Foreign Legion (Civ5)

Foreign Legion
Gunpowder unit of the Modern Era
Introduced in Civilization V
Unique to
Civilization	French
Civilization	French
Replaces	Great War Infantry
Replaces	Great War Infantry
Cost
Production	320
Production	320
Stats
Combat strength	42 (50 in )
Combat strength	42 (50 in )
Moves	2
Moves	2
Required
Technology	Replaceable Parts
Upgrades to
Infantry
Infantry
Notes
20% combat bonus outside friendly territory

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Game Info

Vanilla and Gods & Kings

Unique front-line unit of the French civilization. Replaces the Great War Infantry (Rifleman in vanilla).

• Special abilities:
  • Foreign Lands Bonus: Combat Bonus outside Friendly Territory (20)

Brave New World

Available in limited numbers through the Volunteer Army ideological tenet, or from allied Militaristic City-States who offer it as their bonus troop once you have the ability to build Great War Infantry. Also appears in Scramble for Africa as France's unique unit.

• Special abilities:
  • Foreign Lands Bonus: Combat Bonus outside Friendly Territory (20)

Strategy

In vanilla Civilization V and Gods & Kings, the Foreign Legion gives the French the ability to continue on the offensive in the dawn of the Modern Era. The Foreign Lands Bonus transfers to the later Infantry and Mechanized Infantry units, so they can turn into an offensive civilization in the endgame.

In Brave New World, the Foreign Legion is a special unit, only available through the Volunteer Army tenet of the Freedom Ideology, or gifted by Militaristic City-States. It is slightly less powerful than a Great War Infantry, but it has a Foreign Lands Combat Bonus promotion (which transfers on upgrade), making it an excellent unit to use on the offensive. A nation which adopts the Volunteer Army tenet receives six of these immediately, maintenance-free, which in many cases could confer an immediate military advantage over its neighbors.

Civilopedia entry

Established in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is a unique infantry unit in the French army. The legion was specifically created for foreign nationals who wished to fight for France. Famously courageous, totally indifferent to personal safety, the Foreign Legion have seen service in every French war since their inception. The unit has been highly romanticized - according to popular culture, it is a place where heartbroken men go to forget women and scoundrels go to escape justice. This may or may not be accurate, but whatever the case the Legion is a tough and very effective fighting force.

Trivia

• There is more than just the "French Foreign Legion" - nations such as China, Spain, and Russia have "Foreign Legions" of their own.