When to Expand in Civilization 6: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you’re diving into the addictive world of Civilization 6 and wondering, when should I expand? The short answer: early and often. In Civ 6, a thriving empire is built on a foundation of well-placed cities, each contributing to your overall strategy. Prioritize getting your first Settler out as soon as you have a Scout, some level of defense force, and potentially a Gold-purchased Builder. Aim to settle on the first turn if the starting location is ideal; otherwise, relocating for a better spot is worthwhile, but don’t wander aimlessly! Three turns should be your absolute maximum to reach a truly exceptional location. Two turns is acceptable for a good location. Now, let’s delve deeper into the nuances of expansion in Civ 6.
The Early Expansion Imperative
Why this emphasis on rapid expansion? Civ 6’s mechanics heavily favor a wide empire over a small, tall one. Each city provides:
- Production: Essential for building units, districts, and wonders. More cities equal more overall production.
- Science/Culture: Districts provide adjacency bonuses, allowing for significant science and culture yields.
- Resources: Access to strategic and luxury resources that boost your economy and military.
- Territory: Claiming valuable land prevents your opponents from securing it.
Key Considerations for City Placement
While expansion is crucial, haphazard city placement can be detrimental. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Fresh Water: Access to fresh water (rivers, lakes, or oases) is essential for early city growth. Without it, your city’s housing will be severely limited.
- Food: Look for tiles with high food yields (farms, plantations) to support a growing population.
- Production: Hills and strategic resources like Iron and Horses provide crucial production.
- Luxury Resources: Claiming luxury resources early can provide happiness bonuses to your empire.
- Strategic Resources: Iron, Horses, Niter, Coal, Oil, and Uranium are critical for military units and power plants.
- District Placement: Plan ahead for district placement, considering adjacency bonuses and terrain features. Mountains are excellent for Holy Sites and Campuses.
The “Four-Tile Rule” and City Overlap
A general rule of thumb is to place cities roughly four tiles apart. This allows each city to claim a reasonable amount of territory and prevents unnecessary overlap. However, don’t be afraid to settle closer if there are particularly valuable tiles or strategic chokepoints.
Gold is Your Friend: Purchasing Settlers
In the early game, purchasing a Settler with gold can significantly accelerate your expansion. Save up your gold and watch for opportunities to buy a Settler as soon as possible. A Golden Age dedication like Monumentality makes this strategy even more potent, allowing you to purchase both Settlers and Builders with Faith.
Managing Amenities and Loyalty
As you expand, it’s crucial to manage your Amenities (happiness) and Loyalty. Overexpansion without adequate Amenities can lead to unhappiness, which slows down growth and production. Negative Loyalty can cause cities to rebel and flip to other civilizations.
- Amenities: Build Entertainment Complexes and Water Parks, and trade for luxury resources to boost your empire’s happiness.
- Loyalty: Governor presence, policy cards, and proximity to other civilizations can affect loyalty. Utilize these to maintain control over your cities.
Adapting to Your Civilization and Victory Condition
Your optimal expansion strategy will depend on your chosen civilization and desired victory condition. Some civilizations, like Rome and Scythia, have bonuses that directly incentivize early expansion. If you’re aiming for a Religious victory, prioritizing Holy Site placement is crucial. For a Culture victory, focusing on Theater Squares and Wonders is key.
Avoiding Early Wars
While expansion is important, avoid provoking early wars with your neighbors. Focus on building a small defensive force and establishing diplomatic relations. A surprise war can cripple your expansion efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many cities should I aim for in Civ 6?
There isn’t a hard and fast rule, but aiming for 10 or more cities by turn 100 on a standard-speed game is a good target. It’s better to have more cities than too few, as the benefits of additional production and resources usually outweigh the drawbacks.
2. What should I build first in Civ 6?
A Scout is almost always the best first build. Scouting reveals the map, finds Tribal Villages, and locates other civilizations and City-States. After that, focus on production or defense, depending on your surroundings. Getting a Slinger early for defense against Barbarians can be useful.
3. What is the best technology to research first?
Animal Husbandry is generally a good first technology to research. It reveals Horses on the map, unlocks the Equestrian unit, and allows you to improve pastures.
4. Is it better to settle on a hill or next to a river?
Next to a river is generally better in the early game due to the housing bonus. However, settling on a hill provides extra defense and improves production.
5. How far away should I settle from City-States?
Maintain a respectful distance. Settling too close to a City-State can damage your relationship and make it difficult to become their Suzerain.
6. When should I build a Builder?
Building a Builder early can significantly boost your city’s growth and production. Focus on improving tiles with high food and production yields.
7. Should I prioritize wonders in the early game?
Wonders are tempting, but production intensive. Consider the location and benefits that the Wonder will provide, and carefully weigh the opportunity cost to prioritize production for your early expansion and military.
8. What are the best Pantheon beliefs for early expansion?
God of the Open Sky (bonus culture from pastures) and Religious Settlements (free settler in your first city) are excellent Pantheon beliefs for accelerating early expansion.
9. How do I deal with Barbarians?
Scout to find Barbarian camps early and eliminate them before they become a threat. Build a few early military units to defend your cities.
10. What do I do if another civilization settles near me?
Establish a good relationship with the other civilization and clearly define your borders. However, be prepared to defend your territory if necessary.
11. Is it okay to take cities from other civilizations?
Taking cities from other civilizations can be a powerful way to expand, but it also incurs Warmonger penalties, which can damage your relationships with other leaders. Balance the benefits of conquest with the potential diplomatic consequences.
12. How can I improve my city’s growth?
Focus on building farms, pastures, and other improvements that provide food. Also, build Aqueducts and Neighborhoods to increase housing.
13. What are the best districts to build in the early game?
The best districts to build in the early game depend on your strategy, but Campuses, Holy Sites, and Commercial Hubs are generally good choices.
14. How does difficulty level affect expansion?
On higher difficulty levels, the AI is more aggressive and starts with more units and technology, which can make early expansion more challenging. You may need to focus more on defense.
15. Are there any mods that can help with expansion?
Yes, there are many mods available on the Steam Workshop that can enhance the Civ 6 experience and help with expansion, such as those that provide additional information about city placement or automate some tasks. Explore the Games Learning Society to learn more about the educational applications of games, including modding. GamesLearningSociety.org.
By following these guidelines and adapting to the specific circumstances of your game, you can master the art of expansion in Civilization 6 and build a thriving empire that will stand the test of time. Good luck, and may your cities prosper!