The Ultimate Guide to City Management: Can You Get Rid of a City in Civilization 6?
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Yes, you can absolutely get rid of one of your cities in Civilization 6, although the methods are somewhat limited and depend on the circumstances. You can’t simply “abandon” a city like you might wish. The most common way to remove a city you control is by giving it away in a trade deal, or by razing it after it has been captured in wartime. There are also some niche situations where a city might flip to a Free City and then subsequently disappear if it is captured by a city-state. Let’s dive into the specifics of how to manage your empire’s footprint and, when necessary, downsize effectively.
Methods for Removing a City From Your Empire
The strategic management of your cities is a crucial aspect of Civilization 6. Sometimes, a city you founded early on might become a burden, or a captured city might be more trouble than it’s worth. Here’s a detailed breakdown of your options for removing a city:
1. Trade the City Away
This is often the most peaceful way to offload a city. You can offer a city in a trade deal with another civilization. The AI will consider factors like the city’s strategic value, its infrastructure, and your relationship with them. To make the deal more enticing, you might need to sweeten the pot with gold, resources, or even other cities. This method is especially useful if you want to get rid of a city that’s geographically isolated or has poor growth potential. Keep in mind, you might be bolstering a rival, so consider the long-term implications.
2. Raze a Captured City
Razing a city is an option that becomes available when you capture it in war. However, the game settings must allow razing for this option to be available. Not all cities can be razed; you cannot raze an original capital city of another civilization. When you raze a city, it is completely removed from the map after a number of turns, and the land reverts to neutral territory. Razing incurs a warmonger penalty, so be prepared for potential diplomatic repercussions. The warmonger penalty is much lower when you have a valid casus belli (reason) for war.
3. Letting Loyalty Flip a City
Introduced in the Rise and Fall expansion, the Loyalty system can lead to a city rebelling and becoming a Free City. If the loyalty of a city drops to zero, it will become independent. While you can’t directly force a city to flip, you can create conditions that encourage it. This includes:
- Removing Governors: Governors provide a loyalty bonus; removing them can weaken a city’s loyalty.
- Provoking War: Being at war drains loyalty in all cities, especially those close to enemy territory.
- Espionage: Use spies to lower loyalty in target cities.
- Citizen Management: Starve and tax the citizens as much as possible to remove any happiness bonuses.
Once a city becomes a Free City, it’s vulnerable to being captured by other civilizations or even city-states. If a city-state captures the Free City, it will disappear, and the city-state will gain the territory. Note that this is a rare occurrence, as usually another Civ will take the city before a city-state has a chance.
4. World Builder (For Custom Games)
If you’re playing a custom game or using the World Builder tool, you have the power to directly delete a city. This option is only available outside of a standard game and is useful for creating scenarios or modifying existing maps. Simply select the “Delete” tool and click on the city center to remove it from the map.
Why Get Rid of a City?
There are several reasons why you might want to get rid of a city in Civilization 6:
- Poor Location: A city might be located in a resource-poor area, making it difficult to develop.
- Strategic Weakness: A city might be vulnerable to attack and difficult to defend.
- Loyalty Issues: Cities captured far from your main empire can be constant sources of unrest and disloyalty.
- Economic Drain: A city might be costing you more in maintenance than it’s generating in income.
- Border Gore: Sometimes, a city can create awkward border situations that hinder your overall strategy.
Consequences of Removing a City
Before you decide to get rid of a city, consider the consequences:
- Loss of Resources: You’ll lose access to any resources located within the city’s territory.
- Warmonger Penalties: Razing a city can significantly impact your relationships with other civilizations.
- Loss of Infrastructure: You’ll lose any districts, buildings, and improvements built in the city.
- Strategic Implications: Removing a city can create gaps in your defenses or open up new avenues for enemy expansion.
Carefully weigh these factors against the benefits of removing the city before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you better understand city management in Civilization 6:
1. Can you destroy a city you founded in Civ 6?
No, you cannot raze a city that you originally founded. However, you can trade it away to another civilization. Once it belongs to them, it is possible that you can recapture and raze that city, if allowed by the game settings.
2. What happens when you raze a city in Civilization 6?
When you raze a city, it is completely removed from the map after a certain number of turns. The land reverts to neutral territory, and you incur a warmonger penalty.
3. How do you raze a city in Civ 6?
You can only raze a city after capturing it in war. When prompted with the options to “Keep”, “Raze”, or “Pillage”, select “Raze”. Note that razing must be enabled in the game settings for this option to appear.
4. Is it always bad to raze a city in Civ 6?
Not always. Razing a city can be beneficial if it’s strategically weak, has poor resources, or is causing significant loyalty issues. However, consider the warmonger penalty and potential diplomatic repercussions.
5. Can a city-state raze a city in Civ 6?
Yes, if a city flips to a Free City and is then captured by a city-state, the city will be razed. This is a relatively rare occurence.
6. How does loyalty affect cities in Civ 6?
Loyalty is a mechanic introduced in the Rise and Fall expansion. If a city’s loyalty drops to zero, it will become a Free City, independent from your empire.
7. How can you increase loyalty in a city?
You can increase loyalty by placing a governor in the city, maintaining high amenities, keeping the city well-fed, and ensuring it’s not too far from your capital or other loyal cities.
8. What are the warmonger penalties in Civ 6?
Warmonger penalties are diplomatic penalties incurred for aggressive actions, such as declaring war and razing cities. These penalties can negatively impact your relationships with other civilizations.
9. Can you peacefully acquire a city in Civ 6?
Yes, a city can peacefully join your empire if its loyalty towards your civilization is high enough. This typically happens when the city is surrounded by your cities and influenced by your culture and amenities.
10. How close should you build cities in Civ 6?
A good rule of thumb is to build cities 4-5 tiles apart. This allows for efficient use of resources and maximizes the number of cities you can build.
11. Is it better to go wide or tall in Civ 6?
In general, it’s better to go wide and build many smaller cities in Civilization 6. This allows you to control more resources and generate more yields overall.
12. What is the best way to manage amenities in Civ 6?
You can manage amenities by building entertainment complexes and water parks, trading for luxury resources, and adopting policies that boost amenity generation.
13. Can a city sink due to climate change in Civ 6?
Yes, with the Gathering Storm expansion, rising sea levels due to climate change can submerge coastal tiles, potentially impacting cities built near the coast.
14. How do you trade a city to another civilization in Civ 6?
You can offer a city as part of a trade deal with another civilization. Open the diplomacy screen, select “Make a Deal,” and include the city in your offer.
15. What is the World Builder in Civ 6?
The World Builder is a tool that allows you to create custom maps and scenarios for Civilization 6. It’s available in the game’s main menu and allows you to modify terrain, place resources, and add or remove cities.
Understanding how to manage your cities, including when and how to remove them, is crucial for success in Civilization 6. By mastering these strategies, you can optimize your empire and lead your civilization to victory. Consider joining the Games Learning Society to discuss these strategies with other players. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.