United States
The United States is a Federal American civilization introduced as a Definitive Edition DLC. Federal State age-ups and a broad Home City deck create alternate economic and military routes while retaining access to a large national roster.
Economy & identity
At each age-up, the United States selects a Federal State reward instead of following the European politician system. Cards and state choices can unlock or modify units and technologies; the relevant access should be checked against the current United States tree.
Military & matchups
Select states and shipments as a connected plan: decide which unit or economy option should arrive first, then include a counter for the likely opposing army. This selectable civilization is separate from the campaign-only United States in Act III: Steel.
Practical direction
Read the state reward before aging and align it with the next shipment and production plan.
Federal States replace ordinary Politicians
The United States advances through Federal States rather than choosing the standard Politician reward. A Federal State supplies resources or units and adds two associated Federal cards to the Home City deck, making each Age-up a choice about both the immediate transition and future shipments. The deck begins smaller than that of most civilizations, with a listed limit of 21 cards in the current profile, so each selection has a visible opportunity cost. Federal States also grant experience as the player advances: the profile lists 200 XP in the Commerce Age, 300 in the Fortress Age, 400 in the Industrial Age and 500 in the Imperial Age. This can help the civilization keep its shipment cycle moving, but the cards must still match the army and economy. Inspect the two cards attached to a State before choosing it; the package may define whether the next phase emphasizes units, economy or new production options.
The General and Inspiring Flags
The General fills the hero role and has abilities that change how the United States controls space. He can plant an Inspiring Flag that improves nearby units and buildings, creating a local power zone for an attack or defense. The General can also build Forts and Trading Posts, but cannot construct Town Centers. This means he can strengthen military infrastructure and map access without replacing the ordinary economic role of a Town Center. Protect him as the army moves: if he is knocked unconscious, he can be rescued rather than permanently lost, but the opponent can use the downtime to attack the position. Place the flag where the main army will actually fight, then keep important production or defenses within its area when practical. A flag set too far from the engagement contributes little, while a well-timed placement can support a push and nearby buildings together.
Gunpowder infantry and their vulnerabilities
The United States fields a wide set of ranged gunpowder units. Regulars are a durable heavy ranged infantry choice with more reach than many Musketeer-style troops. Sharpshooters and State Militia offer other ranged roles, while Minutemen can provide fast emergency defense. These units often emphasize attack over health, so concentrated cavalry, fast melee units or artillery can punish them if they fight without a screen. Use the infantry’s range and upgrades to focus on one target at a time, and keep anti-cavalry support in front of the ranged line. State Militia can gain additional hit points in groups, but their shorter range and reduced attack still shape their role. Minutemen are quick to train and lose hit points over time, making them a temporary response rather than a force to leave idle. Check each unit page for exact current values and class multipliers.
Immigrant and Legion card systems
Immigrant cards borrow economic units or bonuses associated with other civilizations, while Legion cards deliver powerful military reinforcements and can unlock those units at Forts. They give the United States access to varied tools without making every borrowed roster element part of its normal production tree. A card’s function is therefore twofold: it can answer an immediate need and change which units are available later. Read the card and associated Federal State carefully before building the deck, especially when the shipment also changes Fort production. The General’s ability to construct Forts gives this system a natural field base, but a Legion unit still needs resources, population and a safe production site when trained locally. Immigrant support can help an economy transition, yet it does not remove the need to assign Settlers and protect resource gathering.
Levy, Conscription and the combat tempo
Levy or Conscription can be activated repeatedly, but a long global cooldown prevents continuous use. It functions as a timed response to a threatened area or a moment when extra forces can change the engagement. Do not wait until the enemy is already inside the base if the ability is meant to stabilize a defense; the cooldown means an early use may not be available for the next push. The United States also receives Robber Barons and Industrial Revolution automatically in the Industrial Age in the current profile, affecting what the deck can contain at that stage. Together, the General, Federal States and timed levy system give the civilization several ways to create pressure, but each has a schedule. Plan them around the same objective so a flag, shipment and militia call support one decisive action rather than being spent separately.
Army composition and map choices
The United States has combat-focused gunpowder options but needs complementary units against counters. Use cavalry or anti-cavalry units to keep hostile cavalry away from the Regulars and Sharpshooters, and add artillery when ranged infantry alone cannot remove structures or massed units. The General’s Fort can establish a reinforcement anchor near a route, while a Trading Post can contribute experience and control a Trade Route. Because he cannot make a Town Center, Settler safety and ordinary economic expansion remain dependent on the civilization’s other units and structures. On water maps, Sloops can explore, fish or transport, Steamers can gather fish and build Docks or train units, and Ironclads bring armored naval power. These choices broaden the map plan, but an early fleet should support a defined crossing, fishing economy or naval defense rather than consume resources without a shoreline objective.
Deck construction and Federal State sequencing
Because the United States begins with fewer selectable Home City cards than most civilizations, deck construction asks the player to prioritize. Federal States add their two associated cards during the match, so a deck does not need to contain every future option in advance. Pick a State for the immediate reward and for the cards it unlocks later. A State that delivers units may help secure a transition, while a card package that improves the economy can support a longer plan. The automatically added Industrial Age cards also affect which slots should be reserved earlier. If a strategy depends on Legion units, include the cards that make them available and plan for a Fort where they can train. The reduced deck is manageable when choices reinforce one route; it becomes limiting when the player tries to prepare for every possible opponent at once.
