How to Choose and Use Subordinate City General in Evony?

In Evony: The King's Return, specific Generals are designated as "Subordinate City Mayors." These Generals are critical for high-level play, as they primarily focus on applying debuffs to enemy forces while providing buffs to the Subordinate City’s own troops. A frequent question among players is: "Which Subordinate City General is the strongest?"

In reality, there is no definitive answer; the "best" choice is highly situational. Because you can station the same General across multiple cities, your selection must be fine-tuned based on your current overall debuff caps, equipment sets (such as Achaemenid or Parthian gear), and Research Academy progress.

To assist with your optimization, I have compiled a guide of commonly used Subordinate City Generals. By aggregating their specific attribute values, I have categorized them by their effectiveness against different troop types.

To ensure clarity, the following abbreviations are used to describe enemy troop debuffs:

• Ground: EGA (Attack), EGD (Defense), EGHP (HP)

• Mounted: EMA (Attack), EMD (Defense), EMHP (HP)

• Ranged: ERA (Attack), ERD (Defense), ERHP (HP)

• Siege: ESA (Attack), ESD (Defense), ESHP (HP)

• All Troops: E-T-A (Attack), E-T-D (Defense), E-T-HP (HP)

Note on Calculations:

• Values shown in "( )" represent the maximum attribute bonus from the General’s final Specialty.

• The total debuff values in the tables below include the combined bonuses from specific troop debuffs and "All Troop" (E-T-A/D/HP) debuffs.

• This guide focuses exclusively on debuff attributes, as the "buff" components only apply to the Subordinate City’s local garrison, which is negligible in large-scale PvP.

• The following figures show cumulative percentage values. While actual battlefield performance scales with General cultivation and troop count, these totals provide an accurate baseline for comparing General capabilities under equal conditions.

Ground-Troop Subordinate City General

Sub-city generals that have significant debuff effects on enemy ground troops (infantry) include: Pachacuti, Narses, Darius I, Yeon Gaesomun, Constantine the Great, and Flavius Aetius.

Pachacuti:

• E-T-A: -15%, (-15%)

• E-T-HP: -10%

• EGA: -20%

• EGD: -20%, -15%, -20%, -15%, -30%

• EGHP: -10%, -20%, -25%, (-25%)

• EMA: -20%

• EMD: -20%, -15%, -20%, -15%, -30%

• EMHP: -10%, -20%, -25%, (-25%)

Narses:

• EGA: -50%, -30%, (-35%)

• EGD: -40%, -10%, -20%, -15%, (-25%)

• EGHP: -20%, -15%, (-25%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• EMD: -40%, -10%, -15%, (-25%)

• EMHP: -15%, (-25%)

• ERD: -25%

• ERHP: -20%, -25%

• ESD: -25%

• ESHP: -20%, -25%

Darius I:

• EGA: -35%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EGHP: -20%, -10%, -20%, -15%, (-20%)

• EGD: -10%, -20%, -15%

• E-T-A: -10%

• EMA: -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EMHP: -20%, -10%, -20%, -15%, (-20%)

• EMD: -10%, -20%, -15%

Yeon Gaesomun:

• EGA: -30%, -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EGD: -15%, -20%, -25%

• EGHP: -10%, -20%, -20%

• E-T-A: -10%, -10%

• EMA: -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EMD: -15%, -20%, -25%

• EMHP: -10%, -20%, -20%

• ERA: (-20%)

• ESA: (-20%)

Constantine the Great:

• EGA: -20%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EGD: -10%, -15%, -15%

• EGHP: -15%, -15%, -15%

• EMA: -20%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EMD: -10%, -15%, -15%

• EMHP: -15%, -15%, -15%

Flavius Aetius:

• EGA: (-26%)

• EGD: -10%, -20%, -15%

• EGHP: -20%, -10%, -10%, -15%, (-26%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• ESA: -20%, -5%, -10%, -15%

• ERA: -5%, -10%, -15%

• Enemy Wounded into Death when attacking: +10%

Taken together, Pachacuti and Narses are the better infantry sub-city generals.

