Xerxes, King of Kings – Strategy and Guide

Intro

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on playing as Xerxes, King of Kings in Civilization VII! Whether you’re brand-new to turn-based strategy games or a seasoned Civ veteran, you’ll find useful insights here to help you guide the mighty Achaemenid Empire to dominance. Xerxes inherits a realm on the brink of challenge but also brimming with potential for both military conquests and grand cultural achievements.

If you love balancing an aggressive start with a sophisticated late-game economy, Xerxes offers a dynamic blend of strategic depth and sheer power. Let’s dive in and see how you can best wield this leader’s strengths—both on the battlefield and in the halls of diplomacy. Xerxes has another persona, called Xerxes, the Achaemenid.

Strategy

When playing as Xerxes, you’ll notice his toolkit encourages a bold expansion strategy early on, thanks to boosted Combat Strength in hostile or neutral lands. This advantage can help you bring rebellious cities (or less-defended enemies) under your control swiftly. Here’s how you might capitalize on his abilities:

1. Early Expansion & Conquest: Xerxes thrives when you press forward in hostile territory. Use your superior attack strength to overwhelm neighbors and establish footholds. Keep an eye on strategic resources so you’re not left behind in the arms race.
2. Culture & Gold Gains: Every time you capture a Settlement for the first time during a given Age, you’ll reap immediate Culture and Gold rewards. This helps you fund your war machine and also zip through the Civics tree more quickly—great for unlocking new forms of government or beneficial policies.
3. Focus on Infrastructure: Once you’ve established a comfortable empire size, shift towards building up your economic engine. Xerxes enjoys increased Gold yields in all Settlements, and that bonus is further amplified in cities you’ve conquered rather than founded.
4. Manage Happiness & Loyalty: Rapid expansion can strain your empire’s stability. Monitor your Amenities to ensure newly acquired cities stay loyal. Policy cards and luxuries can make all the difference here.
5. Secure a Versatile Win: While Xerxes is well-known for formidable warfare, his strong economy and Culture generation also enable a solid push toward other victory paths—like a Cultural or Diplomatic victory—especially if your expansion nets you great works or valuable alliances.

As you can see, Xerxes offers a dual path: remain the unstoppable conqueror or pivot into a prosperous cultural powerhouse once you’ve established your dominance.

Lines

Xerxes brings a charismatic—and often imposing—flair to your diplomatic interactions. Here are some of his notable lines:

• Greeting: “There is one head alone that sits at the center of the world, and it is mine.”
• Declares War: “Your warriors march forward into the flames of their own destruction.”
• Accepts Player’s Deal: “Indeed. Now, if you will excuse me.”
• Rejects Player’s Deal: “The gates are closed at this time.”
• Defeat: “I was an emperor; now just a pawn in someone else’s game.”

Hearing these lines in-game reminds you that you’re dealing with a proud ruler who won’t hesitate to remind everyone that his domain is at the center of the world.

Civilopedia Entry

The name “Persia” originated from the Greek designation for the Iranian plateau, historically inhabited by the Farsi people. During the Achaemenid period, the empire extended from Egypt and portions of Greece in the west all the way to the Indus River Valley in the east, laying the foundation for one of the most culturally and religiously diverse realms of the ancient world.

Cyrus the Great established the empire’s core, followed by Darius, whose leadership took Persian influence into Egypt and beyond. Xerxes, inheriting this vast dominion at a critical juncture, swiftly put down rebellions in Egypt and Babylon before turning his attention to Greece. While he famously faced defeat at the naval Battle of Salamis, Xerxes still managed to occupy Athens briefly—making him a figure of both admiration and infamy across many historical accounts.

After the Greek campaign stalled, Xerxes devoted himself to grand building projects at home. Under his rule, the Persian road and communication networks flourished, and the cities of Persepolis and Babylon saw new architectural wonders. Though he suffered setbacks, Xerxes remains a captivating figure: a leader of immense ambition and a devotee to his empire’s growth and cultural identity.

Unique Ability: Xerxes, King of Kings

The “Crusher of Rebellions” ability characterizes Xerxes’ capacity to bring rebellious cities under control and profit from his conquests. Here’s the breakdown:

• Increased Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory.
• Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time.
• Gold bonuses in all Settlements, further increased in those not founded by you.
• Higher Settlement limit for each new Age.

This ability drives a powerful conquest-oriented style of play, but it also serves a more expansion-friendly approach, allowing you to outpace rivals in terms of economic reach and city development.

Agendas

Leaders in Civilization VII follow specific agendas that inform their diplomatic behaviors and preferences. Xerxes maintains an agenda emphasizing both military might and the desire for conflict to remain a tool of empire-building:

• Lord of Fire: Decreases Relationship by a moderate amount if another leader is not at war, and increases Relationship slightly for leaders actively engaged in warfare.

In practical terms, if you’re looking to stay on Xerxes’ good side, you might want to maintain at least one active front (or alliance with someone else who’s at war). Peaceful builders should approach him cautiously or aim for strong defensive pacts.

Trivia

• Xerxes’ Crusher of Rebellions references his historical legacy of crushing revolts in Egypt and Babylon just as he took the throne.
• His aggressive approach, combined with the Lord of Fire agenda, mirrors the real-world Persian use of flaming arrows and destructive sieges.
• Although often depicted as a ruthless tyrant in Greek sources, Xerxes also cultivated the arts and architecture, funding monumental projects that still fascinate scholars today.

TL;DR

Xerxes is a militaristic-yet-economic leader designed to reward aggressive expansion while supporting a healthy economy and cultural growth. Expect strong combat bonuses when venturing beyond your own territory, lucrative captures of first-time Settlements each Age, and enhanced Gold yields that bolster both your war machine and infrastructure development. To stay in his good graces, either maintain a war footing or ensure you have the defenses to handle his ire if you prefer a peaceful route.

Ultimately, Xerxes can thrive in multiple victory paths, but his unique abilities make him especially potent for players who love flexing military might in the early and mid-game, transitioning into a powerful cultural or economic powerhouse as the match progresses. May your conquests be swift, your Settlements prosperous, and your empire everlasting!