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الوسم: Civ 7

  • Jose Rizal: Leadership Insights for Civilization VI

    Jose Rizal: Leadership Insights for Civilization VI

    Jose Rizal stands out as an exceptional leader in Civ 7, especially with the introduction of the new Celebrations feature. This mechanic allows players to select bonuses from their Government type while providing an extra social policy slot. Both of these options can be incredibly beneficial, particularly in the early stages when establishing your empire during the Antiquity Age.

    Rizal excels at generating and sustaining Happiness throughout the game, and with the right approach, he can gain a significant advantage quite rapidly.

    This guide is tailored for single-player games against higher difficulty AIs, rather than for multiplayer modes.

    Overview of Jose Rizal

    In Civ 7, Jose Rizal reigns supreme in terms of Happiness. The ability to trigger Celebrations means that Rizal can often enjoy powerful bonuses that last throughout the game, progressing from the Antiquity Age celebrations to nearly continuous Celebrations by the Modern Age. Properly utilizing this feature can give you a massive edge over AI competitors.

    Receiving benefits from a Narrative Event grants you an extra 20 Culture and Gold per age, along with additional Narrative Events.

    +50% extension for Celebration duration.

    +50% Happiness from Celebrations.

    Narrative Events

    Narrative Events emerge while completing the Legacy Path quests, which are tied to each victory condition.

    Rizal thrives when you focus on multiple Legacy Paths to maximize your Narrative potential.

    It’s crucial to approach the Antiquity Age with a comprehensive mindset. Aim to construct Wonders, build scientific structures, befriend city-states, and capture a few cities. The more actions you complete during this age, the faster Rizal can gain momentum.

    Celebrations

    In Civ 7, Celebrations serve two primary functions: they grant powerful buffs to your empire for a limited number of turns and allow the addition of a new policy slot.

    Both features are tremendously advantageous. Depending on your Government choice with Rizal, you could achieve a constant +20% boost to Culture, Science, or Food during the Antiquity Age.

    One great aspect of Celebrations is their flexibility across different Ages. While you can’t change your choice once you’ve made it in a given Age, you do have the opportunity to select your approach at the start.

    Will you focus on military production to conquer enemies, or would you prefer to foster peaceful city growth with hefty food bonuses?

    In general, it’s been observed that Rizal is one of the strongest leaders you can choose in Civ 7 and is particularly adept at tackling multiple Legacy Paths during the Antiquity Age.

    Strategy for the Antiquity Age with Jose Rizal


    Jose Rizal Leader Overview

    Your strategy will largely be influenced by your chosen civilization. Generally, focus on maximizing Happiness with Rizal by securing Happiness wonders, buildings, and resources to amplify your Celebrations.

    Rizal is particularly effective at rapidly settling numerous towns, often exceeding the Happiness cap to gain an early lead. With Rizal, consider exceeding your Settlement limit by two or three cities, depending on your excess Happiness.

    Aim to settle at least four settlements by around turn 50 on Standard Speed. On higher difficulties, AI will aggressively compete for settling locations, so be quick to claim the regions you desire.

    Scouting and Discoveries

    At the beginning of the game, produce two or three Scouts and start exploring immediately.

    Scouting is incredibly valuable in Civ 7—more so than in previous titles. The new Scout Sight system enables you to cover large portions of the map swiftly, discovering Independent Powers, resources, and your AI opponents.

    Your primary focus should be on gathering Science to unlock Pottery and Animal Husbandry as quickly as possible. Culture is also essential for the early rush to Mysticism and acquiring Pantheons. Additionally, gather Gold to facilitate the purchase of necessary buildings or units.

    Early Tech and Civics

    Start with either Pottery or Animal Husbandry, depending on the resource tiles near your capital. If you have access to woodcutters and camps, go for Animal Husbandry; if clay pits and plantations are more prominent, choose Pottery. A potential tech order could look like this:

    • Animal Husbandry
    • Pottery
    • Masonry
    • Masonry II
    • Irrigation
    • Writing

    This approach will boost your production early in the game before transitioning to increase your scientific output.

