Civilization VI is the most popular 4X game in the world.It is different from other games in that it features many new mechanics and styles of play.The scale of the game is so large that new players might feel intimidated.The complexity of the game won't deter you.If you know how to play Civilization VI, you may be able to beat the AI at high levels.The guide assumes you have installed all the expansions to the base game, namely 'Rise and Fall' and 'Gathering Storm'.The experience of playing the game without these expansions is vastly different, and many of the steps listed below may not apply.
Step 1: Sid Meier's Civilization VI can be downloaded and installed.
You can download the game from the store.To get the most out of this guide, you need to download and install both the expansions and the civ packs.If you purchase the Gold Edition, you can get most of them at a discounted price, but you have to purchase Gathering Storm separately.
Step 2: Civilization VI should be launched.
Before you can play the game, Steam will perform a setup.Civilization VI can be launched when you click on the Play button in the LaunchPad.The latest updates to the game can be found on the right hand side of the launcher.
Step 3: There is a single player game.
You can choose to play offline or online when you launch the game.The single player mode will be used, as the rules are slightly different if you choose to play online.If you don't get the rules down, you will have a bad experience.
Step 4: The game should be created.
Set up your first game by clicking on create game.You can change game options on this screen.Different settings can result in wildly different games that require different strategies to win, if you choose the wrong options.
Step 5: Pick your ruleset.
You can choose which expansions to include in your game with the ruleset option.Leave it as it is.If you want to remove the mechanics in the expansions like storms and golden ages, you can switch to a standard ruleset.
Step 6: Pick a civilization.
Each civilization and leader has their own unique abilities, units, buildings, and biases.The Civilopedia is an in game encyclopedia that contains information about the game.Trajan is the leader of Rome.Rome doesn't lean towards any one victory condition, making it easy to start playing.
Step 7: You can set the game difficulty.
The bonuses will be determined by the difficulty of the game.Prince is the only difficulty that gives bonuses to the player.Any difficulty below will favor the player, and any setting above will give the AI bonuses resource and research bonuses.
Step 8: The game speed should be set.
The speed setting of the game affects how long it takes to research technologies and produce units, districts, and buildings.The longer it takes to finish, the lower the game speed is.The marathon is twice as long as a normal game and online is the fastest way to finish.High speed games allow you to experiment with strategies and more quickly learn the game's mechanics.A longer game might help if you want to learn more about a particular strategy.
Step 9: The map type can be chosen.
You can download maps from other sources in the game.The default map type is Continents.archipelago favors naval warfare and Pangaea favors land based domination.If you like, you can pick a map.
Step 10: You can choose the map size.
The number of civilizations and city-states will be determined by the size of the map.The default setting is small, with 6 civilizations and 9 city-states.Bigger maps can allow for more diverse and entertaining games, but can take a long time.The size of the map and game speed affect how long the game will take.
Step 11: The disaster intensity level can be chosen.
Natural disasters can affect the game.More frequent and intense natural disasters can be harder to deal with if the settings are higher.Keeping it at two is a good idea as high intensities can be hard for most players to deal with.
Step 12: The game can be changed further.
If you want to have complete control over your game experience, click on Advanced Setup at the bottom of the game customization screen.This will allow you to make changes to the game, like the civilizations in play, victory conditions, resources, barbarians, etc.
Step 13: Begin the game.
To start the game, click on the Start Game button.Once the game is finished, click on Begin Game to start your game.
Step 14: Pick your first city.
At the beginning of the game, you will be joined by a settler and a warrior.To find your first city, you should scout the nearby area and find a good place to live.Fresh water is one of the most important factors to consider before moving to a new city.Having more housing means more space for citizens to live in.Fresh water comes from rivers, lakes, and oases.Settling a city on the coast will allow for the production of naval units that can be crucial to early game exploration and warfare, as well as boosting your progress towards the sailing tech.Extra housing can be found if the city does not have access to fresh water.Ensuring that all nearby tiles provide adequate yield is crucial to the productivity of your city.The amount of food, gold, productivity, and science provided by a tile is referred to as the tile yield.The best base yield is provided by Hilly Grasslands, Plains, and Floodplains.Try to put your city next to tiles with good yields.The prosperity of your cities will be ensured if you have access to good resources.You can use strategic resources to build powerful units and dominate the early game.
Step 15: Take a look at the area.
