankn.9338]

What is the maxed out attack bonus you managed to get for your units by converting the holy site cities? where does it end?

[@UrsaRyan]

+21 on a Huge map! That's just taxis

[@frankn.9338]

crazy! And howmany holi sites did you build in your own cities? they also count right@@UrsaRyan

[@Jusdro]

If this channel switched to nothing but Basil playthroughs I would still watch every video. Let’s gooooo

[@UrsaRyan]

Don't tempt me = )

[@gamechatpodcast]

I agree basil is OP. You should do a run on diety++ sometime and test your skills!

[@UrsaRyan]

Weirdly, I think that would actually be an easier run!

[@portland573]

Snowball begins

[@eoinmoriarty11]

Congrats on the sponsor!

[@UrsaRyan]

Cheers = )

[@lrex4706]

Tsar Peter got pushed to the side

[@2Links]

Finally, I have become an early bear. And by randomly checking at that!

[@2Links]

Huzzah!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@FARBerserker]

could you repeatedly establish armani in a city state to make them take tiles that a close by enemy civ would otherwise take?

[@UrsaRyan]

You know I don't think so but that would be a good test

[@jgalt99]

I thought you were guaranteed to get iron and horses within 3 tiles of your starting location if you didn't move? Or is that only on balanced starts?

[@UrsaRyan]

That sounds like balanced start!

[@Lenny533]

Crabuzzah !

[@UrsaRyan]

Crabuzzah!

[@gumbycat5226]

Byzantium is one of two civs I never play, the other being Gran Columbia. It is just not a game. It's like playing in Prince mode only with ego stroking. Here's a challenge for you: win Byzantium with domination. I know how to do it and I bet you do too.

[@alonilin]

I played Basil🧙‍♂️ so many times and tried so many ways to play him. Firstly, only crusial part for build is of course the religion for wall breaks and taxes.👼 Secondly, crusade➕ is main priority in the religion. (Of course not because it is just completely broken belief). Even without crusade➕ you still can do pretty well, but with crusade➕ you are immortal. Thirdly, when you evangelize your religion, go for tithe💰. I mean, you can make use of any other belief, (just suddenly having 68 cities and each giving you 1 science or culture), but the only weakest part of your units' spam🏇 is the money💰, you will not be able to trade📃 with the world, and i cannot base my economy on raiding🛒, at least not before the renaissance era, after which you going to use cards☑️ and 3 level horsemen🐴 to pillage🛒 unstoppably. Till then, just in the beggining, the hardest moment for you to go, you gonna need that gold💰. At forth, any religion is okay, both work ethics⚒️ and feed the world🍔, but from my expirience, it is crusial to go for culture from shrines🎶, because rushing tagmas👑 is probably the best way to conquer the world🌍 before it even can research any resistance. Without that culture from holysites🎶 there is a chance that ai opens line infatry🔬 by point you open your tagmas👑, (mainly australia..), so just go for culture🎶. At fifth, it would be a good decision to have pantheon that also gives you culture🎶 via plantations🍌 or pastures🐮, quierries🗿. However, any pantheon will work, river goddess🏘️, +1 prod form strategics🔨, divine spark🌟. However, again, from my exp, the best is healing next to holysite🏥. Probability there is an ai who builds holy sites🏥, imagine waiting 1 turn for healing tagma👑 in return of taking 4 crossbow🏹 shots. At sixth, very good choice for governor would be Pengala👨🏾‍🎓 for culture🎶, however if you have just +2 horses🐴 per turn, going for Magnus👨🏻‍🌾 and his 80% discount on strategics will be so sweet, however requires you to build goverment plaza. Victor👮‍♂️ for free promotion also would be great. Dont be afraid to even use Reyna👸 if you see 2 city states sending routes to one the same of your city. Her gold💰 can save you at the darkest of your periods. At seventh, if you play with secret societies, go for vamps🧛‍♂️ of course. However they are very slow🐢 to move after your horses🐎. I prefer to play with modded sc knights of solomon🤺 that stacks so well with religious military play. At 8th, great general🚸 of course, at 9th, with heroes and legends go Himiko👰 for bonus strength. So my best build would look like: 1. Crossculture dialog🎶 2. Crusade ➕ 3. +30 healing next to holysite🏥 If you have any possibility to go for horsemen🏇, go for horsemen! 36⚔️combat str horseman🐎 becomes 39⚔️combat str horseman🏇 due to taxes 49⚔️combat str horseman 🎠at the enemy territory 54⚔️combat str horseman🚂 with general🚸!

[@jacobdhall]

THE RETURN OF THE KING

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@angrycat7048]

I was wondering how the fight between Ursa Bear and the Giant Crabs is going...

