Sprawling 4X strategy games likeCivilization 7throw a lot of complex mechanics at the player, often at the same time. In an average turn ofCiv 7, players are expected to conduct diplomacy with other leaders, command their armies, establish trade routes, research new techs, and make sure all their cities and settlements are operating as efficiently as possible. That’s a lot for even the most experiencedCivilizationfansto keep on top of.
To try and keep these overlapping systems from feeling too overwhelming,Civilizationfans have forged a set of natural guidelines over the years. These guidelines are rarely recorded in any official capacity, but they’re widely accepted and used nonetheless. Despite its newness,Civilization 7has plenty of these unwritten rules already, many of which revolve around the game’s victory types.
The Unwritten Rules of Getting an Economic Victory in Civilization 7
City and Settlement Placement is Key
The very first thing players are prompted to do at the start of aCivilization 7match is choose where to place their first city. This decision is incredibly important, especially if players are striving to achieve an Economic victory. Players need to make sure their city is located near resources, and that the tiles surrounding their city synergize with any unique leader bonuses. Placing any subsequent settlements is equally important. To make the process of settlement placement a little more efficient, players can send scouts around the world first to find the most resource-rich locations.
Expand, Expand, Expand
Civilization 7’s Economic victoryrevolves around gaining resources and connecting them to the rest of the player’s empire. The easiest way to collect resources is to have settlements surrounding them. As such, players are heavily encouraged to expand as far as they can, as soon as possible.
This is especially important inCivilization 7’s Exploration Age, when players can journey to the Distant Lands. In this Age, players complete the Economic Legacy Path by sending treasure fleets back to their homeland. In order to unlock these treasure fleets, players first need to establish a settlement located near a treasure, which again encourages players to expand their empire as quickly as possible.
Having a Strong Military Presence Is Helpful
Though the player’s main focus should be on gaining resources and establishing trade routes, the road to an Economic victory can be a treacherous one. merchants inthe Antiquity Ageand treasure fleets in the Exploration Age both need to be escorted to their objectives, and having a sizable army/navy obviously comes in handy here. The player’s navy can also steal resources from an opponent’s treasure fleet.
Maintain Strong Diplomatic Relationships
Diplomacy plays an important role in the journey towards achievingCivilization 7’s Economic victory. Throughout the Antiquity Age, players will want to make sure they’re staying in their opponents' good books, as having a positive relationship with fellow world leaders is necessary for establishing and maintaining a lucrative trade network. Players can also use their Influence resource to use the “Improve Trade Relations” diplomatic action, which permanently increases the number of trade routes between the Civ and the player.
Maintaining strong relationships becomes imperative again inCivilization 7’s Modern Age, as the final objective of the Economic path sees players sending a Great Banker around the world to establish a World Bank Office in every Civ’s capital city. Each leader will charge the player to build a bank, and that price changes depending on their relationship.
