I’ve spent countless hours playing Civilization 6, and I’ve found that the key to winning isn’t always about mastering the obvious stuff like settling cities or building districts. The real game-changers are often the smaller, underutilized features that most players tend to overlook. These aren’t flashy mechanics, but if you learn how to use them, they can give you a decisive edge.
I wanted to share nine of these features that have completely elevated my own gameplay. This isn’t generic advice; it’s a deep dive into the strategies that can help you outmaneuver your opponents and secure a win. You’re about to see Civ 6 in a whole new light.
1. Plan Flawless Cities with Advanced Map Tacks
I used to think map tacks were just simple reminders, but they’re honestly one of the most powerful planning tools in the game. Their real strength is in helping you visualize and calculate complex adjacency bonuses and long-term city plans way before you even build anything.
Visualize Everything: Before I even settle my second city, I’m already scouting my territory and placing map tacks everywhere. I don’t just mark a spot for a campus; I plan the entire city’s layout. Where can I place an aqueduct to get the best Industrial Zone bonus? Can I create a diamond of districts around a Government Plaza for a huge yield boost? Tacks let you sketch these ideas out so you don’t accidentally build a farm on a tile that was meant to be your science hub.
My Favorite Trick: The German Industrial Diamond
If you’re playing as Germany, you know you get an extra district per city. This is where tacks become essential. I look for a cluster of hills and rivers and tack my city center. Then, I’ll place tacks for an aqueduct, a dam, and a canal. Each of these gives a +2 adjacency bonus to Industrial Zones. By planning this out, I can find a single tile for my Hansa (Germany’s unique Industrial Zone) that gets a massive +6 bonus. I can even add a Commercial Hub next to the river and the Hansa for another +2. Just like that, I’ve planned a +8 Hansa before I’ve even researched the tech for it. This is the kind of long-term planning that builds an unstoppable production machine.
How to Do It: At the start of every game, spend your first few turns exploring and “tacking up” your surroundings. Use different icons for districts, wonders, and even future city spots. As you unlock new techs, check back on your tacks. Is that campus still in the best spot, or did a newly revealed strategic resource mess up your plans? Think of the map tack system as your evolving blueprint for victory.
2. Use Governor Promotions for Unique Advantages
Governors are so much more than a fix for loyalty problems. If you dig into their promotion trees, you’ll find powerful bonuses that can be tailored to whatever victory you’re chasing. The key is to look past the obvious promotions.
Thinking Outside the Box with Magnus and Pingala: Everyone knows to use Magnus for his “Provision” promotion to produce settlers without losing population, or Pingala for his culture and science boosts. But their later promotions are where the real power is.
- Magnus, the Industrial Powerhouse: Magnus’s “Vertical Integration” is a game-changer. It lets a city get production from all industrial zones within six tiles. If you have a cluster of three cities, each with a factory, you can place Magnus in the middle one, and it will benefit from all three factories. This creates a city that can pump out wonders and units like crazy.
- Pingala, the Great Person Magnet: I feel like Pingala’s “Grants” promotion is often overlooked. It gives a +100% bonus to Great Person points in a city. When you’re in a tight race for a crucial Great Scientist, this can make all the difference. Combine it with the Oracle wonder, and you’ll be swimming in Great People.
A Sneaky Move with Amani the Diplomat:
Amani is usually just sent to city-states to secure suzerainty. But her final promotion, “Puppeteer,” is an incredible offensive tool. It lets you double your envoys in her city-state, which means you can instantly steal suzerainty from an opponent. Imagine an opponent relies on a city-state for a unique luxury they need for amenities. By moving Amani there and using Puppeteer, you can snatch it away, causing their empire to become unhappy and maybe even rebellious.
How to Do It: Don’t just appoint governors and forget them. Actively manage their promotions based on what you need. Need to rush a wonder? Move Magnus to that city. In a close race for a religious victory? Moksha’s “Patron Saint” promotion can give your apostles the edge they need.
3. Farm Era Score to Chain Golden Ages
Golden Ages are amazing, and chaining them together can create a snowball effect that makes you nearly unstoppable. The “Monumentality” dedication, which lets you buy civilian units with faith, is especially powerful. The key to getting consistent Golden Ages is to actively “farm” Era Score.
