is an expansive fan-made balance and content expansion for Civilization V

, primarily used by the "No Quitters" (NQ) competitive multiplayer community. It overhauls vanilla civilizations and introduces over 100 new civilizations, ensuring that nearly every choice has a distinct, viable niche. Overhauled Vanilla Civilizations

Lekmod rebalances original civilizations to ensure they remain competitive in a multiplayer environment where certain vanilla leaders were previously considered "weak" or "unplayable".

: Transformed from a "dollar-store Shoshone" into a versatile expansionist powerhouse. Its unique Settler can move like a Scout and travel unescorted, allowing for aggressive early land grabs.

: Maintains the Longbowman but sees adjustments to the Ship of the Line (reduced Ranged and Melee strength) to balance its naval dominance.

: The chance to convert Barbarians via Furor Teutonicus is increased to 100%, making early-game military buildup much more consistent.

: Shifted more toward cultural dominance in the capital, with doubled theming bonuses and significant culture boosts after discovering Acoustics. New Civilizations Highlights

The mod adds a massive roster of historical and fan-requested civilizations, each with unique mechanics that often change fundamental gameplay.

The Franks (Charlemagne): A heavy faith-based civ that gains +1 Faith from Farms. Their unique building, the Mead Hall, replaces the Colosseum to provide additional happiness and culture.

Golden Horde (Batu Khan): Focused on rapid expansion and conquest. They enter a Golden Age and receive a free Worker upon completing their unique Courthouse replacement, the Jarliq.

: Features a unique Worker replacement that has extra movement and the ability to construct fishing boats, making it an exceptional coastal expansion civ.

: Often cited as one of the strongest coastal civilizations, gaining +1 Food and Gold from water tiles and spawning with a unique work boat that isn't consumed when used.

Hittites: A solid early-game choice that starts with Mining unlocked and receives extra gold in the early turns. Competitive Standing (Tier List Insights)

While balance is a core goal, certain civilizations are frequently noted for their strength or unique difficulty in competitive play: Civ 5 Lekmod - 34.4 Tier List

The “Why Didn’t Firaxis Think of This” Tier

  • The Inuit – Can work snow and ice tiles, fish give production. Suddenly, the poles are prime real estate.
  • Nazca – Draw lines on the map (literally) that boost adjacent tiles. A visual, terrain-shaping mini-game that rewards planning.
  • Sioux – Mobile encampments that act as temporary cities. You pack up and move your “capital” every era. Wild.

Part 2: The Complete Civ 5 Lekmod Civ List (Alphabetical)

Currently, the latest stable version of Lekmod includes 93 total civilizations. Here is the full roster:

| Civilization | Leader | Type | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | America | Lincoln (via mod) | Ranged/Settler | (REWORK) +1 sight, cheaper tile purchases | | Arabia | Harun al-Rashid | Economic/Domination | (VANILLA+) Camel Archers slightly nerfed | | Argentina | (NEW) | Culture/Faith | Unique Gaucho unit; Tango hall | | Assyria | Ashurbanipal | Science/War | (VANILLA+) Stele library buffed | | Australia | (NEW) | Coastal/Digging | Digger UU; Outback Stations | | Austria | Maria Theresa | Diplo/Marriage | (VANILLA+) Marriage costs less influence | | Aztecs | Montezuma | War/Culture | (VANILLA+) Floating Gardens buffed | | Babylon | Nebuchadnezzar | Science | (NERFED) GScience points reduced by 25% | | Belgium | (NEW) | Trade/CS | Unique Coffee House; African Colonialists | | Brazil | Pedro II | Tourism | (VANILLA+) Jungle tiles give +1 production | | Byzantium | Theodora | Faith/Navy | (BUFFED) Can choose any 2 beliefs after religion | | Canada | (NEW) | Peace/Trade | Mountie UU; Longhouse UI (not the Iroquois one) | | Carthage | Dido | Navy/Expansion | (VANILLA+) Free harbors give +1 production | | Celts | Boudicca | Faith | (VANILLA+) Operates as normal | | Cherokee | (NEW) | Defense/Forest | Unique Rifleman; Sacred Fire pit | | China | Wu Zetian | War/Spies | (VANILLA+) Cho-Ko-Nu upgrade path fixed | | Colombia | (NEW) | Great People | Commander Generals give adjacency bonuses | | Congo | (NEW) | Food/Jungle | Unique Mausoleum; can’t build settlers easily | | Denmark | Ragnar | Amphibious | (REWORK) Pillaging costs 0 movement; Berserkers buffed | | Egypt | Rameses II | Wonder/Culture | (VANILLA+) Burial Tomb gives +2 happiness | | England | Elizabeth | Navy | (VANILLA+) Ships of the Line moved to Navigation | | Ethiopia | Haile Selassie | Faith/Defense | (VANILLA+) Stele gives +2 faith | | Finland | (NEW) | Tundra/War | Unique Sissi units; Sauna happiness building | | France | Napoleon | Culture/War | (REWORK) Chateau gives +1 production | | Germany | Bismarck | Militaristic | (VANILLA+) Landsknecht replaces Pikeman | | Greece | Alexander | City-State | (NERFED) Influence degrades faster | | Hawaii | (NEW) | Ocean/Culture | Outrigger UU; Can embark earlier | | Huns | Attila | Aggro/Rush | (VANILLA+) Horse Archer available at Animal Husbandry | | Inca | Pachacuti | Hill/Food | (VANILLA+) Terrace Farms buffed slightly | | India | Gandhi | Pop/Happiness | (REWORK) Unhappiness from number of cities removed | | Indonesia | Gajah Mada | Sea/Luxury | (VANILLA+) Candi gives +3 faith | | Iroquois | Hiawatha | Forest/Prod | (REWORK) Mohawk Warrior gets bonus in all forest tiles | | Israel | (NEW) | Faith/Archeology | King David UU; Ark of the Covenant wonder | | Japan | Oda Nobunaga | Samurai/Navy | (VANILLA+) Units fight as if full strength always | | Kongo | (listed as Congo) | – | – | | Korea | Sejong | Science | (NERFED) Specialists produce less science | | Lithuania | (NEW) | Religious/War | Pagan unique building; Holy warriors | | Malaysia | (NEW) | Jungle/Trade | Kris swordsman replacement | | Maya | Pacal | Science/Faith | (NERFED) Long count years extended | | Mongolia | Genghis Khan | Domination | (VANILLA+) Keshiks ignore terrain cost | | Morocco | Ahmad al-Mansur | Trade/Desert | (VANILLA+) Kasbah gives +1 culture | | Mozambique | (NEW) | Coastal/Trade | Unique Dhow ship | | Myanmar | (NEW) | Faith/War | Golden pagoda unique building | | Netherlands | William | Trade/Swamp | (VANILLA+) Polder gives +1 production | | Norway | (NEW) | Viking/Coast | Storehouse replacement gives ships XP | | Ottoman | Mehmed II | Navy/War | (REWORK) Prize ships chance increased to 75% | | Persia | Darius | Golden Age | (VANILLA+) Golden Ages last 75% longer | | Phoenicia | (NEW) | Navy/Trade | Unique Bireme; Purple dye UI | | Poland | Casimir | Military | (NERFED) No more free policies; Winged Hussar moved | | Polynesia | Kamehameha | Ocean/Exploration | (VANILLA+) Moai give +1 gold | | Portugal | Maria I | Trade/Navy | (VANILLA+) Nau gives science on exploration | | Rome | Augustus Caesar | Military/Prod | (VANILLA+) Legions can build roads | | Russia | Catherine | Production | (VANILLA+) Strategic resources give +2 production | | Siam | Ramkhamhaeng | City-State | (NERFED) Food/faith from CS reduced by 10% | | Siberia | (NEW) | Tundra/Production | Unique Reindeer resource | | Sioux | (NEW) | Calvary/Freedom | Tipi UI; Buffalo cavalry | | Songhai | Askia | River/War | (VANILLA+) Mud Pyramid mosque added | | Spain | Isabella | Exploration | (UNCHANGED) Still reliant on natural wonders | | Sweden | Gustavus Adolphus | War/GP | (REWORK) Carolean gets +1 movement | | Switzerland | (NEW) | Gold/Neutral | Unique Swiss Guard; Bank UB | | Tibet | (NEW) | Faith/Mountain | Monastery UI gives science | | Turkey | (See Ottoman) | – | – | | Vietnam | (NEW) | Jungle/Defense | Viet Cong replacement for Infantry | | Zulu | Shaka | Melee War | (NERFED) Ikanda promotions reduced | | 30+ more | (Modded) | Various | Includes custom leaders like Stalin, Hitler, Mao (community variants) |

Note: The exact list fluctuates with versions (Lekmod 20.x – 34.x). Always check the in-game menu for your specific version.

Highlights from the Lekmod Civ List