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Should You Build Walls in Civ 6? A Fortified Analysis

Unequivocally, yes, you should build walls in Civ 6. Walls provide essential early-game defense, deter aggressive actions from other civilizations, and are prerequisites for constructing even more powerful defensive structures later on. Ignoring them can leave your cities vulnerable to barbarian raids and opportunistic attacks from rival empires.

The Citadel’s Call: Understanding the Importance of Walls

In Civilization 6, city walls are not just cosmetic. They offer tangible benefits that can significantly impact your game. Here’s why they are crucial:

Early Game Defense

The early game is a vulnerable period. You are still establishing your cities, building your military, and exploring the world. Walls, even the basic Ancient Walls, provide a vital defensive buffer. They make your cities harder to conquer, buying you precious time to react to threats. Walls force attackers to commit more resources and time, potentially deterring aggression altogether. They reduce damage from non-siege weapons, which are common in the early game.

Deterrent Effect

A well-defended city acts as a deterrent. Neighboring civilizations are less likely to declare war if they know attacking your cities will be a costly endeavor. Walls signal that you are prepared to defend your territory, influencing the diplomatic landscape and potentially preventing conflicts before they begin.

Foundation for Future Defenses

Ancient Walls are the foundation upon which you build more advanced defenses. Medieval Walls require Ancient Walls to be present, and Renaissance Walls require Medieval Walls. Without the initial investment in Ancient Walls, you are essentially locking yourself out of higher-tier defensive structures, leaving you vulnerable in the mid-to-late game as other civilizations advance technologically.

Strategic Implications

Walls also play a strategic role. They can force enemies to attack your city from a specific direction, allowing you to concentrate your defenses. They can slow down enemy advances, giving you time to reinforce your cities or launch counterattacks. Understanding how walls interact with the terrain and other defensive structures is key to maximizing their effectiveness.

Boosting City Strength

Walls are an essential part of determining the overall defensive strength of a city. They are a major contributor, along with military units stationed in the city, to the defensive stat that determines how much damage a city can withstand before falling.

Fortification Strategies: Maximizing Your Defensive Potential

Building walls is not simply a matter of clicking a button. To truly maximize their potential, consider the following strategies:

Prioritize Key Cities: Focus on building walls in cities that are strategically important, such as those located near borders or resource-rich areas.
Strategic Placement of Districts: Plan your district placement so that they are protected by your city walls. This can make it more difficult for enemies to target specific districts, such as your Industrial Zone or Commercial Hub.
Utilize Natural Defenses: Take advantage of natural defenses like hills, rivers, and forests. Position your cities so that these features complement your walls, creating a formidable defensive network.
Garrison Units: Stationing military units within your cities increases their defensive strength significantly. Choose units that are effective against the types of enemies you are likely to face.
Upgrade Walls: As you advance through the tech tree, upgrade your walls to the latest available type. Medieval and Renaissance Walls offer significantly more protection than Ancient Walls.
Combine with Encampments: Encampments provide additional defensive capabilities, such as ranged attacks and scouting information. Building an Encampment near your city can significantly enhance its defenses.
City-State Allies: Certain city-states, like Militaristic city-states, provide bonuses to city defenses. Cultivating alliances with these city-states can further strengthen your fortifications.

The Demolition Dilemma: When to Attack a Walled City

So, you’ve fortified your cities, but what about attacking someone else’s? Here’s how to deal with enemy walls:

Siege Units are Key: Siege units like catapults, bombards, and artillery are essential for tearing down city walls. Focus your attacks on the walls until they are breached.
Use Siege Towers: Siege Towers allow your melee units to bypass city walls and directly attack the city center. This can be a game-changer, especially in the early game.
Flanking Bonuses: Position your units to flank the city walls. This can increase your attack power and make it easier to breach the defenses.
Naval Support: If the city is coastal, use naval units to bombard the walls from the sea. This can be a very effective way to weaken the defenses.
Air Power: In the late game, bombers and other air units can quickly destroy city walls.

Ultimately, while walls are a critical component of a successful Civ 6 strategy, remember that a strong offense can also be the best defense. Don’t become overly reliant on walls. Balance your defensive investments with the production of a capable military force. Remember that games are a valuable tool for learning and can be incorporated into education. For more on this subject, consider exploring the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

FAQs: Fortifying Your Knowledge

1. Are walls worth the production cost in the early game?

Absolutely. The production cost of Ancient Walls is a worthwhile investment given the security they provide against early barbarian attacks and rival civilizations. The time saved not having to rebuild districts or settlers after a raid far outweighs the initial cost.

2. When should I start building walls in my cities?

As soon as possible. Aim to build walls in your most vulnerable cities as soon as you have the technology unlocked. Prioritize border cities and those with strategic resources.

3. What are the different types of city walls in Civ 6?

The main types are: Ancient Walls, Medieval Walls, Renaissance Walls, and Star Forts. Each offers increasing defensive bonuses and requires the previous wall type to be built. Future era technologies unlock powerful defensive buildings like the Seawall and Flood Barrier.

4. Do walls prevent ranged attacks from enemy units?

Walls reduce damage from ranged attacks from non-siege units. However, siege units are specifically designed to deal heavy damage to walls.

5. How do walls affect the loyalty of my cities?

Walls, combined with a happy population and other factors, can help maintain loyalty in your cities. A well-defended city is less likely to rebel due to external pressure.

6. Can I build walls in every city?

Yes, you can. It’s generally advisable to build walls in all your cities, especially those that are vulnerable to attack.

7. Are walls effective against all types of units?

Walls are most effective against melee and ranged units. Siege units are designed to break down walls, and air units can bypass them entirely in later eras.

8. How do I upgrade my city walls?

You can upgrade your city walls by researching the appropriate technology and then selecting the upgrade option in the city production menu. Medieval Walls require the Masonry technology, for example.

9. What is the relationship between walls and city health?

Walls increase the city’s overall health and defense, making it more resistant to attacks.

10. Do walls affect tourism?

Generally, no, walls do not directly affect tourism. However, a well-defended and prosperous city is more likely to attract tourists over time.

11. What happens if my city walls are destroyed?

If your city walls are destroyed, your city becomes much more vulnerable to attack. Enemy units can more easily target the city center and other districts.

12. Can I repair damaged city walls?

Yes, you can repair damaged city walls using the city’s production. Prioritize repairs during wartime to maintain your city’s defenses.

13. Do city-states benefit from building walls?

Yes, city-states also benefit from building walls. A fortified city-state is less likely to be conquered by other civilizations.

14. Are there any civs or leaders that give bonuses to walls?

Yes. China, for example, can construct Ancient Walls much earlier with the ‘Eureka!’ bonus from Pottery. Other civilizations may have unique units or abilities that synergize well with fortified cities.

15. How do I deal with a city that has Renaissance Walls in the late game?

Renaissance Walls in the late game still provide a defensive bonus. Employ siege units with ranged attacks and air power to tear down these walls efficiently. Focus fire on one section of the wall to create a breach and coordinate your ground assault through that opening.

Should you build walls in Civ 6?