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A civilization is a specific historical nation, empire, or cultural group, which represents a player in the game. Each player adopts a single civilization at the setup of each game.
Civilization unique features[]
Besides the name, history, and leader, every civilization has a set of unique features which set it apart from the others and give it particular advantages. These features are:
- A unique gameplay ability - Each civilization has a unique ability which provides unique bonuses that are geared towards one or more specific victory conditions. The unique ability is always active throughout the entire game, although its efficiency might not be the same as the game progresses.
- Unique unit(s) - Each civilization has at least one unique unit, and there are also some civilizations with a second unique unit. Each of these units replaces a generic unit of a given era. Unique units are generally most effective during the era they appear, and often possess unique features and/or abilities that the regular ones do not. But in many cases, their unique abilities may transfer to more modern units when they're upgraded. This means that the civilization will retain its unique units' advantages in subsequent eras, as long as they keep upgrading the same units instead of producing new ones. Keep that in mind and use it.
- Unique building or improvement - Many civilizations also have a unique building, and some even have a unique improvement instead. This is possible if the given civilization only has one unique unit. While each unique building replaces a generic one (as with unique units), all unique improvements are in addition to normal ones. Both have additional special features which give the civilization some sort of gameplay advantage. Unique buildings are effective throughout the rest of the game, whereas unique improvements, like the regular ones, will provide nothing if pillaged.
- Starting bias - Many civilizations tend to favor a particular type of terrain for their homeland. This is called "starting bias," and it's connected to the overall style and unique features of the civilization. Whenever there is a starting bias, the initial location of the starting units of a civilization will be close to a certain terrain type. Note that sometimes the starting bias is overridden for other reasons.
List of civilizations[]
There are a total of 43 civilizations available in Civilization V, including DLCs and the expansions. It is also the first incarnation of the series where the leaders speak their native languages.
Civilization | Bias | Leader | Unique Ability | Unique Unit(s) | Unique Building / Improvement |
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![]() American |
![]() Washington |
Manifest Destiny
All land military units have +1 Sight. 50% discount when purchasing tiles. |
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![]() Arabian |
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![]() Harun al-Rashid |
Vanilla and ![]() |
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Trade Caravans
+1 | |||||
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Ships of the Desert
Caravans gain 50% extended range. Your trade routes spread the home city's religion twice as effectively. Oil resources are doubled. | |||||
![]() Assyrian ![]() |
Avoid ![]() |
![]() Ashurbanipal |
Treasures of Nineveh
When a city is conquered, gain a free Technology already discovered by its owner. Gaining a city through a trade deal does not count, and it can only happen once per enemy city. |
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![]() Austrian ![]() |
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![]() Maria Theresa |
Diplomatic Marriage
Can spend |
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![]() Aztec |
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![]() Montezuma |
Sacrificial Captives
Gains |
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![]() Babylonian† |
Avoid ![]() |
![]() Nebuchadnezzar II |
Ingenuity
Receive free Great Scientist when you discover Writing. Earn Great Scientists 50% faster. |
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![]() Brazilian ![]() |
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![]() Pedro II |
Carnival
|
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![]() Byzantine ![]() |
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![]() Theodora |
Patriarchate of Constantinople
Choose one more Belief than normal when you found a Religion. |
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(-) |
![]() Carthaginian ![]() |
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![]() Dido |
Phoenician Heritage
All coastal Cities get a free Harbor. Units may cross mountains after the first Great General is earned, taking 50 HP damage if they end a turn on a mountain. |
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(-) |
![]() Celtic ![]() |
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![]() Boudicca |
Druidic Lore | ![]() |
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![]() Chinese |
![]() Wu Zetian |
Art of War
The Great General combat bonus is increased by 15%, and their spawn rate is increased by 50%. |
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![]() Danish† |
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![]() Harald Bluetooth |
Viking Fury
Embarked units have +1 |
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(-) |
![]() Dutch ![]() |
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![]() William |
Dutch East India Company
Retains 50% of the |
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![]() Egyptian |
Avoid ![]() ![]() |
![]() Ramesses II |
Monument Builders
+20% |
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![]() English |
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![]() Elizabeth |
Sun Never Sets | ![]() ![]() |
(-) |
![]() Ethiopian ![]() |
![]() Haile Selassie |
Spirit of Adwa
Combat bonus (+20%) when fighting units from a Civilization with more Cities than Ethiopia. |
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![]() French |
![]() Napoleon |
Vanilla and ![]() | |||
Ancien Régime
+2 |
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City of Light
Museum and World Wonder theme bonuses are doubled in their |
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![]() German |
![]() Bismarck |
Furor Teutonicus
Upon defeating a Barbarian unit inside an encampment, there is a 67% chance you earn 25 |
