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
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2% interest on Gold reserves
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Medieval Era
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May Rush units at 1/2 cost
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Industrial Era
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+1 Food from Plains regions
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Modern Era
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Factories provide 3x Production (instead of 2x Production)
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- 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
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+50% Caravan gold
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Medieval Era
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Automatically gain Tech: Mathematics
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Industrial Era
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+1 Attack for cavalry/knight units
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Modern Era
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2% interest on Gold reserves
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- 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
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Units heal after combat victory
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Medieval Era
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Temples provide +3 science
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost roads
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Modern Era
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+50% Gold production
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- 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
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+1 Population to new Cities
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Medieval Era
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Automatically gain tech: Literacy
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost Library
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Modern Era
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Cities not affected by Anarchy
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- Leader: Mao
- Color: Orange
- Special Talent: The Chinese begin the game with knowledge of Writing.
- Special Units: None
England
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
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+1 Defense for Longbow Archers
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Medieval Era
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+1 Naval Combat
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Industrial Era
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+1 Production from Hills regions
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Modern Era
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2x Naval Support
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- 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
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+1 Food and Trade from Desert regions
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Medieval Era
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Automatically gain Tech: Irrigation
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Industrial Era
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+1 Movement for Riflemen
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Modern Era
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+50% Caravan gold
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- Leader: Cleopatra
- Color: Yellow
- Special Talent: The Egyptians begin the game with an Ancient Wonder.
- Special Units: None
France
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
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Automatically gain Tech: Pottery
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Medieval Era
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1/2 cost roads
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Industrial Era
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+2 Attack for Cannon
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Modern Era
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+1 Movement for Riflemen
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- 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
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New Warriors are veterans
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Medieval Era
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+1 Production from Forest squares
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost Barracks
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Modern Era
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2% interest on Gold reserves
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- 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
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Automatically gain Tech: Democracy
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Medieval Era
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More Great People
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost Library
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Modern Era
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+1 Food from Sea regions
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- 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
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Cities not affected by Anarchy
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Medieval Era
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Automatically gain Tech: Religion
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost Settlers
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Modern Era
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1/2 cost Courthouse
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- 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
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+1 Food from Sea regions
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Medieval Era
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+1 Attack for Samurai Knight
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Industrial Era
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Cities not affected by Anarchy
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Modern Era
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New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty
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- 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
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Barbarian villages join you[2]
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Medieval Era
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+1 Movement for cavalry units
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Industrial Era
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+2 Production from Mountain regions
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Modern Era
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Automatically gain Tech: Communism
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- 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
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1/2 cost roads
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Medieval Era
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1/2 cost Wonders
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Industrial Era
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More Great People
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Modern Era
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+1 Population to new Cities
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- 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
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+1 Food from Plains squares
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Medieval Era
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New defensive units receive the Special Ability: Loyalty
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Industrial Era
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1/2 cost Riflemen
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Modern Era
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3/4 cost Spies
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- 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
Spain
Era Bonuses
Ancient Era
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Gains 2x Gold from exploration*
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Medieval Era
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+1 Naval Combat
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Industrial Era
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+50% Gold Production
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Modern Era
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+1 Production from Hills
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* 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
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+1 Movement for Warriors
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Medieval Era
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Rapid city growth
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Industrial Era
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+50% Gold production
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Modern Era
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1/2 cost Riflemen
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- 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