Mastering Early Expansion: When to Build Your First Settler in Civilization VI

The burning question on every aspiring ruler’s mind: when do I pop out that first settler and stake my claim on the world in Civilization VI? The answer, like most things in Civ, isn’t a simple one-size-fits-all. However, a solid guideline is to aim for your first settler after establishing a minimal defense, exploring your immediate surroundings, and potentially bolstering your early economy with a builder. Think: Scout first, a Slinger or Warrior for defense, and then consider your settler. If possible, squeezing in a builder purchased with gold can accelerate your city development significantly. The key is a balance between rapid expansion and ensuring your fledgling empire isn’t swallowed whole by barbarians or opportunistic neighbors.

The Early Game Dance: Balancing Growth and Defense

The early game in Civilization VI is a delicate dance. Rush too fast into expansion, and you’ll find yourself stretched thin, unable to defend your cities or develop their infrastructure. Delay too long, and your rivals will gobble up all the prime real estate, leaving you with scraps.

Here’s a breakdown of the factors influencing when to build that crucial first settler:

• Your Starting Location: A strong start near abundant resources (food, production, strategic resources) allows for faster growth and development, accelerating the time to your first settler. A poor starting location might necessitate focusing on production to catch up.
• Barbarian Threat: If you’re surrounded by barbarian camps, prioritizing military units for defense is paramount. A premature settler is a tempting target for raiders.
• Nearby City-States: Discovering nearby city-states early can provide valuable bonuses that boost your economy or science, potentially allowing you to build a settler sooner.
• Your Chosen Civilization: Some civilizations have unique abilities or units that influence their early game strategy. For example, Rome’s free monument allows for an earlier focus on military or a settler.
• Map Type: On maps with less land (e.g., Continents), the race for space is more intense, warranting an earlier settler. On larger maps (e.g., Pangaea), you might have more breathing room.

Production Queues: A Sample Build Order

While there’s no universal build order, here’s a common and effective approach:

1. Scout: Essential for exploring your surroundings, finding good city locations, and discovering tribal villages.
2. Slinger/Warrior: Provides early defense against barbarians and acts as a secondary scout. Which you choose depends on your civilization and the perceived threat level.
3. Builder (Optional – purchased with gold if possible): Improves tiles around your capital, boosting food and production. This accelerates growth and overall development.
4. Settler: The moment you’ve been waiting for! Send your settler off to claim new lands.
5. Monument (if you haven’t got it via other bonuses/civ ability): Culture is vital for unlocking civics and powerful government policies.

Remember that this is a guideline, and you need to adjust it based on your specific circumstances. It’s important to adapt the build order based on the situation. Don’t be afraid to deviate and change the build order based on the needs of the civilization.

Prioritizing Growth and Location

When settling new cities, prioritize access to freshwater (rivers, lakes, oases) and diverse resources. Settling on a hill provides additional production. Consider the placement of districts in the long term. A strong initial city location will pay dividends throughout the game. Don’t settle just for the sake of settling, think about what the location offers and what it can do for your Civ down the line.

FAQs: Mastering the Art of Early Expansion

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further refine your understanding of early game settler strategy in Civilization VI:

1. How does difficulty level affect when I should build my first settler? On higher difficulties, the AI gets production bonuses. This necessitates an earlier focus on military to deter aggression, potentially delaying your first settler.

2. Is it ever worth delaying my first settler to build a wonder? Generally, no. Wonders are often snatched up quickly on higher difficulties. Early expansion is usually more beneficial. However, certain unique wonders like the Oracle can be very powerful if secured early.

3. What if I’m playing a civ with a unique early game unit, like the Sumerian War-Cart? Use your unique unit to clear out barbarian camps and scout aggressively. This can allow you to secure valuable territory and potentially build a settler sooner.

4. How important is religion in the early game, and how does it impact settler timing? If you’re aiming for a religious victory, prioritizing a Holy Site district and Great Prophet generation might delay your first settler. However, securing a religion can provide long-term benefits that outweigh the delay.

5. Should I settle on luxury resources? Yes, definitely. Having a monopoly on these resources is powerful. Settle them and enjoy the benefits!

6. What about settling on strategic resources? While settling on top of a strategic resource will net players a supply of the resource, it will not give players the yields. It’s better to settle nearby and build an improvement to get the yields. Unless you need the resource immediately for defense and can’t wait.

7. How does map size affect settler timing? On smaller maps, an earlier settler is crucial to secure territory. On larger maps, you have more time to develop your capital before expanding.

8. What if I find a natural wonder early? Should I rush a settler to claim it? Absolutely! Natural wonders provide significant bonuses and should be prioritized. Try and grab it before anyone else does.

9. Is it worth spending faith to purchase a settler with a monumentality golden age? Yes, if you have a strong faith economy, purchasing settlers with faith during a Monumentality Golden Age is a powerful way to accelerate expansion. This civic is extremely potent for expansion.

10. How far apart should my cities be? Aim for four tiles between city centers. This allows each city to maximize the tiles within its workable range without overlapping too much.

11. What if I’m playing a civ that benefits from dense cities, like Germany? Even with civs that benefit from dense cities, maintaining a reasonable distance between city centers (at least 3-4 tiles) is still generally recommended for optimal district placement and resource utilization.

12. How do I protect my settlers from barbarians? Always escort your settlers with a military unit. Scout ahead to clear out any potential threats along their path.

13. What are the best government policies to use for early expansion? Colonization (+50% production towards settlers) is essential for speeding up settler production. God King provides faith and culture in your capital.

14. Should I build a granary before a settler? Generally, no. A granary provides a small boost to food, but early expansion is usually more impactful. However, if your capital is struggling to grow, a granary might be necessary.

15. How do escalating settler costs affect my expansion strategy? Be mindful that settler costs increase with each one produced. Plan your expansion carefully and prioritize settling the most strategic locations first.

Beyond the Basics: Mastering Your Civ’s Unique Strengths

While these general guidelines apply to most civilizations, remember to tailor your early game strategy to your chosen civ’s unique strengths. Some civilizations, like Russia, can get a head start by building districts in new cities, while others, like Nubia, excel at early military expansion. Adapt your build order and settler timing to capitalize on these unique advantages.

The Long Game: Planning for Future Growth

Finally, remember that early expansion is just the first step. As your empire grows, focus on developing your cities, building infrastructure, and researching technologies that support your chosen victory condition. The best time to build that first settler is when you have a solid foundation and a clear vision for the future. Remember to consider the advice and resources found at the Games Learning Society to continuously improve your gameplay at GamesLearningSociety.org. Happy settling!