All 41 Nations in Ara History Untold, ranked best to worst

No Nation in Ara: History Untold is truly bad or useless, as they each have their own buffs and boons that make them unique. Although any Nation has its own playstyle that it encourages, some are generally better than others in their respective playstyles. Here is a tier list ranking all the Nations in Ara: History Untold.

All Ara History Untold Nations ranked

There may be many avenues to victory in Ara: History Untold, and success is in the hands of the players, not the Nations, but I’ve observed some Nations to be intrinsically better than others. The Nations that allow for a strong sense of direction and synergizing buffs are ones that’ll get you to victory the most reliably.

In each tier, the Nations are organized alphabetically.

S Tier

These Nations are incredibly strong and are easy to pick up and grab Prestige with. You will hardly see these Nations get cut off early, and any player should have an easy time focusing their efforts to victory. Out of all the Nations, only three have made it to this tier. They’re that good.

• The Crow Nation
  • Bade Warrior: +1 Force Speed and +1 Sight for Settlers, Mounted Scouts, Harquebusiers, and Dragoons. +33% Craft Production at Artisan Studios, Weavers, and their Upgrades.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
• The Mongol Empire
  • Lord Of The Steppes: Cavalry Units provide +25% Force Strength. Infantry, Ranged, and Cavalry units provide +1 Force Speed.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Cunning: -50% War Declaration Cost. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Adventurous: +1 Speed to Scouts.
  • Resplendent: -15 Prosperity in your Capital
• Russia
  • Siberian Expanse: +1 City Cap. +2 Force Speed for Settlers. Your Gathering Halls and their Upgrades provide an additional +1 Food and +1 Timber per turn.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Lavish: +2 available Merchants.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.

A Tier

16 Nations of Ara: History Untold float in the A Tier. These Nations are generally great, with minor drawbacks. Each Nation here does have a clear direction, although may not push as hard in that direction as they could. Some diversity in their traits can be a good thing, however.

• The Abbasid Caliphate
  • House of Wisdom: Academies provide +2 Research per turn. Research Agreements provide +10% Research.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
  • Charitable: +15 Prosperity in your Capital.
• The Assyrian Empire
  • Wolf of the Fold: +33% Force Siege Damage, +25% Craft Production at Workshops, and +25 Security in your Capital.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Rash: -20 Knowledge in your Capital.
  • Productive: +25% Build Production in your Capital.
• China
  • Imperial Examinations: Libraries, Schools, and their Upgrades provide +15 Prosperity. +10% Paragon Spawn Chance.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Cunning: -50% War Declaration Cost. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
• Argentina
  • Share My Glory: Palace provides +25 City Prosperity and +25 Health, your Monument provides +25 City Prosperity and +25 Happiness, and Amphitheatres, Theatres, and Opera Houses provide +15 Happiness and benefit from +20% Build Production.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• Ethiopia
  • Lion of Judah: +5% Force Strength for each Alliance you are in. +25% Religious Spread Strength in your Capital. +300% Harvest Production toward harvesting Coffee.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Georgia
  • Whom The Sun Serves: +25% Build Production toward Military, Religion, and Commerce Improvements. +15 City Prosperity and +10 Security in all Cities during Golden Ages.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Creative: +15 Prosperity in all Cities.
• Greece
  • Tenth Muse: Amphitheatres and Theatres provide +15 City Happiness and have +100 Masterpiece Creation Speed. Coastal regions with your Cities provide +10 Prosperity.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Creative: +15 Prosperity in all Cities.
• The Holy Roman Empire
  • Carolingian Renaissance: +25 City Knowledge in your Capital during Golden Ages. +100% Masterpiece Creation Speed in your Capital during Golden Ages. Your Palace provides +5 Wealth and +1 Research per turn during Golden Ages.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• Italy
  • Tyrants Never Read: -33% Research Cost of Government Technologies. +100% Craft Production toward crafting Books. Weavers, Artisan Studios, and their Upgrades provide +5 City Happiness and +5 Health after Books are unlocked.
  • Collaborative: +3 Housing in your Capital.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Pacifist: -10% Strength to Forces outside your Territory.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• Mexico
  • Son Of The People: Tribes will never be initially hostile toward you. Cities and founded with an additional Expert.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• The Palmyrene Empire
  • Silk Road: +3 available Merchants. Trading Posts and their Upgrades provide +5 City Knowledge and +4 additional Wealth per turn.
  • Resplendent: -15 Prosperity in your Capital.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• The First Persian Empire
  • King of Kings: +1 Force Cap for each City you control. +50% War Strength for War Chariots and Mounted Scouts.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Cunning: -50% War Declaration Cost. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Rash: -20 Knowledge in your Capital.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
• The Roman Empire
  • Triumphant Legions: Forces gain +50% bonus Strength when they level up. +15 Happiness and +20 prosperity in your Capital for 15 turns after winning a War.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Resplendent: -15 Prosperity in your Capital.
• Spain
  • New World: +1 Force Sight for Embarked Forces. +2 Force Speed for Embarked Forces. Mints provide +5 City Security and Happiness. +10 Religion Spread Strength in all Cities after unlocking Codices.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Mercantile: +1 available Merchant.
  • Seafaring: +5 Wealth from Fishing Nets and Industrial Fishing Farms.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Thailand
  • White Elephants: Your Palace provides +1 Elephants per turn after you unlock any Elephant Unit. +25 Force Strength for Forces containing Elephant Units. +25% Harvest Production at Camps.
  • Ambitious: -50% turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Productive: +25% Build Production in your Capital.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
  • Creative: +15 Prosperity in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Poland
  • Revolutionary Thought: Observatories and Research Labs provide +10 City Knowledge per turn. +25% bonus Nation Research for 10 Turns after you earn a Paragon.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Productive: +25% Build Production in your Capital.
  • Lavish: +2 available Merchants.
  • Creative: +15 Prosperity in all Cities.

