Mastering City-States in Civilization VI: Diplomacy, Domination, and Everything In Between

In Civilization VI, city-states are more than just minor factions – they are dynamic elements that can significantly impact your game, whether you’re aiming for a cultural victory, a science victory, or world domination. The core decision regarding city-states boils down to: do you befriend them, conquer them, or strategically ignore them? Each approach carries its own benefits and drawbacks, and the optimal strategy depends heavily on your civilization, your victory goals, and the current state of the game. Understanding how to effectively manage city-states is crucial to mastering Civ 6.

Strategic Approaches to City-States

• Diplomacy and Suzerainty: This is often the most rewarding path. Investing Envoys to become Suzerain of a city-state grants you its unique bonus. These bonuses can range from extra science, culture, faith, production, military units, or diplomatic favor, depending on the city-state type. Maintaining Suzerainty requires constant investment, especially as other civs compete for influence. Focus on city-states that complement your victory condition or shore up weaknesses in your empire. Remember to complete city-state quests, as these are essential for gaining more envoys.

• Military Conquest: Capturing a city-state removes its bonuses from the game and eliminates a potential diplomatic ally for your rivals. This can be useful if a particular city-state is providing a powerful bonus to an opponent or if you need the land for strategic purposes. City States can be captured, they cannot be razed, so be prepared to deal with the happiness and loyalty repercussions, especially early in the game. Capturing city-states can trigger warmonger penalties, impacting your relations with other major civs. The advantage to capturing them is that your enemies cannot bribe them and buy their vote in the UN, thereby eliminating a Diplomatic Victory opportunity from the game.

• Strategic Neglect: Sometimes, the best approach is to simply ignore certain city-states. This might be the case if they are far away, their bonuses are irrelevant to your strategy, or you need to focus your resources elsewhere. However, be mindful of their influence on other civilizations, especially those vying for diplomatic victory. Be aware that a neglectful approach might lead to another civilization gaining suzerainty and leveraging the city-state’s bonuses against you.

Key Considerations

• Victory Condition: Your victory condition should heavily influence your city-state strategy. For a cultural victory, prioritize cultural and tourism-boosting city-states. For a science victory, focus on science-generating city-states.
• Civilization Abilities: Certain civilizations have unique synergies with city-states. For instance, Pericles of Greece gets a culture bonus for each city-state you are Suzerain of.
• Government and Policies: Certain governments and policies can significantly enhance your relationships with city-states, making it easier to become and remain Suzerain.
• World Congress: The World Congress offers opportunities to pass resolutions that benefit or harm city-states, influencing the balance of power. Pay attention to these resolutions and vote accordingly.

City-states are a vital part of the Civilization VI experience. Understanding their mechanics and strategically managing your relationships with them can give you a significant edge in your quest for world domination or any other kind of victory. For more strategies on mastering the game of Civilization VI, be sure to visit GamesLearningSociety.org, to explore gaming and learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About City-States in Civ 6

How do I become Suzerain of a city-state?

To become Suzerain, you need to have more Envoys invested in a city-state than any other civilization. Envoys can be earned through civics, wonders, completing city-state quests, and through certain great people. City-state quests are a great way to get you started. The number of envoys to gain or keep suzerainty over a city state will change as the game progresses.

What are the different types of city-states?

There are several types of city-states, each providing unique bonuses to their Suzerain:

• Cultural: Provide culture bonuses.
• Industrial: Provide production bonuses.
• Militaristic: Provide military units or bonuses.
• Religious: Provide faith bonuses.
• Scientific: Provide science bonuses.
• Trade: Provide trade route bonuses.
• Diplomatic: Provide diplomatic favor bonuses.

Can city-states declare war?

Yes, city-states can declare war on other city-states or civilizations. This is often influenced by their agendas and the actions of nearby civilizations. They can also be dragged into wars by their Suzerains.

What is the best way to defend a city-state I’m Suzerain of?

The best way is to build a strong army and position it nearby, especially if the city-state is being targeted by an aggressor. You can also use diplomacy to dissuade other civilizations from attacking them. Alliances can also help to deter aggressive behavior. Remember that defending a city-state can be a double-edged sword, potentially dragging you into a larger war.

What happens if a city-state is conquered?

If a city-state is conquered, its unique bonus is removed from the game, and the conquering civilization gains control of the city. City States can be captured, they cannot be razed. This can lead to warmonger penalties, impacting relations with other civs. The conquered city-state will become a standard city under the control of the conquering civilization, but will retain its original name.

Can I peacefully take over a city-state?

It’s doable but you’re not supposed to do that, so it’s really hard. You need to bombard it with loyalty, surround it with high population cities, be on a golden/heroic age, run bread and circuses on all cities in range, have Amani in range with her ability to decrease loyalty of cities nearby.

Do city-states have loyalty?

Yes, city-states have loyalty. This means that they can revolt and flip to another civilization if their loyalty is too low. Factors that can lower loyalty include the presence of nearby enemy cities, negative amenities, and warmongering.

How do city-state quests work?

City-state quests are specific tasks that city-states ask you to complete. Completing these quests grants you extra Envoys and strengthens your relationship with the city-state. Quests can range from building certain districts, training certain units, clearing barbarian camps, or sending trade routes.

What is the benefit of capturing city states in Civ 6?

The advantage to capturing them is that your enemies cannot bribe them and buy their vote in the UN. Thereby eliminating a Diplomatic Victory opportunity from the game.

Should I keep or refuse city state Civ 6?

In general, fans should almost always try to keep the cities that they capture in Civilization 6, as they are worth, at the very least, the Production associated with building a Settler.

Do districts affect other cities in Civ 6?

Finally, the effects of certain district-specific buildings extend not only to their own city, but also to all other cities whose City Center is up to 6 tiles away from the relevant District.

What happens if a city-state takes a city?

A city-state may capture other cities as part of warfare, but it doesn’t have any desire to keep them (since this would go against their policy of non-expansionism). If possible, the city-state will raze every captured city. Envoy brought by Amani do not expand city-state territory.

Do you play with city-states on Civ 6?

City-States, introduced in Civilization V, are singular cities that act independent of the player and rival leaders in Civilization VI. They have their own political relationships, can engage in war, and provide players a means of diplomacy outside of dealing with the major civilizations.

How do you meet city-states Civ 6?

Once you have developed a relationship with a city state by sending enough envoys to it and completing its quests you can become Suzerain of that city state. Once you have earned an envoy the game will prompt you to send your envoy to a city state. You can pick what city to send your envoy to.

What is the warmonger penalty?

Warmongering penalties are represented as a negative score affecting diplomatic relations with each leader you’ve already met. These penalties are applied under the following circumstances: When you declare war. You receive this penalty only for initiating a war, not for being the target of one.

Understanding city-states and how to interact with them effectively is a crucial skill for any Civilization VI player. By strategically befriending, conquering, or ignoring them based on your victory goals, you can significantly enhance your chances of success in the game.