Guide: How to Promote Villagers and Get Commoners in Foundation
Image Credit: Polymorph Games, Foundation
Serfs are fine for the early game, but if you want bigger buildings and better progress, you’ll need Commoners. Problem is, they unfortunately won’t promote themselves—you have to do it manually. Here’s how to make it happen.
Step 1: Meet Their Basic Needs
Before you can even think about promotions, make sure your villagers have all of their needs met (you can click on them and see what they need). This includes things like:
A Church – Apparently, spiritual enlightenment is key to social mobility.
Food – Not just berries—have at least two food sources (like fish or bread).
Water – Because no one wants to be promoted while dying of thirst.
Housing – Build homes near where they work, or they’ll refuse to move in.
Step 2: Upgrade Their Market (Commoners Get Fancy)
Serfs are fine with the basics, but Commoners? They want a little extra.
Add a Goods Stall to your Market and stock it with Clothes or Common Wares.
If you don’t have clothes yet, you’ll need to start making wool and building a tailor.
Candles also help, because apparently, proper lighting is a luxury in medieval times.
Step 3: Use the Bailiff to Promote
Once you’ve got their needs covered, it’s time for the big moment:
Every month, a promotion window pops up.
If you have a Grand Hall (a function assigned to a building like the Town Hall), you can promote Serfs to Commoners manually.
Click the promotion button, select the lucky few, and boom—new Commoners.
Watch for Warnings
If your villagers refuse to promote, they’re probably missing something.
Check their needs—if a Commoner says they lack goods, make sure your Market is actually stocking clothes or wares.
Keep an eye on workplace distance—if they have to travel too far, they might just quit instead.
Final Blurb
Promotion in Foundation isn’t automatic—you have to manually approve upgrades and make sure your village can support higher-class citizens. But once you do, you’ll finally unlock new buildings and better jobs, and your town can move past its peasant-era struggles.
Now go forth and give your best little peasants a promotion—just don’t forget to actually provide them with clothes, or they’ll be grumpy Commoners instead of productive ones.
