Civilization VII · Antiquity Age

Khmer

Khmer trades broad growth for a single, powerful capital — a genuine "tall" identity built around river settlement and a Capital that outpaces every other city in the empire.

Unique Ability

"Ksekam Chamnon" lets Districts built on Rivers keep the tile's natural yield instead of overwriting it, and increases Growth Rate in the Capital specifically — at the cost of reduced Happiness in every other city, a penalty that grows steeper in the Exploration and Modern Ages. Its Antiquity Age Apex tier also gives Science Buildings an adjacency bonus from Floodplains and adds Great Work slots to the Palace.

Unique Unit

The Vaishya is a unique Trader unit immune to flood damage and unaffected by Wet-terrain movement penalties, letting Khmer's trade network function even through disasters that would slow a normal Merchant down.

Unique Infrastructure

Khmer's associated Wonder must be placed adjacent to a River tile, and Khmer receives increased Production toward constructing it.

How to Play Khmer

  • Settle your capital directly on a River — the Growth Rate bonus and the district yield-preservation both depend on it, and this is where your empire should concentrate its development.
  • Keep other cities smaller and more specialized rather than trying to match your capital's growth — the Happiness penalty makes a wide empire actively work against you here.
  • Use the Vaishya to keep trade income flowing even in flood-prone or wet terrain that would stall a normal Trader.

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