The tribe selection menu as of October 2020
Tribes are characters that players play as. Different tribes start with different technologies and have different terrain and resource spawn rates. There are 16 tribes, including 12 regular tribes that share the same technologies, units, and buildings and four special tribes with unique technologies, units, and buildings.
Tribes can be purchased through microtransactions. On mobile, four tribes are available for free (Xin-xi, Bardur, Imperius, and Oumaji), and the other 12 are available as in-app purchases. The Steam version of Polytopia includes all regular tribes, and special tribes are available as DLC. Purchases help pay for game development while keeping the game free of advertisements.[1]
Each tribe has its own unique cosmetic design for terrain, resources, units, cities, and monuments. These cosmetic differences do not impact gameplay. Each tribe also has its own ambience that plays on tiles of their "native lands." For instance, a rattlesnake is heard in Oumaji terrain, and howling wind and wolves are heard in Bardur terrain.
More tribes will continue to be added in the future; however, all future tribes will be special tribes. (Yădakk is the final regular tribe.)[2]
Regular Tribes[]
Regular tribes, formerly known as human tribes, share the same technologies, units, and buildings.
On mobile, all paid regular tribes cost $0.99 USD, except Luxidoor, which costs $3.99 USD. The Steam version includes all regular tribes.
| Image | Name | Starting Technology | Release Date | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Xin-xi | Climbing | February 4, 2016 | Red |
 |
Imperius | Organization | February 4, 2016 | Blue |
  |
Bardur | Hunting | February 4, 2016 | Black |
  |
Oumaji | Riding | February 4, 2016 | Yellow |
  |
Kickoo | Fishing | February 4, 2016 | Bright green |
  |
Hoodrick | Archery | March 23, 2016 | Brown |
  |
Luxidoor |
None Starts with a level 2 city |
March 23, 2016 | Purple |
  |
Vengir | Smithery | June 23, 2016 | White |
  |
Zebasi | Farming | August 4, 2016 | Orange |
  |
Ai-Mo | Meditation | December 1, 2016 | Teal |
  |
Quetzali | Shields | October 19, 2017 | Dark green |
  |
Yădakk | Roads | December 25, 2018 | Crimson |
Special Tribes[]
Special tribes have unique technologies, units, and buildings.
All special tribes cost $1.99 USD on mobile and $2.99 USD on Steam.
| Image | Name | Starting Technology | Release Date | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
Aquarion | None | June 8, 2017 | Salmon pink |
  |
∑∫ỹriȱŋ |
(Replaces Hunting) |
May 24, 2018 | Hot pink |
  |
Polaris |
(Replaces Sailing) |
June 14, 2019 | Light tan |
  |
Cymanti | Farming (modified) | February 17, 2021 | Lemon-lime |
Disabled Tribes[]
The Xin-Xi tribe has been disabled, as seen by its greyed-out tribe head.
Tribe disabled; it cannot be used by you or the AI.
-In-game description
Disabled tribes cannot be used by opponents. Tribes can be disabled in the tribe picker menu. Players commonly disable tribes that are difficult to play against.
Disabled tribes do not decrease the maximum number of opponents in single-player; rather, multiple opponents will play the same tribe.
See also[]
References[]
Game Mechanics | |
|---|---|
AI Relationships, Buildings, Cities, City Connections, Combat, Game Modes, Movement, Population, Ruins, Score, Stars, Technology, Terrain, Tribes, Units, Unit Actions, Unit Skills, Villages | |
Tribes | |
|---|---|
| Regular | |
| Special | |
