shout out to squarespace for sponsoring  this video hey guys spirit of the law here  
shout out to squarespace for sponsoring  this video hey guys spirit of the law here  

in this video we're going to be revisiting  and taking an in-depth look at the sloths  
in this video we're going to be revisiting  and taking an in-depth look at the sloths  

now there are some new civs i haven't covered yet  so it may seem odd to go back to what i have done  
now there are some new civs i haven't covered yet  so it may seem odd to go back to what i have done  

but this has been a long requested redo on account  of the last one being seven years old now entering  
but this has been a long requested redo on account  of the last one being seven years old now entering  

grade two this fall and is pretty outdated both  in format and because of various tweaks to the  
grade two this fall and is pretty outdated both  in format and because of various tweaks to the  

civ itself according to the in-game summary  slavs are an infantry and siege civilization  
civ itself according to the in-game summary  slavs are an infantry and siege civilization  

and while there may be some truth to that in  the late game i would contend that cavalry  
and while there may be some truth to that in  the late game i would contend that cavalry  

is really the safest default plan glancing  at their ranked stats online they're a pretty  
is really the safest default plan glancing  at their ranked stats online they're a pretty  

average civilization on open maps these days  while also being a little below average on  
average civilization on open maps these days  while also being a little below average on  

closed maps like arena in general we can  also see their civ matchups are actually  
closed maps like arena in general we can  also see their civ matchups are actually  

against good knight civs like lithuanians  students and franks though as we'll see  
against good knight civs like lithuanians  students and franks though as we'll see  

slavs have a maybe under-appreciated secret  weapon against knights let's check them out
slavs have a maybe under-appreciated secret  weapon against knights let's check them out

to start things off their team bonus is that the  basic military production buildings each add five  
to start things off their team bonus is that the  basic military production buildings each add five  

to your population space basically giving you a  free house since most players are more focused  
to your population space basically giving you a  free house since most players are more focused  

on their own civ than their teammates it's always  nice when team bonuses help your allies without  
on their own civ than their teammates it's always  nice when team bonuses help your allies without  

them even having to think about it which is  definitely the case for this one unless your  
them even having to think about it which is  definitely the case for this one unless your  

teammates are huns to attach some ballpark numbers  to it houses are worth about 33 resources between  
teammates are huns to attach some ballpark numbers  to it houses are worth about 33 resources between  

the wood and builder time as a wood bonus for  a barracks and two military buildings in feudal  
the wood and builder time as a wood bonus for  a barracks and two military buildings in feudal  

age that's already around 100 resources saved  for every ally as well of course for yourself  
age that's already around 100 resources saved  for every ally as well of course for yourself  

throughout the game it also has the benefit of  pushing up your housing space just as you're  
throughout the game it also has the benefit of  pushing up your housing space just as you're  

spamming military buildings and need to raise it  quickly another side benefit is it's also more  
spamming military buildings and need to raise it  quickly another side benefit is it's also more  

difficult to be housed if someone is destroying  your main town or your house walls overall it's  
difficult to be housed if someone is destroying  your main town or your house walls overall it's  

just a great team bonus in both 1v1 and team games  and like i said is one of my favorites moving on  
just a great team bonus in both 1v1 and team games  and like i said is one of my favorites moving on  

to their civ bonuses the first and most iconic is  that slav farmers work 10 faster as if we needed  
to their civ bonuses the first and most iconic is  that slav farmers work 10 faster as if we needed  

another reminder that eastern europe is a major  breadbasket for the world the way this works is it  
another reminder that eastern europe is a major  breadbasket for the world the way this works is it  

actually increases the farmers gather rate by 18  during the time they've stopped and are physically  
actually increases the farmers gather rate by 18  during the time they've stopped and are physically  

gathering but after including all of the walking  time it ends up averaging out to around 10 percent  
gathering but after including all of the walking  time it ends up averaging out to around 10 percent  

if you have doubled up farms it's a little less  than that before wheelbarrow but for reasonably  
if you have doubled up farms it's a little less  than that before wheelbarrow but for reasonably  

