Civ4UnitInfos

The Civ4UnitInfos XML file controls data related to individual units: for example, a unit's strength value or production cost. There are also more detailed options, affecting things like transport capabilities, prerequisites, and other complex features.

All tags must be opened and closed; the first is the 'open', the second the 'closed' tag. If nothing goes inside a 'list tag', then it should just be the opening tag with a "/" before the closing bracket. The following tables contain all available tags, as well as their purpose and accepted values.

Tags

Headers

These tags typically bracket other tags, sometimes the entire file, and are generally used to specify more than one piece of data.

Tag Name	Description
Capture	Either NONE, or the unit which the unit turns into when captured
Class	The class as defined in CIV4UnitClassInfos.xml. Class is the thing that holds, say, a Swordsman and a Praetorian together; each civilisation can only have one of each class.
Combat	The combat, out of UNITCOMBAT_MELEE, UNITCOMBAT_ARCHER, UNITCOMBAT_MOUNTED, UNITCOMBAT_GUN, UNITCOMBAT_SIEGE, UNITCOMBAT_NAVAL, UNITCOMBAT_AIR and UNITCOMBAT_HELICOPTER of the unit - used to determine bonuses in combat.
Domain	DOMAIN_ - then AIR, SEA or LAND
DefaultUnitAI	The default way in which the AI uses the unit.
Invisible	Either NONE (either meaning not invisible or completely invisible, see below) or INVISIBLE_STEALTH or INVISIBLE_SUBMARINE
SeeInvisible	Either NONE or a category of invisibility above. Means that the unit can see all units with this type of invisibility
Special	Should be NONE unless it comes under a heading in CIV4SpecialUnitInfos.xml; in which case write that.
Type	The name of the unit; which must be unique
UnitInfo	Each different unit's data is enclosed in a seperate tag like this.
UnitInfos	This begins and ends the file. Everything must go in between these two, or it will not work.
UniqueNames	Only ever a closing tag. Just put it in, OK?

Text

Tag Name	Description
Description	Either text or a key from the text files. The name displayed for the unit.
Civilopedia	As above for the Civiliopedia entry
Strategy	As above for the Sid's Tips, also displayed above the Civilopedia entry
Advisor	Almost always ADVISOR_MILITARY; the rationale that the game gives for reccomending the unit.

Boolean

All of these can either be 1 (on, or true) or 0 (off, or false). Be careful, as you can wind up with a double-negative, which the game will interpret as "True".

Tag Name	Description
bAnimal	The unit is an animal; the Barbarian State controls it, it can spring from anywhere and it cannot enter cultural borders.
bFood	A city does not generate food while building this unit
bNoBadGoodies	When this unit is entering a Tribal Village, the villagers will never be hostile
bOnlyDefensive	This unit cannot attack other units
bNoCapture	This unit cannot capture cities
bQuickCombat	ALways 0; not sure what it actually does
bRivalTerritory	Can explore rival territory
bMilitaryHappiness	Counts as a Military Unit in the eyes of the rabble
bMilitarySupport	Costs money to maintain as part of your military, affected by Pacifism and the like.
bMilitaryProduction	Counts as a military unit for production bonuses/penalties
bPillage	Can pillage enemy tiles
bSpy	Is a spy
bSabotage	Should only be 1 in Vanilla or Warlords; can Sabotage Production
bDestroy	Should only be 1 in Vanilla or Warlords; can Destroy Improvement
bStealPlans	Should only be 1 in Vanilla or Warlords; can Steal Plans
bInvestigate	Should only be 1 in Vanilla or Warlords; can Investigate City
bCounterSpy	Should only be 1 in Vanilla or Warlords; can Perform Counterespionage
bFound	Can found a city
bGoldenAge	Counts as a Great Person to start a Golden Age
bInvisible	Is invisible to all units
bFirstStrikeImmune	Is immune to all First Strikes
bNoDefensiveBonus	Does not receive defensive bonuses
bIgnoreBuildingDefense	Ignores defensive bonuses from enemy buildings, like Walls and Castles
bCanMoveImpassible	If the unit is a Submarine, it can go under Ice.
bCanMoveAllTerrain	Can move across all terrain
bFlatMovementCost	Pays a flat movement cost to enter all terrain
bIgnoreTerrainCost	Ignores movement penalties from terrain
bNukeInnume	Takes no damage from enemy nukes
bPrereqBonuses	Needs the mentioned resources to be built (can be NONE)
bPrereqReligion	Needs the mentioned religion to be built (can be NONE)
bMechanized	Not sure what this does - used for all land units in a vehicle
bSuicide	Kills itself upon attacking, like a Kamikaze in the Defence mod
bHiddenNationality	Bears no marking of nationality
bAlwaysHostile	Can attack enemy units without declaring war, and can be attacked without triggering a war. All nations treat it as an enemy unit.
bAltDown	If 1, the hotkey must be used with Alt
bShiftDown	If 1, the hotkey must be used with Shift
bCtrlDown	If 1, the hotkey must be used with Ctrl
bNoRevealMap	A boolean - if 1, the unit does not reveal any tiles except the one it is currently standing on

