Humankind’s Cultures are not your traditional factions, set in stone from the start of the game, until its end. Instead, they’re the building blocks of your civilization and tickets to move across the game’s Eras. Having a whole 60 of them to choose from can be intimidating for newcomers, and the handy list below offers an overview of your picks, their specific bonuses, units, and buildings.
Humankind’s Cultures are each affiliated to one of seven possible Affinities: Builder, Militarist, Scientist, Aesthete, Agrarian, Expansionist, and Merchant. Each Affinity has its own passive and active powers that you can use as long as you stick to a culture that’s affiliated to it. Should you switch upon reaching a new era, you’ll trade your old Affinity’s powers for the new Affinity’s powers.
Humankind Culture List
Cultures also come with a Legacy Trait, that persists once you switch to a new culture, as well as an Emblematic District and Unit that sets them apart from the rest. Once your days as a tribe are behind you, each of the six eras comes with 10 cultures to choose from.
These rosters are fixed but, as long as another player doesn’t beat you to it, you can pick any of the 10, regardless of your previous culture’s Affinity. Alternatively, you can also Transcend, gaining a slight increase to your Fame gain and keeping the same culture through another era.
It’s a more flexible approach than traditional factions can offer and below you can find the full Humankind Cultures list alongside their Affinities, buildings, units, and Legacy Traits.
Ancient Era
Assyrians - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Raid Masters
- +1 Land Movement Speed on Unit
- +5 Combat Strength bonus when Ransacking on Army
Emblematic Quarter - Dunnu
- +2 Influence
- +10 District Fortification
- +1 Combat Strength in combat for Units in or adjacent to the District
Emblematic Unit - Assyrian Raiders
- 21 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Cavalry
- Pillager
Babylonians - Scientist
Legacy Trait - Brilliant Philosophers
- +2 Science per researched technologies on Capital
Emblematic Quarter - Astronomy House
- -10 Stability
- +3 Science per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Food per Researcher
- +1 Science per Researcher
- +1 Researchers Slot
Emblematic Unit - Ṣäbu Ša Qašti
- 22 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Anti-Cavalry
- Guardian
Egyptians - Builder
Legacy Trait - Grand Planners
- +1 Industry on Tile producing Industry
- -10% on District Industry cost
Emblematic Quarter - Egyptian Pyramid
- +1 Influence
- +3 Industry
- -10 Stability
- +3 Industry per adjacent Industry Makers Quarter
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
Emblematic Unit - Markabata
- 24 Strength/6 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Move and Fire
Harappans - Agrarian
Legacy Trait - Fertile Innundations
- +1 Food on Tile producing Food
- +1 Food on River
Emblematic Quarter - Canal Network
- +3 Food
- -10 Stability
- +3 Food per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
Emblematic Unit - Runner
- 14 Strength/5 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Pathfinder
Hittites - Militarist
Legacy Trait - Lust for War
- +1 Combat Strength
Emblematic Quarter - Awari
- Automatically upgrades regular Outpost.
- Can be used as a Land Unit Spawn Point for neighbor Cities
Emblematic Unit - Gigir
- 23 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Suppression
Mycenaeans - Militarist
Legacy Trait - Brutal Upbringing
- -20% on Unit Industry cost
- +25 Experience on creating Unit on City or Outpost
Emblematic Quarter - Cyclopean Fortress
- +20 District Fortification
- +3 Industry
- +15 Stability
- +3 Combat Strength in combat for Units in or adjacent to the District
Emblematic Unit - Promachoi
- 21 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Champon
Nubians - Merchant
Legacy Trait - Golden Dreams
- +5 Money on Luxury Resource deposit
- +5 Money on Strategic Resource deposit
Emblematic Quarter - Meroe Pyramids
- +2 Industry
- +2 Money
- -10 Stability
- +3 Money per adjacent Industry Makers Quarter
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
Emblematic Unit - Ta-Seti Archers
- 19 Strength/4 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Exceptional Accuracy
Olmecs - Aesthete
Legacy Trait - Natural Harmony
- +1 Influence on Territory
Emblematic Quarter - Olmec Head
- +1 Influence
- +3 Food
- -10 Stability
- +1 Influence per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Farmers Slot Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
Emblematic Unit - Javelin Throwers
- 19 Strength/4 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Ambusher
Phoenicians - Merchant
Legacy Trait - Trading Pioneers
- +2 Money per Trader on City or Outpost
Emblematic Quarter - Haven
- -10 Stability
- +2 Money per adjacent Coastal Water
- +2 Money per adjacent Lake
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost </ul> Emblematic Unit - Bireme
- 23 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Boarding Vessel
- Navigator
- +2 Stability on District
- +8 Stability
- +1 Science
- +5 Science per adjacent Mountain
- +1 Researchers Slot on City or Outpost
- 23 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Mandate of Heaven
- +2 City Cap
