Civilization VI is an extremely dense game, with countless bonuses for doing seemingly mundane things. Out of all the ways to improve your Civ VI strategy, understanding the cultures and leaders is the most important. After all, you don’t want to push Kristina of Sweden to win with a Domination victory, or worse, push Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire toward a Science victory (yikes). To get you started on the right path, we’ve gathered all 42 civilizations, including the ones from DLC, so you can understand the best leader for your play style. Note: Leader “agendas” are only in effect for civilizations that are not controlled by the player. Player-controlled leaders cannot operate independently, and therefore have no agenda.
Leader: Teddy Roosevelt
Perk: Founding Fathers
Unit: P-51 Mustang
Infrastructure: Film Studio
The Founding Fathers perk allows the Americans to earn Government Legacy bonuses twice as quickly, allowing players to benefit more from sticking with a single government type over a large number of turns. America’s unique unit is the P-51 Mustang, a modern-era fighter jet with bonuses to flight range, experience, and attack vs. fighter aircraft. The Mustang is best suited for eliminating enemy fighter jets. America’s unique infrastructure, the Film Studio, provides a culture bonus, adds extra slots for Citizens and Great Works of Music, and earns Great Artist and Great Musician points each turn. It also creates +100% Tourism pressure toward other civilizations, encouraging tourists to visit the American city instead.
Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, leads the Americans. Because of his unique agenda, Big Stick Policy, Teddy dislikes warring civilizations and civilizations that bully city-states on his continent. His unique leader ability, the Roosevelt Corollary, grants Combat Strength bonuses to units on the American continent, and appeal bonuses to tiles in a city with a National Park. The Corollary also allows America to build the Rough Rider unit — as long as the Rifling Technology is researched — which generates Culture with each kill and boasts a Combat Strength bonus when fighting on hills. Teddy’s bonuses are especially advantageous in the early game, helping the player expand across his home continent with ease.
Leader: Saladin
Perk: The Last Prophet
Unit: Mamluk
Infrastructure: Madrasa
The Last Prophet perk automatically grants Arabia the final Great Prophet, which will automatically found a Religion in a holy site or Stonehenge wonder. It’s a powerful perk, but difficult to plan around, since it’s impossible to know when it will activate. Arabia’s unique unit, the Mamluk, is a Medieval era heavy cavalry unit that automatically restores full health at the end of each turn, allowing players to utilize it more aggressively. Arabia’s unique infrastructure, the Madrasa, provides bonuses to Science and Housing, adds an extra Citizen slot, and earns Great Scientist points each turn. The Madrasa also provides additional Faith based upon Campus adjacency bonuses.
Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria, acts as the Arabian leader. Saladin’s unique agenda, Ayyubid Dynasty, causes Saladin to like civilizations with his Worship building, while disliking civilizations following other Religions and civilizations waging war on followers of his Religion. His unique leader ability, Righteousness of the Faith, reduces cost for Worship buildings, and provides bonuses to Culture, Faith, and Science from those buildings. Many of Arabia’s bonuses and abilities are tied to Religion and Science, meaning that players may find it easier to achieve Religious or Scientific victory with Saladin.
Leader: John Curtin
Perk: Land Down Under
Unit: Digger
Infrastructure: Outback Station
Land Down Under offers a grab bag of bonuses to help Australia expand quickly, including +3 housing in coastal cities and bonuses to district production based on the tile’s appeal. Building pastures also causes a “culture bomb” effect, immediately claiming any surrounding tiles. Outback Stations will help milk further value out of those pastures, adding food and production plus bonus food for every adjacent pasture. The Digger replaces Infantry in the modern era and helps you secure that fertile land, with a slightly higher base strength and bonuses for fighting on coastal tiles (+10) and outside of Australia’s borders (+5).
John Curtin was Australia’s 14th Prime Minister, leading the country through World War II, and now the rest of world history in Civ. His Perpetually on Guard trait makes Curtin a friend of peace, seeking to form Defensive Pacts with allies and liking civs that liberate cities (while disliking those that occupy them). Curtin can play passive-aggressively and expand quickly, even if it provokes his neighbors into attacking, because of his unique ability, Citadel of Civilization. It grants him a 100% production bonus for ten turns after someone declares war on Australia or he liberates a city. Australia’s robust and flexible ability kit makes them suitable for nearly any victory type.
