Firaxis Games has launched Update 1.3.0 for Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, one of the most comprehensive patches since release, delivering a sweeping overhaul to naval gameplay, major civilization rebalancing, and the free Tides of Power content pack. This update redefines the game’s maritime systems by introducing new units, buildings, oceanic resources, and a reworked naval combat structure. Players can now explore a more dynamic ocean environment filled with new features such as Atolls and Lotus Lakes, while commanding revamped Light and Heavy Naval units that behave more strategically across different ages.
In addition to the massive naval revamp, the update brings significant adjustments to numerous civilizations—buffing Egypt, Songhai, Spain, Achaemenid Persia, Aksum, and Hawai‘i while tuning down others like the Mississippian and Qing empires for balance. Multiple UI, AI, and system enhancements improve the overall quality of play, including better auto-explore logic, streamlined controls, and smarter diplomatic behavior. The update concludes with the Tides of Power Collection, a free DLC introducing the Republic of Pirates and Tonga as new civilizations, as well as new wonders, leaders, and natural landmarks to explore.
Full Patch Notes
New Naval Content
Harbor Building
- New Antiquity Age Warehouse unlocked via Sailing.
- Grants +1 base Production and +1 Production on Fishing Boats.
- Constructible on Coastal and Navigable River tiles within Towns.
- Naval units now spawn here by default.
Privateer Unit
- New Exploration Age Light Naval Unit unlocked via Heraldry.
- Features Pirate ability: can cross borders, plunder trade routes, and attack non-Allied units without formal war.
- Defeating units grants Gold equal to 100% of Combat Strength.
- Actions impose minor diplomatic penalties with affected civilizations.
Naval Combat Overhaul
Unit Classifications
- Light Naval Units: fast, high-vision melee types (Privateer, Ironclad, Cruiser, Destroyer).
- Heavy Naval Units: slower ranged vessels with devastating firepower (Galley, Quadrireme, Frigate, Battleship).
Combat Adjustments
- Cog range increased from 1 → 2.
- Heavy Naval Units: -5 melee, +5 ranged/bombard strength.
- Light Naval Units (Modern): -20 ranged/bombard strength.
- Submarines now ranged units (70 ranged, 50 melee), cannot target land or Districts.
- Air unit roles rebalanced for greater differentiation.
New Ocean Features
Resources
- Crabs: Food bonus on Warehouses.
- Cowrie: Happiness, Gold, and Science boosts.
- Turtles: Culture bonus tied to Warehouses.
- Pitch: Found on vegetated tiles, adds Production and Gold, enhances Factories.
New Terrain
- Atolls: Ocean obstacles granting defensive and yield bonuses.
- Lotus Lakes: Replace Reefs in lakes, granting Food and Culture.
- Reefs: Now Coastal-only, yield improvements applied.
- Ocean Tiles: Workable in Modern Age (1 Food, 3 Gold); Hawai‘i gains earlier access.
Resource Generation
- Coastal resources remain consistent through Ages.
- Every map now includes at least 3 Coastal Resources.
- A new resource type introduced with each Age transition.
Civilization Balance Updates
Buffed Civilizations
- Egypt: +2 Production on River tiles; +15% Wonder Production (doubled in Desert).
- Songhai: River cities gain +1 Production per Resource; “Wakia” tradition adds +3 Gold per Trade Route.
- Spain: New UA provides large Food, Gold, and Production bonuses in Coastal or Religious settlements; +5 combat strength for Heavy Naval Units.
- Achaemenid Persia: Pairidaeza now grants +2 Culture, +1 Gold, +5 healing for Military Units.
- Aksum: +3 Gold on Coastal Resources; Tankwa adds +2 Gold to Trade Routes.
- Hawai‘i: Ocean tiles workable earlier; +25 Culture upon Marine expansion; improved Lo‘i Kalo yields.
Nerfed Civilizations
- Mississippian: Pottery only buffs Food, Gold, and Warehouse buildings.
- Qing: Trade Route Science penalty increased; imported Resource Culture reduced.
- Great Britain: East India Company bonus reduced to +5 Gold in Towns.
- Prussia: Ruhr Science yield reduced to +1 per Resource.
Other Civ Adjustments
- Chola: +3 Gold, +1 Influence on Trade Routes.
- Maya: Altar grants +2 Science on Vegetated tiles.
UI/UX Improvements
- Auto Explore now highlights Discoveries in blue.
- Auto Explore unavailable within 2 turns of a Discovery.
- Treasure Convoys display point value and origin.
- Commanders can now deploy without losing all movement points.
- Improved button prompts, alignment, and controller navigation across menus.
AI Improvements
- AI now actively enforces all Sanctions.
- Properly forms Alliances after accepted proposals.
- Builds Naval Units more frequently.
- Chooses Celebrations and Establish Air Base abilities correctly.
- Improved behavior across all difficulty levels.
Miscellaneous Changes
- Thành Huế no longer restricted to Flat terrain.
- Sawmill no longer requires River placement.
- Monopolies Policy: +5 Gold in Factory Settlements (was +3).
- Fleet/Squadron Tree: Splash damage reduced from 50% → 25%.
- Grand Canyon: Science yield reduced to 1 (was 2).
- Independent Powers: Spawn fewer Units during Raids.
Tides of Power Collection (Free Until Jan 5, 2026)
New Leader: Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
- All Naval Units gain Pirate ability.
- Defeating enemy ships provides Gold and captures vessels.
- Increased Naval Unit maintenance costs for balance.
New Civilizations
- Republic of Pirates (Exploration Age):
- Cannot train Settlers but can capture them.
- High Pillaging and Raiding yields.
- Unique Sloop unit and Buccaneer Commander.
- Tonga (Antiquity Age):
- Increased Influence near Coastal City Halls/Palaces.
- Cannot incorporate City-States.
- Unique Tehina Scout and Kalia naval units.
New Wonders
- Great Lighthouse (Antiquity): +15 Trade Route Range, +1 Sight for Naval Units.
- Nan Madol (Exploration): Bonuses for Island-based City Halls/Palaces.
- Great Blue Hole: Adds Science and Happiness.
- Mapu‘a Vaea Blowholes: Boosts Production and Culture.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is the latest entry in Firaxis Games’ acclaimed 4X strategy series, where players guide civilizations across history through diplomacy, warfare, culture, and technology. The game launched on February 11, 2025, across PC (Windows, macOS, Linux), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with a dedicated Switch 2 version released on June 5, 2025. The update marks a milestone in evolving naval mechanics, delivering new ways to explore, conquer, and thrive across the world’s oceans.
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