- +10 Stability on City or Outpost
- +1 Influence
- +5 Money
- -10 Stability
- +2 Influence per adjacent District
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
- 28 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Anti-Cavalry
- Bastion
- +2 Money on Tile producing Money
- +1 Money per Territories under the Religion's influence
- +3 Faith
- +3 Money
- -10 Stability
- +3 Money per adjacent Market Quarter
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
- 27 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Grappler
- -25% on all Constructibles Buyout cost
- +10 District Fortification
- -10 Stability
- +3 Industry per adjacent Coastal Water
- +2 Industry per adjacent Lake
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
- 31 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Trample
- +2 Food per Farmers on City or Outpost
- +3 Food per number of attached Territories
- +3 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +3 Food per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- 25 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Fervor
- +10 Combat Strength from ransacking on Unit
- +2 Influence on Garrison
- +3 Influence
- +3 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +2 Faith per adjacent District
- 29 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Ransacker
- +2 Science per Researchers on City or Outpost
- +1 Influence pert Era
- +3 Science per Era
- -10 Stability
- +2 Science per adjacent District
- 27 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Anti-cavalry
- Phalanx
- +2 Combat Strength on Cavalry Unit
- Automatically upgrades regular Outpost
- They cannot be attached to Cities in this Era
- 22 Strength/6 Movement/3 Range
- Nomad
- Multi-move
- +1 Influence on Emblematic District
- -10% on Attach Outpost cost
- +1 Influence
- +2 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +3 Science
- +2 Influence per adjacent District
- +1 Researchers Slot on City or Outpost
- 30 Strength/6 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Elephant Platform
- +2 Industry per Workers on City or Outpost
- +3 Industry per number of attached Territories
- +2 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +4 Industry per adjacent Industry Makers Quarter
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
- 25 Strength/4 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Poison
- +1 Unit slot available for each Army
- -30% Army Upkeep on Army
- +3 Influence
- +3 Stability
- On Victorious City:
- +5 Influence
- +10 Stability
- 30 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Tactical Superiority
- +2 Land Movement Speed on Unit
- -20% on Unit Industry Industry cost
- +5 Faith
- +5 Stability
- +2 Influence from adjacent District
- 33 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Fervor
- +5% Money per Alliance on all Cities
- +5 Money per Horse
- +3 Money
- -10 Stability
- +25 Money per adjacent Horse deposit
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
- 43 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Honor Code
- +7 Food per number of attached Territories on City or Outpost
- Increase the Range by 2 for Ranged Units standing on it
- +20 District Fortification
- +5 Stability
- +3 Combat Strength in combat for Units in or adjacent to the District
- 32 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Ranged
- Indirect Fire
- +10% Influence
- +3 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +5 Science
- +2 Influence per adjacent District
- +1 Researchers Slot on City or Outpost
- 39 Strength/6 Movement/3 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Heavy Charge
- +5 Money per Number of accesses to Luxury Resources.
- +5 Money per Number of accesses to Strategic Resources </ul> Emblematic Quarter - Luxuries Market
- +1 Money per Number of Trade Routes
- +5 Money
- -10 Stability
- +3 Money per adjacent Money Market Quarter
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
- 35 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Cavalry
- Anti-cavalry
- +3 Industry on Makers Quarter
- +1 Industry per Population
- +5 Food
- -10 Stability
- +2 Industry per adjacent River
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
- 42 Strength/6 Movement/3 Range
- Ranged
- Move and Fire
- 100% ransack on Army
- Automatically upgrades regular Outpost
- They cannot be attached to Cities in this Era
- 29 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Nomad
- Multi-move
- +3 Naval Movement Speed on Naval Units
- +2 Combat Strength on Naval Units
- -10 Stability
- +5 Food per adjacent Coastal Water
- +5 Food per adjacent Lake
- +50 Money from ransack on Empire
- +1 Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
- 23 Strength/0 Movement/1 Range
- Naval Transport
- High Sea
- +1 Money per State Religion Follower
- +1 Science per State Religion Follower
- +1 Faith per District
- +3 Influence
- -10 Stability
- +3 Faith per adjacent District
- 39 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Proselyte
- +5% Science per Alliance on all Cities
- +3 Science per Number of attached Territories
- +5 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +1Researchers Slot on City or Outpost
- 36 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Cavalry
- Enforcers
- +1 Money per Population on all Cities.