Leader: Montezuma
Perk: Legend of the Five Suns
Unit: Eagle Warrior
Infrastructure: Tlachtli
The Legend of the Five Suns perk allows the player to sacrifice builder units in order to speed up construction of Districts within cities. The Aztecs’ unique unit, the Eagle Warrior, features a bonus to anti-cavalry units, and may capture defeated enemy units and convert them into Builder units for the Aztecs. This synergizes with the Aztecs’ culture perk, allowing the culture to steadily sacrifice Builder units to speed progress. The Aztecs’ unique infrastructure is Tlachtli, which can be built into the Entertainment Complex, and provides Amenities, Faith, and Great General points each turn.
Montezuma, the fifth emperor of Tenochtitlan, leads the Aztecs. Montezuma’s unique agenda, Tlatoani, causes him to like civilizations with the same luxury resources as the Aztecs, while disliking civilizations with different luxury resources. His unique leader ability, Gifts for the Tlatoani, causes luxury resources in Aztec territory to give Amenities to two extra cities. In addition, military units receive bonuses to Combat Strength for each different luxury resource improved in Aztec territory. Most of the Aztecs’ bonuses and abilities are tied to military power, and expanding the Aztec empire early in the game.
Leader: Pedro II
Perk: Amazon
Unit: Minas Geraes
Infrastructure: Carnival District // Copacabana
The Amazon perk provides bonuses to Districts and neighborhoods built adjacent to Rainforest tiles. The Brazilians’ unique unit is the Minas Geraes, an Industrial era naval unit with improved ranged combat and defense values which requires players to first invest in the Nationalist Civic. The Brazilians’ unique infrastructure, the Carnival District, provides Amenities from Entertainment to the parent city, and can house the Zoo and Stadium buildings. The Carnival also provides extra Amenities while being built, and completion earns Great Engineer, Artist, Writer, and Musician points.
Pedro II, the final emperor of Brazil, acts as the Brazilian leader. Pedro’s unique agenda, Patron of the Arts, drives Pedro to pursue Great People while disliking civilizations that attempt to pursue Great People as well. His unique leader ability, Magnanimous, allows him to retain 20% of Great Person points used after recruiting or patronizing a Great Person. This synergizes well with the Carnival District, allowing Brazil to recruit several Great People across different disciplines and eras. Brazil’s focus on Great Leaders makes it a candidate for Cultural victory.
Leader: Wilfrid Laurier
Perk: Four Faces of Peace
Unit: Mountie
Infrastructure: Ice Hockey Rink
Canada’s unique perk is the Four Faces of Peace, which protects you from Surprise Wars, but consequently requires that you don’t declare a Surprise War, either. Because of your peace, Canada earns 1% of its Tourism as Diplomatic Favor, which doesn’t do much in the early game. Later on, though, once you have enough infrastructure, the extra boost means Canada has a greater say at the World Congress table. Canada’s unique infrastructure, Ice Hockey Rink, adds an Amenity and boosts your Culture depending on how many Tundra and Snow tiles surround it. Build this structure next to Tundra tiles, not on them, for the best bonus. Later in the game, you can further your Culture from these tiles by building Stadiums next to them. The unique unit, the Mountie, lends itself to the tourist mindset as well, allowing you to build National Parks for 400 Production of 1,600 Gold, rather than the usual requirement of 1,600 Faith.
Heading up Canada is Wilfrid Laurier, who has the unique agenda Canadian Expeditionary Force. Basically, it means that you’ll want to participate in Emergencies and Competitions whenever possible. Doing so will further your Diplomatic Influence, which should already be high with Canada’s perk. Wilfrid’s leader bonus is The Last Best West, which allows you to build Farms on Tundra tiles. Tundra tiles also cost half as much Gold to purchase and produce twice as many resources.
