10 historic strategies reimagined in civilization 6

10 Historic Strategies Reimagined in Civilization 6

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I’ve always found that history is a playbook of incredible strategies, and Civilization 6 is the perfect sandbox to bring them to life. It’s one thing to follow a tech tree, but it’s another to win by applying a powerful, cohesive strategy with a clear vision. The most satisfying victories come from understanding the why behind a plan, not just the what.

So, I wanted to share some of my favorite ways to play, moving beyond the usual tips. I’m going to break down ten of my favorite historical strategies—from the unstoppable march of Roman legions to the globe-spanning economic power of the British Empire—and turn them into detailed, actionable game plans for Civ 6. This is all about applying the lessons of history to dominate the digital battlefield. Let’s dive in and transform your game from just reacting to moves to being deliberately, historically dominant.

The Roman Testudo: An Unbreakable Wall of Infantry

The History: Rome built its empire on the backs of its legionaries. Their whole military philosophy was about using disciplined, heavy infantry to soak up damage and systematically take apart their enemies. The famous Testudo (Tortoise) formation, where they’d lock shields into an almost impenetrable shell, basically made them a walking fortress, shrugging off arrows as they marched forward. It was a slow, deliberate strategy that was all about resilience.

The Civ 6 Strategy: If you love a methodical, grinding advance that crushes enemies through pure toughness, this one’s for you. It’s a Domination-focused plan that really hits its stride in the Classical and Medieval eras. The idea is to build a core of heavily promoted infantry that support each other and become an unstoppable force when they get to a city’s walls.

How to Do It:

  • Who to Pick: Rome, led by Trajan or Julius Caesar, is the obvious and best choice. Trajan’s free Monuments help you rush key civics, and his free roads build the supply lines for your army. Caesar’s ability to get Gold from conquering cities and Barbarian Outposts is perfect for funding your war machine. The Legion unique unit is the star of the show; it’s stronger than a Swordsman, doesn’t need Iron right away, and can build a Roman Fort for free.
  • The Early Game (Ancient Era): Your first priorities are getting Iron and rushing the Bronze Working and Iron Working techs. At the same time, push for the Craftsmanship and Military Tradition civics. A good opening build order is Scout -> Slinger -> Settler. Settle your next cities aggressively to claim land and, more importantly, any Iron deposits. Your first Governor title should be Magnus with the Provision promotion to help produce settlers and units faster. The second you unlock Legions, start building them. Back them up with a few Archers and a Battering Ram. Your Legions will soak up damage while the Battering Ram deals with the city walls.
  • Making Your Move (Classical & Medieval Eras): This is when you have a massive power spike. Combine your Legions into a Corps as soon as you unlock the Nationalism civic to make them even tougher. Your advance should be slow and steady. Use the Legion’s build charge to create a Fort on a strategic tile just outside the enemy’s city. This fort gives a +4 Combat Strength bonus and damages nearby enemies, serving as your anchor point.

    A good combat formation looks like this:

    1. Front Line: A Legion Corps, ideally with the Tortoise promotion (+10 Combat Strength vs. ranged attacks), fortified on a hill or in a forest.
    2. Siege Support: A Battering Ram or Siege Tower right behind your lead Legion, where it’s safe.
    3. Ranged Support: Archers or Crossbowmen spread out behind your infantry, taking out any enemy units that threaten your siege equipment.
    4. Great General: This is the key. A Great General gives +5 Combat Strength and +1 Movement to all units within two tiles. Keep them positioned to cover your whole army.

    Advance your fortified line, build a new Fort, heal up, and push again. Don’t let the enemy bait you into chasing their faster units. Let them crash against your shield wall. Policy cards like Agoge (production boost for ancient/classical melee units) and Discipline (+5 Combat Strength for melee units) are essential.

  • The Late Game Pivot: Your Legions won’t last forever. The goal is to cripple a neighbor or two so badly that you can use your new territory and production advantage to pivot. The production base you built for your legions can then be used for Campuses to catch up on science or Industrial Zones to build a modern army. The empire you conquered with iron becomes the foundation for any victory you want.

