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ghost-ng edited this page Jan 28, 2026 · 1 revision

AI Behavior and Civilization Preferences

This document covers how to customize AI behavior for civilizations in Civilization VII, including biases, priorities, and settlement preferences.

Overview

Civ VII's AI system uses a modular approach with:

  • AI Components - Functional modules handling specific AI tasks
  • AI Lists - Bias collections linked to traits
  • AI Favored Items - Specific preferences and values
  • Strategies - Conditional behavior modifiers

AI System Architecture

AI Components

AI components are functional modules that handle different aspects of AI decision-making:

<AiComponents>
    <Row Component="Military" DefaultPriority="AI_PRIORITY_HIGH" Consumer="True"/>
    <Row Component="Economic" DefaultPriority="AI_PRIORITY_MEDIUM"/>
    <Row Component="GrandStrategic" DefaultPriority="AI_PRIORITY_STRATEGIC"/>
    <Row Component="LandDevelopment" DefaultPriority="AI_PRIORITY_HIGH" Consumer="True"/>
</AiComponents>

Key Components

Component Description
Military Combat decisions, army management
Economic Economy, yields, treasury
Diplomatic Relations, deals, agreements
GrandStrategic Long-term victory planning
LandDevelopment Improvements, district placement
Government Policy and government choices
Religion Religious expansion, beliefs
Technology Tech research priorities
Culture Civic research priorities
Trade Trade route decisions
Tactical Unit tactical movement

AI Priorities

<AiPriorities>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_DEFAULT" Value="1"/>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_LOW" Value="2"/>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_MEDIUM" Value="3"/>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_HIGH" Value="4"/>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_PLANNING" Value="5"/>
    <Row Priority="AI_PRIORITY_STRATEGIC" Value="6"/>
</AiPriorities>

Civilization AI Biases

Civilizations receive AI biases through their traits using the AiLists and AiFavoredItems tables.

Setting Up AI Lists

First, define list types:

<AiListTypes>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Government Bias"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Settle Plot Conditions"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases"/>
</AiListTypes>

Then link lists to civilization traits:

<AiLists>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="UnitBiases"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Government Bias" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="GovernmentBiases"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Settle Plot Conditions" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="SettlementPlotEvaluations"/>
    <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="ConstructibleBiases"/>
</AiLists>

AI List Systems

System Purpose
UnitBiases Preference for specific units
GovernmentBiases Government type preferences
SettlementPlotEvaluations City placement preferences
ConstructibleBiases Building/improvement preferences
TagBiases Tag-based preferences (PRODUCTION, SCIENCE, etc.)
PseudoYieldBiases Internal AI value adjustments
AiBudgetBiases Budget allocation preferences
ProgressionTreeNodeBiases Tech/civic research priorities

Unit Biases

Make the AI prefer specific units:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Strongly favor unique units -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_MEDJAY" Value="50"/>
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_MEDJAY_2" Value="50"/>
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_MEDJAY_3" Value="50"/>

    <!-- Moderate preference for support units -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_CHARIOT" Value="25"/>
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_HORSEMAN" Value="25"/>

    <!-- Special units -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Units Biases" Item="UNIT_TJATY" Value="50"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Bias Values

Value Range Effect
0-25 Slight preference
26-50 Moderate preference
51-100 Strong preference
100+ Very strong preference
Negative Avoidance

Government Biases

Make the AI prefer certain governments:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Greece prefers Classical Republic -->
    <Row ListType="Greece Government Bias" Item="GOVERNMENT_CLASSICAL_REPUBLIC" Value="50"/>

    <!-- Rome moderate preference -->
    <Row ListType="Rome Government Bias" Item="GOVERNMENT_CLASSICAL_REPUBLIC" Value="25"/>

    <!-- Military civs prefer Despotism -->
    <Row ListType="Persia Government Bias" Item="GOVERNMENT_DESPOTISM" Value="50"/>
    <Row ListType="Han Government Bias" Item="GOVERNMENT_DESPOTISM" Value="50"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Building/Constructible Biases

