

No new traits were introduced in BtS (unlike its predecessor, Warlords, which introduced three new traits), but several new leaders and other game elements were. This guide has been revised to include information relevant to the Beyond the Sword expansion pack. After that, I'll share some thoughts on synergy-that is, how to work with the trait combinations. In this article, I intend to first share some thoughts on each individual trait-its strengths, weaknesses, and how to best leverage it. I'd like to think I'm in a position to share some insight into how to best leverage this feature of the game. Thanks to the ALC series I've now played at least one game (usually several) with each trait. The purpose of this guide is to help you do that.

Whether you purposely choose your leader for each game or let the computer randomly assign one to you, it's a good idea to incorporate your leaders' traits into your overall strategy. While several leaders share the same trait, each combination of traits is unique within the game (and as of the Beyond the Sword expansion pack, there are three combinations do not exist at all). For example, some traits make military units better, others improve an empire's economy, and several make certain buildings cheaper to build. Introduction Civilization IV Leader Traits: Self-Actualization, Axemen, and You Version 2.1 - DecemIn Civilization IV, each leader has two “traits” which bestow some specific advantages to their civilization.