Most of the map will be blank when you first start playing.Scout units can be built to explore the world and scout the land around you.You can find other civilizations, meet city-states before other players to claim a bonus envoy, find tribal villages for special boost, and find potential spots for new cities by reconnoitering the nearby area.Try to find as much of the area as you can.It is a good idea to build a few scouts as soon as possible because you can use your warrior to explore the map in the early stages of the game.
Step 16: Pick a victory condition.
Most civilizations prefer a specific victory type in order to win a game of Civilization VI.It is possible to win the game if you aim for a specific victory type.The domination victory is the most straightforward victory type.You need to capture the capital of every other civilization in order to win a domination victory.You need a powerful military in order to do this.A science victory can be achieved by achieving certain goals.To win a science victory you need to land a human on the moon, establish a martian colony, and launch an exoplanet expedition.To win a science victory, you need a large amount of science from your empire's scientific districts and buildings.To win a culture victory, you have to attract a lot of tourists from other civilizations.Culture and tourism can be generated through great works, buildings, and policies.You can win a religious victory by converting other civilizations to your religion.If you want your religion to be the dominant one in every civilization, you need to build a lot of missionaries and apostles, as well as generate as much faith as you can.The exact number of diplomatic victory points depends on the game speed, but they can be earned through events, wonders, wars, and the world congress.If no other victory condition is met in time, the player with the highest score will win a score victory.As a score victory is boring and not something you should be aiming for, try to reach your victory condition as quickly as possible.
Step 17: New technologies should be researched.
Science is one of the most important outputs in the game, and techs are the main way to further your civilization.The faster your civilization progresses, the more science you generate.Being ahead of your opponents in technologies is very important regardless of which victory condition you are pursuing.If you want to progress through the tech tree, begin with a basic technology like pottery or mining and focus on the technologies that are important to you.If you're going for a domination victory, the ones that unlocked scientific buildings are more important than others.
Step 18: Research civics.
In Civilization VI, there is a new research tree called Civics, which is similar to the technology tree but is used to unlocked various social policies that give different bonuses to your civilization, as well as new forms of government.The research of civics is done by culture.You can get new civics faster with more culture.The eureka moment for some technologies can be triggered by researching certain civics.
Step 19: You should finish your turn.
Each civilization's turn is processed one after another in Civilization, a turn-based game.Simply click the Next Turn icon on the bottom left to finish your turn once you've issued orders to your cities and units.The game will return control of the game to you after they process your opponent's turns.All players take their turns at the same time.
Step 20: Social policies should be enacted.
Social policies allow you to add to a certain aspect of your civilization to advance your goals.Four different kinds of social policies affect a different aspect of the game.Your government affects the number of policies you can put in place at a time.Building wonders will allow you to gain more slots.If you progress along the civics tree you will gain more policy cards.Military policies enhance your military, from small bonuses like an increase in combat strength versus barbarians, to huge ones like increased experience gain for all units.Economic policies can increase production, gold gain, housing and amenities.Diplomatic policies focus on gaining envoys to city-states as well as diplomatic favor.It is important to act the right diplomatic policies in order to win a diplomatic victory.Wildcard policies give bonuses to great people generation, which can be useful for all victory types.A policy card can be added to a slot for other policies.
Step 21: Take a tour of tribal villages.
Bonuses to your empire can be found in tribal villages.Additional builders, population, technologies and experience are included.Early scouting will yield rich rewards because tribal villages are only found in the early game.
Step 22: There are additional cities to be settled.
There are two types of empires.The empire's structure is referred to by these.Wide and tall empires usually have a few large cities.Civilization VI favors the latter style of play so unless you have a specific strategy in mind, try to settle as many cities as you can.
Step 23: It is possible to produce a builder.
Builders are special units that can build improvements on certain tiles to increase their yield and give you access to bonus resources.If you want to make a builder in your city, buy one with gold.Each builder can execute 3 actions before disappearing, but they can be increased through policies, wonders, and governors.
Step 24: Make improvements.
Some basic improvements like farms, mines, pastures, and camps are essential to any civilization, but some civilizations have their own custom tile improvements.Click on the improvement you want to build to move your builder to a tile.Specific tiles can be used to build improvements.You can't build a lumber mill on the plains.
Step 25: Fend off the barbarians.
