Military traditions are a mechanic that unlocks unique abilities, new units and special bonuses to units. Each tradition has one bonus at the start, followed by three paths that can be taken. After the seventh tradition in the chosen path is reached, another special benefit is unlocked. One military tradition costs 800 military power, and each tradition taken increases the cost by 50%, and each military technology level reduces it by 25%.
Military Tradition types
There are seven different military traditions in the world, tied to culture groups:
Barbarian Traditions
Prevalent in north-western European cultures. The starting bonus unlocks chariots.
Britannic path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Scythed Chariots | +15% chariots offensive |
| Coming of Age | +15% light infantry defensive |
| Living off the Land | -15% land unit attrition |
| Word of Mouth | +25% manpower recovery |
| Chariot Mastery | +15% chariots morale |
| Selective Breeding | -25% light cavalry cost |
| Take up Arms | +15% archers morale |
The End bonus for this path is ‘Trained Cavalry’ which gives +15% discipline to both light cavalry and chariots.
Germanic path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Strike and Withdraw | +15% light infantry morale |
| Natural Resources | -25% light cavalry & chariots cost |
| Ambush | +25% Combat Bonus for light infantry in Forest |
| The Glory of the Hunt | Allows ‘Raiding’ |
| Shield Wall | +15% heavy infantry defensive |
| The Young Must Serve | -25% light infantry cost |
| Hail of Stones | +15% archers defensive |
The End bonus for this path is ‘Adaptability’, which gives +15% discipline to light infantry.
Gallic path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Strike From Afar | +15% archers offensive |
| Confederations | +15% global manpower |
| The Plains Fight With us | +15% combat bonus for light infantry & chariots on plains |
| In Defence of our Home | Allows ‘Levies’ |
| A People on the Move | 25% quicker unit recruitment |
| Strong Arm | +15% heavy infantry offensive |
| Scale the Walls! | +15% siege ability |
The end bonus for this path is ‘Blow the Trumpet, in the New Moon!’, which gives +10% land morale.
Italic Traditions
They all start with the “Walled City” tradition, which gives +25% to Defensiveness, which basically makes sieges against your fortified cities take 25% longer.
Tribal path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Artisanal Bronzework | +15% Light Infantry Defence |
| The Equestrian Order | +15% Light Cavalry Offensive |
| Deus Vult | +15% Omen Power |
| The Acquisition of Wealth | Enables ‘Raid City’ |
| The Aulos | +15% Light Infantry Morale |
| Mare Nostrum | -25% Trireme Maintenance Cost |
| Rousing Oratory | +15% Manpower |
End bonus for this path is ‘Hill Dwellers’, which gives to +15% Combat Ability to Light Infantry when fighting in Hill Terrain.
Support path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| State Navy | +15% Trireme Morale |
| The Fabri | 25% Cheaper Military Buildings |
| Scale the Walls | +15% Siege Ability |
| Castra | Enables ‘Border Forts’ |
| Logistics of State | 25% Cheaper Light Infantry, Heavy Infantry, Archers |
| Scutum | +15% Heavy Infantry Defence |
| Foederati | +15% Light Cavalry Discipline |
End bonus for this path is ‘Rome, Ascendant’, which makes Holding a Triumph 50% cheaper.
Roman path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Principes | +15% Heavy Infantry Discipline |
| March of the Eagles | +5% Morale Recovery |
| Triarii | +15% Heavy Infantry Offence |
| Roman Roads | Allows ‘Military Roadbuilding’ |
| Professional Soldiers | -0.05 Monthly Warexhaustion |
| Velites | +15% Light Infantry Offence |
| The Honor of Service | +15% Manpower Recovery |
End bonus for this path is ‘Triplex Acies’, which allows a defensive stance for your armies, similar to the Greek Phalanx.
North African Traditions
Available to the North African & Numidian culture groups, and the Carthaginian culture. They start with the ‘Seafaring People’ tradition which gives 25% cheaper Triremes.
Tribal Path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Born in the Saddle | +15% Light Cavalry Discipline |
| Man and Horse | +15% Combat Bonus on Plains for Cavalry |
| Sure-footed, as Wild Horses | 25% Cheaper Light Cavalry |
| Wild Charge | Enables Cavalry Skirmish Stance |
| Local Knowledge | 25% less attrition |
| Call to Arms | +15% Manpower |
| Ululating Cry | +15% Light Cavalry Offensive |
End bonus for this path is ‘To Each, Their Own’, which gives +10% output from tribesmen.
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Phoenician Heritage | +15% Offensive for Triremes |
| Iberian Draft | +15% Defensive for Light Infantry |
| Naval Dominance | +15% Defensive for Triremes |
| A Life at Seat | Allows Repair at Sea ability |
| Noble Warlords | +2.5% Loyalty for Generals |
| Imposing Edifices | +15% Defensiveness |
| Putting our People to Work | -25% Trireme Maintenance |
End bonus for this path is ‘Maneuverability Above All’, which gives +15% Discipline for Triremes.
Army path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Skilled Recruiters | 15% cheaper mercenary maintenance |
| Professional Marines | +15% Trireme Morale |
| The Sacred Band | +15% Heavy Infantry Discipline |
| Uneasy Relations | More Manpower from Subjects |
| The African Elephant | +15% War Elephant Discipline |
| Numidian Cavalry | 25% Cheaper Heavy Cavalry |
| Devastating Charge | +15% War Elephant Morale |
End bonus for this path is ‘A Hard Bargain’, which gives 25% cheaper mercenaries to recruit.