- +1 Money
- -10 Stability
- +20 Money per adjacent Harbor
- On City or Outpost
- +2 Money per Traders
- +1 Traders Slot
- 31 Strength/0 Movement/1 Range
- Naval Transport
- Conveyor
- +1 Influence per Population on City or Outpost
- +2 Influence
- +3 Faith
- -10 Stability
- +5 Influence per adjacent Mountain
</ul>
Emblematic Unit - Naginata Samurai
- 46 Strength/5 Movement/1 Range
- Anti-cavalry
- Honor Code
Haudenosaunee - Agrarian
Legacy Trait - Land of Plenty- +1 Food on Exploitation
- +5 Food per number of attached Territories
- -10 Stability
- +3 Food per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
- 41 Strength/6 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Stealth
Joseon- Scientist
Legacy Trait - Hall of Wothies- +3 Science on Tile producing Science
- +2 Influence
- -10 Stability
- +2 Science
- +3 Science per adjacent Research Quarter
- On City or Outpost
- +1 Science per Researchers
- +1 Researchers Slot
- 45 Strength/0 Movement/4 Range
- Gun Platform
- Ramming
Ming - Aestethe
Legacy Trait - Grand Secretatirat- -25% cost of enacting Civic
- -25% cost of revoking Civic
- +1 Influence Influence on Territory
- +1 Influence per District
- +10 Stability
- +2 Influence per adjacent District
- 45 Strength/4 Movement/8 Range
- Heavy Weapon
- Suppression
Mughals - Builder
Legacy Trait - Imperial Magnificence- +2% Industry per number of Territories in your Sphere of Influence on Capital
- +3 Industry per Worker
- +2 Influence
- +3 Industry
- -10 Stability
- +3 Industry per adjacent Makers Quarter
- 49 Strength/6 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Move and Fire
Ottomans - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Supremacy of Fire- -50% on Heavy Weapon Industry cost
- +3 Combat Strength on Heavy Weapon
- +1 Faith per District
- +3 Influence
- -10 Stability
- +3 Influence per adjacent District
- 44 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Siege Mastery
Poles - Militarist
Legacy Trait - Deadly Ramparts- +10 District Fortification on District
- +2 Stability on District
- +2 Influence
- +20 District Fortification
- +8 Stability
- +3 Combat Strength in combat for Units in or adjacent to the District
- 46 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Charge Master
Spanish - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Honor and Glory- +3 Combat Strength on Units starting their Turn turn in a non-allied Territory
- +1 Faith per Population
- +3 Faith per adjacent District
- -10 Stability
- 43 Strength/5 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- El Dorado
Venetians - Merchant
Legacy Trait - Silver Tongue- +1 Money per number of Trade Routes on City or Outpost
- +2 Money per number of Naval Trade Routes on City or Outpost
- +4 Influence
- +1 Money
- -10 Stability
- +1 Influence per adjacent Market Quarter
- +1 Money on Tile producing Money
- 39 Strength/0 Movement/4 Range
- Gun Platform
- Inner Sea Mastodonte
Industrial Era
Austro-Hungarians - Aesthete
Legacy Trait - Emperor's Hand- +1 Influence on District
- +1 Influence on Emblematic District
- +1 Stability per District
- +5 Influence
- +2 Stability per adjacent District
- 52 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Sly
British - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Colonial Riches- +10 Money per number of attached Territories on Capital
- +10 Science per number of attached Territories on Capital
- +10 Money
- +10 Money for Liege
- Per adjacent district:
- +2 Money
- +2 Money for Liege
- 51 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Expedition
French - Scientist
Legacy Trait - Enlightened Thinking- +10% Science on all Cities
- +1 Science per Population Population
- -10 Stability
- +1 Influence per adjacent District
- +3 Influence on Territory
- 54 Strength/6 Movement/1 Range
- Heavy Cavalry
- Heavier Charge
Germans - Militarist
Legacy Trait - Iron Ordnance- +3 Strength Combat Strength on Naval Unit
- +3 Strength Combat Strength on Air Unit
- -20% on Unit Industry Industry cost
- +1 Industry per Population
- +10 Pollution
- -10 Stability
- +3 Industry per adjacent Industry Makers Quarter
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
- 52 Strength/0 Movement/3 Range
- Torpedo Vessel
- Stealth
Italians - Aestethe
Legacy Trait - Inspiring Virtuosos- +10 Stability on Commons Quarter
- +1 Influence on Commons Quarter
- -50% on Commons Quarter Industry cost
- +1 Influence per Traders
- +1 Influence per Researchers
- +1 Influence
- +5 Stability
- +2 Influence per adjacent Commons Quarter
- 50 Strength/5 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Cliffs Crosser
Mexcian - Agrarian
Legacy Trait - Fields of Gold- +10% Food Food on all Cities
- +1 Food
- -10 Stability
- +3 Food per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Food on Tile producing Food