placed farms it does about what it says throughout  the game obviously you still want to take your  
placed farms it does about what it says throughout  the game obviously you still want to take your  

free food sources in dark age and won't feel it  then but over time the faster farming is a very  
free food sources in dark age and won't feel it  then but over time the faster farming is a very  

significant bonus in feudal age for example  with 18 farmers it's an extra 28 to 37 food  
significant bonus in feudal age for example  with 18 farmers it's an extra 28 to 37 food  

per minute after wheelbarrow which can easily add  up to several hundred food by the time you're in  
per minute after wheelbarrow which can easily add  up to several hundred food by the time you're in  

castle age at that point if you're booming five  farmers usually isn't quite enough to sustain a  
castle age at that point if you're booming five  farmers usually isn't quite enough to sustain a  

town center or knights from a stable whereas for  slavs five farmers placed right next to a drop-off  
town center or knights from a stable whereas for  slavs five farmers placed right next to a drop-off  

point can comfortably sustain either one likewise  it means if you have three town centers and two  
point can comfortably sustain either one likewise  it means if you have three town centers and two  

stables making nights you can get by on 25 farmers  instead of 28 showing the advantage is actually  
stables making nights you can get by on 25 farmers  instead of 28 showing the advantage is actually  

worth multiple villagers even in imperial it means  just eight farmers per stable to spam hazards  
worth multiple villagers even in imperial it means  just eight farmers per stable to spam hazards  

instead of nine freeing up both in population  space as well as physical space on the map in  
instead of nine freeing up both in population  space as well as physical space on the map in  

fact slavs end with better late game farmers than  everyone except the poles the point is there's  
fact slavs end with better late game farmers than  everyone except the poles the point is there's  

no question it's one of the strongest long-term  bonuses in the game in total free resources while  
no question it's one of the strongest long-term  bonuses in the game in total free resources while  

again involving no extra effort on your end as a  player there's a reason that back when this bonus  
again involving no extra effort on your end as a  player there's a reason that back when this bonus  

was plus 15 percent instead of 10 subs were an  incredibly popular and dominant civ on the latter  
was plus 15 percent instead of 10 subs were an  incredibly popular and dominant civ on the latter  

the next civ bonus is you get supplies for free  when you hit feudal age this is a replacement  
the next civ bonus is you get supplies for free  when you hit feudal age this is a replacement  

bonus for the fact they used to get free tracking  until that was given to all civilizations for free  
bonus for the fact they used to get free tracking  until that was given to all civilizations for free  

now theoretically free supplies could help a  large men at arms push dropping each unit's cost  
now theoretically free supplies could help a  large men at arms push dropping each unit's cost  

by 15 food in feudal though i actually consider  this their weakest bonus keep in mind supplies  
by 15 food in feudal though i actually consider  this their weakest bonus keep in mind supplies  

cost just 75 food and gold with a quick research  time as well it kind of plays into the infantry  
cost just 75 food and gold with a quick research  time as well it kind of plays into the infantry  

civ label but practically it's not that impactful  and even with this long swordsman in the mid game  
civ label but practically it's not that impactful  and even with this long swordsman in the mid game  

would be pretty unusual as they're otherwise  completely generic i think late game is when  
would be pretty unusual as they're otherwise  completely generic i think late game is when  

infantry makes a lot more sense for slavs though  this bonus does mean you don't have to worry about  
infantry makes a lot more sense for slavs though  this bonus does mean you don't have to worry about  

forgetting to pick it up during a tech switch  into champions moving on their negative bonus  
forgetting to pick it up during a tech switch  into champions moving on their negative bonus  

is that their siege workshop units are 15 percent  cheaper slavs also have a ton of siege options so  
is that their siege workshop units are 15 percent  cheaper slavs also have a ton of siege options so  

there's plenty of opportunities to make use of  this discounted manganese and castle age are my  
there's plenty of opportunities to make use of  this discounted manganese and castle age are my  

personal favorite but it helps right through  to adding siege ram scorpions and onagers and  
personal favorite but it helps right through  to adding siege ram scorpions and onagers and  

imperial technically though they give the greatest  savings on their siege towers to put things in a  
imperial technically though they give the greatest  savings on their siege towers to put things in a  