    Utilizing the Urban Center specialization in your first expansion can generate valuable science and culture that may be missed if you bypass buildings like the Monument or Library early on.

    It’s wise to rush Mysticism to secure an early Pantheon. There are several excellent Pantheons that boost Happiness or provide extra Production from mines (like Stone Circles) that may prove quite beneficial.

    Our general strategy focuses heavily on Production early on. The more rapidly you can establish your key buildings, the better your position will be.

    Your build order might look something like this:

    As the Antiquity Age advances, consider pursuing military technologies like The Wheel and Military Training, even if military victory isn’t your objective. These options unlock valuable Happiness buildings.

    • Villa – provides +3 Happiness and +2 Influence, with adjacency bonuses for Mountains, Natural Wonders, and Wonders.
    • Arena – gives +4 Happiness and has adjacency for Mountains, Natural Wonders, and Wonders.

    Navigation is also advantageous because of the Lighthouse, which adds three additional slots for resources—ideal for stacking up Happiness resources.

    Government Choice

    Choosing the right Government is crucial for Rizal, as these bonuses are repeatable through Celebrations.

    We often go for Democracy for the +20% food bonus, although both Oligarchy and Classical Republic provide exceptional Science and Culture boosts respectively.

    The emphasis on food allows for a focus on production in your capital, which means faster construction of Wonders and essential buildings.

    Experiment with different Government options to find what suits your play style. This is part of what makes Rizal such an engaging leader: he allows for a wide range of playstyles.

    Settlement Expansion

    Jose Rizal can exceed his settlement limits effectively by carefully placing cities.


    Rizal Settling

    In this illustration, Fresh Water tiles are highlighted in light blue. Here, we would recommend settling on Silver and Wine rather than Incense for this scenario.

    Whenever possible, place settlements near Fresh Water, as this grants +5 Happiness, effectively counterbalancing the -5 Happiness penalty for exceeding your limit.

    Bear in mind that this penalty does increase with each city. If you trigger a Happiness Crisis at the end of the Age, your cities could quickly turn against you in revolt.

    You can further heighten your settlement capacity by acquiring key Happiness Buildings such as the Altar, Villa (which can be built in towns), and the Arena (which can only be constructed in cities).

    When settling, look for the following resources:

    • Dates – +2 Food and +2 Happiness
    • Dyes – +3 Happiness
    • Pearls – +2 Happiness for your capital, +4 for any other city
    • Wine – +2 Happiness in the capital, and +10% Culture during a Celebration

    Best Wonders

    Wine is the top resource for Jose Rizal, so settle any found resources immediately. This empire-wide resource doesn’t require a town or city slot and provides a significant +10% culture boost during Celebrations.

    If possible, try to secure the top Happiness Wonders for Rizal, such as the Colosseum, Sanchi Stupa, and Angkor Wat.

    • Sanchi Stupa – grants +2 Happiness and +1 Culture for every 5 excess Happiness in the settlement.
    • Colosseum – adds +3 Culture and +2 Happiness across all Quarters in the settlement.
    • Angkor Wat – yields +3 Happiness and an additional +1 Specialist limit in this settlement.
    • Mundo Perdido – provides +1 Happiness and +1 Science on Tropical tiles within the settlement.

    The Mundo Perdido is best built only if you have multiple tropical tiles in your city.

    Wonders can only be constructed in cities. Sometimes, upgrading a town to a city to open up more construction slots for Wonders is worthwhile, as usable terrain can fill up quickly.

    Planning for Wonder construction needs to be meticulous. For further information about adjacency, consider this guide.

    Wonders hold immense value in Civ 7 because their bonuses remain consistent throughout all three Ages.

    While some buildings may become obsolete and require replacement in later Ages, Wonders retain their adjacency bonuses and powerful boosts across the game, making them a priority whenever possible.