Lists (Multi-line)

All List tags consist of an opening/closing tag, which is shown here, then each entry within it as another tag with the same name as the parent tag, minus the "s".

Tag Name	Description
Tag	Usage
UnitClassUpgrades	The Classes of unit to which this unit upgrades
UnitClassTargets	Not sure what this one does
UnitCombatTargets	Does whatever UnitClassTargets does, but is directed at a particular combat
UnitClassDefenders	Not sure what this one does
UnitCombatDefenders	Does whatever UnitClassDefenders does, but is directed at a particular combat
FlankingStrikes	All unit classes against which the unit gets a Flank Attack
UnitAIs	Inside here go the methods which the AI uses to command this unit. It dictates the roles which the unit is good for.
NotUnitAIs	As UnitAIs, but for the tasks which the AI will never consider the unit for.
Builds	For all the things that the unit can build on tiles; but not wonders that it can build in cities.
ReligionSpreads	Put the religions which the unit can spread here, if it is a missionary.
CorporationSpreads	Put the Corporations which the unit can spread here, if it is a CEO.
GreatPeoples	If the unit can settle in a city, put the type of specialist it becomes here.
Buildings	The buildings which the unit can construct in a friendly city.
ForceBuildings	The buildings the unit can construct in any city.

Prerequisites

These tags must be included when writing new entries, or the game will crash or otherwise malfunction.

Tag Name	Description
HolyCity	If not NONE, then it is the Holy City needed to build the unit
ReligionType	For units, always NONE.
StateReligion	If not NONE, the State Religion needed to build this unit
PrereqReligion	Either NONE, or the religion needed in a city to build this unit
PrereqCorporation	Either NONE, or the corporation needed in a city to build this unit
PrereqBuilding	Either NONE, or the building needed in a city to build this unit
PrereqTech	Either NONE, or the technology that you need to build this unit
TechTypes	Used as a list tag to enclose PrereqTech tags.
BonusType	The resource needed to build this unit.
PrereqBonuses	Used as a list tag to enclose BonusType tags.
ProductionTraits	The leader traits which affect production of this unit, along with the value.
Flavors	The 'flavours' of the unit - these relate to leader behavior in the AI
HurryCostModifier	Impacts the Gold Hurry cost of the unit.
AdvancedStartCost	The cost in points of the unit on Advanced Start.
AdvancedStartCostIncrease	Affects the cost in points of the unit on Advanced Start
MinAreaSize	Minimal number of water squares needed nearby to build sea vessels (20 for all sea units except Work Boats)
Moves	The number of movement points that the unit has.

Integers

All of these tags have numerical value. Sometimes, it can be negative, usually not.