B Tier

The following nine Nations in Ara: History Untold aren’t that great. Their traits are either inconsequential or aren’t cohesive enough to help you out meaningfully in any Prestige path. These Nations are just about alright to play.

• The Byzantine Empire
  • Iconophile: Altars, Monasteries, and Shrines provide +20 City Security and +4 Wealth per Turn. +100% effectiveness of Oracles and Missionaries.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Patient: +50% War Declaration Cost.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Egypt
  • Rays of the Aten: Farms and their Upgrades provide an additional +1 Food per Turn if placed in regions adjacent to a river. -25% Research Cost of Religious Technologies. Museums provide +10 City Happiness.
  • Agrarian: +1 bonus Food from all Farms and their Upgrades.
  • Lavish: +2 available Merchants.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• England
  • Gloriana: +1 Force Speed and +1 Sight for Sea Forces. +25% Strength for Sea Forces. Longbowmen and Line Infantry cannot be Countered.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Mercantile: +1 available Merchant.
  • Seafaring: +5 Wealth from Fishing Nets and Industrial Fishing Farms.
• France
  • Maid Of Orleans: +25% Force Strength in Cities where your Religion in dominant. +1 Force Speed within your Territory. Your Forces reduce your War Weariness by 5 when they defeat an enemy Force.
  • Impulsive: -10 Established Relations with other Nations.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Germany (Otto von Bismark)
  • Blood and Iron: +10% Craft Production at Forges, Factories, Vehicle Factories, and their Upgrades. +25% Force Strength for 10 Turns after declaring War.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Practical: -10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
• Germany (Hildegard von Bingen)
  • Sibyl of the Rhine: Monasteries provide +5 Research per Turn. +5 Health and +5 Happiness in each of your Cities where your Religion is dominant.
  • Pacifist: -10% Strength to Forces outside your Territory.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Mercantile: +1 available Merchant.
  • Creative: +15 Prosperity in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• India
  • Conquest by Dharma: Religion Improvements provide +10 City Health. Apothecaries and Clinics, and their Upgrades provide +5 Religion Spread Strength.
  • Impulsive: -10 Established Relations with other Nations.
  • Adventurous: +1 Speed to Scouts.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Korea (Yu Gwan-sun)
  • Unbreakable: While you are in a Defensive War you have +20 Established Relationship with Nations you are at peace with. +15 Religious Spread Strength in each City that contains a School or one of its Upgrades. 10% Force Strength in Regions containing a School or one of its Upgrades.
  • Collaborative: +3 Housing in your Capital.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Kush
  • Land Of The Bow: Ranged units provide +50% Force Strength when in Rough Terrain. +10% Force Strength for Spearmen and Archers.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.

C Tier

These ten Nations aren’t worth playing in Ara: History Untold. I either found their traits to lack cohesion, or simply not provide enough to be worth thinking about. Some specific strategies may find one of these more unique or situational Nations to be viable, but there are many other strategies to consider.

