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Ramesses is one of the best characters for new players inTotal War: Pharaoh.His early access to powerful troops and proximity to several major cities make him excellent for expansion, and his aggressive play style allows him to seize the crown early and present a united front against the Sea People when they arrive.
Historically, Ramesses became the founder of the 20th Dynasty. You can follow his path or strike out on your own, seeing what might have happened in the young noble had chosen to make his fortune outside of Egypt.
Ramesses Overview
Ramesses excels atquick, decisive action.Most of his abilities revolve around picking a goal and achieving it quickly; his Command allows armies toattack while in March Stance, and to do so without the usual fatigue penalty. This is great forintercepting enemy armiesor laying a siege before an opponent can adequately respond.
Ramesses' decisiveness applies at court as well as the battlefield; he getstwo Court Actionsper turn instead of just one, letting him easily enact intrigues and counter plots. This is especially important for gaining extra Legitimacy in the early game so that you can catch up to Amenmesse in the race for the crown!
Ramesses' Units
The core of Ramesses' armies will always be hisMedjays; elite, disciplined soldiers. They’re a bit pricey, especially in the early game, so you’ll usually need to supplement them with lower-tier troops to keep your budget balanced. Unfortunately, most of the militia units that Ramesses has access to at the start of the game aren’t very good; use them to soak up attacks before your Medjays move in and finish off the enemy.
Ramesses and his generals should prioritize thePresencestat, as this will help defray the upkeep cost of their soldiers and grant access to Titles that enhance Medjays in combat.
Once you’re Pharaoh, you’ll have access to Royal units as well as Lower Egyptian troops. However, Ramesses' armies really come into their own once you’ve started expanding northward. Taking Ashkelon gives you access toCanaanite soldiers, who generally have strong armor and are perfect for fighting alongside the Medjays.
Getting Started As Ramesses
Ramesses' starting province, North Sinai, islarger than most, with four settlements, though you’ll need to conquer the two coastal towns of Sukkot and Azzati. This should be your first task, giving you an established base from which to plan your next moves.
North Sinai produces bothFood and Bronze, both of which are necessary to supply Ramesses' elite armies. While he starts with a large reserve of Stone, he doesn’t have access to any quarries, so youmay need to tradein order to expand your starting settlements.
Once North Sinai is fully under your control, it’s usually best to return south; from there, you may eitherconquer the eastern towns of Hetch and Timna, or push into Egypt proper by attackingPer Amun and Pi-Ramesses.
Conquering Hetch will generally be easier, and you can colonize the abandoned town of Deshret Reithu to get a source of stone without a fight. Doing this alsoprevents northern Canaanite factions like Beersheba from expanding, saving you potential headaches later.
If you choose to move into Egypt, you’ll get access toplentiful Food productionalong the Nile. You’ll also be in a much stronger position militarily when the inevitable Civil War starts upon Merneptah’s death.
Once the Pharaoh’s throne is vacant,drop everything and focus on seizing the crown.Once you’re Pharaoh, you’ll be in a great position to expand in whichever direction you like.
Best Deities For Ramesses
Ramesses starts with Ra as his patron deity, and it’s an excellent match. Having a Shrine of Ra in your recruitment provinces gives the new unitsextra Melee Defence and experience levels, which combines well with Ramesses' Medjay and the buffs they get from Titles. Praying at one of these Shrines gives extra Morale; try using that to make use of Lower Egyptian troops’Aspireability, which enhances their stats if they’re near a unit with 60 or more Morale.
Be sure to seize Ra’s Cult Centre at Iunu during your bid for the crown!
The Canaanite deity Yamm is an excellent choice for Ramesses' second slot. His Cult Centre is very close by, in Ashkelon, allowing Ramesses to quickly build up his Favor. Yammlowers recruitment and upkeep costsfor infantry, which helps offset the expense of keeping Ramesses' powerful units battle-ready.
Thoth makes a good choice for your third slot, providingextra armor to his Devoted Generaland making it much easier to besiege large cities. His Cult Centre at Khemenu is a bit further away, but well worth taking if you decide to follow the God of Wisdom.
