When I don't play random, I pick Morocco, the Netherlands, or Spain. They're the gold and expansion civs, and they suit how I play: trade routes, luxuries, and buying whatever I need. For faith, I've done a lot with the Celts. The civs I'd skip are the ones whose bonuses are all about war.
I play a lot of Civ 5 with my girlfriend, and most of our games run on gold. I've covered how we make it in how to make gold in Civ 5, and why we went back to it over Civ 6 in Civ 5 vs Civ 6 in 2026. This is which civs I'd actually pick. Every bonus below is from Carl's Civ 5 civs and leaders guide, which covers the Brave New World versions.
Why Morocco Is One of the Best Civs in Civ 5
Because it pays you for doing what you'd do anyway. Morocco's bonus, Gateway to Africa, gives +3 gold and +1 culture for every trade route you have with a different civ or city-state. Other civs also get +2 gold for each route they send to Morocco.
Morocco is also the civ I've won with. That was a domination win, and I got there with gold: every trade route in the world I could possibly get, with the money going into buying an army rather than building one.
Why Pick the Netherlands in Civ 5?
For happiness. Happiness is something you always have to battle to keep up in Civ 5, and the Netherlands makes it easier. Their bonus, the Dutch East India Company, lets you keep 50% of the happiness from a luxury resource even after you trade your last copy away , so +2 of the usual +4.
That fits how I make money. We sell spare luxuries to the AI and buy back the ones we need, and with the Netherlands, selling the last copy of something doesn't hurt nearly as much.
Is Spain Good in Civ 5?
It's one I pick a lot. Spain's bonus, Seven Cities of Gold, gives you gold for discovering natural wonders and doubles the yields from any natural wonder you can work from one of your cities. It turns the natural stuff around you into gold and yields.
The bonus depends on the map, though. It only pays out when you discover natural wonders, and the doubled yields need one within reach of your cities.
Which Civ Is Best for Faith in Civ 5?
The one I've used is the Celts. Their bonus, Druidic Lore, gives +1 faith per city with unimproved forest next to it, rising to +2 when three or more forest tiles are adjacent to the city. You get faith without building anything , just by leaving the trees alone.
What Is the Best Civ for Beginners in Civ 5?
Rome or Egypt. I'd give a beginner something that helps with buildings or happiness early on, because a new player won't know what to do with gold, but extra buildings and happiness will stop them from falling behind.
- Rome , The bonus The Glory of Rome gives +25% production in your other cities toward any building that already exists in your capital.
- Egypt , The bonus Monument Builders gives +20% production toward wonders, and its unique temple, the Burial Tomb, adds +2 happiness on top of the usual faith.
Some civs are pointless for a beginner. You don't need to be able to cross the ocean at the start of your first game, which is the core of Polynesia's bonus.
Which Civs Are Overrated in Civ 5?
Any civ with a strong early military bonus. If you don't have the chance to use it , like a neighbour close enough to destroy or take over , it's a waste. I don't think people do enough fighting early on to need early combat bonuses.
The Zulu are the clearest example. Their bonus, Iklwa, halves the upkeep on melee units and makes all units need 25% less experience to promote. But nobody's building a melee army. There's so little combat in my games before ranged units come in that the Zulu bonus would be pointless.
Germany is the same: Furor Teutonicus gives a 67% chance that barbarians you beat in an encampment join you, and 25% cheaper land unit upkeep , which only matters if you're fighting.
| Civ | Bonus Name | What It Does | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Gateway to Africa | +3 gold and +1 culture per trade route with another civ or city-state | Yes , gold and culture without extra effort |
| Netherlands | Dutch East India Company | Keep 50% happiness from a luxury after trading your last copy | Yes , great for trade-heavy play |
| Spain | Seven Cities of Gold | Gold for discovering natural wonders; doubled wonder yields | Yes , map dependent |
| Celts | Druidic Lore | +1–+2 faith per city with unimproved forest tiles | Yes , passive faith generation |
| Rome | The Glory of Rome | +25% production in non-capital cities for buildings in the capital | Yes , ideal for beginners |
| Egypt | Monument Builders | +20% production toward wonders; Burial Tomb adds +2 happiness | Yes , beginner-friendly |
| Zulu | Iklwa | Halved melee upkeep; 25% less XP needed to promote | Only if you fight early |
| Germany | Furor Teutonicus | 67% chance barbarians join you; 25% cheaper land unit upkeep | Only if you fight early |
Which Civs Do I Hate Getting on Random?
Anyone that just has war benefits. I don't think there's a war bonus in Civ 5 that I care for, because none of them are useful for the way I play.
So What Are the Best Civs in Civ 5?
For a gold and trade player: Morocco, the Netherlands, and Spain, with the Celts if you want faith. For a beginner: Rome or Egypt. And if you play like I do , more trading than fighting , skip the civs that only give you war bonuses.
FAQ
What is the best civ in Civ 5 for gold? Morocco, which gets +3 gold and +1 culture for every trade route with another civ or city-state.
What is the best Civ 5 civ for beginners? Rome or Egypt. Rome builds faster in your other cities, and Egypt gets faster wonders and extra happiness from its unique temple.
Are war civs good in Civ 5? Only if you fight early. If there's little combat before ranged units arrive, bonuses like the Zulu's and Germany's go mostly unused.
