How to beat
Maliansas Chinese
Matchup tips
China versus Malians I think is like one of the hardest matchups for China just because the food just doesn't run out for Mali. It is so difficult to get a gradual farm transition going with the Chinese. With China, it's very difficult to go for gradual smooth food transition. For Malians, it's their bread and butter.
Astronomical clock tower would have been better. Typically it's the one way China can win on one TC up against Malians because eventually the food's going to run out so you just start making siege instead.
Archers don't do damage against Sofa. The additional armor from Imported Armor is just too much.
I think you really go for immediate aggression, maybe even with a Barbican drop.
I think you could make a case for just going for a little bit of market usage as well with China in this matchup. Like there's two tested ways that you can actually play this: all in feudal age or you play 2TC. If you just play one TC and tech up, you're not going to be able to win it based off of that because Malians is a civilization that's not afraid of you getting a tech advantage.
The go-to army composition from the Malians is sofa and archers, and once Poison Arrows comes in, even lancers don't really stand a chance.
Even Warrior Scouts can deal with horsemen because they regen.
Trying to archer open into Malians feels like a death sentence. You just encourage Javelin Throwers.
With pro scouts you eventually run out of deer food, but Malians with cattle have an infinite food source.
Malians are susceptible to Nest of Bees fire; siege does well into them provided you protect your siege from Musofadi Warriors.
The Malian main comp relies on Javelin Throwers or Poison Arrow Archers; both are susceptible to Nest of Bees fire.
Spearmen plus Nest of Bees is a composition difficult for Malians to deal with; only Musofadi Warriors can really counter it.
Chinese Lancers are effective against Malian Sofas; Sofas struggle in direct heavy cavalry engagements and are not outstanding against Lancers.
Malians Unique Units
Malians Landmarks
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