    Trade and Warfare

    Rizal enjoys establishing a strong trade empire due to the Happiness bonuses available through the acquisition of Imported Resources. Resources like Wine are especially beneficial for gathering extra happiness points.

    In terms of warfare, Rizal’s Happiness-centric focus allows you to take over more enemy cities. However, this will influence how quickly you can start Celebrations, potentially causing you to miss some important bonuses.

    Best Civilizations for Jose Rizal


    Jose Rizal Leader Overview-1

    Reflecting Rizal’s adaptability in play style, various civilizations in the Antiquity Age fit well with his strategies.

    Maurya

    The Maurya civilization is excellent for José Rizal since they have traits that strongly enhance Happiness.

    You can select an additional Pantheon once you’ve unlocked Mysticism.

    +30% Production for constructing the Sanchi Stupa.

    Nagarika – A unique settler providing +2 happiness in new city halls.

    Matha Unique Quarter – Offers a 10% bonus happiness in the city where it’s built.

    The Nagarika directly provides +2 Happiness to all new cities you establish, while the unique quarters and districts increase Happiness further.


    Maurya Civics

    Additionally, the Maurya civilization offers numerous unique civics that benefit Rizal:

    • The Charvaka policy, available through Acharya, provides +3 Happiness on Science buildings, making early Libraries even more valuable.
    • The Ayurveda civic allows the Shreni policy to grant +1 Gold for every 5 Surplus Happiness in your cities. This can accumulate swiftly, especially when cities have 40-50 Happiness.
    • The Vyuham civic provides the Kshatriya policy, yielding an extra +4 Happiness from military buildings. Constructing Barracks supports both Production and Happiness.
    • Finally, the Mantriparishad civic gives early access to the Sanchi Stupa and the Arthashastra policy, which provides an additional +1 Science for every 5 surplus Happiness in cities, further stacking with Rizal’s focus on happiness.

    The Sanchi Stupa is among the best Happiness Wonders in the game, offering a flat +2 Happiness and +1 Culture for every 5 excess Happiness.

    Maya


    Mayan Civics

    The Maya offer a unique option for Rizal: while they don’t quite match the Maurya’s bonuses for Happiness, they compensate with impressive Science generation during the Antiquity Age.

    The Palace gains 0.5 Science for every adjacent Vegetated tile.

    +30% production for constructing Mundo Perdido.

    The Maya excel in generating bonuses through adjacency from their Altar and vegetated terrain. The unique Jalaw building also contributes to base Happiness.

    Their Unique District, the Uwaybil K’uh, truly shines as it grants great rewards: every completed technology yields production equal to 15% of its cost, allowing you to convert Science into buildings. This is especially effective for gaining ground early on as Rizal, mainly if you manage to establish two or three cities during the Antiquity Age.

    Optimal Mementos for Jose Rizal


    Jose Rizal Memento Choice

    Jose Rizal has access to impressive Mementos within his leader path.

    • The Ophthalmoscope, Rizal’s level 5 Memento, boosts Celebration length by an extra 25%. This feature allows you to maximize the bonuses from your Government effectively.
    • The Diamond Throne, Ashoka’s level 9 Memento, gives +1 Happiness per Quarter for each Age experienced during a Celebration. This can help maintain stability throughout the game, especially during crisis events.

    Your Memento selection will ultimately reflect your preferences as you play. Perhaps you already favor a specific combination (we enjoy using the Imago Mundi and Marco Polo duo for strong early scouting and resource wealth).

    Keep in mind: you can adjust your Mementos during Age transitions. This flexibility is crucial as some of the early Mementos may lose their effectiveness over time.

    Jose Rizal in the Exploration and Modern Age

    Jose Rizal is an exemplary leader to guide you into subsequent Ages. Focus on accumulating Gold in the Exploration Age, solidifying your presence on your home continent, and preparing for advancements into the Distant Lands.

