Does the Great Wall Expand in Civ 5? Unveiling Its Secrets and Impact
The short answer is: No, the Great Wall in Civilization V does not expand after it is built. Unlike city borders which can expand through culture or purchase, the Great Wall’s effect is fixed upon completion. It provides a culture boost and a defense bonus within its initial boundaries, based on the tiles it occupies when constructed. However, its protective and cultural influence doesn’t spread dynamically as the game progresses. Understanding this is crucial for maximizing its strategic value.
The Great Wall: A Defensive and Cultural Powerhouse
The Great Wall is one of the most iconic wonders in Sid Meier’s Civilization V. It offers significant defensive and cultural bonuses, making it a coveted achievement for any aspiring civilization. Building it requires careful planning and execution, especially given the competitive race against other civilizations vying for the same wonder. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this wonder and understand why it doesn’t “expand.”
Understanding the Great Wall’s Functionality
The Great Wall provides two key benefits:
- Culture Boost: Each tile occupied by the Great Wall provides +1 culture per turn. This helps accelerate the acquisition of social policies, allowing your civilization to unlock powerful bonuses faster.
- Defense Bonus: Tiles adjacent to the Great Wall receive a +50% combat bonus for defending units. This makes these tiles exceptionally difficult for enemy units to traverse and conquer.
The wonder itself doesn’t cause the expansion of your borders. Your borders expand through culture generation, which then allows you to claim more tiles.
Why It Doesn’t Expand
The concept of “expansion” in this context typically refers to the ability to work tiles or to exert influence over a larger area. The Great Wall doesn’t change the tiles that your cities can work or directly extend your cultural influence beyond what its immediate cultural bonus provides. Its defensive benefits are limited to adjacent tiles, and these effects do not grow over time.
The initial placement of the Great Wall is therefore critical. It needs to be strategically positioned along borders or vulnerable areas to maximize its defensive capabilities. The cultural output is dependent on how many contiguous tiles can form a chain.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Great Wall and Borders in Civ 5
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about the Great Wall, border mechanics, and related concepts in Civilization V, designed to enhance your understanding and strategy:
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How is the Great Wall built?
The Great Wall is constructed by a worker unit after the appropriate technology (Masonry) is researched. It is placed on tiles within your borders and must form a continuous chain, with each section built on adjacent tiles.
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What are the optimal tiles for building the Great Wall?
Ideally, build the Great Wall along natural chokepoints like mountains, rivers, or coastlines. This maximizes its defensive value by forcing enemies to funnel through fewer entry points.
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Can the Great Wall be destroyed?
The Great Wall cannot be destroyed by enemy units. However, tiles beneath the Great Wall can be plundered if occupied by an enemy unit, temporarily halting its benefits on that specific tile.
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Does the Great Wall affect air combat?
No, the Great Wall’s defensive bonus applies only to land units defending adjacent tiles. It does not offer any protection against air attacks.
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How does the Great Wall interact with city borders?
The Great Wall must be built within your existing city borders. It does not cause your borders to expand, but it significantly enhances the defense of the tiles it occupies.
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What is the maximum number of tiles the Great Wall can occupy?
There is no hard limit on the number of tiles the Great Wall can occupy, as long as the tiles are within your borders and the sections are continuously connected.
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Does the Great Wall provide tourism bonuses?
The Great Wall itself does not directly generate tourism. However, the culture it generates helps unlock social policies, some of which enhance tourism output. If you select Freedom ideology, you get tourism for each Great Work in the city, so the Great Wall will help by getting you there faster.
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Can you build improvements on tiles covered by the Great Wall?
No, you cannot build any improvements on tiles occupied by the Great Wall. The tile is permanently dedicated to the wonder.
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What happens to the Great Wall if a city is captured?
If a city containing a section of the Great Wall is captured, the section of the wall remains intact, but its cultural and defensive bonuses are lost to you and gained by the capturing civilization.
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How does terrain impact the effectiveness of the Great Wall?
The Great Wall is most effective when built along difficult terrain like hills, mountains, or rivers. These natural barriers, combined with the defensive bonus, create incredibly strong defensive positions.
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Can you build the Great Wall on neutral territory?
No, the Great Wall can only be built within your owned city borders. It cannot be built on neutral or unclaimed territory.
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Is the Great Wall worth building compared to other wonders?
The value of the Great Wall depends on your strategic goals. If you need a strong defensive line and cultural boost, especially early in the game, it can be highly valuable. However, if you prioritize other aspects like science or faith, other wonders may be more beneficial.
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How does culture influence border expansion in Civ 5?
Culture is the primary driver of border expansion in Civilization V. As your civilization generates culture, your cities’ borders will expand, claiming new tiles for your empire. This happens automatically over time.
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What are the different ways to acquire tiles in Civ 5?
Tiles can be acquired through:
- Culture: The most common method, passively expanding borders over time.
- Purchasing: Spending gold to directly buy tiles adjacent to your cities.
- Great People: Certain Great People, like Great Generals, can claim tiles by creating citadels.
- Pantheons: Religious Settlements provides extra culture to expand the borders.
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What is the optimal city placement strategy for maximizing border expansion?
Place your cities strategically near valuable resources or key strategic locations. Consider the terrain and potential for growth. Early game, prioritizing fresh water sources is a good idea. Later on, resources like oil and uranium become important and you will have to make a decision based on this. The Games Learning Society provides helpful insights and strategies for optimizing gameplay, including city planning and resource management. You can check out their resources on GamesLearningSociety.org to deepen your understanding.
Strategic Implications of the Great Wall
The Great Wall is more than just a defensive structure; it’s a strategic investment that impacts your civilization’s trajectory. Its early culture boost can help you secure crucial social policies, giving you a competitive edge. Its defensive capabilities can deter early aggression and allow you to focus on internal development.
However, it’s crucial to remember that the Great Wall is a static entity. Its benefits are fixed upon completion, and it doesn’t adapt to changing circumstances. Therefore, careful planning and placement are essential to maximize its value throughout the game.
Conclusion
While the Great Wall itself doesn’t expand in Civilization V, understanding its mechanics and how it interacts with border expansion is key to leveraging its power. Plan your placement strategically, consider the surrounding terrain, and integrate it into your broader strategic goals to create a formidable defense and cultural engine. By mastering these aspects, you can transform the Great Wall into a cornerstone of your civilization’s success.