Leader: Qin Shi Huang
Perk: Dynastic Cycle
Unit: Crouching Tiger
Infrastructure: Great Wall
The Dynastic Cycle perk provides a bonus to Civic/Technology cost reductions earned through Inspirations and Eurekas. The unique Chinese unit, the Crouching Tiger (yes, really), is a Medieval era ranged machinery unit that does not require resources to be built. The Chinese unique infrastructure is the Great Wall, a tile improvement that provides a bonus to the defense rating of Chinese units, as well as bonuses to Gold, Culture, and Tourism when segments are built adjacent to one another.
Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China and the founder of the Qin dynasty, acts as the Chinese leader. Qin’s unique agenda, Wall of 10,000 Li, leads Qin to dislike cultures that have built more Wonders than him. His unique leader ability, The First Emperor, allows him to use Builder units an extra time, and spend a builder charge to hasten the construction of Ancient- or Classical-era Great Wonders. These abilities — along with the Great Wall — synergize to allow the Chinese to produce Great Wonders at a faster rate than any other faction, and earn Culture points without expanding their borders.
Leader: Poundmaker
Perk: Nihithaw
Unit: Okihtcitaw
Infrastructure: Mekewap
The Nihithaw perk provides a bonus to trade route capacity, as well as a free trader once Pottery has been researched. Also, all unclaimed tiles within three spaces of a Cree city become theirs once a trader first enters the city. Okihtcitaw replace the standard Cree scout and are available from the beginning of the game. The unit is much stronger than its usual variant and starts with a free unit promotion. The Cree Mekewap is a unique building that provides additional production and housing by default, and gains additional benefits if placed near bonus or luxury resources.
Poundmaker, the Cree leader, was well-known as a powerful and influential figure and protector. In lif he pursued peace and was an exceptional herder, able to gather buffalo into an artificial enclosure known as a pound with a song. His unique ability, Favorable Terms, grants bonuses to trade routes, including extra food and gold for each pasture or camp in a receiving city. Also, every type of alliance with the Cree grants Shared Visibility. Poundmaker’s unique agenda, Iron Confederacy, will encourage him to build up alliances with as many others as possible, and strongly dislike those that don’t do the same. Poundmaker is a strong economy-focused leader who can leverage boosted trade capacity and good land to rapidly boost food and gold. Early, advanced scout units also allow for rapid expansion and capitalization on key resources.
Leader: Wilhelmina
Perk: Grote Rivieren
Unit: De Zeven Provincien
Infrastructure: Polder
The Grote Rivieren perk provides large bonuses to Campuses, Theater Squares, and Industrial Zones when those structures are placed near rivers. Harbors will also be able to Culture Bomb nearby tiles upon completion. De Zeven Pronvincien is a unique Renaissance Era unit that gains a massive bonus to combat strength when attacking districts. Polders are the unique Dutch building. They have stacking bonuses that maximize food and production when placed next to one another, but they are restricted to coastal and lake tiles that are adjacent to flat land.
Wilhelmina led the Netherlands through both World Wars as the Dutch’s longest-serving monarch. With a jovial demeanor, she is still very fondly considered today. Billionaire, Wilhelmina’s unique agenda, will cause her to dislike those civs that don’t develop trade routes with her, and really like those that do. Her Unique ability, Radio Oranje, provides additional loyalty if they originate from a Dutch city, and additional culture if connected to a foreign city. This, when combined with the bonuses of the Polder, allow the Netherlands to rapidly expand trade networks from coastal areas, regaining livable, arable land from the edges of the sea, and quickly shoring up culture production with extra trade.
Leader: Cleopatra
Perk: Iteru
Unit: Maryannu Chariot Archer
Infrastructure: Sphinx
The Iteru perk speeds construction of Districts and Wonders adjacent to rivers, and allows the construction of Districts and Wonders upon Floodplain tiles. The Egyptians’ unique unit, the Maryannu Chariot Archer, is a mounted Ancient era ranged unit that gains movement bonuses when starting turns on open terrain. The Egyptians’ unique infrastructure is the Sphinx, a tile improvement that provides bonuses to Faith and Culture, and can only be built on Egyptian-controlled Floodplains tiles. The Sphinx provides extra bonuses if placed next to a Wonder or if the Natural History Civic has been researched.