Tag Name	Description
iAIWeight	The preference given by the AI to this unit, generally for Unique Units.
iCost	The cost in hammers of the unit
iAirRange	Only for Air Units; the range at which it can operate
iAirUnitCap	Should be 0
iDropRange	The range at which the unit can 'jump' from a friendly city
iNukeRange	The range at which the 'nuke' can be launched - missiles only
iWorkRate	The rate at which the unit improves tiles
iBaseDiscover	The rate at which the unit discovers new tiles
iDiscoverMultiplier	Affects the rate at which the unit discovers new tiles
iBaseHurry	Amount of production in a city the unit can hurry
iHurryMultiplier	Multiplier of the above
iBaseTrade	The basic amount of money that the unit makes from a Trade Mission
iTradeMultiplier	Affects the amount of money that the unit makes from a Trade Mission
iGreatWorkCulture	The amount of culture that the unit generates with a Great Work
iEspionagePoints	Used for Spies - not sure of the exact effect
iCombat	The unit's base strength
iCombatLimit	Always 100 - purpose unclear
iAirCombat	The unit's base strength for Air Units
iAirCombatLimit	Always 100 - purpose unclear
iXPValueAttack	The value, in Experience Points, that this unit is worth on the attack
iXPValueDefense	The value, in Experience Points, that this unit is worth on the defence
iFirstStrikes	The number of automatic First Strikes that the unit has
iChanceFirstStrikes	The number of First Strike Chances that the unit has
iInterceptionProbability	The odds an Air Unit has of intercepting an enemy trying to carry out a mission in the area.
iEvasionProbability	For air and parachute units; the odds of evading interception
iWithdrawalProb	The amount of Withdrawal Chance that the unit has
iCollateralDamage	The amount of Collateral Damage that the unit does
iCollateralDamageLimit	The maximum amount of collateral damage that the unit can do; so the minimum Strength that the target can be at.
iCollateralDamageMaxUnits	The greatest number of enemy unit that the unit can inflict damage on
iCityAttack	The bonus that the unit gets when attacking cities
iCityDefense	The bonus that the unit gets when defending cities
iAnimalCombat	The bonus that the unit gets against Animals, in attack or defence.
iHillsAttack	The bonus that the unit gets when attacking hills
iHillsDefense	The bonus that the unit gets when defending hills
iBombRate	The damage that a unit does when carrying out an Air Bomb mission
iBombardRate	The rate at which a unit Bombards a city
iCargo	The number of units that the unit can carry
iConscription	The number of this unit that can be drafted
iCultureGarrison	The suppression value of a unit while garrisoned in a rebelling city
iExtraCost	Affects the cost of the unit
iAsset	Affects the AI's behaviour towards it in some way.
iPower	Affects the amount that the AI factors it into the equation when determining your military power
iLeaderExperience	The amount of experience which a certain leader gives this unit
iHotKeyPriority	Not sure what this does

Miscellaneous

Tag Name	Description
TerrainImpassables	Types of terrain that the unit cannot enter - generally Ocean
FeatureImpassables	As above for terrain features - like Forests and Jungle
TerrainPassableTechs	With these technologies, the unit can enter the terrain defined in TerrainImpassables
FeatureImpassables	With these technologies, the unit can enter the features defined in FeatureImpassables
TerrainNatives	This affects the terrain animals spawn in
FeatureNatives	This affects the features animals spawn in
TerrainAttacks	Attack bonuses that the unit gets in different terrain
TerrainDefenses	Defence bonuses that the unit gets in different terrain
FeatureAttacks	Attack bonuses that the unit gets in different features
FeatureDefenses	Defence bonuses that the unit gets in different features
UnitClassAttackMods	The bonuses/penalties that the unit gets against specific units in attack
UnitClassDefenseMods	The bonuses/penalties that the unit gets against specific units in defence
UnitCombatMods	The bonuses/penalties that the unit gets against different combats
UnitCombatCollateralImmunes	The unit combats that this unit does not recieve collateral damage from
DomainMods	The bonuses/penalties that the unit gets against Air, Sea or Land units
BonusProductionModifiers	Resources that make the unit produce faster
DomainCargo	The Domains (AIR, SEA, or LAND) that the unit can carry.
SpecialCargo	Any types of Special Unit that the unit can carry
HotKey	Never used in the original game - it can be used to define a hotkey for the unit
FreePromotions	The promotions that this unit starts with
LeaderPromotions	Promotions which a certain leader gives this unit

Art

These tags are directly related to the rendering of art for the entry.

