Spies
Spies is an Imperial Age technology available to every civilization. It reveals the Line of Sight of all enemy units and costs 75 Coin for each enemy unit when researched. Europeans and Mexicans research it at a Capitol; Africans, Asians and Native Americans use a Town Center; the United States uses its State Capitol.
Research profile
- Age
- Imperial Age
- Civilization
- All
- Research location
- Capitol (Europeans and Mexicans) ; Town Center (Africans, Asians and Native Americans) ; State Capitol (United States)
- Research time
- 1 second
- Coin cost
- 75 per enemy unit
- Effect
- See all enemies' Line of Sight
Effect & research conditions
Research Spies in one second at the building used by your civilization: Capitol for Europeans and Mexicans, Town Center for Africans, Asians and Native Americans, or State Capitol for the United States. Its price is 75 Coin per enemy unit at the time of research, so the total changes with the opponent’s army size. The technology reveals enemy units’ Line of Sight; it does not directly damage them.
Research condition
Available to All from the Imperial Age. Research it at Capitol (Europeans and Mexicans), Town Center (Africans, Asians and Native Americans), or State Capitol (United States).
When to research
Use Spies immediately before a major attack, retreat or defensive reposition when knowing the opposing force’s vision can change your route or timing. Because the price rises by 75 Coin for every enemy unit, check the current cost before researching; the information is most valuable when it exposes a concealed approach, an army moving toward a vulnerable area or the location of a force you plan to engage. Researching it early without a decision to act can spend resources better used on the army.
A variable-cost Imperial sight reveal
Spies is an Imperial Age technology that takes one second to research. It reveals the Line of Sight of all enemy units, and its Coin cost is 75 for each enemy unit at the time of research. Europeans and Mexicans use the Capitol, Africans, Asians and Native Americans use a Town Center, and the United States uses the State Capitol. The total cost therefore depends on the current match rather than a single fixed price.
Use information to time a decisive move
The reveal is useful before an attack, withdrawal or defense when knowing enemy positions can change the route or timing. It does not damage units or make them permanently visible beyond the effect’s rules, and the variable cost can become substantial in a large late-game army. Check the current price and whether the information will affect a real decision before spending Coin that could support production.