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Social policies are a new concept in Civilization V, representing the non-scientific or religious advancements of your society. They act as a system of gameplay bonuses, activated little by little as your empire develops its Culture. Some of these bonuses are empire-wide (meaning they act on all cities and empire components at the same time), while others are related to particular buildings, tile improvements, units, or even Great People.
All policies are organized into trees, and each tree has to be unlocked before the specific policies in it can be adopted. The policies within each tree are further organized into branches, requiring that lower-level policies be adopted before higher-level ones become available. Unlocking a policy tree also activates a special bonus, as does adopting all five policies in it. Additionally, each policy tree unlocks an honorific title for the leader.
For more information on the exact process of adopting policies and different strategies concerning social policies, see this article.
With the addition of the Gods & Kings expansion, the new Religion system also plays a part in social politics. The Piety tree has been redesigned to benefit Religion as well as Culture, and as a reward for completing many branches, the player can spend
Faith to purchase certain Great People starting in the Industrial Era. Also, once the Industrial Era comes around, a player's choice of social policies can now drastically impact their standings with other civilizations. Civilizations that choose the same Industrial Era policy track (Order, Autocracy, or Freedom) will become friendlier, while civilizations with different policy tracks will become more hostile.
In the Brave New World expansion, the social policies have been updated, with the inclusion of the Aesthetics and Exploration policy trees. Also, Piety can now be adopted right from the Ancient Era while the next trees all unlock an era earlier, giving the player a wider choice for development in the early game. No policy trees are mutually exclusive anymore, and the Anarchy concept has been reserved for when you switch Ideologies. Order, Autocracy, and Freedom are no longer policy trees, but can instead be adopted as Ideologies once you build three Factories or reach the Modern Era. Even more than in Gods & Kings, a player's choice of Ideology can drastically impact his or her standings with another civilization. Finally, note that some World Wonders are now linked to social policy trees (for example, the Pyramids are linked to the Liberty tree) - they can be built only if the relevant tree has been unlocked and you have discovered the requisite technology.
Cost[]
The Culture cost of each new policy is calculated in a number of steps. It is proportional to
where does not count free social policies nor free tenets.[1] This is further modified based on the number of cities the civilization has:
where the varies from 10% to 5%, decreasing as map size increases past Standard,[1][3] is a 33% discount for civilizations which have adopted Representation,[4] and is the number of cities in the civilization (excluding puppet cities and cities being razed).[5] This is added to the , and the result is multiplied by the civilization's policy cost multiplier and multipliers for game speed and difficulty level, then rounded down to the nearest 5 Culture.[1][2]
Tradition[]
The Tradition tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Lord" for male leaders and "Lady" for female leaders.
Tradition is best for small empires.
Adopting Tradition greatly increases the rate of border expansion (25%) in cities (by diminishing the accumulated Culture needed for successive new tiles) and also grants +3
Culture in the
Capital. Unlocks building the Hanging Gardens wonder (
only).
Adopting all Policies in the Tradition tree will grant +15% Growth in all cities and:
- Vanilla: +2
Food in each city
: A free Aqueduct in your first four cities.
: A free Aqueduct in your first four cities. It also allows the purchase of Great Engineers with
Faith starting in the Industrial Era.
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+15% ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Tradition |
![]() |
Garrisoned units cost no maintenance and cities with a garrison gain +100% (+50% in ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Tradition |
![]() |
Provides a free culture building in your first 4 cities. | Adopting Tradition in Vanilla and ![]() Oligarchy in ![]() |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Legalism |
![]() |
+10% ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Legalism |
Liberty[]
The Liberty tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Consul". Note that in the expansions, the order of Republic and Collective Rule was switched, although their bonuses remain the same.
Liberty is best for civilizations which desire rapid expansion.
Adopting Liberty will provide 1 Culture in every city. Unlocks building the Pyramids (
only).
Adopting all policies in the Liberty tree will grant a free Great Person of your choice near the Capital.
