Late Age Atlantis

[Maraxus]

Don't hurry with the water ... unless there is R'lyeh. If there is R'lyeh, kill them as fast as possible.

Your capitol only mages are probalby a key figure in your strategy, whatever it is. Recruit them 1/turn and sent them with the armies as soon as you have minimal research. Later, your cheap mages outside your capitol will do the research

For a pretender I'd take a side-searcher and Rainbow caster, because and game, you simply can't exist on Water and death only.