Cleopatra, the final pharaoh of Ptolymaic Egypt, leads Egypt. Because of Cleopatra’s unique agenda, Queen of the Nile, she favors civilizations with strong militaries. Her unique leader ability, Mediterranean’s Bride, provides bonuses to trade routes; specifically, Egypt earns extra Gold for trade routes it starts, and bonus Food and Gold for other civilizations’ trade routes to Egypt. Egypt is best equipped to flourish as a trade state, and thus is suited for Score or Domination Victories. The Chariot Archer also provides Egypt with an early combat advantage.
Leader: Victoria // Eleanor of Aquitaine
Perk: British Museum // Workshop of the World
Unit: Sea Dog
Infrastructure: Royal Navy Dockyard
The British Museum perk allows English-controlled Archaeological Museums to hold 3 additional artifacts and support an extra archaeologist. The unique English unit is the Sea Dog, a Renaissance era naval unit which cannot be seen except by units adjacent to it, and is capable of capturing enemy naval units. The unique English infrastructure, the Royal Navy Dockyard, provides several bonuses, including Great Admiral points each turn and Trade route capacity increases. Units built in the Royal Navy Dockyard also receive a bonus to movement. Along with the Sea Dog, the Royal Navy Dockyard provides the English with a significant advantage in naval movement and combat.
Victoria, the Queen of England between 1837 and 1901, acts as the English leader in the vanilla version, as well as with Rise & Fall. Victoria’s unique agenda, Sun Never Sets, causes her to prefer civilizations on her home continent while disliking civilizations on continents where she has no cities. Her unique leader ability, Pax Britannica, provides free melee units for any cities founded or conquered on a continent that is not Victoria’s home continent. Pax Britannica also allows the English to build the Redcoat unit — as long as the Military Science Technology is researched — which gains a significant bonus to Combat Strength when deployed on a continent that is not Victoria’s home continent. The English are uniquely suited for Domination victories, with several advantages tied to naval and land-based combat units.
With Gathering Storm, you can also lead England with Eleanor of Aquitaine. Her Angevin Empire agenda wants you to have a large population in your cities. Her leader bonus, Court of Love, causes cities with nine tiles to lose one Loyalty per turn for each Great Work you produce. Cities that leave a civilization from the Loyalty loss will join the English Empire rather than become a Free City. With Eleanor, you get the same unit and infrastructure, but a different unique perk. Her perk is Workshop of the World, which provides Mines with two more resources each turn, +100% Production toward Military Engineers, +4 yields to Powered Buildings, and +20% Production toward Industrial Zone buildings.
Leader: Catherine de Medici // Eleanor of Aquitaine
Perk: Grand Tour
Unit: Garde Imperiale
Infrastructure: Chateau
The Grand Tour perk speeds Production of Medieval, Renaissance, and Industrial era Wonders, and doubles tourism bonuses from any French-controlled Wonders. The unique French unit is the Garde Imperiale, an Industrial era melee unit that receives bonuses for fighting on the French home continent, earns Great General points for any kills, and does not require strategic resources to build. The unique French infrastructure, the Chateau, is a tile improvement that can only be built next to a river. The Chateau provides a bonus to culture, with extra bonuses for being next to a Wonder or a luxury resource. In combination, the Grand Tour perk and the Chateau infrastructure can be powerful tools to aid a Cultural victory.
Catherine de Medici, the Queen of France between 1547 and 1559, acts as the French leader in vanilla Civ VI and Rise & Fall. Catherine’s unique agenda, Black Queen, leads her to try and gain as many spies as possible, while disliking civilizations that ignore her espionage. Her unique leader ability, Catherine’s Flying Squadron, grants Catherine 1 extra level of diplomatic visibility with each culture she has met. Catherine’s Flying Squadron also allows the French to build an extra spy when researching the Castles Technology. The French are well suited for Cultural victories, as their increased diplomatic visibility and large number of available spies can effectively keep tabs on enemy civilizations, while the combination of the Grand Tour perk and the Chateau are powerful tools for collecting Culture points.
