Table of Contents

What Not to Do in Civilization 6: A Wary Veteran’s Guide

Civilization 6, the latest iteration of the venerable 4X strategy game, offers players unparalleled freedom to forge their own historical destiny. However, this freedom comes with a minefield of potential blunders that can derail even the most ambitious empires. Avoid these pitfalls to ensure your civilization stands the test of time.

Core Mistakes to Avoid in Civ 6

Don’t be a Jack of All Trades: Specialization is key. Trying to be a master of everything – culture, science, religion, war – will spread your resources too thin. Focus on a specific victory condition and tailor your strategy accordingly.
Don’t Neglect Early Defense: Barbarians are a serious threat in the early game. Ignoring them can lead to pillaged improvements, stolen settlers, and a crippled start. Prioritize early military units like warriors or slingers to keep your territory secure.
Don’t Overextend Early: While expansion is important, expanding too aggressively too soon can lead to happiness problems, economic strain, and vulnerability to attack. Carefully consider the location and resources of potential city sites before settling.
Don’t Ignore Amenities: Happy citizens are productive citizens. Failing to provide adequate amenities (luxury resources, entertainment, etc.) will lead to unhappiness, hindering growth and productivity. Keep a close eye on your amenities levels and plan accordingly.
Don’t Underestimate City-States: City-States offer valuable bonuses and can be powerful allies. Ignoring them is a missed opportunity. Send envoys, complete their quests, and strive to become their suzerain for significant advantages.
Don’t Build Too Many Wonders Too Early: Wonders are powerful, but they are also expensive and time-consuming to build. Focusing too much on wonders early on can hinder your economic and military development. Prioritize essential infrastructure like districts and improvements.
Don’t Neglect Diplomacy: Maintaining good relationships with other civilizations is crucial for trade, defense, and avoiding unnecessary wars. Don’t insult other leaders, keep your promises, and engage in diplomatic negotiations to build alliances.
Don’t Forget About Eurekas and Inspirations: These boosts can significantly accelerate your research and civic progress. Pay attention to the requirements for triggering them and plan your actions accordingly. Actively pursue these Eureka moments.
Don’t Settle Without a Plan: Every city you found should have a purpose and a plan for its development. Consider the surrounding terrain, resources, and potential district locations before settling. Plan your cities around your victory goals.
Don’t Forget About Housing: Housing limits the population growth of your cities. Failing to provide adequate housing will stunt your growth and hinder your progress. Build housing improvements like granaries, aqueducts, and sewers to accommodate your growing population.
Don’t Ignore Strategic Resources: Strategic resources like iron, horses, and oil are essential for building advanced units and improving certain districts. Secure access to these resources early on and protect them from enemy pillaging. Secure strategic resources early.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No to Delegations/Embassies: While often beneficial, accepting delegations and embassies from untrustworthy civilizations can give them valuable information about your capital. If you suspect foul play, it may be wise to delay or refuse these diplomatic overtures.
Don’t Leave Your Cities Unprotected: Leaving your cities undefended is an invitation for invasion. Build walls, garrison units, and establish defensive alliances to protect your territory from hostile neighbors. Make sure to improve your Outer Defense Strength for safer cities.
Don’t Forget to Adapt: Civilization 6 is a dynamic game, and your strategy may need to change as the game progresses. Be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances, new technologies, and the actions of your opponents. Maintain flexibility throughout the game.
Don’t Ignore the map: Failing to explore and understand the map is a significant disadvantage. Knowing the location of resources, natural wonders, and other civilizations is crucial for planning your strategy and making informed decisions. Always know the map.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Civilization 6 Mistakes

1. Is it always bad to start a war early in Civ 6?

Not necessarily. A well-timed early war can be beneficial, especially to seize valuable territory or eliminate a threatening neighbor. However, be sure you have a clear objective, a strong military, and the resources to sustain the conflict. Avoid getting bogged down in protracted wars that can drain your resources and hinder your development. Remember to liberate cities to reduce warmongering penalties.

2. Is there such a thing as having too many cities in Civ 6?

Generally, no. The more cities you have, the more resources, production, and science you can generate. However, managing a large empire can be challenging. Ensure you have enough amenities and infrastructure to support your population. The benefits of going wide generally outweigh the drawbacks.

