The New Shogun on the Block: Unveiling Japan’s Latest Leader in Civilization VI
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The new leader of Japan in Civilization VI (as of the Leader Pass) is Tokugawa Ieyasu. He joins Hojo Tokimune as an alternative leader for the Japanese civilization, offering a significantly different playstyle and strategic focus. While both share Japan’s civilization ability, unique unit (Samurai), and unique building (Electronics Factory), their leader abilities diverge dramatically. Tokugawa emphasizes internal growth, loyalty, and economic strength, contrasting with Hojo’s more militaristic and faith-oriented approach.
Tokugawa Ieyasu: A Deep Dive into His Leader Ability
Tokugawa’s leader ability, Bakuhan, centers around internal affairs and stability. It grants the following benefits:
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+1 Amenity to cities within 6 tiles of the Capital: This encourages compact empire building around the capital and promotes citizen happiness, essential for growth and productivity.
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International Trade Routes yield -25% Gold but Domestic Trade Routes yield +50% Gold: This fundamentally shifts Japan’s trade strategy. Instead of prioritizing external trade for early economic boosts, Tokugawa excels at creating internal networks that fuel rapid domestic development. This means focusing on building up multiple cities within your own borders, maximizing the benefits from these internal trade routes.
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International Trade Routes yield -25% Production but Domestic Trade Routes yield +50% Production: This mirrors the gold boost, but with production. As Japan is trying to advance throughout the different eras, players should always rely on their domestic trade routes to increase production.
Strategies for Dominating with Tokugawa
To effectively wield Tokugawa’s power, consider these strategic approaches:
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Prioritize City Placement Near Your Capital: Clustering your cities near your capital maximizes the Amenity bonus, fostering a happy and productive populace. Plan your city layouts carefully, considering terrain, resources, and district placement.
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Focus on Internal Trade Routes: Develop a robust network of domestic trade routes to capitalize on the increased gold and production yields. This requires building commercial hubs and harbors in your cities and maximizing their adjacency bonuses. Ensure your trade routes have safe passage as this is important for consistent economic growth.
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Maximize District Adjacency Bonuses: Japan’s civilization ability provides significant bonuses for districts placed adjacent to each other. Planning your city layouts to maximize these bonuses is crucial for efficient district development. Place your districts as close to each other as possible to see the benefits from it.
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Leverage the Samurai: While not directly buffed by Tokugawa’s leader ability, the Samurai remain a powerful unique unit for Japan. Use them strategically for defense or early-game conquest, particularly against civilizations that haven’t upgraded their units.
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Manage Loyalty: The amenity bonus near the capital can help to control and maintain loyalty in newer cities, while also maximizing your yields.
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Choose Government Wisely: Select governments that complement your internal focus. Governments like Autocracy or Merchant Republic can further enhance your economic and production capabilities.
Contrasting Tokugawa with Hojo Tokimune
The differences between Tokugawa and Hojo are stark:
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Tokugawa: Emphasizes internal growth, domestic trade, and loyalty. Ideal for peaceful, economically focused victories, or for setting a strong foundation for later military expansion.
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Hojo Tokimune: Favors coastal cities, military strength through his Divine Wind ability (+5 Combat Strength to all land units in coastal tiles) and faster district construction due to his unique ability that makes Holy Sites, Theater Squares and Encampments build faster. Ideal for domination or religious victories.
Choosing between them depends on your preferred playstyle and victory condition. If you like to build a powerful, self-sufficient empire, Tokugawa is the better choice. If you prefer a more aggressive, maritime-focused approach, stick with Hojo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Japan’s civilization ability in Civilization VI?
Japan’s civilization ability is Meiji Restoration. This grants districts +1 adjacency bonus for being next to other districts. This encourages building closely packed cities to get the maximum benefit from each district.
2. What is Japan’s unique unit in Civilization VI?
Japan’s unique unit is the Samurai. It replaces the Man-at-Arms, does not suffer combat penalties when damaged, and earns +1 combat strength for each adjacent Samurai unit.
3. What is Japan’s unique building in Civilization VI?
Japan’s unique building is the Electronics Factory. It replaces the Factory, grants +4 Production to the city, +1 Production to all city tiles within 6 tiles, and +2 Great Engineer points per turn.
4. What is the best government for Japan in Civilization VI?
The best government depends on your strategy. Oligarchy is strong early on for its military bonus with Samurai. Merchant Republic is a solid mid-game choice for its trade route capacity and economic benefits. Communism can be effective later in the game, with the production bonuses.
5. How does Tokugawa’s leader ability affect trade routes?
Tokugawa’s Bakuhan ability significantly alters trade route priorities. It decreases the yield in Gold and Production from international trade routes by 25%, while increasing Gold and Production from domestic trade routes by 50%. This means it is better to focus on building domestic trade routes rather than international.
6. Is Tokugawa a better leader than Hojo Tokimune?
Neither leader is inherently “better.” It depends on your playstyle. Tokugawa excels at internal development and economic stability. Hojo is stronger in military and coastal domination.
7. What victory conditions are best suited for Tokugawa?
Tokugawa is well-suited for Cultural or Science victories, due to his focus on internal growth, economic productivity, and loyalty. He can also achieve a Diplomatic victory if his infrastructure is developed.
8. What are some good wonders to build as Tokugawa?
Wonders that provide amenities, economic bonuses, or production boosts are particularly valuable. Consider building wonders like the Colosseum, Forbidden City, Big Ben, or Ruhr Valley.
9. Which governors are best to appoint with Tokugawa?
Liang is an excellent choice for maximizing city growth and infrastructure development. Pingala can further enhance your science and culture output. Magnus is also a good choice for his production and resource management bonuses.
10. How should I deal with barbarians as Tokugawa?
Early-game defense is still crucial. Use your starting warrior and build additional military units to protect your cities from barbarian attacks. The Samurai unit can also be used to help defend, as well as attack.
11. Does Tokugawa’s Amenity bonus stack with other Amenity sources?
Yes, Tokugawa’s +1 Amenity stacks with other sources, such as luxury resources, entertainment complexes, and religious beliefs. Stacking these bonuses is crucial for maintaining happy and productive cities.
12. What are some good pantheons for Japan?
Pantheons that provide early production or faith are beneficial. Consider God of Craftsmen (+1 Production from improved Mines) or Religious Settlements (free Settler).
13. How does Tokugawa affect Japan’s coastal start bias?
While Japan has a coastal start bias, Tokugawa’s internal focus reduces the necessity of relying on coastal resources. You can still settle coastal cities, but prioritizing inland locations near your capital is often more advantageous.
14. What policy cards work well with Tokugawa?
Policy cards that boost domestic trade routes, production, science, and culture are particularly effective. Look for cards like Trade Federation (+1 Gold from Trade Routes to cities with a Trading Post), Rationalism (+1 Science per Citizen Specialist), and Five-Year Plan (+10% Production toward Industrial Zones and Buildings).
15. Where can I learn more about Civilization VI strategy and gameplay?
There are many online resources available, including the Games Learning Society, which explores the educational aspects of games like Civilization VI. You can visit their website at GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more. There are many videos that can be found on YouTube for more specific information about topics such as civ strategies.