    There isn’t a concrete strategy for these Ages, and many may feel these particular Ages are less developed compared to the Antiquity Age. If you secured a solid foundation in Antiquity, Rizal should have no issues progressing in the later Ages, primarily due to the powerful boosts from your Celebrations.

  • Mastering Nuclear Strategy in Civ 7: A How-To Guide

    Mastering Nuclear Strategy in Civ 7: A How-To Guide

    Since the beginning of the Civilization series, it’s been common for nuclear weapons to emerge towards the end of gameplay. In Civilization 7, the three-age structure helps maintain balance, preventing players from advancing too quickly with them—though players focused on science can still reach that point faster than others.

    So, how do nuclear weapons function in Civ 7? What do you need to access them? Even if you have no intention of using them—kudos for choosing peace—you may still want to unlock them for other strategic reasons. Here’s the information you need.

    How To Unlock Nuclear Weapons In Civ 7

    To harness the power of nuclear weapons in Civilization 7, you need to do something unexpected: complete the Military Legacy Path during the Modern Age. That’s correct; nukes are not unlocked through technology, marking a significant change from previous versions of the game.

    For a detailed guide on the Domination Victory Path (also known as the Military Victory Path), check that out. In summary, you will need 20 Ideology Points in the Modern Age to get started with the Manhattan Project.

    The Manhattan Project is a Wonder that allows you to create nuclear weapons. Interestingly, completing this project instantly unlocks Operation Ivy, which gives you a path to win the game.

    How To Use Nuclear Weapons In Civ 7


    An Aerodrome in Civilization 7

    Keep in mind that you have a limited time frame to deploy these nuclear weapons unless you’re aiming to achieve a “default” victory by eliminating your opponents.

    If that’s your strategy, it aligns with the classic Civ “Domination” Victory. While there may not be a strong incentive to go this route, there’s nothing preventing you from doing so.

    Additionally, data mining has indicated the possibility of a fourth age, the Atomic Age. If Firaxis proceeds with this anticipated update, it could mean a more significant role for nuclear weapons in the game.

    To launch nuclear weapons, make sure these criteria are met:

    1. Construct an Aerodrome, ideally near your rivals.
    2. Utilize the Nuclear Weapon Construction option in the building menu.
    3. Launch the nuke using Bomber aircraft—having your Aerodrome close to your enemies is advantageous. You can also use Aircraft Carriers to position Bombers further away.

    That’s it! You’ll need to make nukes one at a time, but the devastation they can cause is well worth it. Just remember, the Modern Age has a built-in timer, so act quickly if your goal is to invoke global chaos.

  • Confucius: Leadership Insights for Civ 7 Players

    Confucius: Leadership Insights for Civ 7 Players

    Quick Links

    In Civilization 7, Confucius is a leader known for his scientific and expansionist skills. He is adept at developing large cities that can accommodate a significant population, which in turn supports numerous specialists. This creates a consistent flow of gold, culture, and science each turn. His style of play is highly adaptable regarding victory conditions, as his capacity for scientific advancement opens various buildings and opportunities. The key focus should be the expansion of smaller towns to ensure your capital reaches its maximum size as quickly as possible.

    This guide offers an overview of Confucius, strategies for the early game in the Ancient Era, and the best civilizations and mementos.

    Overview of Confucius

    Here’s a look at Confucius’ leader bonuses:

    +25% City Growth Rate

    +2 Science from Specialists

    Growth Rate Bonus

    Confucius’ cities expand rapidly. This straightforward growth bonus works well with other bonuses in the game, such as those provided by the Hanging Gardens wonder or the Fertility Rites pantheon. With effective combinations, your capital can reach 20 population by turn 100.

    Specialist Science Bonuses

    Confucius’ large cities leverage specialist slots effectively, benefiting from an additional +2 science per specialist, boosting the already generated science and culture.

    The main challenge when playing as Confucius is maintaining a balance between specialists and happiness while ensuring good adjacency planning.

    Learn more about adjacency in Civ 7 here.

