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Ancient History: The Best Formable Nations in Imperator Rome

There are over 60 formable nations in Imperator Rome, Paradox Interactive’s latest entry in the Grand Strategy genre of video games. With so many options, it can be a challenge to decide which of these powerful countries to pursue. To help you pick the one that fits your playstyle, we’ve put together a list of the 12 best formable nations in Imperator Rome.

Formable nations don’t exist at the starting date of the game. However, through a variety of decisions, you can transform one of the early territories into these new realms. These countries come with several cosmetic changes like revised flags, map colors, and (obviously) names, but they also possess special bonuses once formed.

Founding a formable nation is an important decision, as after you’ve committed to creating it, the new country cannot change again into another nation of the same size or smaller. It’s a one-way path of growth, with permanent consequences.

Phoenicia

Phoenicia

This might be one of the hardest of the formable nations to create, if only because of where you have to start. Phoenicia has humble beginnings as one of several tiny territories that start the game under the control of the Phrygian Empire. You’ll need a lot of luck and patience to combine the relevant nation-states into a full-fledged country, but the results are definitely worth it.

Nation Bonuses

  • Receive 4 Citizen Pops and 4 Freeman Pops
  • Capital receives the Emergent Capital modifier until the end of the game
  • You unlock the Masters of the Mediterranean modifier until the end of the game
  • Receive 5 free province investments

Assyria

Assyria

Your capital must be in the region of Assyria to have the ability to form this dynasty, so make sure to choose your starting location wisely. In addition, ensure that your country is in the Aramaic culture group. You’ll need to be in possession of several other adjacent countries before you can form Assyria. Once you’ve met all the requirements, you will unlock the ability to restore this nation from antiquity.

Nation Bonuses

  • Gain 150 political influence
  • Adds 4 Citizen and Freeman Pops
  • Unlocks the Emergent Capital modifier for the rest of the game
  • Allows you to claim all of the territories located in Assyria and Mesopotamia
  • You receive 3 province investments

Crete

Crete

Crete is relatively simple to form with a little bit of effort. You’ll need to make sure to locate your capital within the borders of one of the small nations located on the island of Crete, so go ahead and start your game here. Additionally, you’ll need to conquer or assimilate several of the neighboring nation-states also on the island. The usual requirements around country tier size, civil wars, and whether or not AI controls particular locations apply here.

Nation Bonuses

  • Your capital gains the modifier Cretan Administration
  • Allows you to claim all of the territories within the province of Crete
  • Countries within Crete with less than 4 territories receive the Cretan Ultimatum event
  • Gain 2 free province investments

Bharatvarsha

Bharatvarsha

Bharatvarsha is a Tier 3 formable nation, and one of the largest and most powerful in all of the game. It will take significant commitment to unlock, but the bonuses for forming this massive monarchy are worth it. The easiest way to form Bharatvarsha is by starting your game in Maurya. From there, begin conquering adjacent nations within the Indian subcontinent. It’s without a doubt one of the best formable nations in Imperator Rome.

Nation Bonuses

  • Add 8 Citizen Pops, 6 Freeman Pops, and 4 Slaves Pops
  • Your capital gains the modifier Capital of the Subcontinent for the rest of the game
  • Your culture happiness receives a 10% boost
  • Pops conversion speed is increased by 25%
  • Bharatvarsha’s diplomatic reputation gains a 2-point bump
  • You are awarded 5 free province investments

Persia

Persia

Another impressive Tier 3 formable nation. Restoring the might of Persia will take effort, but nothing along the lines of Phoenicia or Babylonia. Make sure your starting country is within the Persian culture group. There are several territories that you’ll need to take control of before you can make the official declaration, but eventually, you’ll cross the threshold and be able to form this incredible political power.

Nation Bonuses

  • Gain 300 political influence
  • Persia unlocks the Seat of Power event
  • You’ll unlock the Unification of Persia modifier which lasts for 20 years
  • You’ll gain claims to all unowned territories across the Persian region
  • Awarded 5 free province investments

Albion

Albion

One of the nicest aspects of taking on the challenge of forming Albion is the fact that it all occurs on the British Isles. This gives you a bit of welcome isolation from continental Europe. As a Tier 3 nation, it takes a massive commitment of time to create this powerful country. This is partially because when you start the process, most of Ireland is not colonized. This means you will spend a lot of effort over the years colonizing and integrating the disparate societies of the islands. Once you’ve accomplished this late-game goal however, there are some great bonuses to take advantage of.

Nation Bonuses

  • Adds 4 Citizen, Freeman, and Slaves Pops
  • Unlocks the Center of Civilization modifier for the rest of the game
  • Unlocks the National Spirit modifier for 20 years
  • Adds 300 political influence
  • Gain 4 free province investments

Gaul

Gaul

Though the region of Europe known today as France never officially organized under the name Gaul, in Imperator Rome, you have the option of forming this Tier 3 nation. Like all of the large nations at this Tier, creating Gaul is no easy task. The region of central Europe you must control is vast, with ownership of over 100 cities mandatory before you can claim dominion in the name of Gaul. This is in addition to the standard rules of formable nations such as having the correct cultural group (in this case gallic), and an absence of war, amongst other conditions. Finally, you must use the mission tree to adopt a monarchy or republic before you can make your declaration of nationhood official.

