Should I Settle Next to a Natural Wonder in Civ 6? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, settling next to a Natural Wonder in Civilization 6 is almost always a strategically sound decision. Natural Wonders provide a multitude of benefits that can significantly boost your civilization’s growth and progress. From increased appeal and adjacency bonuses to yields of science, culture, tourism, or production, the advantages are compelling. However, it’s crucial to understand the specific benefits of each wonder and the surrounding terrain to maximize their potential. Let’s dive deeper into why these geological marvels are worth prioritizing and how to best utilize them.
The Allure of Natural Wonders: Unpacking the Benefits
Natural Wonders are more than just scenic features on the map; they are strategic assets that can significantly impact your empire’s development. Here’s a breakdown of the key advantages:
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Yield Bonuses: Many Natural Wonders directly provide yields like science, culture, faith, tourism, or production to the city settled nearby. This can give your city a massive head start in these areas, accelerating your overall progress.
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Appeal Boost: All Natural Wonders provide a +2 Appeal bonus to adjacent tiles. This is invaluable for establishing National Parks and Neighborhoods, which require high Appeal to function effectively. High Appeal also boosts tourism, making it vital for a Culture Victory.
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Adjacency Bonuses: Natural Wonders provide major adjacency bonuses to certain districts, most notably Holy Sites. Placing a Holy Site adjacent to a Natural Wonder can drastically increase its Faith output, fueling your religious ambitions.
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Unique Abilities: Some Natural Wonders have unique abilities. As the text mentions, Torres del Paine doubles the base terrain yields of adjacent tiles. Other wonders may provide specific bonuses to trade routes or combat strength.
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Defensive Advantages: The placement of some Natural Wonders may offer certain defensive advantages to cities settled nearby.
The Downsides: Considering the Limitations
While the benefits of settling near Natural Wonders are substantial, there are also some limitations to consider:
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Impassable Terrain: Many Natural Wonders are impassable, meaning units cannot move across them. This can create logistical challenges, forcing you to navigate around the wonder, which may hinder your movement and defense.
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Unimprovable Tiles: You cannot improve Natural Wonder tiles, nor can you build districts or wonders on them. This means you lose the potential to extract resources or further develop those specific tiles.
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Location Constraints: Settling near a Natural Wonder might force you to settle in a less-than-ideal location in terms of freshwater access, strategic resources, or productive tiles.
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Opportunity Cost: Focusing on a Natural Wonder might divert your attention from other strategic locations that offer different, equally valuable benefits.
Strategic Considerations: Making the Right Choice
The decision to settle near a Natural Wonder should be based on a careful evaluation of its specific benefits and drawbacks, considering the surrounding terrain and your overall strategic goals. Here are some factors to consider:
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What yields does the Natural Wonder provide? Does it align with your chosen victory condition? If you’re aiming for a Science Victory, a wonder that provides Science yields is a higher priority.
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What is the terrain surrounding the Natural Wonder like? Are there hills, rivers, or resources nearby? A Natural Wonder surrounded by productive tiles is far more valuable than one situated in a barren wasteland.
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How strategically important is the location? Does it provide access to key trade routes or strategic chokepoints? A Natural Wonder that helps you control a vital area is worth more than one in a remote corner of the map.
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What are your alternative options? Are there other potential city locations that offer similar or better benefits? Don’t tunnel vision on the Natural Wonder if other locations are more advantageous.
FAQs: Mastering the Art of Natural Wonder Settlements
1. How close should I settle to a Natural Wonder in Civ 6?
You should aim to settle as close as possible without settling on the Natural Wonder tile itself. Ideally, your City Center should be directly adjacent to the wonder to maximize the yield, adjacency, and appeal bonuses.
2. Can I settle on a Natural Wonder?
No, you cannot settle directly on a Natural Wonder tile. These tiles are considered impassable terrain for settlers.
3. Do all Natural Wonders provide the same benefits?
No, each Natural Wonder offers unique benefits. Some provide specific yields, while others offer bonuses to appeal, district adjacency, or unique abilities. It’s crucial to research the specific benefits of each wonder before deciding to settle nearby.
4. Is it always worth prioritizing a Natural Wonder over other strategic locations?
Not always. While Natural Wonders offer significant advantages, they should be evaluated in the context of the overall map and your strategic goals. If a location lacks freshwater or access to vital resources, or it is in an indefensible location, it might be better to prioritize a different location.
5. How does Appeal impact my cities near Natural Wonders?
Natural Wonders provide a +2 Appeal bonus to adjacent tiles. High Appeal is crucial for building National Parks (requiring tiles with at least +2 Appeal) and Neighborhoods (where Appeal affects housing). It also increases tourism, boosting your Culture Victory progress.
6. How do Natural Wonders affect district placement?
Natural Wonders provide major adjacency bonuses to Holy Sites. Consider building Holy Sites adjacent to Natural Wonders to maximize their Faith output.
7. Can I improve tiles adjacent to a Natural Wonder?
Yes, you can improve tiles adjacent to a Natural Wonder. In fact, maximizing the yields of the surrounding tiles is a key strategy for leveraging the benefits of a Natural Wonder.
8. What happens if another civilization settles near a Natural Wonder before I do?
If another civilization settles near a Natural Wonder before you, you lose the opportunity to benefit from its yields and adjacency bonuses. This highlights the importance of scouting and early expansion to secure these valuable locations.
9. Are there any specific civilizations that benefit more from Natural Wonders?
Certain civilizations, such as those with bonuses to Faith generation (Russia, Arabia), or Culture and Tourism (Brazil, Greece), may benefit more from specific Natural Wonders that complement their unique abilities.
10. How do I find Natural Wonders on the map?
Scouting is essential for locating Natural Wonders early in the game. Use your starting Warrior or Scout units to explore the surrounding terrain and uncover potential wonder locations. Natural Wonders also appear as unique icons on the map once discovered.
11. Does map size affect the number of Natural Wonders?
Yes, the number of Natural Wonders in a game depends on the map size. Larger maps will generally have more Natural Wonders than smaller maps.
12. Can I remove a Natural Wonder if it’s blocking my expansion?
No, you cannot remove or destroy a Natural Wonder. They are permanent features of the map.
13. How do Natural Wonders affect trade routes?
Some Natural Wonders may affect trade routes, either positively or negatively, depending on their specific abilities and the surrounding terrain. Wonders can increase the appeal of tiles used by the trade routes, which may increase tourism benefits.
14. Are there any wonders that directly buff Natural Wonders?
There are no wonders in the game that directly buff Natural Wonders; however, some wonders may indirectly increase their value.
15. What is the Natural Wonder Tier List for Civ 6?
There isn’t an official or universally accepted tier list. However, the most commonly cited and highly valued natural wonders often include: Paititi, Eye of the Sahara, Yosemite, Galapagos Islands, Cliffs of Dover and Mount Everest. Their value depends heavily on the player’s overall strategy, the surrounding resources, and the chosen victory type. Understanding the intricacies of Civ 6 involves continuous learning and adaptation, and resources like the Games Learning Society can provide valuable insights into game mechanics and strategies. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore the intersection of gaming and education.