Hey guys! Ready to conquer the ancient world? Total War Rome 2 offers an incredibly deep and engaging grand strategy experience, letting you rewrite history as you see fit. Achieving world conquest in this game is no easy feat, but with the right strategies and a bit of cunning, you can lead your chosen faction to ultimate victory. So, buckle up, grab your gladius, and let's dive into the art of world domination in Total War Rome 2!

Choosing Your Faction: The First Step to Global Domination

The first crucial step towards world conquest is selecting the right faction. Each faction in Total War Rome 2 boasts unique strengths, weaknesses, and starting positions, significantly impacting your campaign's trajectory. For beginners aiming for world domination, Rome is often recommended due to its strong economy, powerful legions, and relatively central location. However, don't shy away from experimenting with other factions like Carthage, Macedon, or the Iceni, each offering distinct challenges and opportunities. Consider your play style. Do you prefer naval dominance? Then Carthage might be your go-to. Are you more of a fan of heavy infantry? Rome or Macedon could be ideal. Or perhaps you prefer a horde style playthrough? Then the nomadic factions are for you. Each faction provides a unique experience, and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is vital. The key is to pick a faction whose strengths align with your preferred style of gameplay. Remember to carefully evaluate the faction's starting position on the map, its diplomatic relations with neighboring factions, and the composition of its military units. A faction with a strong economy and access to diverse resources will have a significant advantage in the long run. Experimenting with different factions early on will help you find one that resonates with you and sets you on the path to world conquest.

Before you even unpause the game, take a good hard look at your starting position. Who are your neighbors? Are they friendly, hostile, or neutral? What resources are nearby? What are your immediate military and economic goals? Planning your first few moves is critical. Don't just blindly start recruiting troops and building structures. Think strategically about how you want to expand and develop your empire. This also includes having a plan for public order. Expanding too quickly without managing public order can cause rebellions, which can be detrimental to your campaign. A rebellion in a key region can cripple your economy and military, setting you back significantly.

Economic Foundations: Fueling Your War Machine

Conquering the world requires a robust economy. In Total War Rome 2, a thriving economy is the backbone of your war effort, providing the necessary resources to recruit and maintain armies, construct infrastructure, and research new technologies. Focus on developing your provinces by constructing buildings that generate income, such as farms, markets, and ports. Prioritize trade agreements with other factions to boost your revenue. Managing your finances wisely is essential. Avoid overspending on unnecessary units or buildings, and always maintain a healthy treasury to weather unexpected events. Keep a close eye on public order in your provinces, as unrest can lead to revolts and economic disruption. Appoint governors with traits that improve public order and reduce corruption. Also, research technologies that improve your economy and trade. Investing in economic technologies early in the game can provide a significant advantage in the long run. Don't underestimate the power of trade; establish trade routes with as many factions as possible to maximize your income. Remember, a strong economy is the foundation upon which your empire will be built, so prioritize economic development from the outset.

Taxation is another key aspect of economic management. Adjusting your tax rate can significantly impact your income and public order. A high tax rate will generate more revenue but can also lead to unrest, while a low tax rate will improve public order but reduce your income. Finding the right balance is crucial. Monitor the public order in your provinces and adjust the tax rate accordingly. As your empire expands, you may need to adjust your tax rate to maintain stability. Also, consider exempting certain provinces from taxation to improve public order. This can be particularly useful in newly conquered territories where unrest is high. Managing your economy effectively is essential for long-term success in Total War Rome 2, so pay close attention to your finances and make informed decisions about taxation, trade, and infrastructure development.

Military Strategy: The Art of War

No world conquest is possible without a powerful and well-managed military. Your armies are your primary tool for expansion and defense, so it's crucial to build and maintain a strong military force. Recruit a balanced army composition, including infantry, cavalry, archers, and siege units. Research military technologies to unlock new units and improve their stats. Train your generals and admirals, as their skills and traits can significantly impact the outcome of battles. Employ sound tactical strategies on the battlefield, taking advantage of terrain and unit matchups. Don't underestimate the importance of naval power, as controlling the seas can provide a significant advantage in trade and transportation. Always be prepared for war, and never let your guard down. Also, it is important to specialize your armies based on who you are fighting. If you are fighting a faction that is heavy on cavalry, make sure you have spear units in your army. If you are fighting a faction that has a lot of ranged units, bring some skirmishers or cavalry to take them out. Understanding your enemy's strengths and weaknesses is crucial to victory.

Siege warfare is a critical aspect of Total War Rome 2. When attacking or defending cities, it's essential to understand the mechanics of siege battles. Construct siege equipment, such as rams, siege towers, and artillery, to breach the city walls. Position your units strategically to maximize their effectiveness. Defending cities requires a different approach. Reinforce your garrisons with strong units, and use defensive structures, such as walls and towers, to your advantage. Always be prepared for a siege, and stockpile supplies in your cities to withstand long sieges. Also, prioritize taking out the towers as soon as possible so that you can move your units around the battlefield without taking heavy casualties. Also, use your ranged units to take out enemy units on the walls. A successful siege can cripple your enemy and open the door for further expansion.

