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

Victory Conditions System

This document covers the victory system in Civilization VII, including victory types, legacy paths, defeat conditions, and scoring systems.

Overview

Civ VII has a fundamentally different victory system than previous games. Instead of a single end-game victory like Science or Culture, Civ VII uses:

  1. Legacy Victory - Accumulate legacy points across all three ages
  2. Domination Victory - Capture all cities of all other major civilizations
  3. Legacy Paths - Per-age victory tracks (Science, Culture, Military, Economic)

Legacy Paths replace traditional victory types - you pursue them each age to earn Legacy Points, which determine the ultimate Legacy Victory winner at game end.

Core Tables

Table Purpose
Kinds Register KIND_VICTORY, KIND_DEFEAT
Types Register specific victory/defeat types
VictoryClasses Categories of victories
Victories Define victory conditions
Defeats Define defeat conditions
LegacyPathClasses Categories for legacy paths (Science, Culture, etc.)
LegacyPaths Age-specific victory pursuits
AgeProgressionRewards Rewards for legacy path milestones
RequirementSets/Requirements Victory condition triggers

Victory Classes

Victory classes categorize the types of victories available:

<VictoryClasses>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_DOMINATION" Name="Domination"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_LEGACY" Name="Legacy"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_CULTURE" Name="Culture"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_ECONOMIC" Name="Economic"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_MILITARY" Name="Military"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_SCIENCE" Name="Science"/>
    <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_LIVE_EVENT" Name="LiveEvent"/>
</VictoryClasses>

Default Victories

Domination Victory

Capture all cities belonging to other major civilizations:

<Victories>
    <Row VictoryType="VICTORY_DOMINATION"
         VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_DOMINATION"
         Name="LOC_VICTORY_DOMINATION_NAME"
         Description="LOC_VICTORY_DOMINATION_DESCRIPTION"
         RequirementSetId="REQSET_DOMINATION_VICTORY"/>
</Victories>

<!-- Requirements -->
<RequirementSets>
    <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_DOMINATION_VICTORY"
         RequirementSetType="REQUIREMENTSET_TEST_ALL"/>
</RequirementSets>

<RequirementSetRequirements>
    <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_DOMINATION_VICTORY"
         RequirementId="REQ_DOMINATION_VICTORY"/>
</RequirementSetRequirements>

<Requirements>
    <Row RequirementId="REQ_DOMINATION_VICTORY"
         RequirementType="REQUIREMENT_TEAM_DOMINATION_VICTORY"/>
</Requirements>

Legacy Victory

Have the most legacy points at the end of the final age:

<Victories>
    <Row VictoryType="VICTORY_LEGACY"
         VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_LEGACY"
         Name="LOC_VICTORY_LEGACY_NAME"
         Description="LOC_VICTORY_LEGACY_DESCRIPTION"
         RequirementSetId="REQSET_LEGACY_VICTORY"/>
</Victories>

<RequirementSets>
    <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_LEGACY_VICTORY"
         RequirementSetType="REQUIREMENTSET_TEST_ALL"/>
</RequirementSets>

<RequirementSetRequirements>
    <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_LEGACY_VICTORY"
         RequirementId="REQ_LEGACY_VICTORY"/>
</RequirementSetRequirements>

<Requirements>
    <Row RequirementId="REQ_LEGACY_VICTORY"
         RequirementType="REQUIREMENT_TEAM_LEGACY_VICTORY"/>
</Requirements>

Victories Table Schema

CREATE TABLE 'Victories' (
    'VictoryType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Description' TEXT,
    'EnabledByDefault' BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
    'LegacyPathClassType' TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT "NO_LEGACY_PATH_CLASS",
    'Name' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'RequirementSetId' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'RequiresMultipleTeams' BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
    'VictoryClassType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY("VictoryType")
);

Column Descriptions

Column Type Description
VictoryType TEXT Unique victory identifier
Name TEXT Localization key for name
Description TEXT Localization key for description
VictoryClassType TEXT Victory category reference
RequirementSetId TEXT Trigger conditions
EnabledByDefault BOOLEAN Available without special setup
RequiresMultipleTeams BOOLEAN Only valid with 2+ teams
LegacyPathClassType TEXT Associated legacy path class

