Civilization 7: All Great People and how the mechanic is changing

Learn how this iconic system has been transformed

Firaxis

Civilization 7 brings a great many changes to the popular strategy game series and one of the systems beloved by fans that will go through a transformation in the next entry is Great People. In previous games, all civilizations competed for a shared pool of Great People, drawing Great Scientists, Generals, Engineers, and so forth from it to use their unique abilities.

Table of Contents

1. Civilization 7: All Great People for Egypt
2. Civilization 7: All Great People for Greece
3. Civilization 7: All Great People for Han China
4. Civilization 7: All Great People for Abbasids
5. Civilization 7: All Great People for Spain
6. Civilization 7: All Great People for Mexico
7. Civilization 7: Commanders are Great Generals on steroids

In Civilization 7, this competition ends – there is no shared pool of Great People. In fact, many civilizations won’t have access to Great People at all. Instead, they’ll become something of a unique mechanic for certain civilizations. We already know that both Egypt and Greece, two Antiquity Age civs, have the ability to access what’s essentially a successor system to Great People.

Let’s dive into how Civilization 7 changes the Great People system using these two civs as our examples.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Egypt

Egypt has access to Tjaty units. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

Egypt will have access to the unique Tjaty unit, which is described as a “visier/architect unit” and can only be built in cities that have Egypt’s special Necropolis district. There is a limited pool of individual Tjaty units players randomly draw from, each one has their own effects, and each can only be drawn once – sounds familiar, right? It’s basically Great People without the competition.

Here are all Tjaty units Egypt has access to:

• Amhose: Activated on the Palace to add Culture to the building. 
• Aperel: Grants Chariot Units with increased Combat Strength. 
• Hemiunu: Activated on a Wonder under construction to add a medium amount of Production. 
• Imhotep: Activated on a Wonder under construction to add a larger amount of Production. 
• Khay: Grants Medjay Units that have increased Combat Strength. 
• Nebet: Activated on a Necropolis to immediately trigger a Celebration. 
• Paser: Activated on a Wonder under Construction to add a smaller amount of Production. 
• Ptahhotep: Activated on a Constructible with a Great Work Slot to grant a Codex called 'The Maxims of Ptahhotep' that grants increased Science. 
• Ramose: Activated on a Wonder to add Gold to it. 
• Useramen: Activated on a Wonder to add Culture to it.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Greece

Greece has access to Logios units. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

Greece was revealed as an Antiquity Age civ during the first Civilization 7 dev livestream. It uses a similar system to Egypt, allowing us to establish a bit of a pattern. Its equivalent of a Great Person is called Logios unit, which is described as a “scholar unit” and will only be available from cities with an Acropolis special district. The same terms and conditions apply as to the Egyptian Tjaty units: Random draws from a limited pool, each Logios unit is unique and can only be drawn once. It’s also specified that the cost for Logios units increases with each one that’s built.

Here are all Logios units Greece has access to:

• Arete of Cyrene: Activated on an Acropolis to grant Influence.
• Aristotle: Activated on an Academy to add Culture to the Building.
• Aspasia: Activated on a Library to add Happiness to the Building.
• Hypatia : Activated on a Library to add Science to the Building.
• Plato: Activated on an Acropolis to give this City Culture per turn equal to a percentage of its Influence yield.
• Pythagoras: Activated on an Acropolis to immediately trigger a Celebration.
• Sappho: Activated on a Constructible with a Great Work Slot to grant a Codex called 'Hymn to Aphrodite' that grants Culture.
• Socrates: Activated on a Palace or City Hall to add Influence to the Building.
• Thales of Miletus: Activated on an Acropolis to give this City Science per turn equal to a percentage of its Influence yield.
• Xenophon: Activated on an Acropolis to grant a set number of Hoplite Unique Military Units with increased Combat Strength.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Han China

Han China has access to Shì Dàfū units. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

Han China is another Antiquity Age civilization with access to a unique civilian unit – the Shì Dàfū. It’s described as a “scholar-bureaucrat unit” and can only be recruited in your capital after it has reached a certain population milestone. Once again, each Shì Dàfū you draw from the pool is randomly determined and you can only get each one once.

Here are all Shì Dàfū units Han China has access to:

• Ban Zhao: Activated on a Constructible with a Great Work Slot to grant a Codex called 'Lessons for Women' that grants Culture. 
• Han Fei: Activated on the Palace to add Science to the Building.
• Laozi: Activated on a Constructible with a Great Work Slot to grant a Codex called 'Tao Te Ching' that grants Happiness.
• Mencius: Activated on a Science building to receive a free random unlocked Technology. 
• Mozi: Activated in the Capital to immediately add Population. 
• Shang Yang: Activated on the Palace to add Influence to the Building.
• Shen Buhai: Activated in the Capital to immediately trigger a Celebration.
• Wang Yangming: Activated on an Army Commander to grant it a free Promotion.
• Xun Kuang: Activated in a City to add Science to all Codices in that City.
• Zhang Heng: Activated on an Academy to grant Science to the Building.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Abbasids

The Abbasids have access to Ālim units. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

The Abbasids are the first Exploration Age civ revealed to have a Great People mechanic and their unique units, the Ālim, are actually called a “Great Person unit” – though they aren’t very different from the ones listed above: You get a random Ālim from the pool when you build one, which is only possible in cities with an Ulema (the Abbasids’ special quarter), and every Ālim is available only once.

