====== Experience ======
{{:abilities:experience.png?nolink}} **Experience** separates old units from new units, and is accumulated through a variety of combat related actions. Upon reaching certain thresholds, an additional experience star will be displayed in the unit's stats page. A unit may obtain up to 5 stars, though the amount of experience points required for each star increases progressively.

^ Experience Required  ^ Number of Stars  ^ Additional Bonus          ^
| 15                   | 1                |                           |
| 50                   | 2                |                           |
| 100                  | 3                | +1 [[Strength]]           |
| 200                  | 4                | -1 [[Encumbrance]] +2 HP  |
| 400                  | 5                | +1 Strength               |

Each star of experience improves a unit's [[Attack Skill]], [[Defence Skill]], [[Precision]], [[Morale]], and [[Research]] ability by 1. Additionally, reaching 3, 4 and 5 stars have additional benefits, outlined in the table above.

Leaders also gain additional regular [[Leadership]] with experience stars. The amount gained depends on the size of the leader's initial leadership value:

^ Experience Required ^ Number of Stars ^ Initial Leadership 10 ^ Initial Leadership 40 ^ Initial Leadership 80 ^ Initial Leadership 120 ^ Initial Leadership 160 ^
| 15 | 1 | +5 | +15 | +20 | +25 | +30 |
| 50 | 2 | +10 | +30 | +40 | +50 | +60 |
| 100 | 3 | +10 | +30 | +40 | +50 | +60 |
| 200 | 4 | +10 | +30 | +40 | +50 | +60 |
| 400 | 5 | +10 | +30 | +40 | +50 | +60 |

=== Means of Experience Gain ===

A variety of methods exist by which units may gain experience(([[:user:loggy:experience|Analysis of the Dominions 5.53 executable]])):

  * Any non-[[Mindless]] unit will gain 1 xp each turn that they're alive.
  * Entering appropriate sites (commander **and** troops under command) will gain extra xp per turn, but the amount depends on site in question.
  * Experience granting items give the appropriate amount each turn (on top of survival and being in certain sites), but NOT to {{:abilities:animal.png?15&nolink}}[[Animals]] or [[Mindless]] units.
  * [[Wish]]ing for experience grants 500 xp.
  * Winning the [[Arena]] gives 100 xp.
  * [[Adventure Sites]] grant 20 xp per attempted entry.
  * [[Mummify|Mummification]] adds together the experience values of the two parts of the mummy bundle.
  * Attacking in melee grants 1 xp. This is added only once for each attack "flurry", not for each weapon or individual attack made.
  * Each square {{:abilities:trample.png?15&nolink}}[[Trample]]d grants 1 xp.
  * Events can alter experience.
  * Certain shapechanging will remove xp when changing shape, such as mounts losing their riders.
  * Units that retreated in battle gain 1 xp.
  * Units that didn't retreat instead get 4 xp.