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Speeds the training of Settlers by 50% in the ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Liberty (Vanilla) Republic ( ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() |
Collective Rule (Vanilla) Adopting Liberty ( ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Tile improvement construction rate increased by 25% and a Worker appears near the ![]() |
Adopting Liberty |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Citizenship |
![]() |
Each city you found will increase the ![]() ![]() |
Citizenship |
Honor[]
The Honor tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Great".
Honor improves the effectiveness of one's army in a variety of ways.
Adopting Honor gives a +25% (+33% in and
) combat bonus against Barbarians; from now on notifications will be provided when new Barbarian Encampments spawn in revealed territory. Gain
Culture for the empire from each barbarian unit killed. (The
Culture earned is equal to the
Combat Strength or
Ranged Combat Strength of the defeated unit, whichever is greater.) Unlocks building the Statue of Zeus wonder (
only).
Adopting all policies in the Honor tree will grant Gold for each enemy unit killed. (Note that this applies only to units killed directly by your actions. For example, you won't receive
Gold for a unit killed by the effect of a Citadel.) It also allows the purchase of Great Generals with
Faith starting from the Industrial Era (
only).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+15% ![]() ![]() Great Generals are earned 50% faster ( ![]() |
Adopting Honor |
![]() |
+10% (+15% in ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Honor |
![]() |
Each City with a garrison increases empire ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Discipline |
![]() |
Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat. | Warrior Code |
![]() |
![]()
|
Military Caste |
Piety[]
The Piety tree becomes available during the Classical Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Rationalism in vanilla Civilization V and Gods & Kings. In Brave New World it is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Pious".
Piety increases the Culture (Vanilla and
) and
Faith (
and
) of empires.
Adopting Piety reduces the time to build:
Unlocks building the Great Mosque of Djenne ( only).
Adopting all Policies in the Piety tree:
- will reduce the
Culture cost of future Policies by 10% (Vanilla)
- will provide a 20% discount on all purchases of religious units and buildings with
Faith and Holy Sites provide +3
Gold and +3
Culture (
)
- causes a Great Prophet to appear and Holy Sites provide +3
Culture (
).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+1 ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Piety |
![]() |
50% of excess ![]() ![]() ![]() 20% discount on all purchases of religious units and buildings with |
Adopting Piety |
![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() If you founded a religion, gain a bonus Reformation belief ( ![]() |
Organized Religion (Vanilla and ![]() Religious Tolerance ( ![]() |
![]() |
Temples increase a cities ![]() ![]() Holy Sites provide +3 ![]() ![]() |
Organized Religion |
![]() (Vanilla only) |
Gives 1 free Social Policy and +1 ![]() |
Reformation & Mandate of Heaven |
![]() ( ![]() ![]() |
Reduces the ![]() ![]() Cities with a majority religion also get the Pantheon belief bonus of the second most popular religion ( ![]() |
Reformation & Mandate of Heaven (![]() Organized Religion ( ![]() |
Patronage[]
The Patronage tree becomes available during the Medieval Era (Classical Era in Brave New World). Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Enlightened".
Patronage enhances the benefits of City-State friendship.
Adopting Patronage will cause Influence with City-States to degrade 25% slower than normal. Unlocks building the Forbidden Palace (
only).
Adopting all policies in the Patronage tree will:
- make other players'
Influence with City-States decrease 33% more per turn than usual (vanilla and
).
- cause allied City-States to occasionally gift you Great People (
).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Gifts of ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Patronage |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Resting point for ![]() |
Adopting Patronage |
![]() |
All City-States which are Allies provide a ![]() |
Philanthropy |
![]() |
Quantity of Resources gifted by City-States increased by 100%. ![]() |
Scholasticism |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Allied City-States will occasionally gift you ![]() ![]() +2 ![]() ![]() |
Scholasticism & Aesthetics (Vanilla and ![]() Scholasticism & Consulates ( ![]() |
Commerce[]
The Commerce tree becomes available during the Medieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Doge".
Commerce provides bonuses to naval empires (vanilla and only), and those focused on
Gold.
