Wonders

Wonders are a unique class of structures in Rise of Nations, which, unlike regular buildings, can only be built once in an entire game, and at a great cost, albeit with a greater reward if successfully built. They are modeled after real-life "Wonders of the World", which includes both the most remarkable manmade structures and the most spectacular natural wonders. These monuments represent the magnificence and prestige of the nation that built them. Any nation can compete for being the first to build a particular wonder, although if another nation builds it first, the losing nations' efforts are wasted, as their copy of the wonder will be destroyed, owing to the requirement that there can only be one of each wonder.

Overview

Many wonders of different types from varied locations, ages, and time periods can be found in the game. Each offers a unique set of benefits, ranging from boosts in resource production, increases in Commerce Limit and Population Limit caps to a discount of research times and costs, and even unique bonuses for buildings and units.

Each Wonder also has a cultural point value associated with it, called Wonder Points. On standard game settings, a game could be decided entirely on what nation has the most Wonder Points, and win by accumulating of enough of them. Some game modes even develop entirely around Wonders, building them quickly being the factor that determines victory. As a general rule, the more "advanced" the Wonder is (that is, the later the age when it becomes available), the more Wonder Points it grants.

Wonders must be built within a city's radius (except for the Wonders Forbidden City and Red Fort), and each city may only have one wonder within its radius, (except for the nation Egyptians, whose nation power allows for 2 wonders per city, and the Wonders Forbidden City and Red Fort, which do not count against a city's Wonder limit), limiting the number of Wonders to the number of cities controlled.

Rise of Nations shipped with 14 Wonders available to build, two for each age, starting in the Classical Age. The Thrones and Patriots expansion added three new Wonders, bringing the total to 17.

List of Wonders

	Wonder	Bonuses	Cost	Wonder Points
	Pyramids	Increases Commerce Limit for Food and Wealth by 50. Increases City Limit by 1. Cities are 33% cheaper. Improves Food gather rate by 20%.	200 200	1
	Colossus	Increases Wealth rate by 30%. Increases Population Limit by 50. Increases Commerce Limit for Wealth and Timber by 50.	200 200	1
	Hanging Gardens	Increases your Knowledge production by 50. Granary, Lumber Mill and Smelter production upgrades are discounted by 66%.	200 200	1
	Terra Cotta Army	Creates a free foot unit every 30 seconds (plus 0.5 second(s) for every infantry unit you control).	300 300	2
	Colosseum	Increases your National Borders by 3. Attrition to enemy units in your territory increased by 50%. Forts and Towers are 20% cheaper.	300 300	2
	Forbidden City	Counts as a bonus Major City in your nation. Can be built wherever a City can and its build location is not revealed to the enemy until it is completed. Gathers +50 Food and Timber instead of the usual +10/+10. Capital timers and sudden death eliminations do not affect you. Does not count against a City's Wonder limit.	300 300	2
	Temple of Tikal	Increases your Timber gather rate by 50%. Raises your Commerce Cap for Timber by 100. Increases Temple effects (on National Borders, Hit Points, and Attack Range) by 50%.	400 400	2
	Porcelain Tower	You create ships 50% faster. Increases your income from rare resources (in your territory) and Markets by 200%. You receive the bonus ability of all rare resources in your territory, even if you don't have a Merchant there.	400 400	2
	Red Fort	Massive Fort with long range, many hit points, extra garrison value, increased border push, and resistance to air attack. Can be built wherever a Fort can; does not count against a City's Wonder limit. Its build location is not revealed to the enemy until it is completed. Receive Fort upgrades for free and all Forts gain 33% more hit points. Units garrisoned in any Fort heal at +500% the normal rate.	400 400	2
	Angkor Wat	Increases your Metal gather rate by 50%. Raises your Commerce Limit for Metal by 100. Cost of Barracks, Stable, and Dock units reduced by 25%.	500 500	3
	Versailles	Reduces the non- Knowledge costs of Library research by 50%. Your Supply Wagons can heal your troops (and French Supply Wagons heal at double the normal rate). Siege, Artillery, and Supply units move 25% faster.	500 500	3
	Statue of Liberty	You receive all ground unit and Airbase upgrades for free. Reduces attrition damage inflicted on your units in enemy territory by 100%. Reduces the cost of Bombers and air defense buildings by 33%.	600 600	4
	Taj Mahal	Increases all your building hit points by 100%. Your Wealth income is increased by 100%. Raises your Commerce Limit for Wealth by 300.	600 600	4
	Kremlin	Raises your Commerce Limit for Food, Timber, Metal, and Oil by 200. Increases the attrition damage inflicted on unsupplied enemy units in your territory by 100%. Spies are created instantly. Gain the use of an extra Spy unit which does not count against your Population Limit and is rebuilt for free whenever it is killed.	700 700	6
	Eiffel Tower	Increases Oil income by 100%. Raises your Commerce Limit for Oil by 200. Increases your National Borders by 6.	700 700	6
	Super Collider	The cost to buy goods at the Market is never higher than 125 Wealth; the price to sell is never lower than 50 Wealth. Technologies can be researched instantaneously.	800 800	8
	Space Program	You can see the location of all units, buildings and terrain on the map. You create aircraft and missiles 100% faster and 50% cheaper. You are immune to the effects of a Nuclear Embargo.	800 800	8