Evolve, Endure or Hybridise

The official description gives three ways to handle your civilization’s identity across the Ages: lead one Time-Tested civilization from start to finish, evolve into a new identity, or split the difference through hybridization.

Time-Tested is consistency

Staying with one civilization means fewer moving parts and a strength set you already understand. The trade-off is that the store frames each Age as an opportunity to flourish with a new identity, so consistency is a choice about what you give up rather than a neutral default.

Evolving answers the next Age

Taking a new identity lets the empire meet the next Age’s conditions directly. Since each Age brings opportunities to borrow elements from other civilizations and unlock new bonuses, evolving is less about abandoning your game and more about buying the tools the next phase demands.

Hybridising keeps both doors open

Hybridization is described as splitting the difference, which suits an empire strong in one area but short in another. It costs you the pure focus of either extreme, so it fits a player who would rather stay competitive in all four milestone categories than dominate one.

Leaders persist even when civs change

Leaders endure across the Ages in this design, and Mementos are swappable leader bonuses equipped across campaigns. The identity you rebuild each Age therefore sits on top of a constant leader choice, which is worth settling early.

Whichever identity you pick, the Age itself is scored: read playing each Age as its own game. For how your forces fight, see Commanders and armies.