Why Location Is Key in Civ VI

They say location is everything when it comes to property. It’s also true in the empire-building strategy game Civilization VI.

Your goal is to turn your small settlement into a world superpower via military domination, religious proselytization, irresistible culture, or cutting-edge science. But the mighty oak of your civilization must spring from a handful of wisely placed acorns. Here are five things to keep in mind when establishing your future metropolis.

New to Civ? Go for a Small or Tiny map and focus on a handful of settlements. You’ll learn the basics of city-building without being overwhelmed. As your skills develop, you can move up to huge maps and marathon matches.

Civilization VI places your starting settler in an area that’s at least somewhat habitable—it usually takes only a turn or two to find a suitable spot for your first city.

While it’s tempting to scope out a spot surrounded by bountiful resources and useful terrain, dawdle for too long and you’ll fall behind your less fussy enemies. Your lone settler could even get picked off by barbarians before finding a home. That’s just embarrassing.

Settling near food and other resources encourages quick growth: Rivers allow cities to support larger populations, and resources like diamonds and marble help your economy.

But as your city grows, so do its secondary needs—so look beyond your initial terrain tiles and think about where you want to go next. For example, nearby mountains are perfect for holy sites, while rain forests boost adjacent Campus districts.

Some civilizations are best suited for certain kinds of maps. Keeping your civ and world aligned will set you on the path to success.

For example, if you’ve chosen a water-heavy map with a naval-focused civilization like the Norwegians, landlocking your first city will negate your special abilities. Spend a few extra turns scouting coastal locations to plant your roots.

Once your first city is settled (hurrah!), you get to decide what sort of unit it should produce. A scout to get the lay of the land, a warrior to keep your fledgling city safe, or a builder to farm the fields and mine the hills? The “what to build first” debate is as old as the Civilization franchise itself!

In most cases, it’s best to pick a warrior or, even better, a slinger. While these military units can’t move as quickly as scouts, they’re useful for short-range recon—and crucial if you end up within striking distance of a barbarian camp.

After that? Well, “what to build next” is the second-oldest debate in Civilization. Good luck!

Civilization® VI

Build. Conquer. Inspire.

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