Defeat Conditions

Defeats define how players can lose the game:

<Types>
    <Row Type="DEFEAT_DEFAULT" Kind="KIND_DEFEAT"/>
    <Row Type="DEFEAT_RETIRE" Kind="KIND_DEFEAT"/>
    <Row Type="DEFEAT_TIME" Kind="KIND_DEFEAT"/>
</Types>

<Defeats>
    <Row DefeatType="DEFEAT_DEFAULT"
         Name="LOC_DEFEAT_DEFAULT_NAME"
         Blurb="LOC_DEFEAT_DEFAULT_TEXT"
         RequirementSetId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENTS"/>
    <Row DefeatType="DEFEAT_RETIRE"
         Name="LOC_DEFEAT_RETIRE_NAME"
         Blurb="LOC_DEFEAT_RETIRE_TEXT"/>
</Defeats>

Default Defeat Requirements

Player loses when they have no settlers and no cities:

<RequirementSets>
    <Row RequirementSetId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENTS"
         RequirementSetType="REQUIREMENTSET_TEST_ALL"/>
</RequirementSets>

<RequirementSetRequirements>
    <Row RequirementSetId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENTS"
         RequirementId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENT"/>
</RequirementSetRequirements>

<Requirements>
    <Row RequirementId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENT"
         RequirementType="REQUIREMENT_PLAYER_DEFAULT_DEFEAT"/>
</Requirements>

<RequirementArguments>
    <Row RequirementId="DEFAULT_DEFEAT_REQUIREMENT"
         Name="UnitType"
         Value="UNIT_FOUNDER,UNIT_SETTLER"/>
</RequirementArguments>

Legacy Path System

Legacy Paths are Civ VII's primary victory mechanism. Each age offers four paths:

  • Science - Research and discovery
  • Culture - Wonders and cultural achievements
  • Military - Combat and conquest
  • Economic - Trade and wealth

Legacy Path Classes

<LegacyPathClasses>
    <Row LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_CULTURE" Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_CULTURE_NAME"/>
    <Row LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_ECONOMIC" Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_ECONOMIC_NAME"/>
    <Row LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_MILITARY" Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_MILITARY_NAME"/>
    <Row LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_SCIENCE" Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_SCIENCE_NAME"/>
</LegacyPathClasses>

Defining Legacy Paths

Each age has its own set of legacy paths:

<!-- Exploration Age Legacy Paths -->
<Types>
    <Row Type="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_CULTURE" Kind="KIND_VICTORY"/>
    <Row Type="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_ECONOMIC" Kind="KIND_VICTORY"/>
    <Row Type="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_MILITARY" Kind="KIND_VICTORY"/>
    <Row Type="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_SCIENCE" Kind="KIND_VICTORY"/>
</Types>

<LegacyPaths>
    <Row LegacyPathType="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_CULTURE"
         Age="AGE_EXPLORATION"
         LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_CULTURE"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_CULTURE_NAME"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_CULTURE_DESCRIPTION"/>
    <Row LegacyPathType="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_ECONOMIC"
         Age="AGE_EXPLORATION"
         LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_ECONOMIC"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_ECONOMIC_NAME"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_ECONOMIC_DESCRIPTION"/>
    <Row LegacyPathType="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_MILITARY"
         Age="AGE_EXPLORATION"
         LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_MILITARY"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_MILITARY_NAME"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_MILITARY_DESCRIPTION"/>
    <Row LegacyPathType="LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_SCIENCE"
         Age="AGE_EXPLORATION"
         LegacyPathClassType="LEGACY_PATH_CLASS_SCIENCE"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_SCIENCE_NAME"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_SCIENCE_DESCRIPTION"/>
</LegacyPaths>

