7 Best Civilizations in Civilization V

Civilization V
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In the vast realm of turn-based strategy, few games have captured the hearts and minds of players like Civilization V. With its intricate gameplay, expansive world, and historical accuracy, Civilization V continues to be a beloved classic. And while every civilization in the game offers its own unique advantages and challenges, there are a select few that stand above the rest. From the enigmatic Maya to the formidable Assyrians, these civilizations possess exceptional abilities that can lead to unparalleled victories.

One of the most well-rounded civilizations in Civilization V is Egypt. Led by the legendary Cleopatra, Egypt boasts a strong economy, a powerful military, and a knack for wonder-building. Egypt’s unique ability, the Pyramids, allows them to construct these towering structures for a fraction of the cost, providing them with a significant tourism boost. Additionally, Egypt’s access to the Nile River grants them fertile land for farming, giving them a stable food supply and a strong base from which to expand their empire.

However, no discussion of the best civilizations in Civilization V would be complete without mentioning the mighty Assyrians. Under the command of the ruthless Ashurbanipal, the Assyrians are renowned for their military prowess. Their unique ability, the Siege Tower, allows them to deploy these formidable units in combat, giving them a devastating advantage against enemy cities. Furthermore, the Assyrians’ access to iron early in the game makes them a formidable force in the early stages of the game. With their relentless determination and unmatched military might, the Assyrians are a force to be reckoned with.

The Might of Rome

The Roman Civilization in Civilization V is renowned for its military prowess and tactical superiority, making it a formidable force on the battlefield. With access to some of the game’s most powerful units and unique abilities, Rome stands among the elite civilizations in the game.

Rome’s Legions

Rome’s iconic legionary units are the backbone of its military strength. These elite infantry are equipped with the Gladius, a short, double-edged sword that grants a significant bonus against other infantry units. Additionally, the legions have a unique promotion path that enhances their combat abilities, allowing them to become even more formidable as the game progresses.

The construction of Forts and Castles provides further defensive advantages for Rome. These structures grant increased combat bonuses to Roman units garrisoned within them, making it challenging for enemies to break through Roman defenses.

When conquering cities, Rome has the unique ability to construct Roads connecting them to the Roman capital. These roads not only facilitate troop movement and resource transportation but also grant a bonus to the Legions’ combat strength when fighting outside of their home territory.

Unit	Description
Legion	Elite infantry with a bonus against other infantry units
Praetorian Guard	Upgraded legionary unit with even more combat bonuses

The Cultural Supremacy of Korea

Korea’s dominance in the cultural sphere is unparalleled in Civilization V. With its unique Science Victory condition, Korea excels in accumulating science and spreading its culture across the globe. This guide will delve deeper into Korea’s cultural prowess, highlighting its strengths and strategies for achieving victory.

Science and Technology

Korea’s scientific prowess stems from its unique ability to generate additional science from wonders. Every wonder constructed by Korea grants an additional 50% Science, significantly accelerating its research progress. This bonus is further boosted by Korea’s Astronomy and Education civic, which increases Wonder production speed and Science output from cities with a Library or University. As a result, Korea can rapidly construct wonders, fueling its scientific advancements and allowing it to unlock critical technologies and Wonders ahead of other civilizations.

Wonder	Science Bonus
Great Library	+15%
Oracle	+10%
Hagia Sophia	+20%

The Scientific Prowess of England

Sea Dog’s Company: The Foundation of Naval Dominance

England’s “Sea Dog’s Company” ability grants a 10% combat bonus to naval units in coastal or ocean tiles. This significant edge in maritime warfare allows England to maintain a formidable naval force, capable of crushing enemy fleets with ease. With well-placed naval units, England can dominate the seas, protect its coastline, and launch devastating raids on distant enemy shores.

Dockyard Units and Fast Production

England’s “Dockyard” unique unit is a highly specialized naval improvement. It provides a massive 50% production bonus to all naval units constructed in that city. This substantial advantage allows England to churn out warships at an alarmingly fast pace, enabling them to quickly bolster their naval forces or replace lost vessels.

The Royal Society: Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs

The “Royal Society” is an exceptional unique building available exclusively to England. When constructed, it grants a hefty 20% bonus to science and 2 great scientists. These bonuses significantly accelerate England’s scientific research, enabling them to unlock new technologies, boost their research output, and gain an edge in the race for scientific supremacy.