Nation Bonuses

  • Adds 4 Citizen, Freemen, and Slaves Pops
  • Unlocks this Center of Civilization modifier for the rest of the game
  • You unlock the National Spirit modifier for 20 years
  • You will be able to lay claims on several regions within the borders of your country
  • Receive 300 political influence
  • Gain 5 free province investments

Argead Empire (Alexander’s Empire)

Agread Empire

To start, you need to make sure that your country of origin is a part of the Hellenistic culture group. From there, make sure to maintain a monarchic form of government, and control over twenty territories, including Babylon, Sparta, Memphis, Persepolis, and more. When you’ve completed this immensely challenging task, you will finally be able to restore Alexander’s once-great empire. One of the nicest features of forming the Argead Empire is that unlike most formable nations, you can create this massive realm regardless of the number of other high tier nations already in the area.

Nation Bonuses

  • Unlocks the Civilizing Tribe modifier for 10 years
  • The Argead Unification modifier is unlocked until the end of the game
  • The event Capital of an Empire begins
  • You gain claim over a huge number of unowned provinces in several regions
  • Awarded 5 free province investments

Magna Graecia

Magna Graecia

This region of southern Italy underwent massive changes when the Magna Graecia content pack launched, and this update brought with it one of the best formable nations in Imperator Rome. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that your capital must be either on Sicily or within southern Italy for you to be able to form this Tier 3 nation. Conquering the territories in the southernmost reaches of the mainland as well as the entire island of Sicily will be necessary before you can make claim to this nation.

Nation Bonuses

  • Adds 4 Citizen and Freemen Pops
  • Unlocks the Emergent Capital modifier for the remainder of the game
  • Allows claims on all of the regions within the borders of your empire
  • Gains 4 free province investments

Greater Iberia

Greater Iberia

Southwest of Gaul lies the formable nation of Greater Iberia. Occupying the land that will one day become the country of Spain, the Iberian Peninsula is filled with small regional tribes and nation-states that you must conquer before declaring a stake in the region. Over 100 cities must be within your control as well. Once you’ve formed Greater Iberia, you’ll have access to a wide variety of trade routes that will make you a powerful force on continental Europe.

Nation Bonuses

  • Adds 4 Citizen, Freemen, and Slaves Pops
  • The Center of Civilization modifier is applied until the end of the game
  • You unlock the National Spirit modifier for 21 years
  • You’ll gain claims on several regions of the Iberian Peninsula
  • You’ll gain 100 to military power, civic power, oratory power, and religious power

Pan-Hellenic League

The Pan-Hellenic League

As long as your capital rests in greater Greece, you will have the opportunity to form one of the most powerful Tier 3 nations in the game. The high population in the region, as well as masteries in war, science, and a variety of other high-value skills makes pursuing the Pan-Hellenic League an extremely worthwhile endeavor. Like all Tier 3 countries, it takes a large investment of time to reach the milestones required to declare the formation of the nation, but it is absolutely a worthwhile challenge.

Nation Bonuses

  • The Great Koine modifier is applied until the end of the game
  • You unlock the Great League Capital modifier until the end of the game
  • All city-states of Greece are automatically annexed into the Hellenic League
  • You gain 4 free province investments

Babylon

Babylon

You’ll need to ensure that you start with a country within the Aramaic culture. Alternatively, ensure that your people follow the Chaldean religion. You’ll need to control at least 25 territories in the region, including Samarra, Lars, and Sousa. As usual, make sure you are not currently in any wars. The unlocked bonuses are very useful for late gameplay.

Nation Bonuses

  • If you are a tribal country, the government type changes to Federated Tribe
  • Otherwise, you gain 150 political influence
  • Adds 4 Citizen, Freemen, and Slave Pops
  • The Center of Civilization modifier is applied until the end of the game
  • You’ll gain claims over the territories in the Assyria and Mesopotamia regions
  • You’ll gain claims over the provinces of Susiana and Mardiene
  • Unlocks the National Spirit modifier for 21 years

It’s Time to Conquer the World

There are a lot of powerful countries that are formable from smaller tribes and regions, but in our eyes, these are the best formable nations in Imperator Rome. The reasons are as varied as the people you must conquer. Sometimes it’s the challenge, maybe it’s the bonuses, or possibly it’s just because the country’s flag looks cool, but there is something special about each of these formable nations.

For new players, the work and luck it takes to create a few of these countries might seem impossibly daunting. Phoenicia in particular is a real challenge but stick with it! Before long, you’ll find neighboring nations bowing to your military and political might. Like Paradox Interactive’s other great strategy games, Imperator Rome provides some particularly fantastic challenges wrapped in a historical context. So, grab your lance, throw on some fancy sandals, and conquer the world!

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In a previous life, Eric was a video game developer. He helped create many games over the course of more than a decade. These days you can find him huddled in front of his laptop, consuming far more caffeine than is healthy, writing whatever it is someone needs him to write. And he couldn't be happier!

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