    Specialists can consume happiness, which poses risks during the Ancient and Exploration Ages. As you advance to the modern age, you should have enough happiness and policies to mitigate those effects. Early on, it’s crucial to use specialists strategically on your best tiles.

    Strategy for Confucius in the Ancient Era

    Confucius Han Start in Antiquity

    Confucius presents a unique strategy in the Ancient Era. Let’s explore his approach.

    Initial Scouting and Discoveries

    Early scouts are incredibly valuable in Civ 7. Starting with at least two scouts is recommended, and some players prefer to have three for enhanced exploration.

    The goal is to secure as many discoveries as possible, especially since you’re competing against AI players. The more scouts you have, the better your chances.

    Focus on gaining science and culture from your discoveries. Aim for early technologies, like Pottery and Animal Husbandry, to enhance your capital’s output, while civics like Mysticism can help you secure the Fertility Rites Pantheon, which is highly beneficial for Confucius.

    Initial Buildings

    Due to Confucius’ strong growth advantage, constructing the Granary first is less effective. Instead, prioritize production buildings like the Saw Pit and Brickyard.

    Utilize your first towns to support your main city rather than concentrating on food in your primary settlement. Immediately after establishing your first two production buildings, produce three settlers.

    Position settlers on valuable resource tiles close to your city. This way, food is sent back to your capital, which helps it grow while you enhance production.

    Once your towns hit seven population, switch them to Urban Center Focus to generate Culture and Science from each Quarter—a tile with two completed districts, such as the Granary and Brickyard.

    The Urban Center focus will yield more science per turn compared to a Library, allowing you to prioritize troops, settlers, and production buildings instead of rushing to write.

    Technology and Civics

    We typically prioritize either Pottery or Animal Husbandry first, depending on your starting tiles. Choose Pottery for clay and mines or Animal Husbandry for pastures.

    Next, focus on obtaining Masonry, then Masonry II, followed by Irrigation, and finally Writing. This path gives Confucius a strong production foundation while ensuring long-term scientific growth. With his enhanced science yields, you’ll easily catch up.

    For civics, you should almost always choose Mysticism first, allowing for an early Pantheon.

    When to Deploy Your Initial Specialists

    Understanding the optimal timing for placing specialists as Confucius can be tricky.

    However, some yields are simply too beneficial to overlook. Consider this early-game city for Confucius:

    Confucius Early Specialists

    This city already shows attractive specialist slots, featuring a tile that generates +6 Science and +2 Culture or another that provides +1.5 Food, 1.5 Gold, +4 Science, and +2 Culture. These outputs surpass most open rural tiles in the city.

    As a guideline, ensure your adjacency is well-positioned around your Library tile to enhance your science yield.

    Science buildings benefit from adjacency to resources. For instance, the library here gains adjacency from both Silver and Horses.

    Top Civilizations for Confucius

    Maya Confucius Civilization

    Confucius has a wide range of options for civilization selection due to his versatile bonuses.

    Maya Civilization

    If you seek an aggressive approach to scientific progress, the Maya civilization is an excellent choice.

    The Palace gains +0.5 Science for each adjacent Vegetated Terrain.

    +30% Production bonus when constructing Mundo Perdido.

    This civilization offers solid science boosts, particularly when you consider their bonuses.

    While the K’uh Nah unique building provides a small science boost, the true power of the Maya is evident in their civic options:

    • Rain Of Chaac grants +1 Science adjacency on the Altar for any vegetated terrain, which can accumulate quickly and applies to all settlements, including your towns.
    • Calendar Round is a unique civic that rewards you with 10% of the cost in Culture for each Technology completion and 10% in Science for each Civic completion. This synergizes greatly with Confucius’ significant science boosts and applies across all ages as it is a tradition card rather than a policy card.

    Khmer Civilization

    The Khmer civilization amplifies Confucius’ growth potential.

    Districts on Rivers do not reduce the natural yield of the tile.

    30% Production bonus towards constructing the Angkor Wat.

