The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
There are sixteen Civilizations to choose from at the start of each game. All civilizations have access to all units, buildings, technologies and wonders. They differ due to a variety special units and bonuses that become available at different stages of the game. Each civilization possesses:
- 1x Special Talent: A bonus that is in effect at the very beginning of the game.
- 4x Era bonuses: One extra bonus comes into effect at the advent of each age. All bonuses are cumulative.
- Several Special Units: Standard units are replaced with units historically significant to the civilization. This is a cosmetic difference as the statistics of the Special Units and their standard counterparts are the same. Note however that units of several civilizations may be more powerful as a result of an Era bonus.
America
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
2% interest on Gold reserves
|
Medieval Era
|
May Rush units at 1/2 cost
|
Industrial Era
|
+1 Food from Plains regions
|
Modern Era
|
Factories provide 3x Production (instead of 2x Production)
|
- Leader: Lincoln
- Color: Dark Blue
- Special Talent: The Americans begin the game with a Great Person
- Special Units: Tank replaced by Sherman Tank, Bomber replaced by Flying Fortress, Fighter replaced by Mustang Fighter
Arabia
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+50% Caravan gold
|
Medieval Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Mathematics
|
Industrial Era
|
+1 Attack for cavalry/knight units
|
Modern Era
|
2% interest on Gold reserves
|
- Leader: Saladin
- Color: Dark Green
- Special Talent: The Arabs begin the game with knowledge of Religion, and the government Fundamentalism.
- Special Units: None
Aztec
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Units heal after combat victory
|
Medieval Era
|
Temples provide +3 science
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost roads
|
Modern Era
|
+50% Gold production
|
- Leader: Montezuma
- Color: Light Pink
- Special Talent: The Aztecs begin the game with a wealth of gold.
- Special Units: Warrior replaced by Jaguar Warrior
China
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Population to new Cities
|
Medieval Era
|
Automatically gain tech: Literacy
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost Library
|
Modern Era
|
Cities not affected by Anarchy
|
- Leader: Mao
- Color: Orange
- Special Talent: The Chinese begin the game with knowledge of Writing.
- Special Units: None
England
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Defense for Longbow Archers
|
Medieval Era
|
+1 Naval Combat
|
Industrial Era
|
+1 Production from Hills regions
|
Modern Era
|
2x Naval Support
|
- Leader: Elizabeth
- Color: Red
- Special Talent: The English begin the game with knowledge of Monarchy.
- Special Units: Archer replaced by Longbow Archer, Bomber replaced by Lancaster Bomber, Fighter replaced by Spitfire Fighter
Egypt
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Food and Trade from Desert regions
|
Medieval Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Irrigation
|
Industrial Era
|
+1 Movement for Riflemen
|
Modern Era
|
+50% Caravan gold
|
- Leader: Cleopatra
- Color: Yellow
- Special Talent: The Egyptians begin the game with an Ancient Wonder.
- Special Units: None
France
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Pottery
|
Medieval Era
|
1/2 cost roads
|
Industrial Era
|
+2 Attack for Cannon
|
Modern Era
|
+1 Movement for Riflemen
|
- Leader: Napoleon
- Color: Pale blue
- Special Talent: The French begin the game with an impressive Cathedral.
- Special Units: Catapult replaced by Trebuchet, Artillery becomes Howitzer
Germany
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
New Warriors are veterans
|
Medieval Era
|
+1 Production from Forest squares
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost Barracks
|
Modern Era
|
2% interest on Gold reserves
|
- Leader: Bismark
- Color: Gray
- Special Talent: Elite units are upgraded instead of being rendered obsolete. [1]
- Special Units: Tank replaced by Panzer Tank, Artillery replaced by 88mm Gun, Bomber replaced by Heinkel Bomber, Fighter becomes ME109 Fighter
Greece
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Democracy
|
Medieval Era
|
More Great People
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost Library
|
Modern Era
|
+1 Food from Sea regions
|
- Leader: Alexander The Great
- Color: Turquoise
- Special Talent: The Greeks begin the game with a Courthouse in the capital.
- Special Units: Galley replaced by Trireme, Pikeman replaced by Hoplite
India
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Cities not affected by Anarchy
|
Medieval Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Religion
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost Settlers
|
Modern Era
|
1/2 cost Courthouse
|
- Leader: Gandhi
- Color: Burgundy
- Special Talent: The Indians begin the game with access to all Special Resources.
- Special Units: None
Japan
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Food from Sea regions
|
Medieval Era
|
+1 Attack for Samurai Knight
|
Industrial Era
|
Cities not affected by Anarchy
|
Modern Era
|
New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty
|
- Leader: Tokugawa
- Color: Red-orange
- Special Talent: The Japanese begin the game with knowledge of Ceremonial Burial.
- Special Units: Knight replaced by Samurai Knight, Pikeman replaced by Ashigaru Pikemen, Bomber replaced by Val Bomber, Fighter replaced by Zero Fighter
Mongolia
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Barbarian villages join you[2]
|
Medieval Era
|
+1 Movement for cavalry units
|
Industrial Era
|
+2 Production from Mountain regions
|
Modern Era
|
Automatically gain Tech: Communism
|
- Leader: Genghis Khan
- Special Talent: The Mongols begin the game with +50% trade from captured cities.
- Special Units: Horsemen replaced by Keshik
Rome
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
1/2 cost roads
|
Medieval Era
|
1/2 cost Wonders
|
Industrial Era
|
More Great People
|
Modern Era
|
+1 Population to new Cities
|
- Leader: Caesar
- Special Talent: The Romans begin the game with a Republic (Government) and Code of Laws.
- Special Units: Knights are replaced by Cataphracts
- Color: Purple
Russia
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Food from Plains squares
|
Medieval Era
|
New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty
|
Industrial Era
|
1/2 cost Riflemen
|
Modern Era
|
3/4 cost Spies
|
- Leader: Catherine The Great
- Special Talent: The Russians begin with a map of the surrounding area.
- Special Units: Horsemen replaced by Cossack, Tank replaced by T34 Tank
- Color: Bright Green
Spain
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
Gains 2x Gold from exploration*
|
Medieval Era
|
+1 Naval Combat
|
Industrial Era
|
+50% Gold Production
|
Modern Era
|
+1 Production from Hills
|
* The gold reward for being the first civilization to explore a river, hill, etc.
- Leader: Isabella
- Special Talent: The Spanish begin the game with knowledge of Navigation.
- Special Units: Knight replaced by Conquistador
Zulu
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
|
+1 Movement for Warriors
|
Medieval Era
|
Rapid city growth
|
Industrial Era
|
+50% Gold production
|
Modern Era
|
1/2 cost Riflemen
|
- Leader: Shaka Zulu
- Special Talent: The Zulu have an Overrun combat advantage
- Special Units: Warriors replaced by Impi Warriors
Notes
- ↑ For example, on discovering Democracy, any Archer units of Elite-level veterancy will automatically be upgraded into Pikemen.
- ↑ After defeating a Barbarian village, it will necessarily become a settlement of your civilization