3. How close should I build my cities in Civ 6?

Aim for about four tiles between City Centers. This allows for optimal district placement and resource exploitation without excessive overlap. Building too far apart can lead to wasted tiles and vulnerability to attack.

4. Should I always keep captured cities in Civ 6?

In most cases, yes. Conquered cities provide valuable production, resources, and strategic advantages. However, there are exceptions. If a city is in a poor location, lacks resources, or is culturally incompatible with your empire, it may be better to raze it and resettle the area.

5. Should I always clear woods and rainforests in Civ 6?

Not necessarily. Woods and rainforests provide appeal for national parks and seaside resorts, and they can also provide production bonuses with the right civics and technologies. Consider the long-term benefits before removing these features. After researching Conservation, you can replant Woods for Production and Appeal.

6. What’s the best era to start in in Civ 6?

Traditionally, most games start in the Ancient Era. This allows you to develop your civilization from the ground up and take advantage of early game opportunities. However, some scenarios and custom game settings may offer different starting eras.

7. What should I prioritize building in the early game of Civ 6?

Prioritize building a scout, a slinger, and a monument. The scout explores the map, the slinger provides early defense, and the monument boosts culture and helps you unlock key civics. Also, focus on building mines and lumber mills. This should be your early game build order.

8. Is it worth it to conquer City-States in Civ 6?

Usually not. Conquering City-States incurs significant diplomatic penalties and can make it difficult to win a diplomatic victory. The benefits of conquering a City-State rarely outweigh the drawbacks. It is usually better to become their suzerain.

9. Can cities be destroyed by rising sea levels in Civ 6?

Yes, with the Gathering Storm expansion, rising sea levels can submerge coastal tiles, including improvements and districts. City Centers cannot be submerged, but the loss of surrounding tiles can significantly impact a city’s productivity.

10. How can I avoid warmonger penalties in Civ 6?

Avoid declaring wars of aggression unless absolutely necessary. Focus on liberating cities that were previously conquered by other civilizations. Build alliances with other leaders and maintain good relationships. Liberating cities will reduce warmongering penalties.

11. Should I always accept delegations and embassies from other civilizations?

It depends. Accepting delegations and embassies can provide valuable information about other civilizations and increase your tourism output. However, it also allows them to gather information about your capital. If you are suspicious of another civilization, it may be wise to delay or refuse these diplomatic overtures.

12. When should I build my first settler in Civ 6?

As soon as you have a scout, some level of defense force, and potentially a Gold-purchased Builder. Expanding early is crucial for securing valuable territory and resources.

13. Who are some of the best governors to recruit in Civ 6?

Pingala is excellent for boosting science and culture in a high-population city, while Liang is ideal for improving infrastructure and managing resources. Other governors like Victor and Amani also offer powerful bonuses depending on your strategy.

14. What are some of the most fun civilizations to play in Civ 6?

Civilizations like Poland, Arabia, Greece, Russia, Japan, Mongolia, Macedon, Australia, Scotland, Georgia, and Indonesia offer unique gameplay experiences and powerful bonuses that can make them particularly enjoyable to play. The “most fun” is entirely subjective, but these are some of the more popular choices among Civ 6 fans.

15. What are some ways to make Civ 6 more realistic?

To enhance realism, consider implementing these changes:

Reduce warmongering penalties: This makes war a more viable option without crippling your diplomatic relations.
Increase the importance of food, trade, and housing: This adds more depth to city management and economic planning.
Make the AI more aggressive and wars more common: This creates a more dynamic and challenging game world.
Reduce the effectiveness of spamming cities: This encourages more strategic city placement and development.
Make cities more important and require more care: This adds more weight to city management and makes each city feel more unique.
Lengthen the game: This allows for more strategic depth and long-term planning.

By avoiding these common mistakes and mastering the nuances of Civilization 6, you can lead your civilization to greatness and achieve your desired victory condition. Good luck, and may your reign be long and prosperous! Don’t forget to check out the Games Learning Society for more insights on game-based learning: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

WHat not to do in Civ 6?