If you have the Gathering Storm expansion, you can choose Eleanor of Aquitaine as your leader, too. Everything is the same as with Catherine de Medici, except Eleanor holds a different agenda and leader bonus (the same that she holds in England).
Leader: Frederick Barbarossa
Perk: Free Imperial Cities
Unit: U-Boat
Infrastructure: Hansa
The Free Imperial Cities perk allows the Germans to construct an extra District in each city. The unique German unit, the U-Boat, is a Modern era ranged naval unit with stealth capabilities. The U-Boat gains bonuses to sight and Combat Strength in the ocean, and can reveal enemy stealth units. The unique German infrastructure is the Hansa, a District that provides minor bonuses for adjacent Districts, Great Engineer points each turn, adjacency bonuses for all resources (not just mines and quarries), and a Production bonus when placed next to a Commercial Hub. The Hansa also does not lower the Appeal of nearby tiles.
Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor between 1155 and 1190, acts as the German leader. Frederick’s unique agenda, Iron Crown, drives him to dislike civilizations that associate with city-states. His unique leader ability, Holy Roman Emperor, grants a significant Combat Strength bonus when attacking city-states, as well as an additional Military policy slot. The Germans are naturally suited for Domination victories, as the U-Boat and the Holy Roman Emperor perk combine to provide military strength across the board. Synergy between the Free Imperial Cities perk and the Hansa can also be utilized toward Scientific or Cultural victories.
Leader: Tamar
Perk: Strength in Unity
Unit: Khevsur
Infrastructure: Tsikhe
The Strength In Unity perk provides additional benefits when making dedications to a new Golden Age, allowing for extra bonuses to Era Score. Khevsur, the unique Georgian unit, is a land-based Medieval Era unit that gains massive bonuses when fighting in hills. They also do not receive a movement penalty for moving over hill tiles. For infrastructure, Georgians get Tsikhe, a special type of wall that is both cheaper than standard walls and boosts city defenses to the highest possible level. It also provides faith and, in later eras, nets significant tourism bonuses — allowing the structures to stay relevant well into the late game.
Narikala Fortress, the Georgian agenda, will push A.I.-controlled players to develop strong walls and critique those who do not. Tamar’s unique ability, Glory of the World, Kingdom and Faith, provides double faith for 10 turns after declaring a Protectorate war. Plus, every Envoy sent to a city-state that shares your primary religion counts as two. Tamar has been canonized as a saint, and, as such, is a very faith-focused leader. She can build massive defensives and leverage her bonuses to faith to maintain strong connections with city-states. Wars of protection will be common, but cultivating extensive trade networks and working with other, smaller civilizations allows Tamar to support a variety of play styles.
Leader: Simón Bolívar
Perk: Ejército Patriota
Unit: Llanero
Infrastructure: Hacienda
The Gran Colombian civilization is all about domination. Its unique perk, Ejército Patriota, is simple but powerful, granting +1 Movement to all of your units. It also allows you to promote a unit without ending its turn. In place of Cavalry, the Gran Colombian civilization gets the Llanero. These units are cheap to maintain and gain significant bonuses when placed next to each other. You’ll want to train up small armies of these units, sending them out in batches. This civ’s unique infrastructure, the Hacienda, isn’t very powerful, offering slight boosts in Gold, Production, Housing, and Food. Worse, you can’t use the tile improvement until the Renaissance Era.
Leading the Gran Colombian Empire is Simón Bolívar, who wants to focus on promoting units with Encampments, thanks to his agenda, Carabobo. His leader bonus is Campaña Admirable, which grants you a Comandante General, a unique type of Great Person, at the start of each new era.
Leader: Pericles // Gorgo
Perk: Plato’s Republic
Unit: Hoplite
Infrastructure: Acropolis
The Plato’s Republic perk grants the Greeks an extra wildcard policy slot, regardless of government type. The unique Greek unit is the Hoplite, an Ancient era unit which gains a significant bonus to Combat Strength when adjacent to another Hoplite unit. The unique Greek infrastructure, the Acropolis, is a District which grants Culture bonuses for adjacent Wonders and District tiles, and earns Great Writer, Artist, and Musician points each turn. The Acropolis also receives a significant Culture bonus when built adjacent to the City Center, and requires the Drama and Poetry Civic to build.