Vanilla and ![]() | ||
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(-) | ||||
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![]() Greek |
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![]() Alexander |
Hellenic League
City-State |
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(-) |
![]() Hunnic ![]() |
Avoid ![]() ![]() |
![]() Attila |
Scourge of God
Raze Cities at double speed. Borrow City names from other in-game Civs. Start with Animal Husbandry technology. +1 |
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(-) |
![]() Incan† |
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![]() Pachacuti |
Great Andean Road
Units ignore terrain costs when moving into any tile with Hills. No maintenance costs for improvements in Hills; half cost elsewhere. |
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![]() Indian |
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![]() Gandhi |
Population Growth
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![]() Indonesian ![]() |
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![]() Gajah Mada |
Spice Islanders
The first 3 cities founded on continents other than where Indonesia started each provide 2 unique Luxury Resources (and can never be razed). |
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![]() Iroquois |
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![]() Hiawatha |
The Great Warpath
Vanilla and |
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![]() Japanese |
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![]() Oda Nobunaga |
Bushido | ![]() ![]() |
(-) |
![]() Korean† |
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![]() Sejong |
Scholars of the Jade Hall
+2 |
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(-) |
![]() Mayan ![]() |
![]() Pacal |
The Long Count
After researching Theology, receive a bonus Great Person at the end of every Maya Long Count calendar cycle (every 394 years). Each bonus person can only be chosen once. |
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![]() Mongolian† |
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![]() Genghis Khan |
Mongol Terror | ![]() ![]() |
(-) |
![]() Moroccan ![]() |
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![]() Ahmad al-Mansur |
Gateway to Africa | ![]() |
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![]() Ottoman |
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![]() Suleiman |
Barbary Corsairs
Vanilla: |
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(-) |
![]() Persian |
![]() Darius I |
Achaemenid Legacy
|
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![]() Polish ![]() |
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![]() Casimir III |
Solidarity
Receive a free Social Policy when you advance to the next era. |
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![]() Polynesian† |
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![]() Kamehameha |
Wayfinding | ![]() |
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![]() Portuguese ![]() |
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![]() Maria I |
Mare Clausum
Resource diversity grants twice as much |
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![]() Roman |
![]() Augustus Caesar |
The Glory of Rome
+25% |
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(-) | |
![]() Russian |
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![]() Catherine |
Siberian Riches
Strategic Resources provide +1 |
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![]() Shoshone ![]() |
![]() Pocatello |
Great Expanse
Founded cities start with additional territory. Units receive a combat bonus when fighting within their own territory. |
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![]() Siamese |
Avoid ![]() |
![]() Ramkhamhaeng |
Father Governs Children |
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![]() Songhai |
Avoid ![]() |
![]() Askia |
River Warlord | ![]() |
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![]() Spanish† |
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![]() Isabella |
Seven Cities of Gold | ![]() ![]() |
(-) |
![]() Swedish ![]() |
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![]() Gustavus Adolphus |
Nobel Prize
Gain 90 |
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(-) |
![]() Venetian ![]() |
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![]() Enrico Dandolo |
Serenissima
Cannot gain settlers nor annex cities. Double the normal number of trade routes available. A Merchant of Venice appears after researching Optics. May purchase in puppeted cities. |
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(-) |
![]() Zulu ![]() |
Avoid ![]() |
![]() Shaka |
Iklwa
Melee units cost 50% less maintenance. All units require 25% less experience to earn their next promotion. |
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Civilization V Leaders
† Available as DLCs:
- Babylon was included as a bonus with a pre-order of the Deluxe Edition through a number of Digital Distribution platforms, including Steam and Direct2Drive. It was later made available as DLC on October 25, 2010.
- Mongolia was made available as a free DLC through a game update released on October 25, 2010.
- Spain and the Inca were made available as DLC on December 16, 2010.
- Polynesia was made available as DLC on March 3, 2011.
- Denmark was made available as DLC on May 3, 2011.
- Korea was made available as DLC on August 11, 2011.
Valid only in the Gods & Kings expansion pack.
- Nine new civilizations were added with the Gods & Kings expansion pack on June 19, 2012: The Netherlands, the Celts, the Maya, Carthage, Byzantium, the Huns, Austria, Ethiopia, and Sweden. In addition, the previously released Spanish civilization was included again.
Valid only in the Brave New World expansion pack.
- Nine new civilizations were added with the Brave New World expansion pack on July 9, 2013: Poland, Assyria, Brazil, the Zulus, Portugal, Indonesia, Morocco, Venice, and the Shoshone. In addition, the French, Arabian, and German civilizations have been updated to better work with new aspects of the expansion pack, and the previously released Ethiopian civilization was included again.
See also[]
- Civilizations: A list of civilizations in all Civilization games.
Civilization V [edit] |
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Gods & Kings • Brave New World |
Lists |
Eras |
Concepts |
Guides etc. |
† Only in vanilla Civ5 |