The Religious Dominance of Spain

As the foremost leaders of the Reconquista and champions of the Counter-Reformation, Spain wielded the power of religion with unprecedented prowess. Here’s how it manifests in Civilization V:

The Conquistadors

Spain’s unique unit, the Conquistador, is a powerful mounted unit that excels in religious combat. With a bonus attack on city-states and a religious strength penalty on enemies, the Conquistador can spread the faith with the force of arms.

Religious Tolerance

Spain’s ability, Religious Tolerance, allows it to tolerate more religions within its borders without incurring penalties. This fosters religious diversity and facilitates the spread of Spanish beliefs to neighboring civilizations.

The Mission

The Mission, Spain’s unique building, provides a significant boost to religious pressure on adjacent tiles. This highly effective proselytizing tool allows Spain to dominate religious competition in its sphere of influence.

The Spanish Inquisition

Spain’s special ability, the Spanish Inquisition, further enhances its religious power. When Spain captures a holy city or converts a city to its state religion, it gains a free Great Prophet. This accelerated production of religious units allows Spain to establish and maintain a formidable religious presence.

With its unparalleled religious dominance, Spain can dominate the religious victory in Civilization V by converting the world to its faith. Its combination of specialized units, tolerant policies, powerful buildings, and unique ability makes it a formidable force to be reckoned with in the realm of religion.

The Diplomatic Expertise of Carthage

Carthage, a powerful maritime civilization in Civilization V, possesses exceptional diplomatic skills that can significantly enhance its gameplay. These abilities enable Carthage to navigate international relations with ease and establish itself as a prominent player on the world stage.

Unique Ability: Harbor

Carthage’s unique ability, Harbor, grants +2 Production to all coastal cities. This bonus is particularly valuable in the early game, as it accelerates the development of Carthage’s navy and trading fleet. By establishing coastal cities, Carthage can quickly expand its influence and gain access to valuable resources.

Unique Unit: Quinquereme

Carthage’s unique unit, the Quinquereme, is a formidable naval vessel that dominates the seas. It has a greater combat strength and range than other ancient-era ships, making it an ideal choice for both exploration and warfare. With a fleet of Quinqueremes, Carthage can control coastal areas, raid enemy cities, and secure valuable trade routes.

Unique Building: Cothon

The Cothon, Carthage’s unique building, is a specialized production center that allows the city to build naval units twice as fast. This significantly speeds up Carthage’s naval production, enabling it to build a powerful fleet in a relatively short amount of time. By constructing Cothons in multiple cities, Carthage can overwhelm its opponents with a steady stream of warships.

Diplomatic Bonus: Meet and Greet

Carthage receives a diplomatic bonus whenever it meets a new city-state. This bonus grants +1 Diplomatic Favor with that city-state, making it easier for Carthage to establish alliances and gain access to valuable benefits. By proactively exploring and interacting with city-states, Carthage can build a network of allies that provide it with support and resources.

Trade Diplomacy

Carthage excels at trade diplomacy thanks to its access to valuable resources such as wine and marble. By establishing trade agreements with other civilizations, Carthage can gain access to desired resources, enhance its economy, and build strong economic ties. Its diplomatic skills enable Carthage to negotiate favorable trade deals that benefit both parties, strengthening its position in the global community.

Advantages	Disadvantages
+2 Production to coastal cities	Vulnerable to naval attacks
Formidable Quinquereme unit	Limited land units
Specialized Cothon building	Can be outmaneuvered by land-based armies
Meet and Greet diplomatic bonus
Excellent trade diplomacy

The Economic Prowess of Egypt

Egypt’s strengths in Civilization V lie in its economic prowess, with several game mechanics working in its favor to generate a significant amount of gold and production.

The Great Library

Egypt’s unique building, the Great Library, provides a significant science bonus and doubles the Great Scientist points earned from completed Libraries. This allows Egypt to advance through the tech tree quickly, unlocking new units and buildings that boost their economy and military.

The Sphinx

The Sphinx is Egypt’s unique wonder, and it grants Egypt bonus gold for each city with a trade route going through it. This encourages players to establish trade routes to as many cities as possible, further boosting their gold income.

The Monument to Amun-Re

The Monument to Amun-Re is a Religious Building available only to Egypt after researching the Monotheism technology. It provides a significant bonus to production and happiness, boosting Egypt’s economy and decreasing the chances of internal unrest.

The Nubian Pyramids

The Nubian Pyramids are a unique improvement that can only be built by Egypt on desert tiles. They provide gold and production, and their construction grants a free Great Engineer. This improvement increases Egypt’s economic capabilities and allows them to expand their infrastructure and military strength.

