Transition periods often bring turbulence, and this holds true within the world of Civilization 7. As players guide their civilization from one Age into the next, they must navigate difficult moments known as Crisis Events. These periods challenge the stability and structure of an empire, testing whether it is truly ready to progress. Successfully managing these events is crucial to preserving the progress made throughout the game. This guide offers a complete breakdown of Crisis Events and how to deal with them effectively.
Understanding Crisis Events
Crisis Events are triggered at the end of an Age, just before a civilization moves into a new era. These are narrative-driven, high-stakes challenges that mirror historical upheavals. Each Crisis Event puts different pressures on a civilization, targeting its core systems—be it the economy, public health, or military.
Once Legacy Paths near completion, all civilizations on the map simultaneously enter a Crisis phase. This shared experience brings a wave of adversity, requiring strategic thinking and resourcefulness. Essentially, they act as a comprehensive stress test for everything built so far.
Moreover, these challenges intensify as time progresses. During the lead-up to the new Age, players will need to adopt Crisis Social Policies, which come with serious drawbacks. These policies represent the increasing severity of the crisis, pushing the civilization to its limits just before the transition concludes.
Types of Crisis Events in Civilization 7
Every Age transition—from Antiquity to Exploration—carries the possibility of a Crisis Event. These are randomly assigned and can include military aggression, widespread disease, internal unrest, or even philosophical conflicts. The impact depends on how well-prepared the civilization is in different domains. Here’s a breakdown of all known Crisis types:
Antiquity Age Crises
- Revolts: This scenario severely challenges a civilization’s Happiness. As penalties increase, failure to manage them can result in uprisings. Settlements may be lost if discontent spreads unchecked.
- Invasion: A test of defensive strength, this event sees hostile City-State units attacking relentlessly. To make matters worse, policies during this time will hamper production and resource generation.
- Plague: With no modern medicine available, this Crisis cripples population growth and productivity. The illness can rapidly spread, making containment incredibly difficult and weakening the empire overall.
Exploration Age Crises
- Revolution: The emergence of a powerful middle class brings dramatic shifts in governance. Players must deal with widespread unrest and eventually adopt a Revolutionary Government, each offering distinct advantages and disadvantages.
- Wars of Religion: As religious ideologies gain traction, they inevitably spark conflict. This Crisis introduces varied scenarios based on how a civilization handles religious diversity. Tolerance can soften the blow, but maintaining dominance might require open conflict.
- Plague (returns): Although similar to its earlier form, the Plague in this Age is slightly easier to handle due to the availability of the Physician unit, which helps control the disease’s spread and effects.
Note: The Modern Age does not include any Crisis Events. Once this Age is reached, no further transitional challenges occur.
Disabling Crisis Events
Though Crisis Events serve to test the strength and resilience of a civilization, they are not universally appreciated. For some players, the risk of losing carefully cultivated progress to random misfortunes like disease or rebellion can be frustrating. Thankfully, the game offers an option to disable these features.
To do so, navigate to the Advanced Settings menu during game setup—this is after selecting a Leader and Civilization. Scroll toward the bottom of the settings page to find a checkbox labeled “Crises.” Simply uncheck this box to prevent Crisis Events from occurring in that game session.
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