    The Khmer are centered around growth dynamics. Their unique building, the Baray, provides a solid +3 food bonus when built, as well as an additional +1 food for all floodplain tiles in the settlement. With the right starting position, this can yield a significant food surplus.

    Moreover, the Khmer civics complement Confucius remarkably well:

    • Amnach includes the Varna tradition, which provides +1 Gold per specialist, enhancing Confucius’ specialists.
    • Chakravarti is possibly the best civic for Confucius, providing +50% growth in the Capital alongside a -5 happiness penalty in other cities. Its tradition, Kambu-Mera, offers +100% Food and Happiness towards specialist maintenance, greatly facilitating specialist sustainability as the game progresses.

    Civilians should be aware of the wording around the Kambu-Mera civic. This does not imply that your specialists will be free; rather it allows you to effectively gain one additional specialist per specialist without extra cost, ensuring game balance without overpowered advantages.

    Top Mementos for Confucius

    Brush and Scroll Memento for Confucius

    Confucius has a rich array of Mementos, both from his own tree and those of other leaders.

    • At level 2, Confucius unlocks the Brush & Scroll memento, significantly boosting city growth rates by 5% for every specialist, with a maximum of 25%. This may not be the most advantageous in the Ancient Era when specialist numbers are low, but it proves highly beneficial later in the game.
    • His level 5 memento, The Altar Set, enhances specialists with an additional +1 Culture and Gold each.
    • The final upgrade, The Analects, becomes available at level 9, offering an extra +1 Science for each specialist.

    It’s important to adapt your Mementos throughout the game. We often find value in scouting Mementos like Imago Mundi and Marco Polo during the Ancient Era, as they accelerate map exploration and provide gold. In the Exploration Era, we might shift focus to Mementos that are more specialist-oriented.

  • Top Mods to Enhance Your Civ 7 Experience!

    Top Mods to Enhance Your Civ 7 Experience!

    Civilization 7 made its debut under some mixed circumstances. While the game offers various exciting features, like its innovative three-ages system, there are aspects that still seem to be in a development phase.

    Upon receiving our copies for PC, we were thrilled to witness the impressive creativity of the Civilization modding community as they began to roll out new content following the game’s release. As expected, they’ve already produced a lot of great mods, which are definitely worth exploring. Unfortunately, console players won’t have access to these mods, so we encourage PC gamers to dive in.

    Currently, there is no Steam Workshop support for Civilization 7. We’ve been downloading all the mods listed here from CivFanatics, and we’ll provide links to each recommendation. A big thank-you to the CivFanatics team for their dedication to the franchise!

    YnAMP – Larger Map, TSL, Continents++

    We’ve been longtime fans of Gedemon’s YnAMP map series, which has successfully enhanced gameplay across multiple Civilization titles. Their latest contributions for Civ 7 are no exception. If you also play Civilization 5 or 6, make sure to try these new maps!

    YnAMP is a complete map pack that introduces larger map options along with a massive Earth-style map with true-start locations for each civilization. Currently, Civilization 7 only supports Tiny, Small, and Standard maps, which can feel a bit confining.

    We suggest trying the YnAMP – Larger Map, TSL, Continents++ mod, especially until Firaxis releases larger maps officially. Even if you’re not focused on size, you should definitely check out their Continents++ style map.

    This map generator is a significant upgrade compared to both Continents and Continents++, offering players a wealth of opportunities with this mod.

    Sukritact’s Simple UI Adjustments


    Sukritact Adjustments Mod Civ 7

    The name Sukritact is well-known among Civilization enthusiasts. They have consistently enriched the franchise, and we’re thrilled that they continue to do so with Civilization 7.

    Sukritact’s Simple UI Adjustments is the title of this mod, but it arguably undersells its significance. Upon release, Civ 7 featured a rather clunky UI that often felt disjointed.

    Thanks to this mod, details about improvements, wonders, and adjacency bonuses are now presented with clarity – or at least as clear as possible within the existing framework. At present, it holds the record for the most downloads of any Civ 7 mod on CivFanatics, a clear indicator of its value!