bit of perspective if you have two siege workshops  making manganese the effect of the bonus is  
bit of perspective if you have two siege workshops  making manganese the effect of the bonus is  

similar to having three more villagers divided  between wood and gold this bonus combined with  
similar to having three more villagers divided  between wood and gold this bonus combined with  

slav's great late game infantry means they end  with arguably one of the strongest halberdier and  
slav's great late game infantry means they end  with arguably one of the strongest halberdier and  

onager pairings in imperial especially if gold is  getting tight at the same time their skirmishers  
onager pairings in imperial especially if gold is  getting tight at the same time their skirmishers  

aren't that great either so having discounted  siege can also be especially handy against archer  
aren't that great either so having discounted  siege can also be especially handy against archer  

civilizations believe it or not that's actually  all of their bonuses it's a relatively short list  
civilizations believe it or not that's actually  all of their bonuses it's a relatively short list  

carried mostly by the flexibility of the farming  rate boost so far slavs actually have a lot in  
carried mostly by the flexibility of the farming  rate boost so far slavs actually have a lot in  

common with students as they share an infantry in  siege leaning but are also well set up for cavalry  
common with students as they share an infantry in  siege leaning but are also well set up for cavalry  

thanks to a great farming bonus as we'll see  they share a third similarity which is a heavily  
thanks to a great farming bonus as we'll see  they share a third similarity which is a heavily  

armored unique unit speaking of which let's  turn our attention now to the boyar i like to  
armored unique unit speaking of which let's  turn our attention now to the boyar i like to  

think of them as a teutonic knight on horseback  given their high melee armor traditionally they  
think of them as a teutonic knight on horseback  given their high melee armor traditionally they  

haven't been a very popular unit but have had some  incremental improvements over time to their armor  
haven't been a very popular unit but have had some  incremental improvements over time to their armor  

and a quicker training time which together i think  make them a bit better now than their reputation  
and a quicker training time which together i think  make them a bit better now than their reputation  

that's why is there a more heavily armored  version of the knight when it comes to melee  
that's why is there a more heavily armored  version of the knight when it comes to melee  

though they attack a bit slower so looking at  the attack stat on its own is slightly misleading  
though they attack a bit slower so looking at  the attack stat on its own is slightly misleading  

both units also have a similar cost though with  slightly more emphasis on gold for the boyar  
both units also have a similar cost though with  slightly more emphasis on gold for the boyar  

it turns out though that once you factor in  their very quick training time they actually  
it turns out though that once you factor in  their very quick training time they actually  

end up needing basically the same economic setup  as two stable knights to create the same number  
end up needing basically the same economic setup  as two stable knights to create the same number  

of units from a castle usually there's a stigma  around castle units being harder to mass but after  
of units from a castle usually there's a stigma  around castle units being harder to mass but after  

their sped up creation time and definitive edition  that's really not as much of a concern similar  
their sped up creation time and definitive edition  that's really not as much of a concern similar  

to knights they also don't have any bonus damage  behind the scenes and in castle age they beat even  
to knights they also don't have any bonus damage  behind the scenes and in castle age they beat even  

strong night sips one-on-one and hold it better  against melee counters though camels and pikes are  
strong night sips one-on-one and hold it better  against melee counters though camels and pikes are  

still cost-effective responses in most regards  you can think of them as a night plus with the  
still cost-effective responses in most regards  you can think of them as a night plus with the  

drawback of of course needing a castle one way you  can think of it is you have regular knights at the  
drawback of of course needing a castle one way you  can think of it is you have regular knights at the  

stable and top tier nights from the castle that  you can choose between or even combine together  
stable and top tier nights from the castle that  you can choose between or even combine together  

jumping ahead to imperial age their elite upgrade  has a relatively high cost especially compared to  
jumping ahead to imperial age their elite upgrade  has a relatively high cost especially compared to  

cavalier but the elite boyer is a significantly  better unit on the same level as almost any  
cavalier but the elite boyer is a significantly  better unit on the same level as almost any  

