Total War: Pharaoh Sea Peoples invasions
Overview: Sea Peoples invasions
The campaign in Total War: Pharaoh begins in 1200 BC, at the start of the Bronze Age Collapse. As part of the Bronze Age Collapse, the Sea Peoples are coming - and they hostile, unless you are playing a Sea Peoples faction (Sherden or Peleset).
Understanding the Sea Peoples invasions
This is not an endgame mechanic
New players might expect the Sea Peoples to start arriving when the player has built an empire, or in the late campaign. However, from around turn 31, armies of Sea Peoples will start to appear on the campaign map - and a series of waves of them will appear.
The Sea Peoples use horde armies
When they can defeat the defenders of cities, Sea Peoples armies will sack or raze them - they are normally interesting in settling and occupying territory. They are also likely to damage or destroy your outposts. Horde armies are both armies and mobile settlements, which means that they can replenish in enemy territory.
The Sea Peoples contribute to the Collapse
By clicking on the Pillars of Civilization bar (in the middle of your screen, just below the top) you can see the current state of civilization - Prosperity, Crisis or Collapse. Some cities on the campaign map are surrounded by an orange circle - they are the Cult Centres. The more Cult Centres are destroyed, the more civilization moves towards Collapse.
The Sea Peoples benefit from the Collapse
As the Pillars of Civilization move from Properity to Crisis and Collapse, the invading Sea Peoples and Nomadic Tribes acquire bonuses, and settled factions (such as Egyptian and Hittitde factions) get penalties. For example, Sea Peoples units get an increases charge bonus, morale and melee defence, while Nomadic Tribes an increased charge bonus and improved melee attack and melee defence, while settled factions have a morale penalty and slower replenishment.
The Sea Peoples are not the only invaders
As well as the Sea Peoples, the player is likely to see attacks by Nomadic Tribes. The Sea Peoples are usually described as Kinfolk, such as the Tjeker Kinfolk. The Nomadic Tribes are described as Invaders, such as the Libu Invaders.
The See Peoples invasions end
By around turn 140, a cut-scene appears reporting the end of the Sea Peoples invasions. However, this means that the Sea Peoples armies have stopped spawning on the campaign map - you may still be attacked by remaining horde armies. Also, the invasions by Nomadic Tribes will continue, even after the Sea Peoples invasions have ended.