One of the many new changes and features that overhaul gameplay inSid Meier’s Civilization 7is the way Great People work. Great People were an integral part ofCivilization 6and previous installments and were essential in securing a strategic edge over opposing civilizations. InCiv 7, however, their role and importance have changed dramatically, and the mechanics surrounding Great People are much more straightforward. Great People inCiv 6fall into one of many categories and are acquired after accumulating a certain number of Great Person points in that specific category, such as a Great Merchant or Great Scientist.

The removal of Great Person points is likely a result of a larger attempt toreduce micromanagementCivilization 7, and it allocates Great People to specific civilizations. Great People inCiv 6operated on somewhat complicated mechanics, and each Great Person was unique, even within each subclass of Great People. The more complex aspects of Great People have been removed inCiv 7, andGreat People are no longer specific individuals from history, and their effects have been completely randomized within each type. Here’s a look at how Great People work inCiv 7compared toCiv 6.

Simon Bolivar and Genghis Khan from Civilization 6

Great People Are Essential In Civilization 6

Players Gain Points From Resources To Unlock Unique Great People

Civilization 6’sGreat People are earned by accumulating Great Person points from an empire’s resource yields (e.g., Science, Faith, etc.) and are awarded from a pool of Great People for which all players compete. Great People inCiv 6are distinct individuals from history, such as Isaac Newton or John the Baptist, andeach Great Person has a unique ability, with the exception of Great Prophets, who are only used to found a Religion. Great Person points are accumulated. Civilizations compete against one another for each Great Person, and once a Great Person is acquired, another is queued up to start the process over.

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Great People inCiv 6 can oftenhave multiple charges depending on their ability, such as Gustave Eiffel’s ability that adds Production to Wonder construction up to two times. Many Great People are categorized into one of nine domains: Great Admirals, Engineers, Merchants, Scientists, Writers, Artists, Musicians, and, of course, Great Prophets.Great Prophets are essential to a Religious Victory, as players must race to acquire one before in order to establish a Religion. While these mechanics are complicated, Great People inCiv 6can turn the tides strategically in any campaign.

Confucious from Civilization 7 Cover

How Great People Work In Civilization 7

Civ 7’s Great People Are Civilization-Specific

InCivilization 7,the complex system behind Great People has been greatly simplified, with Great People being allocated to a specific civilization. For certain Civilizations,Great People can be purchased or producedand require certain conditions to be met before becoming available. For example, when playing as Abbasid in the Exploration Age, players can purchase or produce an ‘Alim once they’ve constructed the Unique Quarter, the Ulema, by building both the Madrasa and Mosque buildings in the same Urban district. Once these conditions are met, ‘Alims are available throughoutCiv 7’s Exploration Age, and their abilities are completely randomized.

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UnlikeCiv 6, Great People do not require points or a specific resource to unlock, though their abilities synergize with their civilization’s specialty, such as the Han’s Shi Dafu, which have a Scientific focus.Great People abilities within a civilization are uniqueas well, and Great People are still modeled after historical figures, such as the Chinese philosopher Mencius.

Characters from Civilization 7 with domination victory logo

In addition, there is no limit to the number of Great People that can be acquired, though they become increasingly more expensive each time. Great People inCivilization 7can still be extremely advantageous for building strategy, but theyfunction differently than inCiv 6.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII empowers players to guide their empires through three distinct Ages—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern—each offering unique civilizations and challenges. For the first time, leaders and civilizations can be mixed and matched, allowing unprecedented strategic combinations.

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Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Press Image 1

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