top-tier paladin in melee keep in mind slavs don't  have the paladin so it can be a bit of an awkward  
top-tier paladin in melee keep in mind slavs don't  have the paladin so it can be a bit of an awkward  

decision to stick with the conventional knight  line you may have been masking in castle age that  
decision to stick with the conventional knight  line you may have been masking in castle age that  

ends at cavalier or making an expensive switch  to give yourself the next level of unit despite  
ends at cavalier or making an expensive switch  to give yourself the next level of unit despite  

now having as much as 11 melee armor they're  actually still cost effectively beaten by good  
now having as much as 11 melee armor they're  actually still cost effectively beaten by good  

camels and halberdiers though while also lagging  behind paladins against our molesters taking just  
camels and halberdiers though while also lagging  behind paladins against our molesters taking just  

50 instead of 60 arrows this is another case where  after having some pierce armor added a few patches  
50 instead of 60 arrows this is another case where  after having some pierce armor added a few patches  

ago they don't really deserve their reputation as  being especially poor against archers in fact they  
ago they don't really deserve their reputation as  being especially poor against archers in fact they  

compare quite favorably to the slav's cavalier and  hussar alternatives at the same time i don't want  
compare quite favorably to the slav's cavalier and  hussar alternatives at the same time i don't want  

to oversell the unit and lots of players just  stick with the conventional stable either out  
to oversell the unit and lots of players just  stick with the conventional stable either out  

of habit or momentum once you start making nights  though the boyar is definitely a solid melee unit  
of habit or momentum once you start making nights  though the boyar is definitely a solid melee unit  

when you want a bit more punch just to emphasize  again though because i think it's very important  
when you want a bit more punch just to emphasize  again though because i think it's very important  

halberdier's and heavy camel bonus damage ignores  armor so the boyar's hard counters are basically  
halberdier's and heavy camel bonus damage ignores  armor so the boyar's hard counters are basically  

the same as the regular knight line despite their  melee armor of course you do always have to come  
the same as the regular knight line despite their  melee armor of course you do always have to come  

back to the fact that you require castles to  make them though a recent change has made them  
back to the fact that you require castles to  make them though a recent change has made them  

significantly easier which is their brand new  tech detinets for 400 wood and 200 gold at a  
significantly easier which is their brand new  tech detinets for 400 wood and 200 gold at a  

castle the tech replaces 40 of the stone cost  of future castles and towers with wood which is  
castle the tech replaces 40 of the stone cost  of future castles and towers with wood which is  

generally an easier and faster resource to collect  of course the first castle is at full cost as you  
generally an easier and faster resource to collect  of course the first castle is at full cost as you  

need to build a castle to research it and it is  600 resources up front so it's not as crazy in  
need to build a castle to research it and it is  600 resources up front so it's not as crazy in  

early castle age as it might sound once researched  though spamming castles is much easier as you can  
early castle age as it might sound once researched  though spamming castles is much easier as you can  

make them with just 400 stone in the bank and  have a little left over which is very satisfying  
make them with just 400 stone in the bank and  have a little left over which is very satisfying  

it does affect towers as well though for slavs  their towers max out at guard tower without bracer  
it does affect towers as well though for slavs  their towers max out at guard tower without bracer  

and they're also lacking bombard towers so this  is primarily for castles for a bit of context a  
and they're also lacking bombard towers so this  is primarily for castles for a bit of context a  

typical civilization can create five castles with  a stone around their starting town plus their free  
typical civilization can create five castles with  a stone around their starting town plus their free  

starting 200 whereas slavs can make as many as  eight castles if they buy a hundred extra stone  
starting 200 whereas slavs can make as many as  eight castles if they buy a hundred extra stone  

from the market obviously you'll want to set some  aside for extra town centers as well but that's  
from the market obviously you'll want to set some  aside for extra town centers as well but that's  

still potentially three extra castles that can be  used either defensively or aggressively it even  
still potentially three extra castles that can be  used either defensively or aggressively it even  

factors into how many resources you need to repair  them as well which depending on how much wood  
factors into how many resources you need to repair  them as well which depending on how much wood  

