How to Demolish a City in Civilization 6: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you want to erase a city from the map in Civilization 6? The answer is relatively straightforward: you raze it. When you capture a city from another civilization or a Free City, you are presented with a few options: Keep, Raze, or sometimes, Pillage and Keep (depending on game settings and expansions). Selecting “Raze city” will completely remove the city and all its districts from the game. However, there are nuances to this process and factors to consider before you unleash total destruction.

Razing: The Art of City Removal

Choosing to raze a city in Civ 6 is a significant decision with both benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown of the process and the implications:

Capturing the City

First and foremost, you need to capture the city. This requires a military unit reducing the city’s health to zero. Importantly, only Melee, Naval Melee, Anti-Cavalry, Light Cavalry, or Heavy Cavalry units can deliver the final blow to conquer a city. Ranged units, Naval Ranged units, and Siege units can only reduce a city’s health to one; they cannot capture it on their own.

The Raze Decision

Once the city is under your control, a panel will appear giving you the option to Keep, Raze, or possibly Pillage and Keep. Selecting “Raze city” initiates the demolition process.

The Razing Process

Razing isn’t instantaneous. The city will be destroyed over several turns, the exact number depending on factors such as the city’s size and population. During this time, the city is essentially defenseless.

Consequences of Razing

• Warmonger Penalties: Razing a city incurs a significant warmonger penalty with other civilizations. This penalty is higher than capturing a city, reflecting the severity of completely eliminating a population center. Be prepared for other leaders to denounce you and potentially declare war. The amount of the penalty depends on the Casus Belli used (or lack thereof). Declaring war generally applies 2x the base penalty, capturing a city applies the base penalty, while razing a city applies 3x the base penalty.

• Loyalty Issues: Razing a city can have both positive and negative impacts on Loyalty. On one hand, it removes a potential source of disloyalty in your empire. On the other hand, the act of razing can lower loyalty in nearby cities due to its negative impact on your standing with other leaders.

• Strategic Considerations: Razing can be strategically useful for several reasons:

  • Eliminating a strategic threat: If the city is poorly located, undefendable, or hindering your expansion, razing it may be the best option.
  • Denying resources to the enemy: If the city is rich in resources you don’t need, razing it prevents the original owner from retaking it and benefiting from those resources.
  • Creating a buffer zone: Razing a city can create a gap between your empire and a hostile neighbor, providing a defensive buffer.

Alternatives to Razing

Before you commit to razing a city, consider the alternatives:

• Keeping the city: This is generally the preferred option, especially if the city has useful districts, resources, or a good location. Even a poorly located city can be useful for production or as a stepping stone for further expansion.
• Trading the city: You can trade captured cities to other civilizations in exchange for resources, gold, or other concessions. This can be a good way to reduce warmonger penalties and improve relations with other leaders.

Is Razing Always Bad?

While razing incurs penalties, it’s not always a bad decision. Consider these scenarios:

• The city is strategically useless: A city surrounded by desert with no resources or strategic value may be more trouble than it’s worth.
• You can’t defend the city: If you lack the military strength to defend the city from counterattacks, razing it might be better than losing it and incurring additional warmonger penalties when you recapture it.
• Warmonger penalties are already high: If you’ve already conquered several cities and incurred significant warmonger penalties, razing one more city might not make a significant difference.
• Loyalty is an issue: If the newly captured city is in a location that is already creating significant loyalty challenges to your existing cities, razing the city might be the easiest way to remove the loyalty problem.

Ultimately, the decision to raze a city depends on your specific situation and strategic goals. Carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks before you unleash the wrecking ball!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I dismantle districts in Civ 6?

No, once a district is built, it cannot be removed or moved. This is a permanent decision, so plan your city layouts carefully.

2. Can I destroy a city with nukes in Civ 6?

While a nuke can devastate a city, reducing its population and damaging districts, it cannot completely destroy it on its own. You will still need a melee unit to capture the city and then choose the “Raze” option.

3. How long does it take to raze a city in Civ 6?

The number of turns it takes to raze a city depends on its population. Larger cities take longer to raze.

4. Does razing a city affect my amenities in Civ 6?

Yes, if the city was providing amenities to your empire, razing it will reduce your overall amenities. This can lead to unhappiness in other cities.

5. Can city-states be razed in Civ 6?

Yes, city-states can be razed just like regular cities. However, razing a city-state will incur severe warmonger penalties and likely lead to war with other civilizations that are suzerain of other city-states.

6. What happens to wonders built in a razed city?

All wonders built in a razed city are destroyed along with the city and its districts.

7. Can I stop the razing process once it has started?

No, once you have chosen to raze a city, the process cannot be reversed.

8. Does razing a city affect my science or culture output in Civ 6?

Yes, if the city was contributing to your science or culture output through districts or buildings, razing it will reduce your overall output.

9. What is the penalty for razing a city in Civ 6?

The main penalty is a warmonger penalty with other civilizations. The severity of the penalty depends on the size of the city and your relationship with other leaders.

10. Are there any civilizations that benefit from razing cities in Civ 6?

No civilization specifically benefits from razing cities, although some civilizations may be better equipped to handle the warmonger penalties associated with it.

11. How do I claim a free city in Civ 6?

You can claim a Free City by either increasing loyalty pressure on it from your civilization until it flips to your control or by conquering it with military force.

12. Is there a max city limit in Civ 6?

No, there is no upper limit on the number of cities you can have in Civ 6.

13. What happens to resources when a city is razed?

Any resources within the city’s borders are no longer accessible after the city is razed. However, they can be reclaimed by settling a new city in the area.

14. Can I peacefully take over a city-state in Civ 6?

While extremely difficult, it is theoretically possible to peacefully take over a city-state via loyalty pressure, but this is incredibly unlikely due to their inherent resistance to outside influence. It would likely take an extremely specific and highly improbable set of game conditions.

15. How close should I build my cities together in Civ 6?

In general, it’s recommended to settle cities quite close together, with four tiles between City Centers being a reasonable guideline. Going wide with many smaller cities is often more effective than trying to go tall with just a few large cities.

Understanding the nuances of razing cities in Civilization 6 can significantly impact your strategic decisions. Always weigh the consequences before unleashing total destruction. For more insights into the world of games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. This organization explores the intersection of games and education, providing valuable resources for educators and game enthusiasts alike.