Adopting Commerce boosts Gold output in
Capital City by 25%. Unlocks building Big Ben (
only).
Adopting all Policies in the Commerce tree will grant +1 Gold from every:
- Specialist (Vanilla)
- Trading Post and double
Gold from Great Merchant trade missions. May purchase Great Merchants with
Faith (
).
- It also allows the purchase of Great Merchants with
Faith starting in the Industrial Era (
).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() (Vanilla and ![]() |
+1 ![]() A Great Admiral appears and +2 ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Commerce |
![]() (Vanilla and ![]() |
Maintenance paid on Roads and Railroads reduced by 33%. Harbors and Seaports gain +1 ![]() |
Adopting Commerce |
![]() |
Purchasing items in Cities requires 25% less ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Trade Unions (Vanilla and ![]() Mercenary Army ( ![]() |
![]() (Vanilla and ![]() |
+3 ![]() |
Naval Tradition |
![]() |
+1 (+2 in ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mercantilism (Vanilla and ![]() Entrepreneurship & Mercantilism ( ![]() |
![]() ( ![]() |
+2 ![]() |
Adopting Commerce |
![]() ( ![]() |
Allows the purchasing of Landsknechts. | Adopting Commerce |
![]() ( ![]() |
Great Merchants are earned 25% faster. Receive double ![]() |
Wagon Trains |
Rationalism[]
The Rationalism tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Piety in vanilla Civilization V and Gods & Kings. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Wise".
Rationalism improves the ability to use and generate Science.
Adopting Rationalism:
- boosts
Science gained from research agreements by 50% (Vanilla)
- grants +15%
Science while the empire is
Happy (
)
- +10%
Science while the empire is
Happy. Unlocks building the Porcelain Tower (
)
Adopting all Policies in the Rationalism tree will grant:
- +1
Gold from
Science buildings (Vanilla)
- 2 free Technologies. May purchase Great Scientists with
Faith (
)
- a free Technology. It also allows the purchase of Great Scientists with
Faith starting in the Industrial Era (
).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+2 ![]() |
Adopting Rationalism |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Great Scientists are earned 25% faster ( ![]() |
Adopting Rationalism |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() |
Secularism (Vanilla and ![]() Humanism ( ![]() |
![]() |
+15% ![]() ![]() +1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Humanism (Vanilla and ![]() Secularism ( ![]() |
![]() |
Gives 2 free Technologies (Vanilla). Boosts ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Free Thought (Vanilla and ![]() Sovereignty ( ![]() |
Vanilla and Gods & Kings only[]
Freedom[]
The Freedom tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era (Industrial Era in Gods & Kings). It cannot be active at the same time as Autocracy or Order.
Freedom is best for small, focused empires. In particular, it provides bonuses for Great People and Specialists.
Adopting Freedom increases the rate at which Great People are born by 25%.
Adopting all Policies in the Freedom tree will increase the base yield from Great Tile Improvements by 100% and length of Golden Ages increased by 50%. May purchase Great Artists with
Faith (
only).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+2 ![]() |
Adopting Freedom |
![]() |
Specialists consume only half the normal amount of ![]() |
Adopting Freedom |
![]() |
![]() |
Adopting Freedom |
![]() |
Specialist Population in Cities produce half the normal amount of ![]() |
Civil Society |
![]() |
8 units are maintenance free. | Constitution |
Autocracy[]
The Autocracy tree becomes available during the Industrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or Freedom.
Autocracy is for militaristic civilizations, dreaming of world conquest.
Adopting Autocracy reduces Unit Gold Maintenance costs by 33%, allowing an empire to field a larger military. Receive 10
Culture as plunder for each point of
Culture produced in captured city (
only).