Legacy Paths Table Schema

CREATE TABLE 'LegacyPaths' (
    'LegacyPathType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Age' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Description' TEXT,
    'EnabledByDefault' BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
    'LegacyPathClassType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Name' TEXT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY("LegacyPathType")
);

Age Progression Rewards

Players earn rewards at milestones along their legacy path:

<AgeProgressionRewards>
    <!-- Milestone 1: Attribute point -->
    <Row AgeProgressionRewardType="AGE_REWARD_MILESTONE1_SCIENCE_1"
         ModifierId="MOD_AGE_REWARD_MILESTONE1_SCIENCE_1"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ATTRIBUTE_SCIENCE_REWARD_TEXT"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ATTRIBUTE_SCIENCE_DESCRIPTION"
         icon="ATTRIBUTE_SCIENTIFIC"/>

    <!-- Milestone 2: Special bonus -->
    <Row AgeProgressionRewardType="AGE_REWARD_MILESTONE2_SCIENCE_1"
         ModifierId="MOD_AGE_REWARD_MILESTONE2_SCIENCE_1"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_SCIENCE_MILESTONE_2_REWARD_TEXT"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_SCIENCE_MILESTONE_2_DESCRIPTION"
         icon="CARD_AT_EXP_VICTORY_SCIENTIFIC_SECOND"/>

    <!-- Golden Age bonus -->
    <Row AgeProgressionRewardType="AGE_REWARD_GOLDEN_AGE_SCIENCE_1"
         ModifierId="MOD_AGE_REWARD_GOLDEN_AGE_SCIENCE_1"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_SCIENCE_GOLDEN_AGE_REWARD_TEXT"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_SCIENCE_GOLDEN_AGE_DESCRIPTION"
         icon="CARD_AT_EXP_VICTORY_SCIENCE_GOLDEN_AGE"/>

    <!-- Legacy Points (all ages) -->
    <Row AgeProgressionRewardType="AGE_REWARD_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE"
         ModifierId="MOD_AGE_REWARD_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE"
         Name="LOC_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE_REWARD_NAME"
         Description="LOC_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE_REWARD_DESCRIPTION"
         DescriptionFinalAge="LOC_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE_REWARD_FINAL_AGE_DESCRIPTION"
         icon="AGE_REWARD_LEGACY_POINT_SCIENCE"/>
</AgeProgressionRewards>

Reward Milestones

Milestone Reward Type Description
1st Attribute +1 to associated attribute
2nd Special Path-specific bonus
3rd Golden Age Triggers celebration period
Completion Legacy Point +1 Legacy Point for final scoring

Victory Types (Extended)

The VictoryTypes table provides additional configuration for victories:

CREATE TABLE 'VictoryTypes' (
    'VictoryType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'CountdownDuration' INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT -1,
    'Description' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'DominationAmount' INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT -1,
    'DominationPercent' INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT -1,
    'FinalAge' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Name' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'PrereqRequirementSetId' TEXT,
    PRIMARY KEY("VictoryType")
);

Column Descriptions

Column Description
CountdownDuration Turns before victory is finalized
DominationAmount Fixed number of cities to capture
DominationPercent Percentage of cities to capture
FinalAge Age where victory is possible
PrereqRequirementSetId Prerequisites to attempt this victory

Victory Scoring

Track progress toward victory conditions:

CREATE TABLE 'VictoryScorings' (
    'ScoringId' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Data' TEXT,
    'Name' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'Points' INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
    'ScoringType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    'StaticCarryover' BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
    'VictoryType' TEXT NOT NULL,
    PRIMARY KEY("ScoringId")
);

Column Descriptions

Column Description
ScoringId Unique identifier for this scoring entry
ScoringType Type of scoring mechanism
Points Points awarded for this achievement
StaticCarryover Whether points carry between ages
VictoryType Associated victory condition

Victory Cinematics

Define victory movies and presentations:

<VictoryCinematics>
    <Row VictoryType="VICTORY_DOMINATION"
         Name="LOC_VICTORY_CINEMATIC_DOMINATION"
         VictoryCinematicType="CINEMATIC_DOMINATION"/>
</VictoryCinematics>