River Valley Civilization

Egypt’s River Valley Civilization ability allows it to build Wonders on Floodplains. This grants Egypt a substantial advantage in settling along rivers, as they can capitalize on the unique benefits of Wonder construction, such as increased Science, Culture, or Production.

Economic Policy

Egypt’s Economic Policy grants a significant bonus to gold production from trade routes after researching the Economics technology. This policy further enhances Egypt’s economic prowess, making them one of the most formidable economic powers in Civilization V.

Building	Unique Ability
Great Library	Doubles Great Scientist points from Libraries, provides Science
Sphinx	Bonus gold for cities with trade routes passing through
Monument to Amun-Re	Production and Happiness bonus
Nubian Pyramids	Gold and Production on desert tiles, free Great Engineer

The Military Powerhouse of Germany

1. Teutonic Knights: A Siege Specialist

The Teutonic Order, renowned for its siege expertise, wields the formidable Landsknecht unique unit. This elite infantry boasts a significant bonus when besieging cities, enabling Germany to conquer enemy fortifications with astonishing ease.

2. U-Boat: A Submarine Juggernaut

Germany’s U-Boat submarine proves indispensable in naval warfare. With its enhanced range and attack power, the U-Boat can dominate sea battles, control trade routes, and disrupt enemy supply lines.

3. Hansa: A Commercial Hub

Germany’s Hansa district provides both economic and strategic benefits. Each Hansa automatically connects to all other Hansa districts on the map, creating a vast network that generates additional production, gold, and food.

4. Brandenburg Gate: A Culture Booster

The iconic Brandenburg Gate monument serves as a powerful cultural center for Germany. By constructing the wonder, Germany receives a substantial boost to its culture output, allowing it to advance through the tech tree more quickly.

5. Panzer: A Lightning-Fast Unit

Germany’s Panzer unit is a mechanized beast, capable of tearing through enemy lines with its rapid movement and devastating firepower. Its blitz-like tactics enable Germany to launch lightning-fast attacks and overwhelm its opponents.

6. Panzerschiff: A Naval Powerhouse

The Panzerschiff, a potent battleship, joins the U-Boat in Germany’s formidable naval arsenal. With its massive cannons and resilient armor, the Panzerschiff strikes terror into enemy ships and ensures Germany’s maritime dominance.

7. Espionage and Intrigue

Germany excels in espionage and intrigue, utilizing its powerful intelligence network to outmaneuver its rivals. Its spies can infiltrate enemy cities and sabotage their infrastructure, while its diplomats can manipulate diplomatic relations to Germany’s advantage.

Espionage Bonuses

Bonus	Value
Spy Capacity	+2
Espionage Mission Cost	-25%

The Hubris of the Persians

The Persians were one of the most powerful and influential civilizations in the ancient world. They ruled over a vast empire that stretched from the Nile River to the Indus River. The Persians were known for their military prowess, their administrative skills, and their cultural achievements. But the Persians were also known for their hubris, which ultimately led to their downfall.

The Great King

The Persian Empire was ruled by a single monarch, known as the Great King. The Great King was an absolute ruler, with the power to make laws, declare war, and administer justice. The Great King was also the supreme commander of the Persian army.

The Immortals

The Persian army was one of the most powerful in the ancient world. The backbone of the army was the Immortals, a force of 10,000 elite warriors. The Immortals were armed with spears, swords, and bows and arrows. They were trained to fight in close formation, and they were known for their discipline and courage.

Conquests

The Persians used their powerful army to conquer a vast empire. Under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, the Persians defeated the Medes, the Babylonians, and the Lydians. Darius I, the son of Cyrus, extended the empire to the Indus River.

Administration

The Persians were skilled administrators. They divided their empire into provinces, each of which was ruled by a governor. The governors were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining order, and administering justice. The Persians also developed a system of roads and canals that helped to connect the different parts of their empire.

Culture

The Persians were a sophisticated people with a rich culture. They were famous for their architecture, their art, and their literature. The Persians also made significant advances in mathematics, science, and medicine.

The Battle of Marathon

In 490 BC, the Persians invaded Greece. The Greeks met the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. The Greeks were outnumbered, but they fought valiantly and defeated the Persians. The Battle of Marathon was a turning point in the history of the Persian Empire. It showed that the Persians were not invincible, and it inspired the Greeks to resist Persian aggression.

