Birs vs DLU

BIrremes are better than DLU for defense and I’ll explain the why.

Sum all resources to train 1 swordsman, 1 archer and 1 hoplite and the result is

600 or 600/3 = 200 resources per unit.

Don’t forget that they need fast transport ships and it costs 1200 resources.

Birremes cost 1680 resources.

Doing a MMC between 8(birs) and 21(DLU(16) + FTS(5)), you have 8 x 21 = 168.

8 birs cost 1680 x 21 = 35280 resources

8 FTS + 128DLU cost = 1200 x 8 + 128 x 200 = 35200 resources.

So they have almost the same cost, but you unlock birs on Academy 13 and FTS on Academy 22

(this takes time if this is not your first city) and you have to research many things in your DLU city.

And more… to support with birs you just pick the time of the incomings and send your birs,

for DLU you still have to count how many units you have to send.

Militia + birremes can destroy any OLU badly escorted by LS.

For these reasons birs are better than DLU.

There are exceptions like being attacked by flyers and then you have to protect your favors. You have to change your strategy, destroying the city of the flyers or preparing DLU.