you have may either be a good or bad thing but  usually good moving on their second unique tech  
you have may either be a good or bad thing but  usually good moving on their second unique tech  

is druzhina this allows all of your infantry so  halberdiers or champions to deal 5 damage to enemy  
is druzhina this allows all of your infantry so  halberdiers or champions to deal 5 damage to enemy  

units around them with every attack not including  the unit they're targeting this is especially nice  
units around them with every attack not including  the unit they're targeting this is especially nice  

because it ignores armor and while it is very  expensive and really only a post-imperial option  
because it ignores armor and while it is very  expensive and really only a post-imperial option  

it gives them amazing halberdiers and champions  in fact this tech single-handedly sends slavs  
it gives them amazing halberdiers and champions  in fact this tech single-handedly sends slavs  

from not being an infantry civ to arguably the  best in the late game that said it's a difficult  
from not being an infantry civ to arguably the  best in the late game that said it's a difficult  

tech to quantify since it does nothing in a  one-on-one fight but is obviously very impactful  
tech to quantify since it does nothing in a  one-on-one fight but is obviously very impactful  

in large groups one thing i do love about it  though is that the more you're outnumbered  
in large groups one thing i do love about it  though is that the more you're outnumbered  

and surrounded the more enemy units are being  impacted so it's helping to its maximum extent  
and surrounded the more enemy units are being  impacted so it's helping to its maximum extent  

exactly when you're at a numbers disadvantage  especially against enemy units with low attack  
exactly when you're at a numbers disadvantage  especially against enemy units with low attack  

units like karambit warriors and enemy halberdiers  for example just get absolutely wrecked by slav  
units like karambit warriors and enemy halberdiers  for example just get absolutely wrecked by slav  

champions so that's their unique units and tax the  castle discount is a really nice addition to the  
champions so that's their unique units and tax the  castle discount is a really nice addition to the  

civilization and between good infantry cavalry  and siege you have a lot of options to mix and  
civilization and between good infantry cavalry  and siege you have a lot of options to mix and  

match depending on the situation that said there  are some pretty large gaps in their tech tree so  
match depending on the situation that said there  are some pretty large gaps in their tech tree so  

let's take a look at that now starting with their  largest failing the archers the archery range is  
let's take a look at that now starting with their  largest failing the archers the archery range is  

a building you typically avoid in the late game as  slavs thanks to missing r blaster hand cannon ear  
a building you typically avoid in the late game as  slavs thanks to missing r blaster hand cannon ear  

thumb ring and bracer lacking the extra range  and thumb ring also means even the cavalry archer  
thumb ring and bracer lacking the extra range  and thumb ring also means even the cavalry archer  

isn't a very appealing option though of course you  could still open with archers or use skirmishers  
isn't a very appealing option though of course you  could still open with archers or use skirmishers  

as a counter practically speaking i'd say it's  one of my rare f grades as they're very similar  
as a counter practically speaking i'd say it's  one of my rare f grades as they're very similar  

to teutons who got a c but teutons actually have  hand cannon ears putting them a clear step above  
to teutons who got a c but teutons actually have  hand cannon ears putting them a clear step above  

next up for the infantry this one's tricky  you have all the standard techs available  
next up for the infantry this one's tricky  you have all the standard techs available  

free supplies in the early game and druzhina  in the late game as i mentioned before though  
free supplies in the early game and druzhina  in the late game as i mentioned before though  

they only really stand out in a post-imperial  situation which you're not guaranteed to get to  
they only really stand out in a post-imperial  situation which you're not guaranteed to get to  

their farming bonus does factor in here though  as infantry are pretty food intensive and slav  
their farming bonus does factor in here though  as infantry are pretty food intensive and slav  

infantry makes for a great combo with their strong  siege protecting each other's weaknesses i'm gonna  
infantry makes for a great combo with their strong  siege protecting each other's weaknesses i'm gonna  

say it's an a minus for infantry giving respect  to their late game though acknowledging they're  
say it's an a minus for infantry giving respect  to their late game though acknowledging they're  

pretty mediocre for the first while and druzhina  is a very expensive tech moving on to cavalry this  
pretty mediocre for the first while and druzhina  is a very expensive tech moving on to cavalry this  

