Social policies (Civ5)

Back to Civilization V
Civilization VGods & KingsBrave New WorldCivilization VGods & KingsBrave New WorldCivilization VGods & KingsBrave New World
Back to Game concepts

Go to the Social Strategy article

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, units, or even Great People. Many Social Policies enhance individual buildings' functions - check the list of buildings for more info on that.

All policies are organised 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. Besides, each policy tree unlocks an honorific title for the leader.

For more information on the exact process of adopting policies, as well as for different strategies concerning Social Policies, check the Social strategy article.

With the addition of the Gods & Kings expansion, the new Religion system also plays 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 its standings with another civilization. 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 Ideology. Order, Autocracy, and Freedom have been excluded as Social policies, but one of these can be adopted as an Ideology 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) - now they can only be built if the relevant tree has been unlocked, AND you have researched the necessary technology.

TraditionEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Tradition (Civ5)

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.

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.

Adopting all Policies in the Tradition tree will grant +15% Growth in all cities and +2 Food in each citya free Aqueduct in your first four citiesa free Aqueduct in your first four cities. It also allows the purchase of Great Engineers with Faith starting in Industrial Era.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Aristocracy	+15% Production when building Wonders (any Era) and +1 Happiness for every 10 Citizens in a City.	Adopting Tradition
Oligarchy	Garrisoned units cost no maintenance and cities with a garrison gain +100%+50%+50% Ranged Combat Strength.	Adopting Tradition
Legalism	Provides a free culture building in your first 4 cities.	Adopting TraditionAdopting TraditionOligarchy
Monarchy	+1 Gold and -1 Unhappiness for every 2 Citizens in the Capital.	Legalism
Landed Elite	+10% Growth and +2 Food in the Capital only.	Legalism

LibertyEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Liberty (Civ5)

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.

Adopting Liberty will provide +1 Culture in every city. Unlocks building the Pyramids wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Liberty tree will grant a free Great Person of your choice near the Capital.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Collective rule Republic Republic	Speeds the training of Settlers by 50% in the Capital and a free Settler appears near the Capital+1 Production in every City and +5% Production in cities when constructing Buildings (including Wonders)+1 Production in every City and +5% Production in cities when constructing Buildings (including Wonders).	Adopting Liberty
Citizenship	Tile improvement construction rate increased by 25% and a Worker appears near the Capital.	Adopting Liberty
RepublicCollective RuleCollective Rule	+1 Production in every City and +5% Production in cities when constructing Buildings (including Wonders).Speeds the training of Settlers by 50% in the Capital and a free Settler appears near the Capital.Speeds the training of Settlers by 50% in the Capital and a free Settler appears near the Capital. (Venice receives a Merchant of Venice instead of Settler.)	Collective ruleRepublicRepublic
Meritocracy	+1 Happiness for each City you own connected to the Capital and -5% Unhappiness from Citizens in non-occupied Cities.	Citizenship
Representation	Each city you found will increase the Culture cost of policies by 33% less than normal. Also starts a Golden Age (if one is already in progress, it is extended).	Citizenship

HonorEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Honor (Civ5)

The Honor tree is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Great".

Adopting Honor gives a +25%+33%+33% 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.

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.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Warrior Code	+15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 50% faster.	Adopting Honor
Discipline	+15% combat strength for melee units which have another military unit in an adjacent tile.	Adopting Honor
Military Caste	Each City with a garrison increases local city Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2. Note that cities in Resistance are unaffected by this!	Discipline
Military Tradition	Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.	Warrior code
Professional Army	Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and +1 Happiness from every defensive building (Walls, Castle, Arsenal, Military Base)+1 Local City Happiness from every defensive building (Walls, Castle, Arsenal, Military Base)construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.	Military caste

PietyEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Piety (Civ5)

The Piety tree becomes available during the Classical Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Rationalism.becomes available during the Classical Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Rationalism.is available right from the Ancient Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Pious".

Adopting Piety reduces the time to build Culture buildingsShrines and Temples{{{3}}} by 15%.50%.50%. Unlocks building the Great Mosque of Djenne wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Piety tree will reduce the Culture cost of future Policies by 10%provide a 20% discount on purchases of all religious units and buildings with Faith and Holy Sites provide +3 Gold and +3 Culturecause a Great Prophet to appear and Holy Sites provide +3 Culture.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Organized Religion	+1 Happiness Faith Faith from Monuments, Temples, and MonasteriesShrines and TemplesShrines and Temples.	Adopting Piety
Mandate of Heaven	50% of excess Happiness added each turn to the amount of Culture that may be spent on Social Policies50% of excess Happiness added each turn to the amount of Culture that may be spent on Social Policies20% discount on all purchases of religious units and buildings with Faith (does NOT work for Great People, including Great Prophets).	Adopting Piety
Reformation Reformation Theocracy	Culture increased by 33% in all cities which have built a World Wonder and the empire immediately enters a Golden Age Culture increased by 33% in all cities which have built a World Wonder and the empire immediately enters a Golden AgeTemples increase a city's Gold output by 25%. Holy Sites provide +3 Gold.	Organized Religion
Theocracy Theocracy Religious tolerance	Temples increase a cities Gold output by 10%Temples increase a cities Gold output by 10%Cities with a majority religion also get the Pantheon belief bonus of the second most popular religion.	Organized Religion
Free religion Religious tolerance Reformation	Gives 1 free Social Policy and +1 Culture from Monuments, Temples, and MonasteriesReduces the Culture cost of future Policies by 10%If you founded a religion, gain a bonus Reformation belief.	ReformationReformationReligious tolerance

PatronageEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Patronage (Civ5)

The Patronage tree becomes available during the Medieval EraMedieval EraClassical Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Enlightened".

