Technology works like a card deck. Each nation will be dealt some technology cards from the top of the Draw Pile and may choose one of them to research. The technologies that were not chosen as well as any newly unlocked technology will be placed in the Discard Pile. Once the Draw Pile is empty all cards from the Discard Pile will be shuffled into the Draw Pile. The game may recommend certain technologies to research, indicated by a star on the top-left of the card. Nations that have a Nation Leader with the Scholar archetype will be able to redraw once per year.
Certain technologies may add a Bonus Card to the Discard Pile. Bonus Cards are minor technologies that are lost permanently if not researched when the card is drawn.
Tech tree
List of technologies
Tier 1 technologies
Tier 1 technologies cost 100 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Ironworking |
Unit: Warrior
|
Stonecutting |
Improvement: Fort, Quarry Bonus Card: Stone Boost
|
Trapping |
Improvement: Camp Unit: Slinger
|
Divination |
Improvement: Shrine
|
Administration |
Improvement: Granary Project: Treasury Bonus Card: Free Worker
|
Tier 2 technologies
Tier 2 technologies cost 120 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Labor Force |
Unlocks: Road Law Category: Slavery - Freedom Theology: Revelation
|
Husbandry |
Improvement: Pasture Bonus Card: Food Boost
|
Drama |
Unlocks: Music Improvement: Odeon Theology: Gnosticism Bonus Card: Free Settler
|
Polis |
Unlocks: Ask to declare War Improvement: Hamlet Project: Walls
|
Military Drill |
Unlocks: Rally Troops Improvement: Barracks
|
Aristocracy |
Council: Ambassador Law Category: Centralization - Vassalage Bonus Card: Border Boost
|
Rhetoric |
Law Category: Epics - Exploration Project: Forum Theology: Dualism
|
Tier 3 technologies
Tier 3 technologies cost 200 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Navigation |
Unlocks: Scout Automation Law Category: Colonies - Serfdom Unit: Bireme Bonus Card: Free Bireme
|
Phalanx |
Unit: Spearman Bonus Card: Orders Boost
|
Spoked Wheel |
Council: Chancellor Unit: Chariot Bonus Card: Free Chariot
|
Forestry |
Improvement: Lumbermill Theology: Enlightenment Bonus Card: Free Court Scholar
|
Steel |
Unit: Axeman Bonus Card: Training Boost
|
Sovereignty |
Law Category: Tyranny - Constitution Bonus Card: Civics Boost
|
Metaphysics |
Unlocks: Convert to State Religion, High Synod Project: Archive Theology: Redemption
|
Tier 4 technologies
Tier 4 technologies cost 400 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Coinage |
Unlocks: Worker Automation, Pacify City Improvement: Market Bonus Card: Money Boost
|
Citizenship |
Improvement: Courthouse Law Category: Divine Rule - Legal Code Bonus Card: Free Court Minister
|
Portcullis |
Council: Spymaster Project: Moat Bonus Card: Free Maceman
|
Land Consolidation |
Improvement: Grove Unit: Camel Archer, War Elephant Bonus Card: Free Camel Archer, Free War Elephant
|
Composite Bow |
Improvement: Range Unit: Archer Bonus Card: Free Archer
|
Monasticism |
Improvement: Monastery Law Category: Monotheism - Polytheism
|
Machinery |
Unit: Onager Bonus Card: Free Onager
|
Tier 5 technologies
Tier 5 technologies cost 600 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Scholarship |
Unlocks: Expose Agent Network, Move Agent Network Improvement: Library Bonus Card: Free Court Scholar
|
Stirrups |
Unit: Horseman, Horse Archer Bonus Card: Free Horseman, Free Horse Archer
|
Architecture |
Improvement: Bath Law Category: Philosophy - Engineering Bonus Card: Free Siege Tower
|
Manor |
Unit: Conscript Law Category: Professional Army - Volunteeers Bonus Card: Goods Boost
|
Battle Line |
Unit: Maceman Bonus Card: Free Court Soldier
|
Doctrine |
Improvement: Temple Law Category: Tolerance - Orthodoxy
|
Hydraulics |
Improvement: Mill Unit: Ballista Bonus Card: Free Ballista
|
Cartography |
Unlocks: Steal Research Improvement: Harbor Unit: Trieme Bonus Card: Free Trieme
|
Tier 6 technologies
Tier 6 technologies cost 1000 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Lateen Sail |
Unit: Dromon Law Category: Autarky - Trade League Bonus Card: Free Dromon
|
Jurisprudence |
Unlocks: Insurrection Law Category: Guilds - Elites Bonus Card: Free Court Minister
|
Martial Code |
Project: Towers Law Category: Pilgrimage - Holy War
|
Vaulting |
Improvement: Cathedral Law Category: Iconography - Calligraphy Bonus Card: Happiness Boost
|
Bodkin Arrow |
Unit: Longbowman Bonus Card: Free Longbowman
|
Windlass |
Unit: Crossbowman Bonus Card: Free Crossbowman
|
Tier 7 technologies
Tier 7 technologies cost 1500 Science.
Technology |
Unlocks
|
Fiscal Policy |
Law Category: Coin Debasement - Monetary Reform Bonus Card: Free Court Merchant
|
Barding |
Unit: Cataphract
|
Infantry Square |
Unit: Pikeman Bonus Card: Free Court Soldier
|
Cohorts |
Unit: Swordsman
|
Chain Drive |
Unit: Polybolos Bonus Card: Free Court Merchant
|
Ballistics |
Unit: Mangonel
|
Tier 8 technologies
Tier 8 technologies cost 2000 Science. They can be researched multiple times, each time granting a Courtier and a Victory Point.
Technology |
Courtier
|
Economic Reform |
Court Merchant
|
Military Prestige |
Court Soldier
|
Industrial Progress |
Court Minister
|