Understanding Border Expansion in Civilization V: Claiming Your Territory
In Civilization V, claiming land and resources is paramount to your empire’s success. So, just how far can your cultural borders stretch? A city’s borders can expand to a maximum of five tiles from the city center (but not including the city tile itself). While you can only work tiles within a three-tile radius, those extra tiles are crucial for accessing strategic and luxury resources and bolstering your territorial control. Read on to learn more!
The Mechanics of Border Growth in Civ V
Border growth in Civilization V is a subtle yet essential element of gameplay. It’s not just about claiming land; it’s about accessing resources, securing strategic positions, and ultimately, shaping the destiny of your civilization. Understanding the nuances of border expansion is the key to maximizing your empire’s potential.
Culture: The Driving Force
The primary driver of border expansion is culture. Each city generates culture points, and as these points accumulate, the city’s borders gradually expand outward. The rate of culture generation depends on various factors, including buildings, wonders, social policies, and Great People specialists. Investing in culture is therefore a direct investment in territorial growth.
Culture Bombing with Great Artists
For a more immediate and impactful border expansion, you can use a Great Artist. Great Artists have a special ability called “Culture Bomb,” which instantly claims all tiles within a certain radius of the city where the Great Artist is activated. This can be a game-changer when you need to quickly secure a vital resource or strategic location. However, bear in mind that the Culture Bomb will not take over enemy territory or cities, as it did in previous Civilization titles.
Strategic and Luxury Resources Beyond the Workable Radius
Even though you can only actively work tiles within three hexes of your city, claiming tiles in the fourth and fifth rings is extremely important. This is how you get control of vital strategic and luxury resources. Remember, you must improve the tile with the appropriate improvement (mine, plantation, etc.) to gain access to the resource.
Strategic Importance
Border expansion provides crucial territorial control. Control over tiles can provide defensive bonuses in combat. In addition, border expansion may give you access to key chokepoints and natural barriers that prevent enemy units from waltzing through your territory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Borders in Civ V
1. How long do open borders last in Civ 5?
An Open Borders agreement with another civilization lasts for 30 turns on Standard speed. After this period, the agreement needs to be renegotiated to continue. Be mindful of who you open your borders to, as it can allow enemy units easy access to your territory.
2. How close can you build cities in Civ 5?
Cities must be at least four tiles apart from each other. This rule applies to both your own cities and those of other civilizations. This restriction prevents over-crowding and promotes more strategic city placement.
3. How do borders expand in Civ 5 without culture?
Apart from culture, the only other way to expand your borders is by using a Great Artist and their Culture Bomb ability. There is no other way to expand your borders.
4. Should you open borders in Civ 5?
Opening your borders can have both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it can boost your diplomatic relations and facilitate the spread of your religion. On the other hand, it can allow enemy units to enter your territory, potentially hindering your movements and scouting your lands. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before agreeing to open borders. Sometimes you may want to extract a small amount of gold per turn (GPT) for opening your borders to another civ.
5. How many cities should you have in Civ 5?
The optimal number of cities depends on your chosen civilization, victory condition, and play style. A “tall” empire typically consists of 2-4 highly developed cities, while a “wide” empire might have 6-12 smaller cities. Choose the approach that best suits your goals.
6. Can a city’s borders expand into unclaimed territory?
Yes, a city’s borders can and will expand into unclaimed territory as culture accumulates. This is how you stake your claim to resources and strategic locations.
7. Can a city’s borders expand into another civilization’s territory?
No, a city’s borders cannot directly expand into another civilization’s territory. However, through strategic city placement and cultural influence, you can exert control over contested areas.
8. What happens if two cities’ borders overlap?
If two cities’ borders overlap, the tiles belong to the city that claimed them first. This can lead to strategic competition for valuable resources and territory.
9. Does the difficulty level affect border expansion?
No, the difficulty level does not directly affect the rate of border expansion. However, higher difficulty levels can indirectly impact border growth by making it harder to acquire culture-generating resources and buildings.
10. What are the best social policies for border expansion?
Social policies that boost culture generation, such as Tradition, Liberty, and Piety, can significantly accelerate border expansion. Look for policies that provide bonus culture in your capital and other cities. The Games Learning Society highlights the impact of these strategic choices and their long-term effects.
11. How do wonders affect border expansion?
Wonders can significantly affect border expansion. Many wonders, such as the Hermitage and the Louvre, provide substantial culture boosts, accelerating the rate at which your cities claim new territory.
12. Can city-states affect my border expansion?
Yes, city-states can influence your border expansion. Allied city-states often provide resources or cultural benefits that can indirectly boost your empire’s growth. However, they can also limit your expansion by claiming territory near your cities.
13. How does terrain affect border expansion?
Terrain itself doesn’t directly affect border expansion rate, but certain terrain features can influence the strategic value of the tiles you claim. For example, hills provide defensive bonuses, while rivers offer trade route advantages.
14. What is the “Religious Settlements” pantheon?
The Religious Settlements pantheon provides your civilization with faster border growth and a free settler, which can provide you with a massive early-game edge.
15. What happens if my city is captured?
If your city is captured by another civilization, the borders surrounding that city immediately transfer to the new owner. This can result in significant territorial losses and strategic setbacks.
Understanding border expansion is crucial for success in Civilization V. By strategically managing culture, utilizing Great Artists, and considering the strategic value of each tile, you can build a powerful and expansive empire that dominates the world stage. Remember to check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more in-depth strategies and resources.