Diplomacy and Intrigue: The Subtle Arts of Empire Building

While military might is essential, diplomacy and intrigue can be just as important in achieving world conquest. Form alliances with other factions to secure your borders and gain support in wars. Negotiate trade agreements to boost your economy. Use spies, agents, and dignitaries to gather intelligence, sabotage enemy infrastructure, and incite rebellions. Pay attention to your relations with other factions, and try to maintain positive relationships with your allies. Be wary of treacherous factions that may betray you at any moment. Also, be aware of your reputation. If you are seen as a warmonger, other factions will be less likely to trade with you or form alliances with you. Building a positive reputation is crucial for long-term success. Furthermore, marriages can be used to strengthen alliances. Marrying your family members to the family members of other factions can improve relations and provide a sense of security. However, be careful who you marry, as some factions may try to assassinate your family members to weaken your empire.

Treaties and agreements are crucial tools in diplomacy. Carefully consider the terms of each treaty before agreeing to it. Defensive alliances can protect you from attack, while military alliances can provide support in wars. Trade agreements can boost your economy, and non-aggression pacts can prevent conflicts. Be wary of factions that break treaties, as this can damage your reputation and lead to war. Also, be prepared to break treaties yourself if necessary. Sometimes, the only way to achieve your goals is to betray your allies. However, be aware of the consequences of your actions, as breaking treaties can have a significant impact on your relations with other factions. Diplomacy is a complex and nuanced aspect of Total War Rome 2, but mastering it can be the key to achieving world conquest.

Technology and Research: Staying Ahead of the Curve

Technology plays a crucial role in Total War Rome 2, providing access to new units, buildings, and abilities. Focus on researching technologies that improve your economy, military, and public order. Prioritize technologies that align with your faction's strengths and strategic goals. Don't neglect research, as falling behind in technology can put you at a disadvantage against more advanced factions. Also, consider using edicts to boost research. Edicts can provide various bonuses, such as increased research rate, improved public order, or increased income. However, edicts can also have negative effects, such as increased corruption or reduced growth. Choose your edicts carefully, and consider the long-term consequences of your decisions. Furthermore, certain technologies can unlock new edicts. Investing in research is essential for long-term success in Total War Rome 2, so prioritize technological development from the outset.

Cultural technologies can provide significant advantages. These technologies can improve public order, increase cultural influence, and unlock new cultural buildings. Prioritize cultural technologies that align with your faction's cultural strengths. Also, consider using cultural conversion to assimilate conquered territories. Converting the population of a conquered territory to your culture can improve public order and reduce the risk of rebellions. However, cultural conversion can take time and resources, so be patient. Also, certain technologies can unlock new cultural conversion options. Investing in cultural technologies is essential for managing your empire and maintaining stability in conquered territories.

Governors and Characters: Managing Your Empire

Managing your characters effectively is crucial for maintaining stability and efficiency in your empire. Appoint governors to manage your provinces, and choose governors with traits that align with the needs of each province. Some governors are better at managing public order, while others are better at boosting the economy. Pay attention to the traits of your governors, and assign them to provinces where their skills will be most beneficial. Also, be aware of the negative traits that your governors may have, such as corruption or cruelty. These traits can have a detrimental effect on your provinces. Furthermore, train your generals and admirals, as their skills and traits can significantly impact the outcome of battles. Assign retinues to your characters to provide additional bonuses. Retinues can improve a character's stats, such as command, influence, or zeal. Choose retinues that complement a character's traits and abilities.

Family management is another important aspect of character management. Marry your family members to strengthen alliances and secure your succession. Have children to ensure the continuation of your dynasty. Train your heirs to become competent leaders. Be wary of rival family members who may try to usurp your power. Also, be aware of the negative traits that your family members may have, such as ambition or treachery. These traits can lead to civil war. Managing your characters effectively is essential for maintaining stability and efficiency in your empire.

Victory Conditions: Defining Your Goals

Finally, it's important to understand the victory conditions for your campaign. Total War Rome 2 offers multiple victory conditions, including military, economic, and cultural victories. Choose a victory condition that aligns with your faction's strengths and strategic goals. Focus on achieving the objectives required for your chosen victory condition. Don't spread yourself too thin by trying to achieve multiple victory conditions at once. Also, be aware of the time limit for achieving victory. If you fail to achieve victory within the allotted time, you will lose the campaign. Furthermore, certain factions have unique victory conditions. For example, some factions may need to control specific territories to achieve victory. Understanding your victory conditions is essential for focusing your efforts and achieving success in Total War Rome 2.

Achieving world conquest in Total War Rome 2 is a challenging but rewarding experience. By mastering the art of war, managing your economy effectively, and employing sound diplomatic strategies, you can lead your chosen faction to ultimate victory. So, gather your legions, set sail for distant lands, and prepare to conquer the world!