Empire 1: Ottoman

The Ottoman empire is the game's namesake and its most direct expression of the core mechanic: promotion. Ottoman play is built on climbing your own promotion tree faster than the opponent can cut it down — two recruits become a captain, two captains become a governor, and the strongest card of the empire waits at the top. Layered on top are conscription (turning the enemy's men to your side) and siege warfare that brings down walls with cannon, making it the most aggressive answer to defensive empires like Byzantium.

Officially summarized as "promotion, conscription and siege", the Ottoman kit rewards players who protect their board investment. Every unit you promote is a target: the opponent will try to cut the tree at its root before you climb it, so timing your promotions — and having answers when the enemy targets your captains — is the whole skill curve. In the Bo1 tournament it is expected to be a strong first pick for new players, because its plan is legible: build tall, convert theirs, break the walls.

The signature Ottoman seal is the Tughra itself — the calligraphic emblem the game is named after. As with every empire you choose one of five seals before the match, and the same deck plays completely differently under a different seal. For a promotion-focused Ottoman deck, favor a seal that accelerates your rank-ups or protects promoted units; the seals hub breaks down what is officially known about each named seal ahead of launch.

• Pick a seal that supports your promotion tempo — the Tughra is the thematic default.
• Hold conscription effects for enemy captains, not recruits: converting a promoted unit is twice the swing.
• Cannon and siege tools answer walls — save them for Byzantine players who hide behind them.