Firaxis Games recently announced the newest civilization in Civilization 6: the Scythians, led by Tomyris. They sound pretty amazing. There’s just one catch: The Scythians weren’t a civilization. They were a culture. They didn’t meet the number one most basic requirement of a civilization: They didn’t build cities. In fact, they were (as far as we know) mostly nomadic. But guess what? In Civ 6 terms, that’s totally okay. Because they’re the barbarian civilization.
The Scythians Aren’t A Civilization—They’re Barbarians
The historical Scythians were one of the earliest known nomadic peoples of the great Eurasian steppe. Known from early ancient Greek times, from at least the 11th century B.C., the Scythians were nomads skilled in mounted warfare—among the first groups to use the horse in actual combat. They settled in what’s now Ukraine, with their lands potentially extending far and deep into the east. They lived on the edge of what the Greeks called the end of the world. There was nothing known beyond them.
Scythia’s powers make sense in this context. Scythian armies receive a bonus when attacking damaged units, and heal slightly upon victory against them. Their unique unit, the Saka Horse Archer, is the Zergling of Civilization 6—you spawn two for the price of one. And you can build them without horses. Saka Horse Archer rush, much? The kurgan tile improvement offers faith and gold and is available early in the game; it’s a quick way for the Scythians to tech up to an early pantheon so they can snag some nice military bonuses and swarm their opponents with Saka Horse Archers—just like barbarians might. Or they can use the kurgan to transcend their barbarian roots and build an early religious empire.
That’s why the Scythians are a great addition to Civilization 6. The Huns, as seen in Civilization V, are only really remembered as a destructive force. The Scythians, although a warlike people who came into regular conflict with their neighbors, weren’t nomadic conquerors like the Huns. They were a little more settled, and they had a distinctive culture of their own. They could well have turned into a full-fledged, settled civilization. That never ended up happening, at least not under a people with the Scythian names. Indeed, the westernmost region of their influence—in the heart of Ukraine—remained sparsely inhabited, largely by nomads, until the 18 th century. Seriously—the so-called Wild Fields didn’t fall under civilization’s permanent sway until the 1700s.
That puts the Scythians in an interesting spot in Civilization 6. They are uniquely situated to destroy the world in ancient times—with their unique unit and powers, their Ancient Age rush potential is extremely strong. They can be the barbarians who destroy all the rest. Or they can transcend their own history and become a civilization. And that’s pretty cool.