The Battle of Salamis

In 480 BC, the Persians invaded Greece again. This time, the Greeks were led by Themistocles. Themistocles lured the Persian fleet into the narrow strait of Salamis. The Greek ships were smaller and more maneuverable than the Persian ships. The Greeks were able to trap the Persian ships and destroy them. The Battle of Salamis was a decisive victory for the Greeks. It ended the Persian invasion of Greece.

9. The Xerxes Canal

After the Persian defeat at the Battle of Salamis, Xerxes I ordered the construction of a canal across the Isthmus of Mount Athos. The canal was designed to allow the Persian fleet to bypass the treacherous waters around Mount Athos. The canal was a massive undertaking, and it took three years to complete. The canal was used by the Persian fleet during the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. However, the canal was later abandoned and fell into disrepair.

The following table provides some key facts about the Xerxes Canal:

Length	1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers)
Width	70 feet (21 meters)
Depth	15 feet (4.5 meters)
Construction time	3 years
Cost	Unknown

The Stealthy Excellence of the Japanese

Introduction

In the sprawling tapestry of Civilization V, the Japanese civilization stands out as a beacon of stealth, diplomacy, and cultural prowess. Led by the enigmatic Oda Nobunaga, this faction excels in naval warfare, intelligence gathering, and the intricate arts of passive diplomacy.

Unique Abilities

The Japanese possess a suite of unique abilities that define their gameplay. Their signature ability, Bushido, enhances their melee, ranged, and naval combat units by 15% when fighting in friendly territory or on the coast. This bonus makes them formidable opponents in any coastal engagement.

Unique Unit

The Samurai replaces the standard swordsman unit for the Japanese. With a combat strength of 26 and the ability to construct forts in enemy territory, the Samurai is a potent force that aids in expansion and defense.

Unique Building

The Zen Garden is a religious building unique to the Japanese. It provides a culture bonus, boosts the happiness of adjacent cities, and grants a 25% bonus to Great Artist production. This allows the Japanese to flourish in the realms of culture and tourism.

Unique Technology

The Bushido Training technology unlocks the ability to train Samurai and the ability to build coastal forts. This pivotal technology reinforces the Japanese’ dominance in naval combat and solidifies their defensive capabilities.

Playstyle

The Japanese excel as a tall empire, focusing on developing a few well-defended coastal cities. Their stealth bonus and strong navy allow them to launch surprise attacks, while their cultural prowess enables them to build wonders and generate tourism income. By playing to their strengths, the Japanese can dominate the seas and become a formidable player on the world stage.

Counterplay

To counter the Japanese, it is crucial to have a strong navy and coastal defenses. Ranged units are effective against their Samurai, and air power can neutralize their stealth advantage. Diplomatically, isolating the Japanese can limit their trade and alliances, weakening their economy and military.

Five of the Best Civilizations in Civilization V

With its vast array of civilizations, each with its unique abilities, bonuses, and playstyles, Civilization V offers a diverse and engaging gaming experience. While personal preferences may vary, certain civilizations consistently stand out as top contenders due to their well-rounded capabilities and potential for domination on various maps and game modes.

Here are five of the best civilizations in Civilization V:

Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II): With its impressive scientific bonuses, Babylon excels in research and technological advancement. The Hanging Gardens wonder, exclusive to Babylon, provides substantial food and happiness, allowing for rapid population growth and a thriving empire.
Egypt (Hatshepsut): Egypt’s strength lies in its early game domination. With free Monument and Settler units, Egypt can quickly establish a strong foothold and expand its territory. The unique Great Pyramid wonder grants additional production and culture, further enhancing Egypt’s growth and stability.
Germany (Bismarck): Known for its military prowess, Germany benefits from increased production towards military units. Its unique Hanseatic League wonder provides trade-based bonuses, boosting the economy and allowing for substantial unit maintenance. Germany’s strong military capabilities make it a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
Persia (Darius I): Persia excels in cultural and diplomatic aspects. With increased culture output and unique bonuses to Great People, Persia can establish a strong cultural presence and attract talented individuals to its empire. The unique Immortals unit, available earlier than other civilizations, provides a formidable military advantage in the mid-game.
Poland (Casimir III): Poland’s focus on faith and social policies makes it a formidable contender in Civ V. With additional beliefs and a unique building, the Market Square, Poland can generate substantial gold and culture. Its unique Winged Hussar unit, a powerful cavalry unit available in the Renaissance era, provides a significant edge in combat.