The Greeks are led by one of two famous figures; Pericles, an Athenian general between the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, is the first. Pericles’ unique agenda, Delian League, leads him to dislike civilizations that are directly competing for the same city-state. His unique leader ability, Surrounded by Glory, provides a significant Culture bonus for any city-states that Pericles is Suzerain of. Pericles is best suited for Cultural victories via establishing trade routes and engaging city-states.
Gorgo, the Spartan queen in the mid-400s, B.C., is the second Greek leader. Gorgo’s unique agenda, With Your Shield or On It, causes her to avoid surrendering items in peace deals, while disliking civilizations that have surrendered or have never engaged in war. Her unique leader ability, Thermoplyae, provides a Culture bonus upon defeating enemy units. Gorgo is uniquely suited for Cultural victories via military strength and defense.
Leader: Matthias Corvinus
Perk: Pearl of the Danube
Unit: Huszár
Infrastructure: Thermal Bath
The Hungarian Empire is focused on domination, mainly because of its leader’s ability, Raven King. Matthias Corvinus’ unique ability grants +2 Movement and +5 Combat Strength to units you’ve levied from a city-state. You can also upgrade these units at a 75% discount. The unique unit Black Army works into this theme, as well, earning a buff in Combat Strength for each levied unit you control. The civ ability, Pearl of the Danube, isn’t directly focused on domination, though it’s still powerful. It’s simple, offering an extra 50% Production for districts and buildings built across a river from a City Center.
For a unit, you have access to the Huszár instead of Cavalry. These units are slightly more expensive than standard Cavalry (five Gold more) but come with significant buffs in the Combat Strength department. In particular, the Huszár gain +3 Combat Strength for every active Alliance you have. Hungary’s unique infrastructure is the Thermal Bath, which provides two Amenities and two Production to all City Centers within six tiles, as well as +3 Tourism.
Leader: Pachacuti
Perk: Mit’a
Unit: Warak’aq
Infrastructure: Terrace Farm
The Incan Empire wants to play things safe above all else. Its civ ability is Mit’a, which allows Citizens to work on Mountain tiles. Mountain tiles also provide +2 Production and +1 Food for each adjacent Terrace Farm. Speaking of which, the Terrace Farm is unique to the Incans. It’s a tile improvement that you can build on Grassland Hills, Plains Hills, Desert Hills, and Volcanic Soil, offering +1 Food, +0.5 Housing, and +2 Production for each adjacent Aqueduct. The unique unit is the Warak’aq, which replaces Skirmishers. These units have higher Ranged Strength and can make an additional attack each turn.
Leading the empire is Pachacuti, who likes to settle near mountains and wants to be left alone with them, thanks to his agenda, Sapa Inca. His leader bonus is Qhapaq Ñan, which grants +1 Food to Domestic Trade Routes for every Mountain tile in the origin city. Later in the game, you can also unlock a tile improvement of the same name, allowing units to move between two of them for a cost of two Movement.
Leader: Gandhi // Chandragupta
Perk: Dharma
Unit: Varu
Infrastructure: Stepwell
The Dharma perk means that all Indian-controlled cities gain the follower beliefs of all Religions practiced within. The unique Indian unit is the Varu war elephant, a Classical-era mounted unit that stacks and significantly reduces Combat Strength of adjacent enemy units. The unique Indian infrastructure, the Stepwell, is a tile improvement that cannot be built on hills, or adjacent to another Stepwell. The Stepwell provides bonuses to Housing and Food, with extra bonuses for Food if built adjacent to a farm, and for Faith if built adjacent to a Holy Site. The Varu and Stepwell work well together to progress quickly in the early game, either by militaristic conquest or building a strong religious base.
