How Many Cities Should You Build in Civ? The Ultimate Guide

The short answer is: it depends. There’s no magic number of cities that guarantees victory in every Civilization game. The ideal number of cities shifts depending on the specific Civilization game you are playing, the victory condition you’re aiming for, the difficulty level, the Civilization you’ve chosen, and even the map settings. However, this article will help you determine the best number of cities to build for a successful campaign in various Civ games, along with frequently asked questions.

Understanding the “Tall” vs. “Wide” Strategy

Before diving into specific numbers, it’s important to understand the fundamental concepts of “tall” and “wide” empires in Civilization:

• Tall: A tall empire focuses on developing a small number of highly productive cities. These cities are packed with citizens and benefit from significant infrastructure and wonders. Tall empires often prioritize science, culture, or diplomacy.

• Wide: A wide empire encompasses a large number of cities spread across the map. While individual cities might be less developed than in a tall empire, the sheer quantity of cities generates significant production, resources, and territorial control. Wide empires are often geared towards domination or religion.

The best strategy often depends on the Civilization game and the particular Civilization you are playing, which is why there is no singular answer to this question.

City Counts by Civilization Game

Here’s a breakdown of suggested city counts for different Civilization games, based on generally accepted strategies:

Civilization VI

• General Guidance: Aim for at least six cities in the long run. Seven to eight is a good target, and nine or more is even better.
• Early Game: A strong goal is to have around 10 cities by turn 100.
• Early Game: By turn 50, aim for three to five cities and units.
• Strategy: In Civilization VI, additional cities are advantageous, particularly when you have ways to manage maintenance costs. Don’t be afraid to expand aggressively in the early game, especially through settling new locations.
• Considerations: In general, captured cities should be kept because they are worth at least the production associated with building a settler.

Civilization V

• Tall Empires: 2-4 cities, each with 20-40 citizens.
• Wide Empires: 6-12 cities, each with 10-15 citizens.
• General Guidance: 3 cities are often enough, and 4 is more than enough, with staying at only 2-4 cities being a good strategy.
• Strategy: The ideal number of cities in Civilization V is heavily influenced by your chosen victory condition and Civilization. Some Civilizations are better suited for tall strategies, while others excel with wide empires.
• Considerations: A new city should be settled as soon as you have 5 or more happiness so you can support the happiness hit. Try to settle only on locations with a luxury you don’t have yet.

Civilization III

• Tiny Maps: 12 cities
• Small Maps: 14 cities
• Standard Maps: 16 cities
• Large Maps: 24 cities
• Huge Maps: 32 cities
• Strategy: In Civilization III, the optimal number of cities depends significantly on map size due to corruption mechanics. Building too many cities beyond these thresholds can significantly hinder your empire’s efficiency.
• Considerations: The latter value with Civilization III: Conquests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it always better to have more cities?

Not necessarily. While more cities generally provide more resources and production, they also increase maintenance costs, unhappiness, and administrative overhead. Balancing expansion with efficient management is crucial.

2. How does the difficulty level affect the ideal number of cities?

On higher difficulty levels, the AI receives significant bonuses to production, science, and military. You may need to expand more aggressively to compete, but remember to balance that with efficient management.

3. How does my civilization’s unique ability influence my city count?

Some Civilizations have unique abilities that favor tall empires (e.g., Korea in Civilization V). Others, like Rome in Civilization V, are better suited for wide strategies because they allow for more roads. Adjust your city count based on your Civilization’s strengths.

4. What victory condition should I pursue depending on my city count?

Tall empires often excel in science, culture, or diplomatic victories. Wide empires are typically better suited for domination or religious victories. The best strategy often depends on your Civilization.

5. How important is city placement?

Extremely important. Cities should be placed strategically to maximize access to resources (especially strategic and luxury resources), fresh water, and defensible terrain.

6. How close should I build my cities?

In Civilization V, a city may only work tiles that are at most 3 tiles away from its main city tile. Founding cities near the resources, 1-3 tiles away is the best way to assure that.

7. Is it better to conquer cities or found my own?

This depends on the situation. Conquering cities can be a quick way to expand, but conquered cities often come with unhappiness penalties and may require significant investment to develop. Founding your own cities allows for optimal placement and development from the ground up. In Civilization VI specifically, fans should almost always try to keep the cities that they capture because they are worth the production associated with building a settler.

8. When should I raze a city?

Razing a city is generally a last resort. You might consider razing a city if it’s in a strategically unimportant location, has poor resources, or presents a significant loyalty problem. Choosing the razing option automatically annexes the city. You can’t raze cities that you created.

9. How do amenities/happiness affect my city count?

Low amenities or happiness can cripple your empire’s growth and productivity. Ensure you have enough luxury resources and entertainment districts to support your population. Happiness will be focused on a city level rather than on a global basis across your civilization.

10. Should I prioritize growth or production in my cities?

Balancing growth and production is key. Growth increases your city’s population, which provides more citizens to work tiles. Production allows you to build essential infrastructure, units, and wonders.

11. What are the best tiles for starting a city?

The best tiles for starting a city are plains hills tiles. Plains hills tiles give the largest production and food bonuses for cities and are often located near other productive tiles.

12. Should I settle near rivers?

Yes, rivers are a good water source, and allow for the construction of farms on adjacent hills and tundra in Civilization V.

13. What is the maximum size a city can get?

The maximum size of a city is 11 tiles in diameter in Civilization V.

14. How does culture affect city borders?

Cities produce culture which will increase their territory.

15. What is the end turn for Civilization VI?

2050 AD is the year that marks the midpoint of the 21st century. This is the year during which a standard game ends in every Civilization game since Civilization III, and if no player has achieved any of the possible victory conditions, the player with the highest score wins.

The exact number of cities isn’t set in stone, but understanding these principles will help you make informed decisions and optimize your empire for victory. By balancing expansion with careful management, you can create a thriving and successful Civilization, no matter which game you’re playing.

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