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Sid Meier's Civilization IV Guide

2005 · Turn-based strategy

Game guides

Find the guide you need
GuideWhat you will find
A developed coastal city stands beside farms and worked terrain in Civilization IV.Getting startedBuild an original Civilization IV opening around improved tiles, useful technologies and sustainable expansion.
A close view shows industrial buildings and roads around a Civilization IV city.Cities & workersUnderstand worked tiles, food surplus, cottages and the costs of expansion.
Military units gather near a city and river in a Civilization IV screenshot.Research & civicsCompare economic decisions without importing Beyond the Sword systems into the base game.
Purple cultural borders enclose a coastal city in Civilization IV.Victory conditionsCompare the original base-game victory paths and the progress each requires.
A developed coastal city stands beside farms and worked terrain in Civilization IV.CharactersIdentify the people, opponents and playable roles in Sid Meier's Civilization IV, with their functions and relationships in compact tables.

At a glance

Three useful starting points
FocusWhat to know
Work improved tilesA Worker improvement helps only when the city can use the tile or resource.
Watch expansion costsMore cities add maintenance; grow the economy alongside territory.
Choose a victory directionResearch and production should support the intended finish.

Characters Character guide →

Key characters and their roles
CharacterRoleAt a glance
GandhiIndian leaderOne of the original game's leaders for India.
ElizabethEnglish leaderAn original English leader with Financial and Philosophical traits.
Mansa MusaMalian leaderAn original Malian leader with Financial and Spiritual traits.
Qin Shi HuangChinese leaderAn original Chinese leader whose trait pairing changes in later expansions.
WorkerCivilian unitBuilds improvements and routes outside cities.
SettlerCivilian unitFounds a new city when a legal site is chosen.

Quick answers

Unlocks, routes and useful answers
TopicGo straight to
Victory conditionsChoose a direction early enough →

Pictures All pictures →

A developed coastal city stands beside farms and worked terrain in Civilization IV.
A developed coastal city stands beside farms and worked terrain in Civilization IV.
A close view shows industrial buildings and roads around a Civilization IV city.
A close view shows industrial buildings and roads around a Civilization IV city.
Military units gather near a city and river in a Civilization IV screenshot.
Military units gather near a city and river in a Civilization IV screenshot.
Purple cultural borders enclose a coastal city in Civilization IV.
Purple cultural borders enclose a coastal city in Civilization IV.
References
Guide references
ReferenceWebsite
Sid Meier's Civilization IV: game and edition overviewstore.steampowered.com