Mohandas Gandhi, the spearhead of the Indian Independence Movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s, acts as the Indian leader. Due to Gandhi’s unique agenda, Peacekeeper, he avoids wars, and prefers peaceful civilizations to warmongering civilizations. His unique leader ability, Satyagraha, provides a significant bonus to Religion for each civilization he meets that has founded a Religion (unless that civilization is at war with the Indians), and incurs Happiness penalties upon civilizations at war with the Indians. The Indians are naturally suited for Religious victory, with the Dharma perk and the Satyagraha ability working together to spread Gandhi’s Religion across the map.
India’s second leader, Chandragupta, is new in the Civ VI expansion, Rise and Fall. His unique ability, Arthashastra, allows him to declare a war of expansion after earning the “Military Training” Civic. Chandragupta’s units will also gain significant bonuses for the first 10 turns after declaring a war of expansion. Maurya Empire encourages Chandragupta to conquer nearby cities and befriend civilizations that are distant. Those playing either with or against Chandragupta will notice that he’s built as the antithesis of Gandhi — far more warlike and territorial. Players should use extremely aggressive tactics in the early game as Chandragupta to maximize his bonuses in expansive wars.
Leader: Gitarja
Perk: Great Nusantara
Unit: Jong
Infrastructure: Kampung
The Indonesian Empire doesn’t force you into one specific victory path, trading synergy for raw power with abilities. The civ ability Great Nusantara gives a +0.5 adjacency bonus for Coast and Lake tiles with a Holy Site, Campus, Industrial Zone, and/or Theater Square district built next to them. Similarly, Entertainment Complexes provide +1 Amenity if they’re placed adjacent to a Coast or Lake tile. You’ll be taking advantage of those tiles a lot, too, thanks to the Jong unique unit. These naval powerhouses have higher Movement compared to the standard Frigate, and come with a Combat Strength boost when in formation, to boot.
The Kampung tile improvement is one of the few you can build on water, offering +1 Production, +1 Housing, +1 Food for adjacent Fishing Boats, and +1 Tourism for every bonus Food. You can get an additional +1 boost to Housing and Production with the Mass Production and Civil Engineering technologies, respectively. At the helm is Gitarja, who has the leader agenda Archipelagic State. Basically, she dislikes civs with multiple cities on small islands. Her leader bonus is Exalted Goddess of the Three Worlds, which offers multiple buffs for Religious units. With it, you can purchase naval units with Faith, Religious units don’t have to pay movement costs to embark or disembark, and City Centers gain +2 Faith if they’re adjacent to a Coast or Lake.
Leader: Hojo Tokimune
Perk: Meiji Restoration
Unit: Samurai
Infrastructure: Electronics Factory
The Meiji Restoration perk grants adjacency bonuses to Japanese Districts placed next to one another, meaning that Japan can build dense cities without concern for losing environmental adjacency bonuses. The unique Japanese unit is the Samurai, a Medieval era melee unit that boasts high Combat Strength, does not suffer combat penalties when damaged, and does not require strategic resources to build. The unique Japanese infrastructure, the Electronics Factory, provides a Production bonus to nearby City Centers, an extra Citizen slot, and earns Great Engineer points each turn. The Electronics Factory also provides a passive bonus to Production, as well as a Culture bonus once the Electricity Technology has been researched.
Hojo Tokimune, the eighth shikken of the Kamakura shogunate, leads the Japanese. Hojo’s unique agenda, Bushido, leads him to prefer militaristic civilizations with strong Faith or Culture. His unique leader ability, Divine Wind, provides significant Combat Strength bonuses to land units in tiles adjacent to coastal tiles, as well as naval units in shallow water tiles. Divine Wind also halves the time required to build Encampment, Holy Site, and Theater Square Districts. Japan is well suited for any type of victory, though the Meiji Restoration perk, along with the Electronics Factory and Divine Wind ability, make it uniquely ideal for a Production-based economy leaning toward a Scientific victory.
Leader: Jayavarman VII
Perk: Grand Barays
Unit: Domrey
Infrastructure: Prasat
The Khmer Empire, like the Indonesian Empire, is a strong civ in a general sense, rather than focusing on one specific victory path. The civ ability is Grand Barays, which gives you +3 Faith and +1 Amenity from Aqueducts. Farms also get +2 Food if they’re adjacent to an Aqueduct. The Domrey is a unique siege unit that doesn’t directly replace any other unit. It comes after the Catapult, and although significantly more expensive, these units boast much higher Combat Strength. Plus, they can move and attack in the same turn.