[@UrsaRyan]

It's not going well send help

[@SorwestChannel]

Huzzah! What a brilliant game!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@MrMolova]

I knew it was Scotland as the map has Loch Lomond right there. ❤️ I like it when I have the tenny tiniest of wins. 🤣

[@UrsaRyan]

Great spot!

[@sleepysofabear]

Huzzah!! 🐻

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@sphyg]

do you have your mod list? i see some cool things i would like to have

[@UrsaRyan]

all on discord!

[@flaggy185]

Ah yes What if the Byzantines grabbed Mongolian tactics but also created ARMORED HORSES

[@Recognice1]

Carcassonne was and is the best analog game ever!

[@UrsaRyan]

Such a classic!

[@cagataytoprak1770]

Norway getting sacred path pantheon... the one civ who should not take it

[@georgebiggs7661]

Won't lie, not going desert folklore + work ethic to spam out units was painful haha

[@UrsaRyan]

Trust me, we won't need them!

[@Stone19298]

I am a simple man, I see Basil, I click. Honestly either Byzantium leader

[@UrsaRyan]

Both are fun!

[@MrMolova]

Wheeere do the hippos live?

[@UrsaRyan]

There we go!

[@0cch10]

Hussaaahh❤🎉

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@damienkeane6048]

Would it have been better if u captured that Norwegian city right before u peaces out with them, and then traded it back to them for more gold?

[@UrsaRyan]

The end game is the best bit!

[@insaeculasaeculorum]

Huzzah!!!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@NikolaHoward]

Slightly later Early Bear! :-)

[@UrsaRyan]

An early bear is never late!

[@nitricoxidegod]

🎉

[@FARBerserker]

could have gone for sacred path, there is a good bit of jungle

[@asraarradon4115]

Got to chop them rainforests.

[@UrsaRyan]

Exactly! Chop it all to make more horses! Theo Byzantium would have been more likely to take something like that also = )

[@aesemon5392]

What a segway

[@trumpet-titan4122]

No one is gonna talk about the city state who got obliterated turn 4 ??

[@UrsaRyan]

Shhhh they just fell into the void

[@fischersfritz468]

What i really wonder in your games, but also with other civ players: you never have the AI spawn near you and the barbarians are nearly never attacking you..

[@UrsaRyan]

Oh you haven't seen many of my recent games then - try the recent norway game - barbs are a huge problem! AI is easy to hold off once you get the tricks. Delegations, open borders, trade bribes, keeping a standing army - all this stuff will prevent all but the worst declarations

[@abrahammichael3632]

how is a city state defeated in 3 turns on deity? don't they start with walls?

[@UrsaRyan]

It does! Basil does full wall damage with cavalry if the city state follows your religion though - gets the job done fast!

[@geoDB.]

Looks like they straight up have one too many unique units.

[@geoDB.]

Could honestly just get rid of the dromon

[@UrsaRyan]

The dromon is the best bit!

[@geoDB.]

They look really overloaded and stuff like the hippodrome and basils bonuses synergise way more with horses and cavalry than navy

[@portland573]

Still find this one of the most appropriate and unobtrusive sponsorships on YT.

[@UrsaRyan]

Why thank you!

[@jonathanbowers9267]

why dont you cap cities you cant hold and then trade back in peace deal is it less diplomatic weight due too greivances? i feel there is a slight missed opportunity brother man ps i havent played this civ game yet i's the poors

[@UrsaRyan]

If I was staying diplomatic then yes this would work - I'm just planning on commiting war crimes though, so the ai's opinion of me doesn't matter!

[@rommayo]

Algorithm 332

[@Twofirmfeet1024]

Better than potato 🤫

[@Starstyc]

And now we're going to see a lot of Gojo vs Sukuna in the wis community with Sukuna as the winner, Gege really played with the community fandom

[@steveg8707]

Ok. Got me. Support comment

[@UrsaRyan]

Why thank you!

[@steveg8707]

@@UrsaRyan looking forward to a religious game with jerusalem as a core city state with crusade countries

[@Zak6959]

9:29 no source of horse, maybe you could ask your neighbour for a horse. Sorry.🤪

[@UrsaRyan]

:P

[@lawlussmusic]

Sponsored Huzzah!

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@BenvanAssema]

🖖

[@seasand6705]

neighbor was good. long face was better

[@zone_defenter]

Pooogg

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!

[@sarahwatts7152]

🏇🐴🐎🎠

[@eduardo3652]

Daily comment.

[@sleepysteve111]

[@UrsaRyan]

Huzzah!