Greek Traditions
Greek Military traditions will be used by all countries with a Greek culture as their state culture. They start with ‘Modernized Phalanx’ which Allows Phalanx.
Seleucid Path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Agema | Light Cavalry Discipline +15% |
| Arms For Hire | Mercenary Recruit Cost Modifier -25% |
| Phoenician Sailors | Ship Offense +15% |
| Companion Cavalry | Allows Cavalry Skirmish |
| Kataphraktoi | Heavy Cavalry Discipline +15% |
| Thyreophoroi | Light Infantry Morale +15% |
| The Hipparchos | Cavalry Morale +15% |
End bonus for this path is ‘Deep Coffers’, which gives -25% Mercenary Maintenance.
Greek path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| The Sarissa | Heavy Infantry Morale +15% |
| The Tarentine Advance | Light Cavalry Defensive +15% |
| Siege Craft | Siege Ability +15% |
| Military Colonies | Allows Military Colonies |
| Mine's Bigger Than Yours | Ship Defensive +15% |
| City State Fortifications | Fort Defence +15% |
| Centuries of War | Heavy Infantry Maintenance Cost -25% |
End bonus for this path is ‘The Silver Shields’, which gives Heavy Infantry Discipline +15%.
Antigonid path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Veterans of the Great Campaign | Unit Starting Experience +15% |
| Proud Shipwrights | Ship Construction Cost -25% |
| The Nobility Ride | Light Cavalry Offense +15% |
| The Victor's Spoils | Allows Raid City |
| Peltasts | Light Infantry Offense +15% |
| Specialist Infantry | Archer Discipline +15% |
| Mastery of the Mountains | Light Infantry Mountain Bonus +25% |
The end bonus for this path is ‘Combined Arms’, which gives Light Infantry Discipline +15%.
Arabic & Levantine Traditions
Countries in the Levant, Egypt and Arabia will use Arabic & Levantine Traditions. They start with the 'Pathfinders' tradition which gives -15% Land Attrition
Arabian Path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Desert Sands | Hostile Attrition +0.50 |
| Merchant Coast | Trireme Cost -50% |
| Beasts of Burden | Camel Offence +15% |
| Ships of the Desert | Camel, Light Cavalry and Heavy Cavalry Desert Combat Bonus +15% |
| Sturdy Design | Trireme Defensive +15% |
| Legacy of the Builders | Training Camp Cost -25% |
| Oasis Trade | Camel, Heavy Cavalry and Light Cavalry Cost -25% |
End bonus for this path is ‘Trained Camelry’, which gives Camel Discipline +15%.
Egyptian path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| The Spear of the Kingdom | Light Infantry Defence +15% |
| Arms Race | Trireme Discipline +15% |
| Stonemovers | Fort Defence +15% |
| Colonial Integration | Allows Military Colonies |
| The Blood of Egypt | Trireme Morale +15% |
| Thick Hide | Camel Defence +15% |
| Cradle of Civilization | National Manpower +15% |
End bonus for this path is ‘Rank Upon Rank’, which gives Light Infantry Discipline +15%.
Graeco-Levantine path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Surfeit of War | Heavy Infantry Cost -25% |
| Thorakitai | Light Infantry Offence +15% |
| Machimoi Epilektoi | Heavy Infantry Offense +15% |
| Greek Warfare | Allows Phalanx |
| Good Reputation | Mercenary Maintenance -15% |
| Ramming Speed | Trireme Offense +15% |
| Unending Riches | Monthly General Loyalty +0.02 |
The end bonus for this path is ‘Learning from the Best’, which gives Heavy Infantry Discipline +15%.
Persian Traditions
The Persian Military Traditions will be used by any country in the Persian, Bactrian, Scythian and Aramaic culture groups, but is not used by any of the major empires at start. They start with "Scythian Horse Archers" which provides Horse Archer Cost -15%.
Parthian Path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Parthian Shot | Horse Archer Offensive +15% |
| Nomadic Lifestyle | Cohort Recruit Speed +25% |
| Hit and Run | Horse Archer Morale +10% |
| Cavalry Skirmish | Allows Cavalry Skirmish |
| Cataphracts | Heavy Cavalry Cost -25% |
| Steppe Mastery | Land Attrition -15% |
| Footsloggers | Light Infantry Defense +15% |
End bonus for this path is ‘Born to Ride’, which gives All Cavalry Discipline +10%.
Resurgent Achaemenid path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Legacy of Cyrus | National Manpower +15% |
| The Immortals | Heavy Infantry Defensive +15% |
| Reform the Navy | Ship Morale +10% |
| Reactive Recruitment | Allows Raising Levies |
| Royal Line | Land Morale Recover +3% |
| To Blot Out The Sun | Archer Offensive +15% |
| Kardakes | Heavy Infantry Cost -15% |
End bonus for this path is ‘Massed Assault’, which gives Siege Ability +10%.
Bactrian path
| Tradition | Bonuses |
|---|---|
| Bactrian Horsemen | Light Cavalry Discipline +10% |
| Graeco Bactrian Architecture | Fort Defense +15% |
| Perfect Storm | Heavy Infantry Offense +15% |
| Kleruchoi | Allows Military Colonies |
| Titans of Battle | War Elephant Discipline +10% |
| Hippotoxotoi | Horse Archer Discipline +15% |
| Heartland | Land Unit Attrition -15% |
The end bonus for this path is ‘Disillusioned Masses’, which gives Mercenary Maintenance Cost -15%.