Adopting Patronage makes your Influence with City-States degrade 25% slower than normal. Unlocks building the Forbidden Palace wonder.

Adopting all policies in the Patronage tree will make other players' Influence with City-States decrease 33% more per turn than usualmake other players' Influence with City-States decrease 33% more per turn than usualcause allied City-States to occasionally gift you Great People.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Philanthropy	Gifts of Gold to a City-State generate 25% more Influence.	Adopting Patronage
Aesthetics Aesthetics Consulates	Resting point for Influence level with all City-States is increased by 20.	Adopting Patronage
Scholasticism	All City-States which are Allies provide a Science bonus equal to 25% of what they produce for themselves.	Philanthropy
Cultural diplomacy	Quantity of Resources gifted by City-States increased by 100%. Happiness from gifted Luxuries increased by 50%.	Scholasticism
Educated elite Educated elite Merchant confederacy	Allied City-States will occasionally gift you Great PeopleAllied City-States will occasionally gift you Great People+2 Gold for trade routes with City-States.	Scholasticism & AestheticsAestheticsConsulates

Commerce Commerce AestheticsEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Aesthetics (Civ5)

The CommerceCommerceAesthetics tree becomes available during the Medieval EraMedieval EraClassical Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Master" for male leaders and "Mistress" for female leaders.

Adopting Commerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%Commerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%Aesthetics allows you to earn Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians 25% faster. Unlocks building the Uffizi.

Adopting all Policies in the CommerceCommerceAesthetics tree will grant +1 Gold from every Specialistwill grant +1 Gold from every Trading Post and double Gold from Great Merchant trade missions. May purchase Great Merchants with Faithdoubles 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
Naval tradition Naval tradition Cultural centers	+1 Movement and +1 sight range for naval combat units+1 Movement and +1 sight range for naval combat units. A Great Admiral appears. +2 Movement for all Great AdmiralsConstruct Monuments, Amphitheaters, Opera Houses, Museums and Broadcast Towers 50% faster.	Adopting Aesthetics
Trade unions Trade unions Fine arts	Maintenance paid on Roads and Railroads reduced by 33%. Harbors and Seaports gain +1 GoldMaintenance paid on Roads and Railroads reduced by 33%. Harbors and Seaports gain +1 Gold50% of excess Happiness added each turn to the amount of Culture that may be spent on Social Policies or Ideological Tenets.	Adopting Aesthetics
Mercantilism Mercantilism Flourishing of the arts	Purchasing items in Cities requires 25% less GoldPurchasing items in Cities requires 25% less Gold. +1 Science from every Mint, Market, Bank and Stock Exchange Culture increased by 33% in all cities which have built a World Wonder and the empire immediately enters a Golden Age.	Trade unionsTrade unionsCultural centers & Fine arts
Merchant navy Merchant navy Artistic genius	+3 Production in all coastal Cities+3 Production in all coastal CitiesA Great Artist appears.	Naval traditionNaval traditionFine arts
Protectionism Protectionism Cultural exchange	+1 Happiness from each Luxury Resource+1 Happiness from each Luxury ResourceIncreases the Tourism modifier for Shared Religion, Trade Routes, and Open Borders by 15% each.	MercantilismMercantilismFlourishing of the arts

Rationalism Rationalism CommerceEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Commerce (Civ5)

The RationalismRationalismCommerce tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as PietyRenaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as PietyMedieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Doge".

Adopting Rationalism boosts Science gained from research agreements by 50%Rationalism grants +15% Science while the empire is HappyCommerce boosts Gold output in Capital City by 25%. Unlocks building Big Ben.