- +1 Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
- 49 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Guerilla Fighters
Persian - Builder
Legacy Trait - Mighty Works- Reduces Shared Project Industry cost by -25%
- Reduces all Constructibles Industry cost by -25%
- +1 Money per number of Trade Routes
- +5 Industry
- +5 Money
- -10 Stability
- +3 Money per adjacent Market Quarter
- +1 Traders Slot on City or Outpost
- 46 Strength/4 Movement/5 Range
- Gunner
- Piercing
Russians - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Land and Glory- +10 experience on creating Unit per number of attached Territories on all Cities
- +10 War Support increased when capturing a City on Relations </ul> Emblematic Quarter - Sobor
- +3 Influence
- +5 Stability
- +5 Faith per adjacent District
- +10 Health regeneration on Unit
- 44 Strength/6 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Multi-move
- +3 Industry per District on all Cities
- +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on all Cities
- +1 Money per Population
- +5 Industry
- -10 Stability
- +3 Money per adjacent Market Quarter
- 55 Strength/6 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Suppression
- +50% Health regeneration on Unit
- +2 Strength Combat Strength on Units starting their turn in an allied Territory
- +5 Stability
- +4 Combat Strength in combat for Units in or adjacent to the District
- +10 experience on creating Unit on City or Outpost
- 45 Strength/4 Movement/1 Range
- Melee
- Unstoppable
- +10 Influence on Resources being sold
- +1 Money generated from on-going Trade on City or Outpost
- -10 Stability
- +2 Combat Strength in combat for Units adjacent to the District
- +2 Influence per adjacent Garrison
- 66 Strength/0 Movement/20 Range
- Multi Role Aircraft
- Aerial Stealth
- +20% Industry Industry on all Cities
- +10 Industry
- +15 Pollution
- -10 Stability
- +50 Industry per adjacent Strategic Resource deposit
- +1 Workers Slot on City or Outpost
- 64 Strength/8 Movement/6 Range
- Armored Vehicle
- All-terrain
- +3 Food on Tile producing Food
- +1 Food per Population
- -10 Stability
- +3 Food per adjacent Farmers Quarter
- +1 Farmers Slot on City or Outpost
- 57 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Master Ambusher
- +10% Money on all Cities
- +7 Money per number of attached Territories
- -10 Stability
- +3 Influence per adjacent Money Market Quarter
- On City or Outpost:
- +1 Farmers Slot Farmers Slot
- +1 Workers Slot Workers Slot
- +1 Traders Slot Traders Slot
- +1 Researchers Slot Researchers Slot
- 60 Strength/4 Movement/8 Range
- Heavy Weapon
- Multi-rocket Bombard
- +4 Influence on Emblematic District
- -10 Stability
- +3 Influence per adjacent District
- +3 Influence on Emblematic District
- 58 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Anti-colonialism
- +3 Influence on Territory
- +10 Money per Number of Territories in your sphere of influence
- +2 Faith per Population
- +5 Influence
- +3 Faith per adjacent District
- 57 Strength/4 Movement/4 Range
- Gunner
- Peace Protector
- -20% on all Technology cost when researching
- +5 Industry
- +5 Pollution
- -10 Stability
- +5 Science
- Per adjacent District:
- +3 Industry
- +3 Science
- +2 Industry on Makers Quarter
- +2 Science on Research Quarter
- On City or Outpost:
- +1 Workers Slot
- +1 Researchers Slot
- 60 Strength/0 Movement/18 Range
- Fighter
- Light
- -20% on Unit Industry cost
- +3 Combat Strength on Unit
- +5 Industry
- +5 Money
- +10 Pollution
- -10 Stability
- 60 Strength/8 Movement/6 Range
- Armored Vehicle
- Field Repairs
- +1 Science per District on all Cities
- +3 Science on Research Quarter
- +3 Science per District
- -10 Stability
- +3 Science per adjacent Research Quarter
- 56 Strength/0 Movement/5 Range
- Armored Vessel
- Stealth
- +1 Food per Population on all Cities
- +1 Science per Population
- -10 Stability
- +300% Science per adjacent Research Quarter
- +1 Researchers Slot on City or Outpost
- 70 Strength/0 Movement/30 Range
- Missile
- Aerial Stealth
Siamese - Builder
Legacy Trait - Gilded OrchidsZulu - Militarist
Legacy Trait - Warrior's PrideContemporary Era
Americans - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - American ExceptionalismAustralians - Builder
Legacy Trait - Dream WeaverBrazilians - Agrarian
Legacy Trait - Lungs of the PlanetChinese - Merchant
Legacy Trait - Silk RailroadEgyptians - Aestethe
Legacy Trait - Valley of KingsIndians - Aesthete
Legacy Trait - Economic ElephantJapanese - Scientist
Legacy Trait - Blossoming InnovationSoviets - Expansionist
Legacy Trait - Red TideSwedes - Scientist
Legacy Trait - Prize ScienceTurks - Agrarian
Legacy Trait - People's Reforms
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