How Many Cities Should You Found in Civilization 6?
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The answer isn’t a simple number, because it’s highly dependent on your victory condition, the map size, your chosen civilization, and even the difficulty level you’re playing on. However, as a general rule of thumb: aim for at least 6 cities, with a more ambitious goal of 7-9 cities, and don’t shy away from 9+ if the map allows. The more cities you control, the more resources, production, science, culture, and faith you generate. The only caveat is managing the happiness and amenities of your population, which can be done efficiently with careful planning. The idea is to maximize your potential while maintaining stability, as the number of cities in Civ 6 directly influences your empire’s overall strength and capabilities.
The Importance of Early Expansion
Early Game City Planning
The first 50 turns are critical. Aim to establish 3-5 cities in this period. A common build order involves double slinger into monument into settler. This gives you early defense, culture to unlock key civics, and the ability to quickly expand your territory. The ideal is to secure strategic locations for resources, adjacency bonuses for districts, and control key geographical features. Don’t be afraid to take land early because the AI is already doing the same thing, and more land early means more growth later.
The 100-Turn Benchmark
By turn 100, you should be aiming for around 10 cities. This provides a solid foundation for mid-game development. This benchmark is more relaxed on larger maps, which provide extra room for expansion, or on higher difficulties where you need extra production to keep up with the AI’s innate bonuses. Focus on building infrastructure in these cities, such as districts, monuments, and production buildings. These are the backbone of a thriving empire.
City Spacing and Placement
Optimal Distance
The sweet spot for city placement is 4-5 hexes apart. This allows each city to work most of its own tiles without significant overlap. Remember that cities can work tiles within a 3-hex radius. Settle too close, and you’ll waste valuable land. Settle too far, and you risk leaving resources undefended, but it’s best to prioritize key features and resources over strict spacing.
Strategic Placement
Prioritize settling on plains hills. These provide an immediate production bonus. Look for locations with access to freshwater, resources (especially strategic and luxury resources), and terrain features that provide adjacency bonuses for districts. Don’t settle near the coast, which would prevent from you ever placing a city next to it. A well-placed city can generate significant advantages.
Tall vs. Wide: The Civ 6 Paradigm
Wide Empires Reign Supreme
In Civilization 6, a “wide” empire (many cities) generally outperforms a “tall” empire (few, highly developed cities). This is because each city provides its own set of bonuses, and there aren’t any significant maintenance penalties for expanding aggressively. More cities translate to more districts, more resources, and more potential.
Balancing Expansion with Amenities
The key to playing wide is managing amenities. Ensure you have enough luxury resources to keep your citizens happy. Use entertainment complexes and water parks to boost happiness, and consider policies that provide amenity bonuses. An unhappy empire is an unproductive empire.
When Too Many Cities Become a Problem
Overextension Risks
While the “more is better” approach generally holds true, there are situations where too many cities can be detrimental. If you struggle to defend your borders, lack the resources to develop all your cities, or are constantly battling amenity issues, then you might be overextended.
Managing Captured Cities
When capturing cities, decide whether to keep or raze them. Generally, keep cities unless they are in terrible locations or strategically undefendable. Annexed cities can be valuable, but they also add to your amenity needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About City Founding in Civ 6
1. How far apart should I build cities in Civ 6, really?
Aim for 4-5 hexes apart in most situations to maximize territorial control and avoid unnecessary overlap.
2. Is it better to settle on a hill or next to a river?
Settle on plains hills whenever possible. The immediate production bonus is invaluable. However, access to freshwater is also crucial for growth, so prioritize locations with both.
3. Should I always settle on luxury resources?
Generally, yes. Settling on a luxury resource automatically provides it to your empire, boosting happiness and allowing you to trade it with other civilizations.
4. How many cities should I have by turn 100 on a standard speed game?
Aim for 10 cities by turn 100 on standard speed.
5. Is it bad to have too many cities in Civ 6?
Not really, as long as you can manage amenities and defend your territory. The benefits of having more cities generally outweigh the drawbacks.
6. What’s the best district to build in a new city?
Start with a monument to boost culture, then a commercial hub or harbor to generate gold, and then a campus to generate science. This will boost the early growth and development of your city.
7. Should I always keep captured cities?
Generally, yes, unless the city is in a terrible location or undefendable. Conquered cities can become valuable assets.
8. What’s the ideal population for a city in Civ 6?
There’s no fixed ideal, but aim for a population of at least 10 in each city to unlock additional district slots. Larger cities can support more districts and generate more yields.
9. How important are city-states in Civ 6?
City-states are very important. They provide unique bonuses and can be powerful allies. Securing suzerainty over city-states can significantly boost your empire. However, If a city-state is in a prime location and its bonuses are not important to you, it may be worth conquering to obtain a great location.
10. Should I build walls in all my cities?
Absolutely. Walls provide crucial defense against barbarian and enemy attacks, especially in the early and mid-game.
11. What if I’m playing on a small map? Should I still aim for a lot of cities?
On a smaller map, space is limited. Focus on quality over quantity. Aim for a smaller number of well-developed cities.
12. Does the difficulty level affect how many cities I should build?
On higher difficulties, the AI gets significant advantages. You’ll need to expand aggressively to keep up, potentially aiming for more cities than you would on lower difficulties.
13. How does my chosen civilization impact my city-building strategy?
Some civilizations, like Rome or Sumeria, get bonuses to early expansion. Others, like Kongo, have restrictions on city placement. Adapt your strategy to your civilization’s strengths and weaknesses.
14. What is the best way to increase my city’s population rapidly?
Build a granary and water mill to boost food production. Assign citizens to work farms and fisheries. Secure trade routes that provide bonus food to your city.
15. How can I effectively deal with loyalty issues in newly conquered cities?
Garrison a unit in the city, appoint a governor with loyalty bonuses, and use policies that increase loyalty. Focus on converting the city’s population to your religion, as religious unity boosts loyalty.
By understanding these principles and adapting them to your specific game situation, you can effectively manage your city expansion and maximize your chances of achieving victory in Civilization 6. Remember, the best way to learn is by doing, so get out there and start building your empire! Don’t forget to explore other great resources, such as the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org, for more information.