Forts, Trading Posts and settlement limits
The General’s Fort and Trading Post construction makes him a powerful tool for placing infrastructure near the army. A Fort can train or support military units depending on cards and mode, while a Trading Post may secure a route and add experience. Since the General cannot build Town Centers, these structures should not be mistaken for economic centers. Protect Villagers and keep ordinary production accessible while the General works on a forward position. Forts also make Legion cards more useful where the army needs a reinforcement point, but the military building is a costly target if placed alone. Put it where friendly units can reach it and where the opponent must commit to remove it. The General’s flag can amplify nearby buildings, so the placement of both structures and the Inspiring Flag should support one another.
Water options and transport
The American naval roster can support several jobs. Sloops are nimble ships for exploration, fishing and transport. Steamers are stronger, resist building fire, gather fish, can construct Docks and can train units. Ironclads provide advanced armor and combat power. Choose ships based on the shoreline and objective: a transport can move an army to an undefended coast, while a Steamer can support a sustained fishing or naval production position. Ships still require resources and attention, and they do not protect a land economy automatically. Coordinate a landing with the General’s flag or a Fort if the route permits, and keep ships safe while units disembark. Water investments are strongest when they change access to a second front or defend valuable fishing, not when they split the economy without forcing a response.
Responding to counters
American gunpowder units can deal strong ranged damage, but an opponent who reaches them with cavalry or artillery can exploit their lower health. Keep a suitable screen close, spread the formation against area fire and use the General to create a protected rally point. If the enemy switches to infantry, artillery or cavalry, adjust the next Federal State and shipment to reinforce the missing counter rather than sending the same gunpowder unit again.
Advancing without losing pressure
Federal State rewards help set the next Age timing, and the experience granted by each advance can bring another shipment closer. Keep the economy gathering during the transition so a new card can be used promptly. The General’s flag and Fort construction can secure a location while the army reorganizes, but the settlement still needs Villagers and ordinary production to sustain it.
Coordinating the Federal package
A Federal State is most effective when its Age-up reward, two added cards and the General’s next position all support the same timing. Review the package before advancing, then use its resources or units to secure the objective. The extra experience from the advance can accelerate the next shipment, letting the United States reinforce the position again if the economy stays active.
Preserve the reinforcement route
Before the next attack, check that Fort production and the General’s flag are close enough for new units to join safely.
Keep the economy active
Continue Settler production during the transition so the Federal State reward can be converted into a lasting force.
Federal State progression
The playable United States is a Federal American civilization introduced in Definitive Edition. Instead of European Politicians, it selects a Federal State when aging up. Each state supplies an immediate reward and unlocks two Federal Cards for the Home City deck; those cards become available after the choice rather than appearing in the normal deck builder beforehand. Commerce Age choices are Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. Fortress Age choices are Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire and Tennessee. Industrial Age choices are California, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina and Vermont. Imperial Age choices are Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas. The smaller deck has a lower maximum card count than most civilizations: 21 in the current entry, compared with 20 before update 50830 and the usual 25-card limit elsewhere. The choice therefore shapes both an immediate timing and future deck access. Read the specific state article for its reward and cards, then select a state that supports the army or economy planned for that Age.
Military identity and specialist units
The United States emphasizes ranged gunpowder units and can build armies with strong attack or extended range after upgrades. The tradeoff is that several specialist units have less health and can be overwhelmed by fast melee units or artillery. State Militia are short-ranged Skirmishers with lower attack but more hit points and can gain extra health in groups. Regulars are heavy ranged Infantry with more range than many Musketeers and a bayonet for Cavalry. Sharpshooters are long-ranged Skirmishers with low hit points whose range rises through upgrades. Carbine Cavalry are Light Ranged Cavalry suited to Heavy Cavalry and Artillery. Gatling Guns fire rapidly and are more effective against Infantry than buildings. Quaker Guns are decoys that copy common artillery shapes but deal no damage, drawing fire or confusing target selection. Minutemen train quickly but lose effectiveness as their hit points drain. Outlaws such as Gunslingers, Owlhoots and Cowboys provide specialized attacks. These roles should be combined: protect low-health ranged units with a frontline and use anti-cavalry or artillery support to prevent the enemy from charging the gun line.
Federal buildings and economic routes
The Meeting House trains Healers, provides town improvements and generates Experience. The State Capitol supports wagon training and powerful civilization improvements. The United States can use Immigrant cards that borrow economic units, resources or bonuses from other civilizations, while Legion cards ship powerful military groups and alter their access. A Saloon trains Outlaws and Mercenaries. This gives the civilization flexibility but makes card and state selection central to its build order. The United States does not receive every immigrant or legion option at once; unlocks depend on the chosen Federal State, Home City cards and current technology tree. Plan which buildings need to be constructed before a timing and reserve enough resources for the required production. Unlike campaign portrayals of American forces, the playable civilization uses its own Home City, Federal States, Federal cards and unique units.