Civilization VII · Exploration Age · DLC Sengoku Japan
Sengoku Japan draws on the century of civil war between regional daimyo and clan leaders that preceded the Tokugawa shogunate's centuries-long peace — a period defined by figures like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Historically paired with Toyotomi Hideyoshi — mix-and-match with any leader is fully supported, but this pairing is the game's own suggested starting point.
Unique Ability
"Shogunate" grants Culture, Science, and Influence per point of Army Commander XP earned — a civilization that rewards keeping its military active and leveling up Commanders rather than leaving them idle. Its Exploration Age Apex tier adds Production in all Settlements for every active Trade Route and increased Combat Strength for Land Units, but cities lose Gold if they don't have a garrisoned unit — a real trade-off, not a pure bonus. There's also a genuine downside worth knowing: Culture and Science Buildings don't get their normal terrain adjacencies under Sengoku Japan (Wonder adjacency still works), so don't plan district placement assuming they will.
Unique Unit
The Samurai is a unique Infantry unit with increased Combat Strength that automatically upgrades through two further tiers by defeating enough enemy units in combat, rather than unlocking upgrades through the technology tree like most units. Sengoku Japan also fields the Shinobi, a unit with a limited number of Sabotage Action charges and the Stealth ability, which can be used to disperse enemy Shinobi Clans operating on the same tile.
Unique Infrastructure
The Tea House is Sengoku Japan's unique Improvement, providing Food and Happiness plus Culture for every adjacent District — though it can't be placed next to another Tea House, and requires Flat terrain. Its associated Wonder, the Himeji Castle, must be built on Rough terrain, acts as a Fortified District that has to be conquered rather than simply captured, and boosts Culture in Fortified Districts in the city it's built in while boosting their Combat Strength empire-wide.