Playing Civilization 6 for the first time can be daunting especially with its different levels of complexity. Civ 6 is somewhat more difficult from Civilization 5 and the changes can confuse even veterans in the game. No worries, though. We will help you improve your gameplay with our compiled tips and tricks as your Civilization 6 guide.
Builders
Unlike before, several units and their behavior have been replaced in Civilization 6. Instead of Workers from Civ 5, there are Builders in Civ 6. In comparison, Builders work just like Workers. However, Builders are quicker to finish a task and they are not an idle lot. Roads are automatically built in Civ 6 thanks to Traders so Builders do not have to worry about building roads. For non-trading roads, you can use a Military Engineer to build one.
Unit Stacking
Another change that you should take note of is the limited unit stacking. Non-combat units like Settlers and Traders can be defended, linked and stacked by combat units. This also applies to support units like Field Medics and Siege Engines. If you get a Settler or Trader threatened by unruly yet smarter Barbarians, all you have to do is link a Warrior to them for help. Unit combinations are also allowed for Renaissance era units to form Armadas, Armies, Corps or Fleets. You can find all available combinations on the Civics Tree.
Districts And Different Currencies
In Civilization 6, the Districts provide different currencies for every Victor. The Campus District produces currencies for Science. The Theater Square District provides currencies for culture. Buildings can also be used to produce specific currencies and should be built only on related districts. Universities and libraries are built on the Campus District. Great Person points also add currencies to certain Districts. Also, adjacent terrain features also add currency benefits and bonuses. The Industrial Zone District for example has plenty of factories and workshops and help boosts Production for two adjacent Districts.
Research
Unlike before, the Research Trees in Civilization 6 makes your chosen game style easier and faster. For example, you can reduce time to research Sailing by building a city on coastal areas. This improves your naval power and you can also build one Galley. Building two Galleys in turn reduces your time to research Shipbuilding. The time reductions are also given a name. In the Civics Tree, it's called Inspirations. In the Tech Tree, it's called Eureka moments. With these time reductions, research time is cut off by as much as 50 to 60 percent.
Research Trees
Civ 6 has split the Tech Tree into two: the Tech Tree for military and scientific advancements and the Civics Tree for culture, government and diplomacy advancements. Each Research Tree unlock specific buildings, Districts, mineral resources, units, Wonders and more. For the Tech Tree, it focuses on scientific research and extraterrestrial projects meant for Science Victory. Cultural resources, different types of government and Policy Cards are unlocked using the Civics Tree that are essential for Culture Victory. Both research trees are helpful for each civilization, whether Science or Culture, because the Tech Tree has buildings and Wonders that boost culture while the Civics Tree boost Science with its government and diplomacy.
City States And Envoys
Whenever you uncover the map, you will find autonomous cities called city states. Instead of wasting your time by attacking the city states, you can actually use them to trade and bring your envoys within for interaction. The benefit of having envoys within city states is that you can access whatever benefits that the city state has to offer. These benefits are specialized to help you boost your Culture, Military, Production, Religion, Trade or Science thus helping you win your chosen Victory Condition.
The first one to contact a city state automatically places an envoy there. Envoys are gained by completing mini-quests in the city state or by accumulating Influence. Having three or more envoys entitles you to become the Suzerain where you can have bonuses and special privileges like receiving all resources or declaring war against any civilization that is against you. With the right price, you can also command that city state's military units. If you have another civilization to compete with in the city state, the one with the most envoys will become the Suzerain.
Housing
If you want to grow your population, make sure that you have enough housing, food and amenities for the people. Usually, you can improve your housing if you have access to fresh water. Map hexes are color coded to help you see where there is fresh-water access. If you happen to build you housing in a city where there is no water, then you might find trouble into the middle of the game. To increase your houses, build Districts and structures. The Aqueduct District, which is best for those cities without access to fresh water, gives +6 Housing. The Granary has +2 Housing.
Hex Appeal
Similar to sex appeal and charisma, hex appeal promotes your city's growth. What you have to do is to build Neighborhood Districts and possibly get +6 Breathtaking Hex Appeal. Getting a +2 for Hexes only means that your Neighborhood District is Disgusting. Hex appeal depends on the kind of hexes you use. Wonders, woods and oceans increase it while airports, rainforests and quarries decrease it. So if you see woods and you think of bulldozing it flat, think again.
Policy Cards
Policy Cards are actually new to Civilization 6 that allows you to form your government according to your needs and game style. Each form of government comes with several card slots that you can choose how to fill. These cards help you do plenty of things: reduce cost or cut production time for Wonders or units, enhance your military units' capability and increase currencies. There are four types of cards and slots: green for diplomatic, yellow for economic, red for military and purple for wild. Each card has a corresponding slot except Wild cards.
Wild card slots can do with any type of card and Wild cards help increase the number of Great Person points you accumulate into the game. Policy Cards can be swapped for free or for a price. They help you tune your government and make it flexible to achieve long-term goals. Changing governments can incur a penalty but changing Policy Cards have none. For example, you can swap a Policy Card if you want to increase Settler production or military production by 50 to 100 percent. In short, you should be wise with using your Policy Cards as part of your winning game strategy.
