Rise of Kingdoms Civilizations Guide: Picking the Right Civ for Your Play Style

Choosing a civilization is one of the first decisions in Rise of Kingdoms. Each civ comes with a starting commander, a few bonuses and its own city style. It matters – but not as much as new players fear.

What a civilization gives you

• A starting commander you’ll use throughout the early game.
• Civilization bonuses, often tied to a troop type or a play style.
• A unique look for your city and some units.

Choosing by troop type

The easiest way to pick is to choose the troop type you want to specialise in:

If you want to focus on…	Look for a civ that boosts…
Infantry	Infantry stats or defence
Cavalry	Cavalry stats or march speed
Archers	Archer stats or damage
Economy and building	Gathering or construction speed

Specialising in one troop type is cheaper than building three, because research, commanders and equipment all benefit from focus. See our troop types guide.

Popular starting choices

Our beginner guide compares a few common civs and their starting commanders – Rome, China, Britain, France and Germany are frequent picks for new players.

Can you change later?

Yes. Civilization changes are possible with special items, so your first choice isn’t permanent. Many experienced players switch once they know which troop type and commanders they’ll focus on.

What matters more than civ

• Your commanders and their talents – see our commander pairings guide.
• Your alliance – see the alliance guide.
• Consistent City Hall growth.

Common mistakes

• Overthinking the choice and delaying progress.
• Picking a civ that boosts a troop type you won’t use.
• Ignoring the starting commander’s role.

Pick a civ that matches the troop type you enjoy, then focus on growing. You can always adjust later.