Adopting all Policies in the RationalismRationalismCommerce tree will grant +1 Gold from Science buildings2 free Technologies. May purchase Great Scientists with Faith+1 Gold from every Trading Post. It also allows the purchase of Great Merchants with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Secularism Secularism Wagon trains	+2 Science from every Specialist+2 Science from every Specialist+2 Gold from all your Land Trade Routes (with foreign nations). Maintenance paid on Roads and Railroads reduced by 50%.	Adopting Commerce
Humanism Humanism Mercenary army	+1 Happiness from every University, Observatory and Public School+1 Local City Happiness from every University, Observatory and Public SchoolAllows the purchasing of Landsknechts.	Adopting Commerce
Free thought Free thought Entrepreneurship	+1 Science from every Trading Post and +17% Science from Universities+1 Science from every Trading Post and +17% Science from UniversitiesGreat Merchants are earned 25% faster. Receive double Gold from Great Merchant trade missions.	SecularismSecularismWagon trains
Sovereignty Sovereignty Mercantilism	+15% Science while your empire is Happy+1 Gold from Science buildingsPurchasing items in Cities requires 25% less Gold. +1 Science from every Mint, Market, Bank and Stock Exchange.	HumanismHumanismMercenary army
Scientific revolution Scientific revolution Protectionism	Gives 2 free TechnologiesBoosts Science gained from Research Agreements by +50%+2 Happiness from each Luxury Resource.	Free thoughtFree thoughtEntrepreneurship & Mercantilism

Freedom Freedom ExplorationEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Exploration (Civ5)

The FreedomFreedomExploration tree becomes available during the Renaissance Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or AutocracyIndustrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or AutocracyMedieval Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "Captain".

Adopting Freedom increases the rate at which Great People are born by 25%Freedom increases the rate at which Great People are born by 25%Exploration gives +1 Movement for Naval units and +1 Sight for Naval Combat units. Unlocks building the Louvre.

Adopting all Policies in the FreedomFreedomExploration tree will increase the base yield from Great Tile Improvements by 100% and length of Golden Ages increased by 50%will increase the base yield from Great Tile Improvements by 100% and length of Golden Ages increased by 50%. May purchase Great Artists with Faithallows you to see Hidden Antiquity Sites. It also allows the purchase of Great Admirals with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Constitution Constitution Maritime infrastructure	+2 Culture from each World Wonder+2 Culture from each World Wonder+3 Production in all coastal Cities.	Adopting Exploration
Civil society Civil society Naval tradition	Specialists consume only half the normal amount of FoodSpecialists consume only half the normal amount of Food+1 Happiness for each Harbor, Seaport, or Lighthouse.	Adopting Exploration
Universal suffrage Universal suffrage Navigation school	Combat Strength of Cities increased by 33%Combat Strength of Cities increased by 33%A Great Admiral appears. +2 Movement for all Great Admirals. Great Admirals are earned 50% faster.	NoneNoneNaval tradition
Democracy Democracy Merchant navy	Specialist Population in Cities produce half the normal amount of UnhappinessSpecialist Population in Cities produce half the normal amount of Unhappiness+1 Gold for each Harbor, Seaport, or Lighthouse, +4 Production and +4 Culture in the city with the East India Company.	Civil societyCivil societyMaritime infrastructuve & Naval tradition
Free speech Free speech Treasure fleets	8 units are maintenance free8 units are maintenance free+4 Gold from all your Sea Trade Routes.	ConstitutionConstitutionMerchant navy

Autocracy Autocracy RationalismEdit

Back to the policy tree

Main article: Rationalism (Civ5)

The AutocracyAutocracyRationalism tree becomes available during the Industrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or FreedomIndustrial Era. It cannot be active at the same time as Order or FreedomRenaissance Era. Choosing this policy first will give you the title "The Wise".

Adopting Autocracy reduces Unit Gold Maintenance costs by 33%, allowing an empire to field a larger militaryAutocracy 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 cityRationalism will grant +10% Science while the empire is Happy. Unlocks building the Porcelain Tower.

Adopting all Policies in the AutocracyAutocracyRationalism tree will grant a 20% attack bonus to all Military Units for 30 turns25% attack bonus to all Military Units for 50 turns. May purchase Great Generals and Great Admirals with Faithfree Technology. It also allows the purchase of Great Scientists with Faith starting in the Industrial Era.

Policy	Effect	Requirement
Populism Populism Secularism	Wounded military units deal +25% damage than normalWounded military units deal +25% damage than normal+2 Science from every Specialist.	Adopting Rationalism
Militarism Militarism Humanism	Gold cost of purchasing units reduced by 33% Gold cost of purchasing units reduced by 33%Great Scientists are earned 25% faster.	Adopting Rationalism
Police state Police state Free thought	-50% Unhappiness in Annexed Cities+3 Local City Happiness from every Courthouse. Build Courthouses in half the usual time. The effectiveness of enemy spies is reduced by 25%. Your counterspies have a 25% increased chance of catching enemy spies+1 Science from every Trading Post and +17% Science from Universities.	MilitarismMilitarismHumanism
Fascism Fascism Sovereignty	Quantity of Strategic Resources produced by the empire increased by 100%Quantity of Strategic Resources produced by the empire increased by 100%. All Great Generals receive +2 Movement+1 Gold from Science buildings.	Populism & MilitarismPopulism & MilitarismSecularism
Total war Total war Scientific revolution	+15% Production when building Military Units and new Military Units start with 15 Experience+25% Production when building Military Units and new Military Units start with 15 ExperienceBoosts Science gained from Research Agreements by +50%.	Police state & FascismPolice state & FascismSovereignty

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.

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 Liberty and Justice for All Fully Explore the Liberty Policy Track.