Can City-States Conquer Cities in Civ 6? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, city-states in Civilization VI can indeed conquer cities. While it’s not their primary focus, and they are less aggressive than major civilizations, city-states are capable of taking over other cities through military action. This can happen if a city-state is at war with another civilization or even another city-state, and its units manage to overwhelm the city’s defenses. However, the aftermath of such a conquest is where things get interesting. City-states generally do not annex conquered cities into their “empire,” instead often razing these cities in line with their non-expansionist policies.
City-States: Tiny but Mighty?
City-states are unique entities in Civilization VI. Unlike major civilizations striving for world domination, city-states are independent cities with their own unique bonuses and suzerain bonuses for those that manage to become allies. They provide players with a means of diplomacy outside of dealing with the major civilizations. They can engage in war, and provide players a means of diplomacy outside of dealing with the major civilizations. Their primary focus isn’t expansion, but survival and maintaining their independence.
The Nature of City-State Warfare
When a city-state goes to war, it’s usually for one of a few reasons:
- Defense: They’re defending themselves against an aggressor.
- Protection: They’re fulfilling a suzerain’s request to attack a specific target.
- Opportunity: They see a weak city and decide to take advantage.
Because their aim is generally not expansionism, city-states tend to behave differently than major civilizations after capturing a city. According to the article provided, a city-state may raze every captured city because it goes against their policy of non-expansionism.
How City-States Conquer Cities
The mechanics of capturing a city are the same for city-states as they are for major civilizations. A melee unit (or a unit capable of melee attack, such as some anti-cavalry, light cavalry, or heavy cavalry units) must reduce the city’s health to zero and occupy the city center. Until its health is reduced to zero by a Melee, Naval Melee, Anti-Cavalry, Light Cavalry, or Heavy Cavalry unit. Ranged, Naval Ranged, and Siege units can’t conquer a city on their own; their attacks will only ever reduce a city’s health to one. Once captured, the city-state controls the city.
City-State Capitals and Domination Victory
City-states can’t win a domination victory themselves, but they can certainly influence one. The article mentions that if a city-state allied with you holds an original capital, that capital is considered to be owned by your civilization for the purposes of a domination victory. This can be crucial if you’re struggling to capture a final capital. In that situation, securing the loyalty of the city-state is critical.
FAQs: Understanding City-States in Civ 6
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the role and capabilities of city-states in Civilization VI:
- Can I peacefully take over a city-state?
Yes, but it’s extremely difficult. The Loyalty system can theoretically allow you to flip a city-state to your side, but their inherent resistance to foreign pressure makes this a rare occurrence. - Should I try to keep or raze conquered cities?
Generally, you should keep cities you capture, as they provide a production base and resources. Razing a city should be reserved for strategic reasons, like removing a poorly placed or undefendable city. - How do I become Suzerain of a city-state?
By being the civilization with the most envoys invested in a city-state. Earning Envoys through civics and wonders is essential for this. - What benefits do city-states provide?
City-states offer unique bonuses based on their type (Scientific, Religious, Military, Industrial, Commercial, Cultural), and these bonuses are amplified when you are their Suzerain. - Do city-states have loyalty?
Yes, city-states have a Loyalty score that affects their stability and susceptibility to foreign influence. - Can city-states declare war on me?
Yes, they can. They usually declare war on you if your relationship is very bad or if they are requested by their suzerain. - How does war impact my relationship with city-states?
Declaring war on a civilization with city-state allies will negatively impact your relationship with those city-states, especially if you capture their cities. - What is the ‘Warmonger Penalty’ and how does it affect city-states?
The Warmonger Penalty is a negative score that affects diplomatic relations with other leaders based on your aggressive actions. It reduces relationships with all leaders, including those of the city-states. - Should I build cities close to city-states?
Building cities near city-states can be beneficial for exploiting nearby resources and gaining influence, but be mindful of loyalty pressures and potential conflicts. 4 tiles in between City Centers is a reasonable rule of thumb. - Can city-states capture capitals?
Yes, they can capture capitals. - Do city-states expand?
No, city-states do not settle new cities. - What happens if a city-state is conquered?
If a city-state is conquered, it is eliminated from the game unless liberated. - How far away should I settle cities?
A city must be at least 4 hexes away from any other City Center (3 hexes between any two City Centers). - What are grievances?
Grievances are negative diplomatic points accumulated between civilizations due to various actions, such as declaring war or occupying cities. These grievances affect diplomatic relations and can decay over time. - Can allies declare war on each other?
No, allies cannot declare war on each other in Civilization 6.
Strategic Considerations for City-State Interactions
Understanding the nuances of city-state behavior is crucial for success in Civilization VI. Here are some strategic considerations:
- Early Game Focus: Prioritize discovering and interacting with city-states early to establish influence.
- Envoy Management: Strategically allocate envoys to city-states that provide bonuses aligned with your victory condition.
- Defensive Alliances: Consider defending city-states from aggressors to gain their long-term loyalty.
- Exploiting Suzerain Bonuses: Leverage the unique suzerain bonuses to boost your civilization’s growth and development.
By carefully managing your relationships with city-states, you can gain significant advantages in Civilization VI and ultimately achieve victory. Always remember, a wise leader understands the power of diplomacy and strategic alliances, even with the smallest of nations. Remember that understanding the complexities of games like Civilization VI can offer valuable insights into strategy and decision-making, concepts explored further by the Games Learning Society. You can learn more about the intersection of games and education at GamesLearningSociety.org.