redskins:1. Japan- i like the ashigaru musketeers because if u have large numbers they can be effective
LOL, "can be effective" ? They are the most effective unit in any normal game because of their speed and their numerous upgrades.
Japan is clearly the best civ by far, especially in the lower middle ranks. It's just that when these Jap players rise in rank because they win against equally skilled opponents with weaker or harder to play civs (Japs are strong AND easy to play), they face opponents who are not only clearly more skilled but also used to face Japs because if you do quicksearch you face 70% Japs.
India is strong too, but is not so easy to play. Especially Agra rush is hazardrous if not done right as you sacrifice a lot of eco for it. Also their greatest advantage is their versability in age 2, but that is not brought onto the table by itself like OP'ed Ashigaru and Yumi.
The Germans are strong as well with their good shipments and Uhlans finally fulfilling their role. However a typical age 2 force will relay on X-Bows and X-Bows do not cut it against good HI (say Achigaru & Sepoy). However germany can defend well from a Agra-rush and have a better eco afterwards and is fast enough to rush Japs nicely without sacrificing eco too much.
Aztecs are very good but suffer from being a TWC civ as quite some
players forget to activate the "TWC allowed" button on quicksearch or
simply do not have TWC :/ They can produce everything they need from a
warhut and be very fast. Maces are very cost efficient and Pumas are just awesome early
siegers/anti-cav. Also they have one of the best mid game booms.
The british are not that good in the middle ranks but are in the lower when games are slower. Against a decent opponent you can't really manor boom early and the longbow is now worse than ever with hand cavalry slaughtering them. A two-stable Hussar spam as shown by Ourk might surprise most opponents but is not that useful against the ever present Japs and also is easily countered by India.
Iros, Russian and French are quite good if played well, in league with the brits I would say. They have their strengths and weaknesses and are more or less ok against the top 3 civs (Russia for instance does ok against Japan with a fast rush but sucks against India and Germany).
Spanish, Chinese and Ottoman are slightly sub par. They can be ok if played well but really only have a chance with the right countertactic and a bit of luck.
Dutch and Ports are abysmal really. Ports even more than dutch as they are just as weak but harder to play. These civs bonuses simply don't cut it. Banks are expensive and age 2 skirms are nothing special. Age 3 is ok (not great but ok) for both civs but usually they loose their game in Age 2.