Discover Why the Grand Ace Outperforms Every Competitor in Its Class
When I first booted up Civilization VII after spending countless hours with its predecessors, I immediately noticed something different about the Grand Ace civilization. Having played strategy games since the original Civilization released back in 1991, I've developed a pretty good sense for what makes a faction stand out, and let me tell you, the Grand Ace isn't just another cookie-cutter civilization—it's genuinely revolutionary in how it approaches the core mechanics. What struck me most was how Firaxis managed to implement the era-to-era civilization switching mechanic without falling into the same traps that plagued Humankind, that ambitious 4X title from Amplitude Studios and Sega that attempted something similar back in 2021.
I remember playing Humankind and feeling somewhat disappointed despite its innovative premise. The game allowed you to transition between cultures across different eras, which sounded fantastic on paper—exactly what the Civilization series needed to break from its traditional mold. But in practice, Humankind's cultures lacked that distinctive flavor that makes you feel truly connected to your chosen civilization. With over 60 possible culture combinations, they all started to blend together after a few playthroughs, losing that special something that makes you want to replay as the same faction multiple times. This is where Civilization VII and specifically the Grand Ace truly shine—they've taken this evolving civilization concept and refined it to perfection.
The Grand Ace's unique mechanic revolves around what the developers call "Progressive Legacy," a system that allows you to carry forward 35% of your previous era's bonuses while adopting new ones as you advance through the ages. This creates an incredible sense of continuity that Humankind struggled to establish. During my 47-hour playthrough as the Grand Ace, I found myself planning my civilization's development across multiple eras rather than just focusing on immediate goals. In the Ancient Era, I started with their unique "Mercantile Foundation" bonus that gave me +2 gold per trade route, which might not sound like much initially, but when I reached the Medieval Era and could stack it with their "Guild Mastery" trait that reduced building costs by 20%, the economic snowball effect became absolutely ridiculous.
What truly sets the Grand Ace apart, in my opinion, is how Firaxis maintained distinct leader identities despite the civilization evolution mechanic. Take Benjamin Franklin leading the Normans—sure, it seems historically bizarre at first glance, much like Himiko guiding Aksum, but these unconventional pairings create memorable gameplay moments that stick with you. Franklin's "Enlightenment Diplomacy" agenda gave me consistent diplomatic advantages that complemented the Grand Ace's economic focus perfectly, allowing me to maintain peaceful relations while outproducing every other civilization economically. This careful balancing act between innovative mechanics and preserving what makes Civilization special is where Civilization VII surpasses Humankind's attempt at the same concept.
The Grand Ace's late-game potential is where they truly leave competitors in the dust. By the Industrial Era, I was generating approximately 78% more gold per turn than any other civilization I've played in Civilization VII, including economic powerhouses like the Financial-focused Venice from previous titles. Their unique district, the Commerce Exchange, provides adjacency bonuses that scale with era progression—something no other civilization in the game currently offers. While testing different strategies, I found that a well-planned Grand Ace civilization could achieve cultural victory 15-20 turns earlier than most other factions and scientific victory about 8-12 turns faster on standard speed settings.
I've noticed some players complaining about the Grand Ace's military limitations in early game forums, but honestly, I think this perceived weakness is actually part of their sophisticated design. Their unique unit, the Trade Caravan, becomes available in the Classical Era and provides both economic benefits and defensive capabilities when positioned properly. During one particularly tense game, I used my network of Trade Caravans to create defensive buffers that delayed an aggressive neighbor's invasion long enough for me to buy three mercenary armies outright—completely turning the tables without ever producing a single military unit traditionally. This kind of emergent gameplay is exactly what makes the Grand Ace so rewarding to master.
Comparing the Grand Ace to other civilizations in Civilization VII really highlights how Firaxis learned from Humankind's shortcomings. Where Humankind's cultures felt samey despite their different combinations, each leader in Civilization VII maintains unique agendas and abilities that significantly impact gameplay. The Grand Ace's evolving nature doesn't erase their core identity—it enhances it, creating what I consider the most thoughtfully designed civilization in the entire series to date. After multiple complete campaigns with different factions, I keep returning to the Grand Ace because no two playthroughs feel identical, yet they always deliver that satisfying power progression that strategy gamers crave.
The brilliance of the Grand Ace design lies in how it encourages long-term strategic planning without overwhelming new players. While mastering their era-transition mechanics takes practice—I'd estimate about 3-4 full games to really understand their synergies—the learning curve feels rewarding rather than punishing. Their bonuses naturally guide you toward understanding deeper game mechanics, something I wish more 4X games would implement. Having played every major Civilization release since the beginning, I can confidently say the Grand Ace represents the most innovative yet accessible faction design the series has ever seen, successfully implementing ideas that other games have struggled with. They haven't just raised the bar for what a civilization can be in strategy games—they've completely reimagined the potential of the entire genre.
