Combat is a bit different in Civilization 7 because unlike previous games each unit in a military could earn XP and level. That is not the case anymore. Now you have a brand-new unit called Commander, and commanders are the only ones you need to level up and carry over to the new age.

They don’t directly engage in combat but as they level up, your army units’ level up and get skills. Commander units in Civilization 7 are the only ones who are able to earn promotions.

Commander units have multiple skill trees that require XP to unlock.

Commanders are the only units that retain promotions across Ages and provide two key functions:

  • “Packing” Units: Move up to four units as one group (expandable with upgrades), streamlining army movement.
  • Combat Buffs: Grant passive bonuses and enable coordinated attacks (e.g., Focus Fire or Heroic Assault).
    They earn XP by being near units that defeat enemies or capture settlements

Bastion (Defensive)

AbilityDescription
Steadfast+2 combat strength when defending for adjacent land units. A game-changer for your early-game.
GarrisonWhen a commander is stationed nearby, fortified districts gain +10 HP. Provides base district defense.

Assault (Offensive)

AbilityDescription
InitiativeLets unstacked units reposition right after they deploy, a key factor in sustaining momentum.
AdvancementGrants Infantry/Cavalry First Strike (Bonus damage when unit is at full health), exceptional for aggressive pushes.

Logistics (Sustainability)

AbilityEffect
Quick DeploymentPacked units gain +1 movement.
Field RepairsUnits recover +5 HP per turn in neutral/owned territory, which also enables protracted campaigns.

Maneuver (Mobility)

AbilityDescription
Mobility+1 movement for commanders, allowing faster repositioning.
BreakthroughIgnore zone of control penalties, enabling flanking maneuvers.

Leadership (Influence)

AbilityDescription
Unity+10% Influence per turn in cities with stationed commanders, accelerating policy adoption.
StatesmanshipCities with commanders gain +1 Amenity, supporting tall empires.

Commander Commendations

What happens when you max out a promotion tree? You get commendations. There are five commendations you can unlock:

CommendationEffect
Service+1 movement for land units in radius.
Order+5 combat strength for land units in radius.
ValorGrants “Second Wind” (extra attack + movement restore.
MeritExpands command radius by 1 tile
DutyUnlocks Heroic Assault ability. Deal direct damage to enemy unit in the command radius that has the same domain as the commander.