Adopting all Policies in the Autocracy tree will grant:
- a 20% attack bonus to all Military Units for 30 turns (Vanilla)
- a 25% attack bonus to all Military Units for 50 turns. May purchase Great Generals and Great Admirals with
Faith (
)
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Wounded military units deal +25% damage than normal. | Adopting Autocracy |
![]() |
![]() |
Adopting Autocracy |
![]() |
+3 ![]() ![]() ![]() The effectiveness of enemy spies is reduced by 25% and your counterspies have a 25% increased chance of catching enemy spies ( ![]() |
Militarism |
![]() |
Quantity of Strategic Resources produced by the empire increased by 100%. All Great Generals receive +2 ![]() ![]() |
Populism & Militarism |
![]() |
+15% (+25% in ![]() ![]() |
Police State & Fascism |
Order[]
The Order tree becomes available during the Industrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Autocracy or Freedom.
Order is best for large, sprawling empires, increasing the strength of the empire based on the number of Cities it contains.
Adopting Order increases Happiness by +1 per city.
Adopting all Policies in the Order tree will grant +1 (+2 in )
Food,
Production,
Science,
Gold and
Culture per city. May purchase Great Engineers with
Faith (
only).
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Militaristic city states grant units twice as often when you are at war with a common foe. | Adopting Order |
![]() |
Factories increase a city's ![]() Build Factories in half the usual time ( ![]() |
Adopting Order |
![]() |
15% attack bonus when fighting in friendly territory. | Adopting Order |
![]() |
![]() |
Planned Economy |
![]() |
+2 ![]()
|
Socialism |
Brave New World only[]
Aesthetics[]
The Aesthetics tree becomes available during the Classical Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Master" for male leaders and "Mistress" for female leaders.
Aesthetics improves the civilization's ability to generate Culture.
Adopting Aesthetics allows you to earn Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians 25% faster. Unlocks building the Uffizi.
Adopting all policies doubles the theming bonus you receive from Museums and Wonders. It also allows the purchase of Great Writers, Artists, or Musicians with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
Construct Monuments, Amphitheaters, Opera Houses, Museums and Broadcast Towers 50% faster. | Adopting Aesthetics |
![]() |
50% of excess ![]() ![]() |
Adopting Aesthetics |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Cultural Centers & Fine Arts |
![]() |
A Great Artist appears. | Fine Arts |
![]() |
Increases the ![]() |
Flourishing of the Arts |
Exploration[]
The Exploration tree becomes available during the Medieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Captain".
Exploration enhances your abilities to spread your empire over the seas.
Adopting Exploration gives +1 Movement for Naval units and +1 Sight for Naval Combat units. Unlocks building the Louvre.
Adopting all Policies in the Exploration tree allows you to see Hidden Antiquity Sites. It also allows the purchase of Great Admirals with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.
The +1 Movement bonus from this policy tree also applies to embarked units.
Policy | Effect | Requirement |
---|---|---|
![]() |
+3 ![]() |
Adopting Exploration |
![]() |
+1 ![]() |
Adopting Exploration |
![]() |
A Great Admiral appears. +2 ![]() |
Naval Tradition |
![]() |
+1 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Maritime Infrastructuve & Naval Tradition |
![]() |
+4 ![]() |
Merchant Navy |
Related achievements[]
![]() |
Artistic License
Fully explore the Aesthetics Policy track.
|
![]() |
Death Before Shame
Fully Explore the Honor Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Diplomacy by Other Means
Fully Explore the Autocracy Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Eighty-Eight Miles per Hour
Fully Explore the Rationalism Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Freedom Isn't Free
Fully Explore the Freedom Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Legends of the Hidden Temple
Fully explore the Exploration Policy track.
|
![]() |
Lux Perpetua Luceat Eis
Fully Explore the Piety Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Master of the House
Fully Explore the Tradition Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Money Doesn't Grow on Trees
Fully Explore the Commerce Policy Track.
|
![]() |
Team Player
Fully Explore the Patronage Policy Track.
|
![]() |
With an Iron Fist
Fully Explore the Order Policy Track.
|
![]() |
With Liberty and Justice for All
Fully Explore the Liberty Policy Track.
|
References[]
Civilization V [edit] |
---|
Gods & Kings • Brave New World |
Lists |
Concepts |
Miscellaneous |
† Only in vanilla Civ5 • ‡ Only in Gods & Kings and Brave New World |