is primarily how i approach the civ the only  major thing missing is the paladin which isn't  
is primarily how i approach the civ the only  major thing missing is the paladin which isn't  

exactly replaced by the boyar as existing knights  in cavalier you have reached an early dead end  
exactly replaced by the boyar as existing knights  in cavalier you have reached an early dead end  

for most of the game though their night spam is  very strong thanks to their farm bonus of course  
for most of the game though their night spam is  very strong thanks to their farm bonus of course  

and something i haven't really touched on is their  light cavalry line is also up there with the best  
and something i haven't really touched on is their  light cavalry line is also up there with the best  

while they don't have a direct bonus considering  they only cost food the farming bonus is very  
while they don't have a direct bonus considering  they only cost food the farming bonus is very  

impactful here they have one of the best hazard  spams in the game arguably even better than polls  
impactful here they have one of the best hazard  spams in the game arguably even better than polls  

given their wink hazards are missing an armor  upgrade though mag your hussars are pretty hard  
given their wink hazards are missing an armor  upgrade though mag your hussars are pretty hard  

to top going back to their online stats they  do seem to get out competed by other strong  
to top going back to their online stats they  do seem to get out competed by other strong  

cavalry civs so it's hard to give them an a or a  plus especially while also lacking paladin but i  
cavalry civs so it's hard to give them an a or a  plus especially while also lacking paladin but i  

can comfortably give them an a-minus that said  it's an a-plus for the hazard spam specifically  
can comfortably give them an a-minus that said  it's an a-plus for the hazard spam specifically  

next up for their siege the only notable thing  missing here is the bombard cannon remember  
next up for their siege the only notable thing  missing here is the bombard cannon remember  

their siege discount doesn't apply to trebuchets  but even still discounted siege rams and onagers  
their siege discount doesn't apply to trebuchets  but even still discounted siege rams and onagers  

are pretty great like i said they're also nicely  complemented by slav infantry as well personally  
are pretty great like i said they're also nicely  complemented by slav infantry as well personally  

i'm a big fan of discount bonuses in the mid  game when your economy is still growing and  
i'm a big fan of discount bonuses in the mid  game when your economy is still growing and  

considering all of their options in imperial i'll  give them an a for siege i still think a couple  
considering all of their options in imperial i'll  give them an a for siege i still think a couple  

of civs like celts and mongols have an arguably  higher ceiling but slavs are definitely up there  
of civs like celts and mongols have an arguably  higher ceiling but slavs are definitely up there  

moving on to the navy it's hard to point to a  useful civ bonus in the early game faster farms  
moving on to the navy it's hard to point to a  useful civ bonus in the early game faster farms  

doesn't really help when you're trying to focus  on building fishing ships instead most civs have  
doesn't really help when you're trying to focus  on building fishing ships instead most civs have  

something tangential to help on water so slavs  are a pretty underwhelming and generic sea grade  
something tangential to help on water so slavs  are a pretty underwhelming and generic sea grade  

though if we stretch maybe faster farmers is sort  of useful to free up some more villagers to chop  
though if we stretch maybe faster farmers is sort  of useful to free up some more villagers to chop  

wood in the late game you're also missing bracer  shipwright and a couple of naval upgrades so  
wood in the late game you're also missing bracer  shipwright and a couple of naval upgrades so  

again i consider them as c on water and not  even particularly well suited for hybrid maps  
again i consider them as c on water and not  even particularly well suited for hybrid maps  

taking a quick look now at monks despite losing  a monk related unique tech recently this is one  
taking a quick look now at monks despite losing  a monk related unique tech recently this is one  

of their strengths all that's missing here is  heresy probably on account of having the boyar  
of their strengths all that's missing here is  heresy probably on account of having the boyar  

and cheap onagers monks also make for a nice combo  with discounted siege so while they don't have a  
and cheap onagers monks also make for a nice combo  with discounted siege so while they don't have a  

direct monastery bonus i still think they're  an a minus in practice they're a useful wild  
direct monastery bonus i still think they're  an a minus in practice they're a useful wild  