Here are all Ālim the Abbasids have access to:

• Al-Jāḥiẓ: Create a Menagerie. This Menagerie receives added Happiness.
• Al-Khwārizmī: Activates on an Ulema Unique Quarter. Each Building receives added Science.
• Ibn Sina: Create a Hospital. This Hospital receives added Food.
• Al-Maqdisi: Activate in another civilization. Receive Gold for each Resource this city has.
• Al-Farghānī: Create an Observatory. This Observatory receives added Science.
• Al-Farabi: Activate on a Science Building. Receive a free random unlocked Technology.
• Rabia of Basra: Activate on a Happiness Building. Increased Happiness in this City. 
• Al-Shaybani: Activate on a Culture Building. Receive an additional Tradition slot.
• Al-Jazari: Activate on an Urban Tile with at least one Specialist Slot for an additional Specialist. Has multiple Charges.
• Ibn Fadlan: Activate on a Navigable River tile. Receive Influence for every tile of this River, scaled by game speed.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Spain

Spain's exploration of the Distant Lands will be aided by Conquistadors. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

Spain follows the Abbasids as an Exploration Age civilization with access to Great People – and for them it’s the Conquistadors. They can only be built in cities with a Wharf and you’ll receive a randomly assigned unit from the pool with each one being unique. Conquistadors can only be activated in the Distant Lands – the new territories unlocked in the Exploration Age.

Here are all Conquistadors Spain has access to:

• Ferdinand Magellan: Activated on a Fleet Commander in Distant Lands to receive increased Movement and Sight.
• Francisco Pizarro: Activated on a Commander in Distant Lands with a set number of empty slots to grant the Commander a set number of Infantry Units and a Cavalry Unit.
• Juan Ponce de León: Activated on a Water tile in Distant Lands to grant additional Movement to Treasure Fleets.
• Christopher Columbus: Activated on any Water tile in Distant Lands to reveal the world map except for the interior of Distant Lands.
• Hernán Cortés: Activated on a Commander in Distant Lands with a set number of empty slots to grant the Commander a set number of Infantry Units.
• Hernando de Soto: Activated in an Independent Power's Territory in Distant Lands to make that Independent Power a City-State with you as Suzerain.
• Francisco de Orellana: Activated on a Navigable River tile in Distant Lands to receive Gold for every tile in that River (effect scales based on game speed).
• Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca: Activated on or adjacent to a Natural Wonder in Distant Lands to gain Gold for each Natural Wonder tile here or adjacent to this tile (effect scales based on game speed).
• Miguel López de Legazpi: Activated on a Commander in Distant Lands with a set number of empty slots to grant the Commander a set number of Ranged Units and an Infantry Unit.
• Inés Suárez: Activated on an eligible Settlement location in Distant Lands to create a new Town.

Civilization 7: All Great People for Mexico

Revolucionarios strengthen Mexico's military and traditions. / Firaxis / 2K Games / Take-Two Interactive

Mexico is the first Modern Age civilization that has been confirmed to possess a Great People mechanic. In the American nation’s case, these are the Revolucionarios. They may only be built in cities with a unique Zócalo quarter and all the usual caveats apply.

Here are all Revolucionarios Mexico has access to:

• Amelio Robles Ávila: Activated on a Zócalo Unique Quarter to grant a set number of free Soldaderas Unique Infantry Units with increased Combat Strength.
• Vicente Guerrero: Activated on the Palace to immediately trigger a Celebration.
• Petra Herrera: Activated on a Commander Unit. All Soldaderas Unique Infantry Units within its Command Radius gain increased Combat Strength.
• Miguel Hidalgo: Activated in a Town's District to summon a free Infantry Unit on every land District in that Town.
• Ángela Jiménez: Activated on a Commander Unit to grant Culture for every Promotion it has (effect scales based on game speed).
• Benito Juárez: Activated on a Zócalo Unique Quarter to grant an additional Tradition slot.
• José María Morelos: Activated on a Commander Unit to heal all Units in its Command Radius to full health.
• Antonio López de Santa Anna: Activated on a Commander Unit to grant it enough experience for a set number of Promotions.
• Pancho Villa: Activated on a Commander Unit. When a Unit within this Commander’s Command Radius defeats an enemy Unit, gain Gold equal to a percentage of its Combat Strength.
• Emiliano Zapata: Activated on a City Center to grant increased Culture to all Farms in the Settlement.

Civilization 7: Commanders are Great Generals on steroids

The role of Great Generals has essentially been taken over by Commanders and their unique counterparts, such as Rome’s Legatus. Similar to Great Generals, they provide buffs to allied units in an area around them.

However, they are even stronger than Great Generals in several ways: Commanders can be leveled up with the XP your combat units earn (units themselves can no longer be promoted), allowing you to specialize them through various skill trees. These skills provide military as well as civilian bonuses, bringing some versatility.

You can also attach units to a Commander, allowing you to stack an army on a single tile to maneuver around much easier before you fan them out in battle formation ahead of combat.

You can find all Civilization 7 leaders and civs in our overview and can find out more about all the changes coming to the series with our interview with Civilization 7 executive producer Dennis Shirk from Gamescom 2024. We'll keep this article up to date with all other Great People equivalents joining the game.