Barbarians are units that are hostile to all civilization and city-states.It is important to destroy the camps when you find them.barbarian attacks can destroy your units and plunder your tile improvements.To avoid getting overrun by barbarians, destroy any barbarian camps you come across.
Step 26: A special district.
There are districts in your city that specialize in a certain field.There are many different kinds of districts.The campus provides science, the industrial zone specializes in production, and the encampment defends your city and improves your army.
Step 27: An envoy should be sent to the city-state.
Small independent nations don't compete for victory.They can make a huge difference to the game by giving bonuses to civilization that they are most influenced by.Send envoys to gain influence with the city-state.You can gain additional envoys by being the first to meet a city-state, completing a quest, or researching some civics and policies.
Step 28: Found a pantheon.
In the early game, you can find a pantheon that provides some boost to your civilization.The game will prompt you to find a pantheon if you have enough faith.Your civilization will get the bonus if you click on it.No two civilizations have the same pantheon.
Step 29: You can start a trade route.
Once you have researched the necessary technology, you can create a trader unit that will allow you to trade with city-states and civilizations to gain gold and other currency.If you want to begin a trade route between cities, you need to produce or buy a trader.Send your trade routes to the cities that have the most gold out of them.These are the ones you have an economic alliance with.Trade routes can be boosted by wonders and social policies.As you progress in civics and technology, the amount of trade routes you have varies.Whenever you can, add more trade routes.
Step 30: There has been progress to the next era.
The game will progress to the next era after enough research.It is possible to focus on a certain aspect of progress through the next era.The bonuses can be different depending on your era score.If you earned a golden age the previous era, your civilization will be more productive and loyal.Your civilization will enter a dark age if you don't gather enough era score.Your empire will be more difficult to manage.Don't fall behind and aim to hit a golden age whenever possible.
Step 31: Hire a governor.
Governors boost your cities so that they don't rebel against your empire.Science, faith, gold, production, and other areas are what each governor specializes in.If you have earned a governor's title, assign it to a city.As you gain new governor titles, you can assign more governors to make them more useful.If you hire all governors, you gain an era score that will help you avoid dark ages and progress towards a golden age.
Step 32: Meet new cultures.
New civilizations will be discovered as you explore the nearby areas.Allow them to be greeted as you please.Once you discover a civilization, its leader will be displayed as an icon on the top- left corner of the screen, and you can click on it to interact with him.They will begin to send you offers after you discover a new civilization.
Step 33: Natural wonders can be discovered.
Natural wonders are tiles that boost any city.If one of your units stumbles upon a natural wonder, try to find a new city as soon as possible.Building holy sites or neighborhoods next to a natural wonder is a great way to increase productivity.Natural wonders can add to your era score, which can help you progress towards a golden age.
Step 34: Make world wonders.
Only one of the world wonders can be built at a time.Many wonders are critical to certain victories, and they provide strong boosts.Aim for a wonder and build it as soon as possible.Even if your city has a high production output, world wonders take a lot of time to produce and are rewarding to build.
Step 35: You should promote your units.
Recon units gain experience by discovering new territory.Once a unit gains enough experience points, you can promote it to heal it by 50 health points and make it stronger in the future.Building, wonders, great people, and tribal villages help promote your units.It's possible to make your army stronger by promoting your units.
Step 36: Great people are recruited.
Great People Points are earned by your civilization's art, science, economy, religion, military, and productivity.The game will make you recruit a great person if you have enough Great People Points.If the great person's bonus is useful to you, you can click the Recruit button to bring him to your civilization.In the case of Great Generals and Great Admirals, you could send them along with your military to boost its strength.Winning a game of Civilization requires good management of your people.
Step 37: Change the system of government.
New forms of government will be unlocked as you progress through the civics tree.If you want to switch to a different government, consider it.Some government policies favor certain victory types over others.If you're going for a domination victory, it's a good idea for the government to consider fascist policies.Pick it if you're going for other victories because it has very little slots for economic policies.You will be on your way to victory if you choose the right government.
Step 38: Found and spread your beliefs.
Religion is to the middle and end of the game.If you're aiming for a religious victory, founding and spreading a religion is important, but can also be useful.You can find and enhance your religion through Great Prophets, which can be earned by great people points, or through a wonder like the Stonehenge.Sharing a religion with another civilization can increase the information you receive about that civilization.You can spread your religion by wiping out other religions and replacing them with your own.
Step 39: Trade with other countries.