Make the AI prioritize specific buildings:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Strongly favor unique buildings -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Constructibles Biases" Item="BUILDING_MASTABA" Value="200"/>
    <Row ListType="Egypt Constructibles Biases" Item="BUILDING_MORTUARY_TEMPLE" Value="200"/>

    <!-- Favor unique improvements -->
    <Row ListType="Han Constructibles Biases" Item="IMPROVEMENT_HAN_GREAT_WALL" Value="200"/>

    <!-- Favor specific wonders -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Constructibles Biases" Item="WONDER_PYRAMIDS" Value="50"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Settlement Plot Preferences

Control where the AI prefers to settle cities:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Egypt prefers navigable rivers -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Settle Plot Conditions" Item="Specific Terrain" Favored="false"
         Value="10" StringVal="TERRAIN_NAVIGABLE_RIVER"
         TooltipString="LOC_SETTLEMENT_RECOMMENDATION_TERRAIN"/>

    <!-- Egypt prefers floodplains -->
    <Row ListType="Egypt Settle Plot Conditions" Item="Specific Feature" Favored="false"
         Value="3" StringVal="FEATURE_DESERT_FLOODPLAIN_MINOR"
         TooltipString="LOC_SETTLEMENT_RECOMMENDATION_FEATURES"/>

    <!-- Aksum prefers coastal -->
    <Row ListType="Aksum Settle Plot Conditions" Item="Coastal" Favored="false"
         Value="15" TooltipString="LOC_SETTLEMENT_RECOMMENDATION_COAST"/>

    <!-- Inca prefers mountains -->
    <Row ListType="Inca Settle Plot Conditions" Item="Specific Terrain" Favored="false"
         Value="15" StringVal="TERRAIN_MOUNTAIN"
         TooltipString="LOC_SETTLEMENT_RECOMMENDATION_TERRAIN"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Plot Evaluation Conditions

Condition Description
Coastal Adjacent to coast
Fresh Water Adjacent to fresh water
Specific Terrain Specific terrain type (StringVal)
Specific Feature Specific feature type (StringVal)
Specific Biome Specific biome (StringVal)
Resource Class Resource class nearby
Lake Near lake
New Resources Unique resources in area

Tag Biases

Control AI focus on yield/tag types:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Han focuses on science -->
    <Row ListType="Han Tag Biases" Item="SCIENCE" Value="50"/>
    <Row ListType="Han Tag Biases" Item="HAPPINESS" Value="25"/>

    <!-- Production focus for all Antiquity civs -->
    <Row ListType="Antiquity Tag Biases" Item="PRODUCTION" Value="100"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Available Tags

  • SCIENCE - Science yields
  • CULTURE - Culture yields
  • PRODUCTION - Production yields
  • GOLD - Gold yields
  • FOOD - Food yields
  • HAPPINESS - Happiness focus
  • FAITH - Faith yields

PseudoYield Biases

Adjust internal AI scoring values:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Rome strongly values expansion -->
    <Row ListType="Rome PseudoYield Biases" Item="PSEUDOYIELD_NEW_CITY" Value="50"/>

    <!-- Rome slightly devalues keeping cities busy -->
    <Row ListType="Rome PseudoYield Biases" Item="PSEUDOYIELD_BUILD_QUEUE_IN_CITY" Value="-10"/>

    <!-- Mississippian values resource imports -->
    <Row ListType="Mississippian PseudoYield Biases" Item="PSEUDOYIELD_RESOURCE_IMPORT" Value="50"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Common PseudoYields

PseudoYield Description
PSEUDOYIELD_NEW_CITY Value of founding cities
PSEUDOYIELD_BUILD_QUEUE_IN_CITY Value of keeping production busy
PSEUDOYIELD_RESOURCE_IMPORT Value of importing resources

Budget Biases

Adjust AI resource allocation:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Persia allocates more to military -->
    <Row ListType="Persia Budget Biases" Item="AI_BUDGET_STANDING_ARMY" Value="50"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