Mounted Troop Subordinate City General

Sub-city generals that can cause significant debuffs to enemy cavalry include: Hōjō Ujiyasu, Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, Constantine the Great, and Margaret I.

Pachacuti:

• E-T-A: -15%, (-15%)

• E-T-HP: -10%

• EGA: -20%

• EGD: -20%, -15%, -20%, -15%, -30%

• EGHP: -10%, -20%, -25%, (-25%)

• EMA: -20%

• EMD: -20%, -15%, -20%, -15%, -30%

• EMHP: -10%, -20%, -25%, (-25%)

Hōjō Ujiyasu:

• E-T-A: -10%

• EMD: -20%

• EMHP: -35%, -15%, -20%, -20%, (-35%)

• ERA: -35%, -10%, -25%, (-30%)

• ERD: -15%

• ERHP: -15%

• EGD: -20%

• EGHP: -20%

• ESD: -15%

• ESHP: -15%

Jan Karol Chodkiewicz:

• EMA: -25%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-35%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• E-T-D: -10%

• E-T-HP: -10%

• EGA: -15%

• ERD: -15%

• ERHP: -15%

• ESD: -30%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -30%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

Constantine the Great:

• EMA: -20%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EMD: -10%, -15%, -15%

• EMHP: -15%, -15%, -15%

• EGA: -20%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• EGD: -10%, -15%, -15%

• EGHP: -15%, -15%, -15%

Margaret I:

• EMA: -20%, -10%, -10%, (-30%)

• EMD: -10%, -5%, -15%

• EMHP: -5%, -5%, -5%

• E-T-A: -10%

• EGA: -10%, -10%

• EGD: -10%, -5%, -15%

• EGHP: -5%, -5%, -5%, (-30%)

According to the debuff value, the best archer debuff sub-city general is Montezuma I.

Siege Machine Subordinate City General

We recommend using the following generals to debuff enemy siege machines: Montezuma I, Zhu Di, Cimon, Gilgamesh, Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, and Baldwin IV.

Montezuma I:

• ERA: -45%, -30%, -30%, (-35%)

• ERD: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• ERHP: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• ESA: -30%, -30%, -30%

• ESD: -35%, -15%, -20%, (-30%)

• ESHP: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• EGA: -25%

• EGD: -10%

• EGHP: -40%, -10%

• EMA: -25%

• EMD; -10%

• EMHP: -40%, -10%

• E-T-A: -10

• E-T-D: -10

• E-T-HP: -10

Zhu Di:

• E-T-A: -10%

• E-T-D: -15%, -15%

• E-T-HP: -15%

• ERA: -40%, -20%, (-20%)

• ERD: -30(-30%)

• ERHP: -10(-15%)

• ESA: -40%, -20%, -30%, (-20%)

• ESD: -30%, (-40%)

• ESHP: -10%, (-40%)

• EGA: -40%, (-10%)

• EGD: -35%, -20%

• EGHP: -35%

• EMD: -20%

• Enemy wounded to death when attacking +10%

Cimon:

• ESA: -40%, -15%, -10%, (-25%)

• ESD: -30%, -15%, -10%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -30%, -15%, -10%, (-20%)

• ERA: -40%, -15%, (-25%)

• ERD: -15%, (-20%)

• ERHP: -15%, (-20%)

• E-T-A: -10%, -10%

• E-T-D: -10%

• EGA: -10%

• EMA: -10%

• EGD: -20%

• EMD: -20%

• EGHP: -10%

• EMHP: -10%

Gilgamesh:

• ESD: -40%, -10%, -10%, (-25%)

• ESHP: -10%, -50%, (-25%)

• E-T-D: -10%

• ERD: -40%, -10%, -10%, (-25%)

• ERHP: -10%, -50%, (-25%)

• EGA: -25%, -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EGHP: -15%

• EGD: -15%

• EMA: -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EMHP: -15%

• EMD: -15%

Jan Karol Chodkiewicz:

• ESD: -30%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -30%, -15%, -15%, (-20%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• E-T-D: -10%