    TCS Improved Plot Tooltip Mod for Civ 7

    Here’s a little inside tip: it’s sometimes been a bit challenging ensuring that our screenshots for other Civ 7 content don’t confuse viewers with mod features.

    TCS Improved Plot Tooltip is typically the main culprit; we can hardly imagine playing without it, and the benefits of this mod are apparent every time you hover over a tile. The information displayed is significantly more comprehensive than the standard version.

    Additionally, the overhauled settlement information screen is an outstanding feature. Major kudos to the creator, thecrazyscot, for this contribution!

    As mentioned on this mod’s page (which we’ve confirmed through multiple playthroughs!), TCS Improved Plot Tooltip is completely compatible with Sukritact’s Simple UI Adjustments, so feel free to combine them.

    More Natural Wonders


    More Natural Wonders Mod for Civ 7

    At the moment, Civilization 7 features only 12 Natural Wonders. While we expect this number to grow in future updates, it highlights the relevance of pokiehl’s fantastic More Natural Wonders mod, which boosts the count to a total of 12.

    Here’s a look at the enhancements you can expect on the official map sizes, according to the mod’s description:

    • From three to six on Tiny maps.
    • From four to eight on Small maps.
    • From five to ten on Standard maps.

    If you’re utilizing YnAMP for larger maps, you’ll enjoy the complete set of 12 Natural Wonders and will likely see even more added in future updates. Natural Wonders are quite scarce in the vanilla version of Civ 7, which makes the More Natural Wonders mod a vital addition.

    We’ll keep this guide updated as more exciting mods for Civilization 7 are developed, but don’t stop with just our recommendations. There are many other impressive mods available at CivFanatics. We’ll also provide updates when Steam Workshop supports all these amazing creations!

  • Charlemagne’s Leadership Tips for Civ 7 Success

    Charlemagne’s Leadership Tips for Civ 7 Success

    Charlemagne stands out as a strong military leader in Civilization 7. He benefits from substantial Happiness bonuses, a steady way to create units without spending production, and impressive combat advantages during his Celebrations. While his gameplay heavily leans towards military conquest, managing his happiness while capturing cities and addressing war fatigue can make him more challenging to play compared to some other leaders in the game.

    This guide will explore effective strategies for Charlemagne, including how to maximize his free cavalry units, the best civilizations to pair with him, recommended research paths, and more.

    Overview of Charlemagne

    Known as the Father of Europe, Charlemagne possesses several beneficial leader bonuses:

    Bonus Description
    Military and Science buildings gain Happiness adjacency for Quarters.
    Receive 2 free Cavalry Units, unlocked when entering a Celebration.
    Cavalry Units get a +5 Combat Strength during a Celebration.

    Understanding Happiness Adjacency

    Charlemagne’s Happiness adjacency bonuses for buildings like Libraries and Barracks help you maintain high happiness levels, provided you plan your districts wisely.

    Free Cavalry Units

    Whenever Charlemagne enters a Celebration, he gains two free cavalry units. This might take time early in the game since you need to research The Wheel to access cavalry, but by the late game, the benefits can multiply significantly.

    You can effectively stack Celebrations by timing them so that a new one starts right after the current one ends. Repeating this strategy can lead to an impressive array of free, powerful units—like tanks in the Modern Age—allowing for overwhelming military force.

    To dominate enemy armies, focus on ensuring your combat strength is superior to theirs. While this may sound straightforward, you’ll have to be strategic about where you find these bonuses.

    On higher difficulty levels, the AI receives significant bonuses to combat strength. However, Charlemagne’s +5 boost for Cavalry combat strength during Celebrations helps level the playing field, especially since you should be in a state of Celebration frequently during the Modern Age.

    Optimal Strategies for the Antiquity Age

    Regardless of which civilization you choose—more on that later—Charlemagne excels by generating early Happiness through the Altar. Start by building an early Library to quickly acquire the Bronze Working technology, then use the excess happiness to initiate Celebrations for a steady influx of cavalry units.

