Does the AI "cheat"?

[Saxon]

The AI is pretty good, but it does not compare to a human. However, short of very simple games, like chess, AI just isn't that good yet in any context. Compared to a lot of other complex strategy games, the AI is excellent.

I have faced AI SC, but not often. I have also seen good spell casting choices. I agree, the large army approch is not the way to play the late and mid game, but I have seen humans do worse...