• E-T-HP: -10%

• EGA: -15%

• ERD: -15%

• ERHP: -15%

• EMA: -25%, -10%, -15%, -15%, (-35%)

Baldwin IV:

• ESA: -20%, -5%, -10%, -10%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -10%, -15%, -10%, (-10%)

• ESD: -10%, -10%, -10%

• E-T-A: -10%

• ERA: -30%, -5%, -10%, -10%, (-20%)

• ERHP: -10%, -15%, -10%, (-10%)

• ERD: -10%, -10%, -10%

Montezuma I seems the most powerful and balanced one for debuffing enemy siege machines.

Overall Troop Debuff Subordinate City General

To debuff all enemy troops, we suggest choosing Nero, Nordic Barbarian King, and Harald.

Nero:

• E-T-HP: -15%, -10%, -10%, (-16%)

• E-T-D: -10%, -10%, -10%

• E-T-A: -5%, -10%

• [Special points: Training Speed +10%, +36%]

Nordic Barbarian King:

• E-T-D: -10%, -25%, -10%

• E-T-HP: -10%

• ERA: -30%, -15%

• ERHP: -20%, -15%

• ERD: -20%, -15%

• ESA: -15%

• ESHP: -20%, -15%

• ESD: -20%, -15%

• EMA: -30%

• EGHP: -20%

Harald:

• E-T-A: -10%, -10%

• E-T-HP: -10%, -10%

• E-T-D: -10%, -10%, -10%

• ERD: -10%

• ESD: -10%

• EGD: -10%

• EMD: -10%

• Enemy Wounded into Death when attacking: +10

There are not many generals who focus on debuffing the entire enemy troops, and the above three are all good choices.

Debuff Equipment for Sub City General

Subordinate City Equipment Sets

Achaemenid Set

Set Attributes:

• 2 Pieces: All Troops Attack +10%

• 4 Pieces: Ground & Mounted Troop Attack and Defense on Monsters +25%

• 6 Pieces: Enemy Troop Attack -15% (E-T-A)

Parthian Set (Upgraded from Achaemenid)

Set Attributes:

• 2 Pieces: All Troops Attack +12%

• 4 Pieces: Ground & Mounted Troop Attack and Defense on Monsters +30%

• 6 Pieces: Enemy Troop Attack -18% (E-T-A)

Apollo Set (Upgraded from Parthian)

Set Attributes:

• 2 Pieces: All Troops Attack +14%

• 4 Pieces: Ground & Mounted Troop Attack and Defense on Monsters +34%

• 6 Pieces: Enemy Troop Attack -20% (E-T-A)

For a deeper dive into optimizing your Subordinate City Mayors, refer to our comprehensive guide: "A Strategy Guide to Selecting and Obtaining Debuff Equipment in Evony." This resource covers acquisition methods and advanced gearing strategies for maximum debuff efficiency.

Debuff Spiritual Beast for Sub City General

• Chimera and Otso - ESD

• Jormungandr - ESHP

• Thunderbird and Hati - EGD

• Chiron - EGA

• Burning Godzilla - ERD

• Kong - EMD

• Siren and Chrysomallos - ERA

• Nine-tailed Fox and Duneyrr - EMHP

• Pegasus, Nandi, and Rainbow Crow - EGHP

For cavalry, HP is particularly important, so the good choices to reduce enemy cavalry are Hōjō Ujiyasu and Pachacuti.

Ranged Troop Subordinate City General

To effectively counter enemy archers, players often utilize debuff-heavy Mayors such as Montezuma I, Zhu Di, and Cimon. Other viable options for reducing Ranged effectiveness include Zizka, Mark Antony, Gilgamesh, Andrew Jackson, Cnut the Great, Baldwin IV, and Hōjō Ujiyasu.