    Scouting and Early Discoveries

    It’s advisable to produce two or three scouts early on. The Discoveries you make in the early game are crucial. Here’s a priority list for what to pursue:

    • Gold: Essential for buying settlers and other useful items.
    • Science: Quickly increasing your science output is important for reaching Bronze Working fast.
    • Culture: The Discipline civic is beneficial for Charlemagne, while Mysticism is ideal for accessing early pantheons.
    • Influence: Gaining influence is always valuable early on since you’ll likely engage in conflicts with neighboring civilizations.

    Best Government Options

    You have two paths: focus on Food and Production, or prioritize Science and Infantry Unit Production. The first option offers a well-rounded advantage, while the second can enhance your military capabilities in the Antiquity Age.

    Early Technology and Civics

    Aim to acquire Pottery and Writing early to boost your science output. In terms of civics, getting your general upgraded quickly is key, so heading from Discipline into Mysticism for a good pantheon is a solid strategy.

    Every game of Civilization 7 offers a unique experience, and your strategies might need to adapt based on the civilization you’ve chosen alongside Charlemagne.

    Settling Strategies and Conquest

    Depending on your neighbors, you might want to limit your own city settlements. Given Charlemagne’s warmongering nature, it’s perfectly viable to conquer a neighboring capital early on.

    Regardless of your civilization, keep an eye out for valuable resources:

    • Wine: Provides Happiness in your capital, which aligns perfectly with Charlemagne’s bonuses.
    • Gold and Silver: Both are great for purchasing essential buildings and units. Silver can particularly reduce the cost of gold purchases significantly, allowing you to assemble your army much faster.
    • Cotton, Sheep, and Hides: These resources offer excellent early-game bonuses for food and production.

    Recommended Wonders

    Charlemagne gains significant advantages from various military wonders. Here are the top picks to focus on:

    • Gate of Nations: Essential for boosting War Support for all future conflicts. If your War Support drops, it can lead to unhappiness, which negatively impacts Charlemagne’s bonuses.
    • Sanchi Stupa: Provides a +2 Happiness bonus, along with +1 Culture for each excess Happiness in the city where it’s constructed, complementing Charlemagne’s happiness strategies.
    • Terracotta Army: Grants +2 production and a free army commander, boosting all armies with +25% experience. This is particularly useful for moving Charlemagne’s cavalry across the map.

    Best Civilizations to Pair with Charlemagne

    Several civilizations complement Charlemagne’s strengths in the Antiquity Age, including the Khmer, Maurya, and Maya. While they might not seem like the most obvious combinations, they play well into Charlemagne’s bonuses.

    Maurya

    Bonus Description
    Choose an extra Pantheon after unlocking Mysticism.
    +30% Production towards constructing Sanchi Stupa.

    The Maurya have a strong cavalry unit, the Purabhettarah, which gets an additional +5 Combat Strength against fortified districts. When combined with Charlemagne’s combat bonuses, this creates a formidable cavalry force. Their unique buildings also boost overall happiness, which fits perfectly into Charlemagne’s gameplay.

    Khmer

    Bonus Description
    Districts on Rivers maintain natural yields.
    +30% Production towards constructing Angkor Wat.

    The Khmer’s Yuthahathi cavalry unit is strong, even if it moves slower. Their unique Baray improvement provides significant food, enhancing growth and production in Charlemagne’s cities.

    Maya

    Bonus Description
    Palace gains +0.5 Science for adjacent vegetated terrain.
    +30% Production towards constructing Mundo Perdido.

    The Maya are ideal for leaders focusing on science. Although science isn’t the sole path to victory in this game, it remains beneficial for Charlemagne, allowing quick access to technology like Bronze Working to generate free cavalry units.

    By strategically utilizing these civilizations, Charlemagne can create an empire that is not just powerful, but also thriving.