The Mongol Horde’s Feigned Retreat: Total Mobile Warfare

The History: The Mongols, under Genghis Khan, conquered more land in 25 years than Rome did in 400. They didn’t use heavy armor; their whole game was about incredible speed and mind games. Their signature move was the feigned retreat. Horse archers would hit an enemy, pretend to run away, and lure slower armies out of their defensive formations. Once the enemy was exposed and disorganized, the Mongols would just turn, surround them, and wipe them out with arrows.

The Civ 6 Strategy: This is a fast-paced Domination strategy that’s all about speed, ranged attacks, and smart positioning. It takes more hands-on control than the Roman steamroller, but it’s amazing for wiping out an enemy’s entire army in the open field, making city sieges a piece of cake. It’s the definition of fighting smarter, not harder.

How to Pull It Off:

  • Who to Pick: Mongolia, led by Genghis Khan, is built for this. His Mongol Horde ability gives all cavalry +3 Combat Strength and a chance to capture enemy cavalry. Their unique unit, the Keshig, is a fast and powerful ranged cavalry unit that is the perfect tool for this strategy. Scythia, led by Tomyris, is another great pick since she produces two light cavalry units for the price of one and her units heal when they defeat an enemy.
  • The Early Game (Ancient Era): Your tech path is simple: Animal Husbandry -> Archery -> Horseback Riding. You want to build a large force of Horsemen and Archers as fast as you can. Don’t worry about wonders; all your production should go into units. With Genghis Khan, you can instantly create a Trading Post in a new city, which gives you a Diplomatic Visibility advantage that translates into more Combat Strength. Send a Trader to your target right after you meet them—not for trade, but to make your army stronger.
  • The Hunt (Medieval & Renaissance Eras): Now the fun begins. Your army should be almost all Keshigs (or Knights if you’re another civ) with a few melee cavalry. You don’t need slow siege units at first. Your goal is to bleed the enemy’s army dry.

    How to Execute the Feigned Retreat:

    1. The Bait: Pick one tough unit, like a Knight with a defensive promotion, and move it into the enemy’s range. Attack a weak unit, then move back.
    2. The Lure: The AI will usually take the bait and chase your “fleeing” unit with its stronger melee units. Pull your bait unit back even further, drawing the enemy into open ground and away from their city’s defenses.
    3. The Encirclement: While the enemy is chasing your bait, your main force of Keshigs, which should be hiding just out of sight, sweeps in from the sides.
    4. The Kill Box: Surround the enemy units. With flanking bonuses (+2 Combat Strength for each adjacent friendly unit), your Keshigs will hit much harder. Focus your fire to take out one enemy unit per turn. This is where Tomyris shines, as her units heal after each kill, letting them keep up the pressure.

    Once the enemy’s army is gone, their cities are wide open. Your fast cavalry can pillage their districts for free Science, Culture, and Gold, crippling them before you even take the city. Then, you can bring up a few Battering Rams or Trebuchets to finish the job.

  • Helpful Policies & Promotions: The Maneuver policy card is a must-have for building light cavalry faster. For promotions, focus on mobility (Depredation for +1 Movement) and ranged power (Volley for +5 Ranged Strength). The Oligarchy government gives a +4 Combat Strength bonus, making your cavalry swarm even more lethal.

The British Thalassocracy: Rule the Waves, Rule the World

The History: “Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!” wasn’t just a catchy tune; it was the core strategy that built the British Empire. A “thalassocracy” is just a fancy word for a state that gets its power from its navy. Being an island, Great Britain used its Royal Navy to defend itself, control the world’s most important sea lanes, and build a massive colonial empire. Their navy was the key to all their economic and military power.

The Civ 6 Strategy: This is a super flexible strategy that can pivot to either a Domination or Economic victory. It’s all about controlling the seas to control the game. On any map with a good amount of water, a strong navy isn’t just for defense—it’s a tool for total control. You can cut enemies off, protect a global trading empire, and launch invasions from anywhere.

The Plan for Naval Dominance:

  • Who to Pick: England, with either Victoria or Eleanor, is the top-tier choice. The Royal Navy Dockyard unique district gives you extra Gold, Naval Tradition points, and can even build ships for free on other continents if you have the right Great Admiral. Victoria’s Pax Britannica ability gives you a free melee unit when you settle on another continent, which is perfect for expanding your empire. Norway and Phoenicia are also great choices for a naval game.