Tag Name	Description
iGroupSize	The number of models in the unit
fMaxSpeed	Not sure what this does
fPadTime	Not sure what this does
iMeleeWaveSize	The number of models that engage in melee combat
iRangedWaveSize	The number of models that engage in ranged combat at once
UnitMeshGroups	Holds the unit's art data
EarlyArtDefineTag	From CIV4ArtDefinesUnit - what the unit looks like in-game
FormationType	The formation that the unit adopts

Example

<UnitInfo>
  <Class>UNITCLASS_LION</Class>
  <Type>UNIT_LION</Type>
  <UniqueNames/>
  <Special>NONE</Special>
  <Capture>NONE</Capture>
  <Combat>NONE</Combat>
  <Domain>DOMAIN_LAND</Domain>
  <DefaultUnitAI>UNITAI_ANIMAL</DefaultUnitAI>
  <Invisible>NONE</Invisible>
  <SeeInvisible>NONE</SeeInvisible>
  <Description>TXT_KEY_UNIT_LION</Description>
  <Civilopedia>TXT_KEY_CONCEPT_ANIMALS_PEDIA</Civilopedia>
  <Strategy>TXT_KEY_UNIT_ANIMAL_STRATEGY</Strategy>
  <Advisor>NONE</Advisor>
  <bAnimal>1</bAnimal>
  <bFood>0</bFood>
  <bNoBadGoodies>0</bNoBadGoodies>
  <bOnlyDefensive>0</bOnlyDefensive>
  <bNoCapture>0</bNoCapture>
  <bQuickCombat>0</bQuickCombat>
  <bRivalTerritory>0</bRivalTerritory>
  <bMilitaryHappiness>0</bMilitaryHappiness>
  <bMilitarySupport>0</bMilitarySupport>
  <bMilitaryProduction>0</bMilitaryProduction>
  <bPillage>0</bPillage>
  <bSpy>0</bSpy>
  <bSabotage>0</bSabotage>
  <bDestroy>0</bDestroy>
  <bStealPlans>0</bStealPlans>
  <bInvestigate>0</bInvestigate>
  <bCounterSpy>0</bCounterSpy>
  <bFound>0</bFound>
  <bGoldenAge>0</bGoldenAge>
  <bInvisible>0</bInvisible>
  <bFirstStrikeImmune>0</bFirstStrikeImmune>
  <bNoDefensiveBonus>1</bNoDefensiveBonus>
  <bIgnoreBuildingDefense>0</bIgnoreBuildingDefense>
  <bCanMoveImpassable>0</bCanMoveImpassable>
  <bCanMoveAllTerrain>0</bCanMoveAllTerrain>
  <bFlatMovementCost>0</bFlatMovementCost>
  <bIgnoreTerrainCost>0</bIgnoreTerrainCost>
  <bNukeImmune>0</bNukeImmune>
  <bPrereqBonuses>0</bPrereqBonuses>
  <bPrereqReligion>0</bPrereqReligion>
  <bMechanized>0</bMechanized>
  <bSuicide>0</bSuicide>
  <bHiddenNationality>0</bHiddenNationality>
  <bAlwaysHostile>0</bAlwaysHostile>
  <UnitClassUpgrades/>
  <UnitClassTargets/>
  <UnitCombatTargets/>
  <UnitClassDefenders/>
  <UnitCombatDefenders/>
  <FlankingStrikes/>
  <UnitAIs>
     <UnitAI>
        <UnitAIType>UNITAI_ANIMAL</UnitAIType>
        <bUnitAI>1</bUnitAI>
     </UnitAI>
  </UnitAIs>
  <NotUnitAIs/>
  <Builds/>
  <ReligionSpreads/>
  <CorporationSpreads/>
  <GreatPeoples/>
  <Buildings/>
  <ForceBuildings/>
  <HolyCity>NONE</HolyCity>
  <ReligionType>NONE</ReligionType>
  <StateReligion>NONE</StateReligion>
  <PrereqReligion>NONE</PrereqReligion>
  <PrereqCorporation>NONE</PrereqCorporation>
  <PrereqBuilding>NONE</PrereqBuilding>
  <PrereqTech>NONE</PrereqTech>
  <TechTypes/>
  <BonusType>NONE</BonusType>
  <PrereqBonuses/>
  <ProductionTraits/>
  <Flavors/>
  <iAIWeight>0</iAIWeight>
  <iCost>-1</iCost>
  <iHurryCostModifier>0</iHurryCostModifier>
  <iAdvancedStartCost>-1</iAdvancedStartCost>
  <iAdvancedStartCostIncrease>0</iAdvancedStartCostIncrease>
