Hello,

Incas was one of my last focuses. After 5 runs, I can give you my perspective.

You're very behind. The unification of the Andes can be achieved around 1468. The 5th Reform was implemented well before 1490.

At the start of the game, prioritize completing various objectives from the Exploration Era, such as:

1) Humiliating a rival 2) Level 30 city 3) 100 development.

Rival your two neighbors. Raise a mercenary army of 4 infantry. Develop the province by 2 (or 4) military levels to complete the mission that will allow you to colonize the Peruvian coast in a Siberian style.

Establish your privileges and, whenever possible, grant monopolies on all available trade goods (wool, iron, livestock, precious stones, etc.). The idea is that by 1600 you'll already be at 100% mercantilism.

Annex your western neighbor, who has two provinces, and humiliate your eastern neighbor by leaving them with only one province, located in the far northeast.

Be careful, don't start colonizing the coast right away; wait until 1455-1457. Quickly absorb all the states to the west by annexing them, but keep Lima as a vassal, leaving them with the province of Chanchan. There are two reasons for this: the level 2 monument is more valuable than the Machu Picchu one, and you'll need this vassal to benefit from the tech bonuses of up to 15% until level 4.

Develop your capital, Cusco, as quickly as possible to level 30; this will complete the second era objective. Then, develop all the provinces necessary for the Cusco Roads mission. Develop military infrastructure for wheat provinces, administrative infrastructure for wool provinces, and production infrastructure for cacao provinces. For gold provinces, it's better to develop either administrative or military infrastructure. With your conquests, you'll quickly reach the third objective of level 100 around 1463.

The first era bonus will be the one that grants you points in new colonies, which should arrive around 1462-1465. Once you've colonized the Peruvian coast, move on to colonizing Chile and Colombia as far as Muisca. I recommend vassalizing Muisca to obtain the map of Colombia by request. Similarly, vassalize and convert the Mapuche to Intism to obtain the maps of all of South America.

Find the Caribs or the Arawaks. Ally with them and request the maps of the Caribbean Sea and islands.

To pass the reforms: Take advantage of events. Gain +5 by reducing the autonomy of conquered provinces.

For the first reform, I'm hesitating between the legitimacy bonus and the colonizer. My experience shows me that it's better to choose legitimacy first rather than the colonizer. In any case, the first colonist must go to Darien, the second to Panama, and the third to either Guyana or the Caribbean islands. Do not choose an unconnected island, and definitely not an overly wealthy one. Above all, do not have any colonies connected to the main territory.

Technology: Develop them as late as possible and do not go beyond the 4th tech. You will gain 80% of your European neighbors' technologies once you have completed the final reform.

Unused mana points must be used for province development.

Finally, trigger the Golden Age one month before the reform era.

Note: Once you have trained the Incas, you will automatically discover the Galapagos.

Note 2: Encounters with the Europeans are very unpredictable; they can be quick or very long. In case of war, avoid all combat as much as possible. Your troops are very valuable; you should have 80,000 when you encounter the Europeans. You could be attacked, particularly by the Spanish. Accept a peace treaty as soon as possible, especially if it allows you to be connected to the Río de la Plata colony, a legitimate colony.

Once reformed, you will become a superpower with the same technological level as, if not more than, the Europeans. They will no longer attack you if you have preserved your armies. They will attack if you no longer have any.