Technology works like a card deck. Each nation will be dealt some technology cards from the top of the Draw Pile and may choose one of them to research. The technologies that were not chosen as well as any newly unlocked technology will be placed in the Discard Pile. Once the Draw Pile is empty all cards from the Discard Pile will be shuffled into the Draw Pile. The game may recommend certain technologies to research, indicated by a star on the top-left of the card. Nations that have a Nation Leader with the Scholar archetype will be able to redraw once per year.
Certain technologies may add a Bonus Card to the Discard Pile. Bonus Cards are minor technologies that are lost permanently if not researched when the card is drawn.
Tech tree
List of technologies
Tier 1 technologies
Tier 1 technologies cost 80 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Ironworking
Unit: Warrior
Stonecutting
Improvement: Fort, Quarry Bonus Card: Stone Boost
Trapping
Improvement: Camp Unit: Slinger
Divination
Improvement: Shrine
Administration
Improvement: Granary Project: Treasury Bonus Card: Free Worker
Tier 2 technologies
Tier 2 technologies cost 120 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Labor Force
Unlocks: Road Law Category: Slavery - Freedom Theology: Revelation
Husbandry
Improvement: Pasture Bonus Card: Food Boost
Drama
Unlocks: Music Player Improvement: Odeon Theology: Gnosticism Bonus Card: Free Settler
Polis
Unlocks: Ask to declare War Improvement: Hamlet Project: Walls
Military Drill
Action: Rally Troops Improvement: Barracks
Aristocracy
Council: Ambassador Law Category: Centralization - Vassalage Bonus Card: Border Boost
Rhetoric
Law Category: Epics - Exploration Project: Forum Theology: Dualism
Tier 3 technologies
Tier 3 technologies cost 200 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Navigation
Unlocks: Automate (Scout) Law Category: Colonies - Serfdom Unit: Bireme
Phalanx
Unit: Spearman Bonus Card: Orders Boost
Spoked Wheel
Council: Chancellor Unit: Chariot Bonus Card: File:BONUS EBONY.png Free Ebony
Forestry
Improvement: Lumbermill Theology: Enlightenment
Steel
Unit: Axeman Bonus Card: Training Boost Bonus Card: Free Bireme
Sovereignty
Law Category: Tyranny - Constitution Bonus Card: Civics Boost Bonus Card: Free Chariot
Metaphysics
Unlocks: Convert to State Religion, High Synod Project: Archive Theology: Redemption Bonus Card: Free Court Scholar
Tier 4 technologies
Tier 4 technologies cost 400 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Coinage
Unlocks: Automate (Worker), Pacify City Improvement: Market Bonus Card: Money Boost Bonus Card: File:BONUS SILK.png Free Silk
Architecture
Improvement: Bath Law Category: Philosophy - Engineering Bonus Card: File:BONUS PERFUME.png Free Perfume
Citizenship
Improvement: Courthouse Law Category: Divine Rule - Legal Code Bonus Card: Free Court Minister
Portcullis
Council: Spymaster Project: Moat Bonus Card: Free Onager
Land Consolidation
Improvement: Grove Unit: Camel Archer, War Elephant Free Horseman Free Horse Archer
Composite Bow
Improvement: Range Unit: Archer Bonus Card: Free Ballista
Monasticism
Improvement: Monastery Law Category: Monotheism - Polytheism Free Camel Archer
Machinery
Unit: Onager Free War Elephant Free Goods Boost
Tier 5 technologies
Tier 5 technologies cost 600 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Scholarship
Unlocks: Expose Agent Network, Move Agent Network Improvement: Library Bonus Card: Free Court Scholar
Stirrups
Unit: Horseman, Horse Archer Bonus Card: Free Horseman, Free Horse Archer
Manor
Unit: Conscript Law Category: Professional Army - Volunteeers
Battle Line
Unit: Maceman Bonus Card: Free Court Soldier
Doctrine
Improvement: Temple Law Category: Tolerance - Orthodoxy
Hydraulics
Improvement: Watermill, Windmill Unit: Ballista Bonus Card: Free Ballista
Cartography
Unlocks: Steal Research Improvement: Harbor Unit: Trieme Bonus Card: Free Trireme
Tier 6 technologies
Tier 6 technologies cost 1000 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Lateen Sail
Unit: Dromon Law Category: Autarky - Trade League Bonus Card: Free Dromon
Jurisprudence
Unlocks: Insurrection Law Category: Guilds - Elites Bonus Card: Free Court Minister
Martial Code
Project: Towers Law Category: Pilgrimage - Holy War
Bodkin Arrow
Unit: Longbowman Bonus Card: Free Longbowman
Windlass
Unit: Crossbowman Bonus Card: Free Crossbowman
Tier 7 technologies
Tier 7 technologies cost 1500 Science.
Technology
Unlocks
Fiscal Policy
Law Category: Coin Debasement - Monetary Reform Bonus Card: Free Court Merchant
Barding
Unit: Cataphract
Infantry Square
Unit: Pikeman Bonus Card: Free Court Soldier
Cohorts
Unit: Swordsman
Chain Drive
Unit: Polybolos Bonus Card: Free Court Merchant
Ballistics
Unit: Mangonel
Tier 8 technologies
Tier 8 technologies cost 2000 Science. They can be researched multiple times, each time granting a Courtier and a Victory Point.
Technology
Courtier
Economic Reform
Court Merchant
Military Prestige
Court Soldier
Industrial Progress
Court Minister