You can further your goals by trading with other cultures.One civilization can offer the other a trade deal when you have something in common.Both civilizations gain what was promised if it is mutually agreeable.You can do a lot more with a trade deal.A trade deal needs to be agreeable to both parties.Good trade deals can advance your civilization.There are a number of things you can do with a trade deal, including gold, great works, and a one-time payment to another civilization.If one of the civilizations is aiming for a culture victory and the other is not, this is useful.Don't give your opponent enough to get their win condition before you!A defensive pact is formed when you form an alliance with a declared friend.You can declare joint wars through trade deals.Two civs can agree to research and share a technology that they need to gain it much faster through a research agreement.There are resources that can be traded to maximize their output.If you don't gain extra amenities for duplicate copies of a resource, you can trade them for new ones from other countries to keep your citizens happy.The ultimate trade deal, trading cities can be done as part of a peace treaty or if you just want to help an ally out.
Step 40: Take care of your Great Works.
You will begin tomass great works as you earn great writers, artists, and musicians.Great Works give you bonus tourism, and you need to manage them effectively to win a culture victory.Before you can produce a Great Work slot, you must have one available.If you don't want to win a culture victory, you can trade Great Works to other civilizations that will give you a large amount of gold or resources.
Step 41: A strong military is maintained.
If you want to last till the late game, you need a strong military.If you don't have strong standing armies, you will be easy targets for warmongers who want a domination victory.You don't need to attack other civilizations with your military, but a standing army will allow your civilization to defend against attackers and stay in the game to reach whatever victory condition you are chasing.
Step 42: There will be natural disasters.
Depending on the game's disaster intensity, you will be struck by natural disasters as you build your empire.Disasters can ruin your civilization.Precautionary measures should be taken in areas that are prone to disasters.If your civilization is located on the banks of a river that is prone to flooding, build a flood barrier or a great bath.If tornadoes hit your city frequently, you should hire the surveyor and use her reinforced materials ability to disaster-proof it.If your city is damaged by a natural disaster, you should repair the damage with a builder to avoid falling behind.
Step 43: There is a spy on other civilizations.
When you research civic in the renaissance era, spies become available.Espionage can be used to further your agenda and hinder your opponent.You can send a spy to another civilization's city to steal money or cause unrest, but keep spies in your own cities to prevent them from doing the same to you.
Step 44: War should be declared on another civilization.
If a civilization is proving troublesome to deal with, or is close to a victory, cripple it by declaring war.If you have a cause to go to war, a surprise war can be useful to prevent an opponent from winning the game or to win a domination victory.You cannot make peace for some time after declaring war.All city-states go to war with the enemy, and the same goes for your opponent.
Step 45: Make a demand of your opponent.
If you are far ahead of another civilization in military might, but don't want to incur the world's wrath, and still want something from them, move the full might of your military next to their empire.The military will have to concede to your demands if they are powerful.You can demand more if you are powerful.The artificial intelligence may be willing to give you whole cities instead of fighting a war it knows it will lose.
Step 46: Zero in on your victory type.
Every action should be taken with your victory in mind when you hit the end game.If you want to win a science victory, all your production should go to scientific projects.An opponent hitting their win condition before you can be caused by unnecessary actions in the end game.Keep an eye out for how close your opponents are to their goals, and plan your actions accordingly.If you want to sabotage opponents close to their win conditions, use spies, declarations of war, or the World Congress.
Step 47: You can vote at the World Congress.
If you want to win at higher levels, you need to vote carefully in the World Congress.The World Congress can sabotage players who are close to their win conditions by restricting their military production, great people generation, stripping them of their diplomatic victory points, and condemning their religion.The World Congress can help you achieve your goals, by passing resolutions that are favorable to the type of victory you are trying to achieve.If you want to win a culture victory, pass a resolution to double your tourism.
Step 48: Climate change should be monitored.
Climate change is an important factor in the end game as it starts to affect the earth.Climate change can crush your civilization as it sinks under rising sea levels, so be careful to watch how emissions are affecting the earth.Climate change can be used to your advantage.If a winning civilization has most of their cities at low elevation, it might be worthwhile to try and cause climate change as long as your civilization is protected.If your civilization is at a low elevation, it's important to keep your carbon footprint to a minimum through the necessary city projects.
Step 49: Hit your goal.
Hit your victory condition before any other civilization to win the game!