AI Budgets

Budget Purpose
AI_BUDGET_CITY_DEVELOPMENT Building construction
AI_BUDGET_EXPANSION Settler production
AI_BUDGET_GARRISON Defensive units
AI_BUDGET_EXPLORATION Scouts, exploration
AI_BUDGET_RELIGION Religious units
AI_BUDGET_STANDING_ARMY Military forces
AI_BUDGET_SCRIPTING Script-driven actions

Research Biases

Prioritize specific techs/civics:

<AiFavoredItems>
    <!-- Maurya prioritizes Mysticism civic -->
    <Row ListType="Maurya ProgressionTreeNodes Biases"
         Item="NODE_CIVIC_AQ_MAIN_MYSTICISM" Value="500"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

City Strategies

Define conditional behavior:

<Strategies>
    <Row StrategyType="CITY_STRATEGY_WONDERS" CityStrategy="true"
         MinNumConditionsNeeded="1" MaxNumConditionsNeeded="1"/>
</Strategies>

<StrategyConditions>
    <Row StrategyType="CITY_STRATEGY_WONDERS"
         ConditionFunction="HasProductionGreaterThan" ThresholdValue="20"/>
</StrategyConditions>

<Strategy_Priorities>
    <Row StrategyType="CITY_STRATEGY_WONDERS" ListType="CityWonderBias"/>
</Strategy_Priorities>

<AiListTypes>
    <Row ListType="CityWonderBias"/>
</AiListTypes>

<AiLists>
    <Row ListType="CityWonderBias" System="ConstructibleClassBiases"/>
</AiLists>

<AiFavoredItems>
    <Row ListType="CityWonderBias" Item="WONDER" Value="200"/>
</AiFavoredItems>

Complete Example: New Civilization AI

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Database>
    <!-- Define list types -->
    <AiListTypes>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Government Bias"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Settle Plot Conditions"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Tag Biases"/>
    </AiListTypes>

    <!-- Link to civilization trait -->
    <AiLists>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="UnitBiases"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Government Bias" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="GovernmentBiases"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Settle Plot Conditions" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="SettlementPlotEvaluations"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="ConstructibleBiases"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Tag Biases" LeaderType="TRAIT_MY_CIV" System="TagBiases"/>
    </AiLists>

    <!-- Define specific preferences -->
    <AiFavoredItems>
        <!-- Favor unique unit -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases" Item="UNIT_MY_UNIQUE" Value="50"/>
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases" Item="UNIT_MY_UNIQUE_2" Value="50"/>

        <!-- Favor cavalry -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Unit Biases" Item="UNIT_HORSEMAN" Value="25"/>

        <!-- Prefer Republic -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Government Bias" Item="GOVERNMENT_CLASSICAL_REPUBLIC" Value="50"/>

        <!-- Favor unique improvement -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases" Item="IMPROVEMENT_MY_UNIQUE" Value="200"/>

        <!-- Favor specific wonder -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Constructibles Biases" Item="WONDER_MY_FAVORITE" Value="50"/>

        <!-- Prefer coastal settling -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Settle Plot Conditions" Item="Coastal" Favored="false"
             Value="15" TooltipString="LOC_SETTLEMENT_RECOMMENDATION_COAST"/>

        <!-- Focus on culture -->
        <Row ListType="MyCiv Tag Biases" Item="CULTURE" Value="50"/>
    </AiFavoredItems>
</Database>

AI Definition by Leader Trait

The AI system links components to leader traits:

<AiDefinitions>
    <Row LeaderTrait="TRAIT_LEADER_MAJOR_CIV" AiComponent="Military"/>
    <Row LeaderTrait="TRAIT_LEADER_MAJOR_CIV" AiComponent="Economic"/>
    <Row LeaderTrait="TRAIT_LEADER_MAJOR_CIV" AiComponent="Diplomatic"/>
    <!-- ... more components ... -->
</AiDefinitions>

This ensures major civilizations use the full AI system while city-states use a reduced set.

Best Practices

  1. Match AI to abilities - AI biases should complement civ abilities
  2. Use moderate values - Extreme biases can cause erratic behavior
  3. Test extensively - Watch AI games to verify behavior
  4. Layer biases - Use both civ and age-based biases
  5. Consider balance - Don't make AI exploitable

Related Documentation

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