  <iMinAreaSize>-1</iMinAreaSize>
  <iMoves>1</iMoves>
  <bNoRevealMap>0</bNoRevealMap>
  <iAirRange>0</iAirRange>
  <iAirUnitCap>0</iAirUnitCap>
  <iDropRange>0</iDropRange>
  <iNukeRange>-1</iNukeRange>
  <iWorkRate>0</iWorkRate>
  <iBaseDiscover>0</iBaseDiscover>
  <iDiscoverMultiplier>0</iDiscoverMultiplier>
  <iBaseHurry>0</iBaseHurry>
  <iHurryMultiplier>0</iHurryMultiplier>
  <iBaseTrade>0</iBaseTrade>
  <iTradeMultiplier>0</iTradeMultiplier>
  <iGreatWorkCulture>0</iGreatWorkCulture>
  <iEspionagePoints>0</iEspionagePoints>
  <TerrainImpassables/>
  <FeatureImpassables/>
  <TerrainPassableTechs/>
  <FeaturePassableTechs/>
  <iCombat>2</iCombat>
  <iCombatLimit>100</iCombatLimit>
  <iAirCombat>0</iAirCombat>
  <iAirCombatLimit>0</iAirCombatLimit>
  <iXPValueAttack>4</iXPValueAttack>
  <iXPValueDefense>2</iXPValueDefense>
  <iFirstStrikes>0</iFirstStrikes>
  <iChanceFirstStrikes>0</iChanceFirstStrikes>
  <iInterceptionProbability>0</iInterceptionProbability>
  <iEvasionProbability>0</iEvasionProbability>
  <iWithdrawalProb>0</iWithdrawalProb>
  <iCollateralDamage>0</iCollateralDamage>
  <iCollateralDamageLimit>0</iCollateralDamageLimit>
  <iCollateralDamageMaxUnits>0</iCollateralDamageMaxUnits>
  <iCityAttack>0</iCityAttack>
  <iCityDefense>0</iCityDefense>
  <iAnimalCombat>0</iAnimalCombat>
  <iHillsAttack>0</iHillsAttack>
  <iHillsDefense>0</iHillsDefense>
  <TerrainNatives>
     <TerrainNative>
        <TerrainType>TERRAIN_GRASS</TerrainType>
        <bTerrainNative>1</bTerrainNative>
     </TerrainNative>
     <TerrainNative>
        <TerrainType>TERRAIN_PLAINS</TerrainType>
        <bTerrainNative>1</bTerrainNative>
     </TerrainNative>
     <TerrainNative>
        <TerrainType>TERRAIN_DESERT</TerrainType>
        <bTerrainNative>1</bTerrainNative>
     </TerrainNative>
  </TerrainNatives>
  <FeatureNatives/>
  <TerrainAttacks/>
  <TerrainDefenses/>
  <FeatureAttacks/>
  <FeatureDefenses/>
  <UnitClassAttackMods/>
  <UnitClassDefenseMods/>
  <UnitCombatMods/>
  <UnitCombatCollateralImmunes/>
  <DomainMods/>
  <BonusProductionModifiers/>
  <iBombRate>0</iBombRate>
  <iBombardRate>0</iBombardRate>
  <SpecialCargo>NONE</SpecialCargo>
  <DomainCargo>NONE</DomainCargo>
  <iCargo>0</iCargo>
  <iConscription>0</iConscription>
  <iCultureGarrison>0</iCultureGarrison>
  <iExtraCost>0</iExtraCost>
  <iAsset>1</iAsset>
  <iPower>1</iPower>
  <UnitMeshGroups>
     <iGroupSize>3</iGroupSize>
     <fMaxSpeed>1.75</fMaxSpeed>
     <fPadTime>1</fPadTime>
     <iMeleeWaveSize>3</iMeleeWaveSize>
     <iRangedWaveSize>0</iRangedWaveSize>
     <UnitMeshGroup>
        <iRequired>3</iRequired>
        <EarlyArtDefineTag>ART_DEF_UNIT_LION</EarlyArtDefineTag>
     </UnitMeshGroup>
  </UnitMeshGroups>
  <FormationType>FORMATION_TYPE_ANIMAL</FormationType>
  <HotKey/>
  <bAltDown>0</bAltDown>
  <bShiftDown>0</bShiftDown>
  <bCtrlDown>0</bCtrlDown>
  <iHotKeyPriority>0</iHotKeyPriority>
  <FreePromotions/>
  <LeaderPromotion>NONE</LeaderPromotion>
  <iLeaderExperience>0</iLeaderExperience>
</UnitInfo>

Next article

Back to XML Reference