Table of Contents

Should You Build a City on a Resource in Civ 6? The Ultimate Guide

Quick answer

This page answers Should you build a city on a resource Civ 6? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

▶

The short answer is: it depends, but often, YES! Founding a city directly on a resource in Civilization VI is a strategic decision with potential benefits and drawbacks that every savvy ruler needs to consider. While settling on a resource grants immediate access to it (especially crucial for strategic and luxury resources), the optimal choice depends on the specific resource, the city’s overall plan, and your grand strategy. Let’s delve into the details and equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions.

The Nitty-Gritty: Pros and Cons of Settling on Resources

The decision hinges on understanding the interplay between immediate benefits and long-term potential. Here’s a breakdown:

Advantages of Settling Directly on a Resource:

Immediate Access: You instantly gain access to the resource, especially crucial for strategic resources like iron or niter that power your military, or luxury resources which give +4 to amenities. No need to wait for a builder to construct an improvement. This can be game-changing in early wars or for boosting city happiness.
Resource Yields: When you settle directly on a resource, you get the resource’s bonus yields, which can significantly boost your city’s food, production, or gold output from the start.
Strategic Positioning: Securing a resource-rich location early can deny it to rival civilizations, giving you a significant economic or military edge.
Early Game Boost: The initial yields from settling on a resource can kickstart your city’s growth and development, allowing you to quickly build essential infrastructure.

Disadvantages of Settling Directly on a Resource:

Lost Improvement Bonus: You forfeit the potential benefits of improving that tile with a builder. Improvements often provide additional yields and adjacency bonuses for districts.
Opportunity Cost: The tile might be better suited for a specialized district like a Holy Site or Industrial Zone, especially if it offers favorable adjacency bonuses with mountains or other features.
Wasted Harvest Potential: Some bonus resources, especially food resources like wheat or rice, might provide a bigger one-time bonus through harvesting before building a district or wonder.
Potential for Pillaging: While your city center is generally more secure, it can still be damaged by natural disasters and is a prime target in war, potentially cutting off your resource access if the city is conquered or razed.

Strategic Resource Considerations

Strategic resources are essential for military units and certain buildings. Settling on a strategic resource early guarantees your access, which can be vital for defending your territory or launching an offensive. For example, settling on iron or horses can give you a military advantage early.

Luxury Resource Considerations

Luxury resources provide amenities, which are crucial for keeping your citizens happy and productive. Settling on a luxury resource provides immediate access to amenities, which can be especially beneficial in the early game. Remember that having more than one copy of the same luxury resource only benefits you through trade, and you receive the amenities from the first copy only.

Bonus Resource Considerations

Bonus resources, like wheat, rice, or cattle, primarily provide food and are less strategically critical than strategic or luxury resources. Settling on a bonus resource can be beneficial for food yields, but it often makes more sense to improve the tile with a farm for continued food production and adjacency bonuses for districts or to harvest the tile for an immediate burst of resources.

Analyzing the Terrain and Long-Term Plans

Ultimately, the decision to settle on a resource comes down to evaluating the specific circumstances of the tile and your overall strategic goals. Ask yourself:

What are the surrounding tiles like? Are there rivers, mountains, or other features that would make the location ideal for a specific type of district?
What is my civilization’s unique ability? Does it benefit from specific terrain features or districts?
What victory condition am I pursuing? Does my strategy require rapid military expansion, scientific advancement, or cultural dominance?

FAQs: Resource City Planning in Civ 6

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of settling on resources in Civilization VI:

Does settling on a resource prevent me from building improvements later? Yes, you cannot build an improvement on a city center tile. You need to weigh the benefits of immediate resource access against the potential for greater yields from an improved tile.
Can I still build districts on resources if I settle on them? No, you cannot build districts on the city center tile. This reinforces the importance of considering the tile’s potential for district adjacency bonuses.
Does settling on a resource automatically provide all of its yields? Yes, settling on a resource provides you with its base yields (e.g., food, production, gold) in addition to access to the resource.
Is it ever a good idea to settle on a resource that isn’t a strategic or luxury resource? It can be, particularly if the tile provides a significant boost to food or production, especially in the early game. However, carefully consider the opportunity cost of the potential lost improvement.
What happens if I capture a city that is built on a resource? You gain access to the resource and its yields, just as if you had founded the city yourself.
If a natural disaster damages my city center built on a resource, do I lose access to the resource? Not permanently. While your city is being repaired, the resource access might be temporarily interrupted if infrastructure is damaged, but it will return once the city is fully repaired.
Does settling on a resource destroy any adjacent resources? No, settling on a resource only affects the tile you settle on. Adjacent resources remain untouched.
Are there any civilizations or leaders whose abilities make settling on resources particularly beneficial? Some civilizations and leaders, like the Inca with their terrace farms or Gitarja with her coastal focus, might find specific resource locations more advantageous due to synergy with their unique abilities.
How does settling on a resource affect my city’s growth? Settling on a resource that provides food can accelerate your city’s growth in the early game, allowing you to quickly build more districts and infrastructure.
Is it better to settle on a hill with a resource or a flatland with a resource? Generally, a hill is preferable due to the added production yield and defensive bonus. However, assess the surrounding tiles for district placement. Plains (Hills) are considered the best overall to settle on.
How important is it to deny resources to other civilizations? Denying resources to rivals can be crucial, especially in the early game. Settling on a strategically important resource location can significantly hinder their development.
Should I always settle on the first luxury resource I find? Not necessarily. Consider the location’s overall strategic value. If there are better city locations nearby (e.g., near a river, mountains, or other resources), it might be better to settle there and improve the luxury resource tile later.
If I settle on a resource and later discover another resource underneath it through tech advancement (like oil), do I automatically gain access to it? Yes! However, you won’t receive any additional yields from the new resource as the city center occupies the space.
How does settling on a resource interact with wonders? Some wonders require specific terrain features. If a resource is on a tile that would be perfect for a wonder, you’ll need to decide which is more valuable.
What about settling on strategic resources that require a tech I don’t have yet? You won’t get immediate access to the resource until you unlock the relevant technology. However, settling on it prevents other civilizations from claiming it in the meantime.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Deciding whether to build a city on a resource in Civilization VI is a multifaceted strategic choice. By carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages, considering the specific resource and terrain, and evaluating your civilization’s unique abilities and victory goals, you can make informed decisions that will propel your empire to greatness. Remember, there’s no universally “right” answer; the best choice depends on your individual circumstances. Happy settling!

For further learning and engagement with the world of games and learning, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.