Montezuma I:

• ERA: -45%, -30%, -30%, (-35%)

• ERD: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• ERHP: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• ESA: -30%, -30%, -30%

• ESD: -35%, -15%, -20%, (-30%)

• ESHP: -35%, -20%, (-30%)

• EGA: -25%

• EGD: -10%

• EGHP: -40%, -10%

• EMA: -25%

• EMD; -10%

• EMHP: -40%, -10%

• E-T-A: -10

• E-T-D: -10

• E-T-HP: -10

Zhu Di:

• E-T-A: -10%

• E-T-D: -15%, -15%

• E-T-HP: -15%

• ERA: -40%, -20%, (-20%)

• ERD: -30(-30%)

• ERHP: -10(-15%)

• ESA: -40%, -20%, -30%, (-20%)

• ESD: -30%, (-40%)

• ESHP: -10%, (-40%)

• EGA: -40%, (-10%)

• EGD: -35%, -20%

• EGHP: -35%

• EMD: -20%

• Enemy wounded to death when attacking +10%

Zizka:

• ERA: -40%, -10%, -40%, (-30%)

• ERD: -15%, -10%, -20%, -25%, (-20%)

• ERHP: -15%, -10%, -20%, -25%, (-20%)

• E-T-D: -10%, -10%

• E-T-HP: -10%

• ESA: (-30%)

• ESD: -15%, -10%

• ESHP: -15%, -10%

• EGA: -35%

Cimon:

• ESA: -40%, -15%, -10%, (-25%)

• ESD: -30%, -15%, -10%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -30%, -15%, -10%, (-20%)

• ERA: -40%, -15%, (-25%)

• ERD: -15%, (-20%)

• ERHP: -15%, (-20%)

• E-T-A: -10%, -10%

• E-T-D: -10%

• EGA: -10%

• EMA: -10%

• EGD: -20%

• EMD: -20%

• EGHP: -10%

• EMHP: -10%

Mark Antony:

• ERA: -35%, -10%, -15%, (-30%)

• ERHP: -25%

• E-T-A: -10%

• E-T-D: -15%

• ESA: -10%, -15%=-25

• ESHP: -25%

• EGHP: -10%, -10%, -20%, (-10%)

• EGD: -10%, -15%=-25

• EMHP: -10%, -10%, -20%, (-10%)

• EMD: -10%, -15%=-25

• Enemy Wounded into Death when attacking: +10%

Gilgamesh:

• ERD: -40%, -10%, -10%, (-25%)

• ERHP: -10%, -50%, (-25%)

• E-T-D: -10%

• ESD: -40%, -10%, -10%, (-25%)

• ESHP: -10%, -50%, (-25%)

• EGA: -25%, -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EGHP: -15%

• EGD: -15%

• EMA: -10%, -15%, (-10%)

• EMHP: -15%

• EMD: -15%

Andrew Jackson:

• ERA: -20%, -20%, -20%, (-30%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• EMHP: -20%, -10%, -10%

• EMD: -10%, -10%

• EGHP: -10%, -10%

• EGD: -10%, -10%

• Enemy Wounded into Death when attacking: +10%

Cnut the Great:

• ERA: -25%, -5%, -10%, -15%, (-26%)

• ERD: (-26%)

• ERHP: (-26%)

• E-T-A: -10%

• ESA: -5%, -10%, -15%

• EGHP: -15%, -15%, -20%

• EGD: -15%, -20%, -25%

• EMHP: -15%, -15%, -20%

• EMD: -15%, -20%, -25%

• [Special benefits: Training Speed +15%, +36%]

Baldwin IV:

• ERA: -30%, -5%, -10%, -10%, (-20%)

• ERHP: -10%, -15%, -10%, (-10%)

• ERD: -10%, -10%, -10%

• E-T-A: -10%

• ESA: -20%, -5%, -10%, -10%, (-20%)

• ESHP: -10%, -15%, -10%, (-10%)

• ESD: -10%, -10%, -10%

Hōjō Ujiyasu:

• ERA: -35%, -10%, -25%, (-30%)

• ERD: -15%

• ERHP: -15%

• E-T-A: -10%

• EMD: -20%

• EMHP: -35%, -15%, -20%, -20%, (-35%)

• EGD: -20%

• EGHP: -20%

• ESD: -15%

• ESHP: -15%