• The Aztec Empire
  • Flower Wars: +25 Security and +25 Happiness in your Capital for 10 turns after engaging in combat. +100% Force Heal Rate.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Perfectionist: -10% Craft Production to Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Belgium
  • Nestor of Europe: +10 Established Relationship with other Nations. +20 additional Established Relationship with other Nations if you have fewer Cities than them. +100% Harvest Production at Farms harvesting Cocoa. Breweries and Distilleries provide +10 City Prosperity.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Adventurous: +1 Speed to Scouts.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
• The Celts
  • Lady of Vengeance: +33% Force Strength whilst in a Retaliation War. Forces inflict 5 War Weariness when they defeat an enemy force.
  • Collaborative: +3 Housing in your Capital.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Unyielding: +5 bonus Force EXP from defeating enemy forces. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Persuasive: +5 Turn duration for Golden Ages.
• The Cherokee
  • The Word For Water: +150 Build Production toward Water Wells and Water Treatment Plants. Water Wells and Water Treatment Plants provide +20 City Health. +25% Crafting Production toward crafting Feasts.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
  • Charitable: +15 Prosperity in your Capital.
• Ghana
  • Golden Protector: Stone Pits and their Upgrades provide +1 Wealth per turn. +15% Force Strength within your territory.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Agrarian: +1 bonus Food from all Farms and their Upgrades.
  • Traditional: +20% bonus Prestige from constructing Triumphs.
• The Inca Empire
  • Andean Masonry: Stone Pits and their Upgrades provide an additional +1 Material per turn. +100% Building Production toward City Walls, Fortresses, and Citadels. Fortresses and Citadels provide +100% City Siege Defense.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Agrarian: +1 bonus Food from all Farms and their Upgrades.
  • Perfectionist: -10% Craft Production to Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• Korea (Sejong the Great)
  • Hangul: +25 City Knowledge and Happiness in all Cities for 10 turns after you finish a Masterpiece. Weavers and their Upgrades provide +10 City Knowledge after Paper is unlocked.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Efficient: +20% Craft Production to all Crafting Improvements in all Cities.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• The Songhai Empire
  • Gold-Salt Trade: Trading Posts and their Upgrades provide +6 Wealth per turn if they are next to a river. +25% Harvest Production at Stone Pits and their Upgrades.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Productive: +25% Build Production in your Capital.
  • Mercantile: +1 available Merchant.
  • Resplendent: -15 Prosperity in your Capital.
  • Spiritual: +15% Religion Spread Strength in all Cities.
• United States
  • Minutemen: +10 Starting EXP for all Forces. +1 Force Speed for Forces in Square, Tercio, and Trapezoid Formations.
  • Ambitious: -50% turn duration for Golden Ages.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Formidable: +20% Strength to Forces within your Capital.
  • Woodsman: +1 Timber from Logging Camps and their Upgrades.
• Zulu
  • Buffalo Horns: +25% Force Strength for Forces in Square, Tercio, and Trapezoid Formations. +50% Force Pillage Damage.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Productive: +25% Build Production in your Capital.
  • Perfectionist: -10% Craft Production to Crafting Improvements in all Cities.

D Tier

I hate to say it, but these three Nations aren’t viable to play at all. Again, any good player can win with these Nations, but they really do make it difficult, especially if playing against clever opponents using a stronger Nation.

• Australia
  • Medical Genius: Universities and Fusion Research Centers provide +2 Research per Turn. +25% Craft Production toward crafting Bandages, Soap, and Antibiotics, which all provide more City Health when consumed.
  • Collaborative: +3 Housing in your Capital.
  • Stately: +10 Happiness and +10 prosperity in all Cities while not at War.
  • Innovative: +10% Research per Turn in your Capital.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
  • Pacifist: -10% Strength to Forces outside your Territory.
• Japan
  • Study Patience: Nations that declare War of you receive 1 War Weariness each turn. Your War Weariness is reduced by 50%. Castles provide +30 City Security.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Aggressive: +10% Strength to Forces outside your territory. Unlocks War of Annihilation War Type.
  • Patient: +50% War Declaration Cost.
  • Sage: +10 Knowledge in all Cities.
• Venezuela
  • March On Bogota: +2 Speed for Forces led by a Paragon. +25% Force Strength in regions adjacent to rivers.
  • Disciplined: +50% Build Production toward Government and Military Improvements.
  • Independent: +1 Housing in non-Capital Cities.
  • Adventurous: +1 Speed to Scouts.
  • Charismatic: +1 Golden Age Points per turn.
  • Lavish: +2 available Merchants.

Now you know where each Nation lands when compared to each other in Ara: History Untold, you can choose a great one (or a bad one!) and earn more Prestige than your opponents.