On the home front, you can build the Prasat unique structure, which replaces the Temple in Holy Site districts. It’s the same as a Temple, though comes with an extra Relic slot and grants Missionaries with the Martyr promotion automatically. Jayavarman VII is the leader of the Khmer Empire, who takes well to civs with a high Population and multiple Holy Sites, thanks to his An End to Suffering agenda. His leader bonus is Monasteries of the King, which provides +2 Food and +1 Housing for Holy Sites set adjacent to a river. Setting a Holy Site also triggers a Culture Bomb, expanding your territory immediately.
Leader: Mvemba a Nzinga
Perk: Nkisi
Unit: Ngao Mbeba
Infrastructure: Mbanza
The Nkisi perk provides bonuses to Food, Gold, and Production for completed relics, artifacts, and Great Works of Sculpture, and grants the Kongolese extra Great Artist and Great Merchant points each turn. The unique Kongolese unit is the Ngao Mbeba, a Classical era unit which gets a significant bonus to Combat Strength when defending against ranged units, and does not suffer movement or sight penalties in Forests and Jungles. The Ngao Mbeba also does not require Iron to build. The unique Kongolese infrastructure, the Mbanza, is a District that can only be built on woods or rainforest tiles. The Mbanza provides a bonus to Housing, Food and Gold, and its yield is not dependent upon the tile’s Appeal rating. Additionally, when construction of the Mbanza is completed, an Apostle unit will spawn as long as the city has a dominant Religion.
Mvemba a Nzinga, Manikongo of the Kingdom of Kongo in the early 16th century, acts as the Kongolese leader. Mvemba’s unique agenda, Enthusiastic Disciple, drives him to like civilizations have have spread Religion to his cities, and to dislike civilizations that have founded Religions but not sent Apostles to his cities. His unique leader ability, Religious Convert, prevents the Kongolese from building Holy Sites, gaining Great Prophets, or founding Religions; however, Mvemba gains all Beliefs held by Religions that have established themselves in a majority of his cities. Furthermore, constructing a Mbanza or a Theater District will grant the Kongolese additional Apostle units. The Kongolese are well suited for Culture victories through establishing trade routes and building Great Artists and Works of Sculpture.
Leader: Seondeok
Perk: Three Kingdoms
Unit: Hwacha
Infrastructure: Seowon
Korea is a scientific powerhouse with its Three Kingdoms perk. Mines receive extra science when placed near Korea’s unique district, Seowon. Farms also gain bonus food with that adjacency. On their own, Seowon provide massive bonuses to science, and must be built on hills and replace traditional campuses. The Hwacha, Korea’s unique combat unit, is a Renaissance-Era ranged attacker. It is are far more powerful than its contemporaries, but at the cost of attacking and moving within the same turn.
Seondeok was an influential leader specializing as a patron of arts and culture during her reign. As such, her special ability, Hwarang, provides an additional 10-perecent bonus to culture and science in cities with an established governor. Cheomseongdae, Korea’s historic agenda, reflects this as well. Seondeok will maintain strong relationships with civs that pursue science, and will spurn those that don’t. Because of Seondeok’s unique powers, Korea is a one-track civilization that can leverage massive research bonuses for an early tech victory.
Leader: Alexander the Great
Perk: Hellenistic Fusion
Unit: Hypaspist // Hetairoi
Infrastructure: Basilikoi Paides
Macedon lives up to its conquering reputation with the Hellenistic Fusion perk, providing Eureka and Inspiration boosts when you conquer a city, depending on its districts. The Hypaspists (replacing swordsmen) help with this by dealing increased damage when besieging city districts and greater flanking bonuses. The Basilikoi Paides, replacing the Barracks in the Encampment District, helps maintain conquering momentum as well by offering a science boost whenever that city creates non-civilian units.
Alexander the Great, 4th century king of the Greek kingdom of Macedon and one of history’