card unit even if it's just throwing in a few  to heal your expensive cavalry units moving on  
card unit even if it's just throwing in a few  to heal your expensive cavalry units moving on  

to defenses the castle discount basically sent  slavs from a terrible to a great defensive civ  
to defenses the castle discount basically sent  slavs from a terrible to a great defensive civ  

you can see they're missing tons of university  texts plus bracer but when you have three extra  
you can see they're missing tons of university  texts plus bracer but when you have three extra  

castles with your starting stone you're instantly  a good defensive civ in my eyes if all of their  
castles with your starting stone you're instantly  a good defensive civ in my eyes if all of their  

castles had the discounted stone cost it would be  an easy a or a plus but the fact it takes a while  
castles had the discounted stone cost it would be  an easy a or a plus but the fact it takes a while  

to get going on top of missing bracer for a bit  of final range i think we have to drop it down  
to get going on top of missing bracer for a bit  of final range i think we have to drop it down  

to a b-plus certainly if you like spamming  castles though slavs are now right up your alley  
to a b-plus certainly if you like spamming  castles though slavs are now right up your alley  

finally let's look at their trash units meaning  units that don't cost any gold like i said their  
finally let's look at their trash units meaning  units that don't cost any gold like i said their  

halberdiers and hussars both end up being among  the strongest in the game and it's only really  
halberdiers and hussars both end up being among  the strongest in the game and it's only really  

their skirmishers that hold them back i think of  slavs as a top tier trash war civ with their farm  
their skirmishers that hold them back i think of  slavs as a top tier trash war civ with their farm  

bonus and even discounted siege contributing to  that as well i've seen stats suggesting in games  
bonus and even discounted siege contributing to  that as well i've seen stats suggesting in games  

lasting well over an hour that they actually end  up being quite good and even affording the odd  
lasting well over an hour that they actually end  up being quite good and even affording the odd  

extra onager here and there can do wonders against  skirmishers especially for this category i'll give  
extra onager here and there can do wonders against  skirmishers especially for this category i'll give  

them an a minus held back mostly because of their  underwhelming skirmishers so that's the sloth's  
them an a minus held back mostly because of their  underwhelming skirmishers so that's the sloth's  

tech tree it's a little surprising that with such  a strong eco bonus free early housing and an a  
tech tree it's a little surprising that with such  a strong eco bonus free early housing and an a  

range grade in 5 out of 8 tech tree categories  they still end up performing just middle of the  
range grade in 5 out of 8 tech tree categories  they still end up performing just middle of the  

road on the latter i find it especially surprising  given their great cavalry which tends to put a lot  
road on the latter i find it especially surprising  given their great cavalry which tends to put a lot  

of upward pressure on a civilization's win rate  it just seems for whatever reason despite some  
of upward pressure on a civilization's win rate  it just seems for whatever reason despite some  

strong tools the combination just doesn't  take them to the top level competitively  
strong tools the combination just doesn't  take them to the top level competitively  

the most obvious explanation to me implied by  their win rate over various game lengths is  
the most obvious explanation to me implied by  their win rate over various game lengths is  

they're just a bit too slow to get going to  compete with hyper aggressive civilizations  
they're just a bit too slow to get going to  compete with hyper aggressive civilizations  

despite ending up very strong the farming bonus in  particular isn't really kicking in seriously until  
despite ending up very strong the farming bonus in  particular isn't really kicking in seriously until  

mid to late feudal now that said one thing  that doesn't take a long time to get going  
mid to late feudal now that said one thing  that doesn't take a long time to get going  

is building your own website on squarespace who  have kindly sponsored this video using one of  
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spirit of the draw and the tools i had available  were perfect for either selling physical items  
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online or dealing with scheduling and payments for  lessons using squarespace's third-party extensions  
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so hopefully that was a helpful look at the  slavs and gave you some ideas or inspiration  
so hopefully that was a helpful look at the  slavs and gave you some ideas or inspiration  

to play what i think is a very fun civilization  thanks for watching and i'll see you next time
to play what i think is a very fun civilization  thanks for watching and i'll see you next time