Creating a Custom Victory

Complete Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Database>
    <!-- 1. Register the type -->
    <Types>
        <Row Type="VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER" Kind="KIND_VICTORY"/>
    </Types>

    <!-- 2. Create victory class (optional, can use existing) -->
    <VictoryClasses>
        <Row VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_WONDER" Name="Wonder"/>
    </VictoryClasses>

    <!-- 3. Define the victory -->
    <Victories>
        <Row VictoryType="VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER"
             VictoryClassType="VICTORY_CLASS_WONDER"
             Name="LOC_VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER_NAME"
             Description="LOC_VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER_DESCRIPTION"
             RequirementSetId="REQSET_WONDER_BUILDER_VICTORY"
             EnabledByDefault="false"/>
    </Victories>

    <!-- 4. Define victory requirements -->
    <RequirementSets>
        <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_WONDER_BUILDER_VICTORY"
             RequirementSetType="REQUIREMENTSET_TEST_ALL"/>
    </RequirementSets>

    <RequirementSetRequirements>
        <Row RequirementSetId="REQSET_WONDER_BUILDER_VICTORY"
             RequirementId="REQ_WONDER_BUILDER_COUNT"/>
    </RequirementSetRequirements>

    <Requirements>
        <Row RequirementId="REQ_WONDER_BUILDER_COUNT"
             RequirementType="REQUIREMENT_PLAYER_HAS_WONDER_COUNT"/>
    </Requirements>

    <RequirementArguments>
        <Row RequirementId="REQ_WONDER_BUILDER_COUNT"
             Name="Count"
             Value="10"/>
    </RequirementArguments>
</Database>

Localization

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Database>
    <LocalizedText>
        <Row Tag="LOC_VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER_NAME" Language="en_US">
            <Text>Wonder Victory</Text>
        </Row>
        <Row Tag="LOC_VICTORY_WONDER_BUILDER_DESCRIPTION" Language="en_US">
            <Text>Build 10 Wonders to achieve a Wonder Victory!</Text>
        </Row>
    </LocalizedText>
</Database>

Existing Legacy Paths by Age

Antiquity Age

  • LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_CULTURE
  • LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_ECONOMIC
  • LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_MILITARY
  • LEGACY_PATH_ANTIQUITY_SCIENCE

Exploration Age

  • LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_CULTURE
  • LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_ECONOMIC
  • LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_MILITARY
  • LEGACY_PATH_EXPLORATION_SCIENCE

Modern Age

  • LEGACY_PATH_MODERN_CULTURE
  • LEGACY_PATH_MODERN_ECONOMIC
  • LEGACY_PATH_MODERN_MILITARY
  • LEGACY_PATH_MODERN_SCIENCE

Victory-Related Requirements

Requirement Type Description
REQUIREMENT_TEAM_DOMINATION_VICTORY Team controls all enemy cities
REQUIREMENT_TEAM_LEGACY_VICTORY Team has most legacy points at game end
REQUIREMENT_PLAYER_DEFAULT_DEFEAT Player has no cities or settlers
REQUIREMENT_GAME_TURN_MAX_REACHED Maximum turns reached
REQUIREMENT_PLAYER_HAS_WONDER_COUNT Player has built X wonders

Best Practices

  1. Use Existing Classes - Prefer existing victory classes unless you need a truly unique category
  2. Requirement Sets - Design clear, testable victory conditions
  3. Balance - Ensure custom victories are achievable but challenging
  4. Localization - Provide clear, descriptive text
  5. Age Awareness - Consider which ages your victory should be available in
  6. Legacy Integration - Consider how custom victories interact with the legacy point system

Related Documentation

Navigation

Home Cross-Reference Index

Getting Started

Civilization Creation

Database Reference

Units & Combat

Religion

Independents

Diplomacy

Technology & Civics

Victory Conditions

Legacy Paths

Modifier System

JavaScript API

Narrative Events

Technical Reference

Tutorials

Examples

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