Find the Hidden Triggers: Most of us know the common ways to get Era Score, like building a wonder. But there are so many less-obvious triggers you can use.
- First Ironclad: Building the world’s first ironclad gives you a good chunk of Era Score. A lot of players focus on land units, so if you make a point to research and build this ship first, you can get a timely boost.
- City-State Tricks: Being the first to become suzerain of a city-state is a known trigger, but did you know you also get Era Score for levying their military for the first time? It’s a cheap and easy way to get some extra points before an era ends.
- Smart Settling: You can get Era Score by founding a city on a new continent or settling within two tiles of a geothermal fissure.
My Go-To: The Religious Era Score Rush
If you’re going for a religious victory, you have tons of opportunities to farm Era Score. Converting a city for the first time gives you points. If you have a strong faith economy, you can send out a wave of missionaries and apostles right before an era ends to convert a bunch of foreign cities for a massive Era Score boost. Winning a theological combat also grants Era Score, so you can get points while pushing for your victory condition.
How to Do It: Don’t leave Era Score to chance. In the last ten turns of an era, look at the list of triggers. Is there a unique unit you haven’t built? Can you quickly become suzerain of a nearby city-state? By actively looking for these opportunities, you can keep the Golden Ages coming.
4. Use City Projects as a Strategic Tool
I used to think city projects were just something to do when there was nothing else to build. That was a huge mistake. They’re not just for Great Person points; you can use them to manipulate your economy and gain a strategic advantage.
The Production Conversion Trick: One of the best uses for city projects is converting production into other yields. The “Commercial Hub Investments” project, for example, turns your city’s production into gold. This is super helpful if you have a high-production city but are short on cash. Instead of building another unit you don’t need, you can run this project for a few turns and get a nice influx of gold.
A Military Example: The Industrial Zone Logistics Project
This project gives you a burst of production towards military units when it’s completed. You can use this to create a “production spike” right when you need it. Let’s say you’re about to start a war. In the turns leading up to it, have your key military cities run this project. The turn you declare war, you can complete the projects and instantly produce a wave of new units, overwhelming your opponent.
How to Do It: Think of city projects as a flexible tool. Need more science? Run the “Campus Research Grants” project. Drowning in production but need faith? “Holy Site Prayers” is the answer. By using these projects strategically, you can balance your empire’s economy and always have what you need.
5. Manipulate Grievances and Diplomatic Favor
The grievance system isn’t just about how much the AI dislikes you; it’s a resource you can manage. You can use it to justify wars, isolate your enemies, and even win the diplomatic game.
Baiting the AI into a Just War: The AI is very sensitive to grievances. You can actually provoke an opponent into generating grievances against you, which gives you a reason for a “Formal War.” This reduces your warmonger penalties and makes it more likely other civs will join you.
A Classic Move: The Forward Settle Provocation
A great way to provoke an AI is to “forward settle” by placing a city near their borders. They’ll likely denounce you and might start moving troops, which generates grievances against them. You can then use these grievances to justify a war, making you look like the victim.
The Diplomatic Favor Economy: Diplomatic Favor isn’t just for the Diplomatic Victory. You can trade it for gold, resources, and even Great Works. One of the most overlooked ways to get it is by winning competitions like the World’s Fair. They require a big investment, but the payoff in Diplomatic Favor can be huge.
How to Do It: Pay attention to grievances and Diplomatic Favor. Don’t be afraid to provoke your enemies. And don’t underestimate the value of Diplomatic Favor, even if you’re not going for that victory. It can be a game-changer.
6. Unleash the Power of Military Engineers
I feel like Military Engineers are one of the most underrated units. They’re not just for building roads; they can create strategic chokepoints, build powerful forts, and give you a decisive edge in combat.
Building an Unbreakable Fortress: Military Engineers can build forts, which give a big defensive bonus to any unit inside. A well-placed fort on a hill or across a river can hold off a much larger army. With the “Casemates” promotion, these forts can even attack nearby enemy units.
A Great Example: The Mountain Pass Chokepoint
If you have a narrow mountain pass leading into your territory, you can build a series of forts and garrison them with archers. This creates a deadly kill zone for any enemy units trying to push through, effectively neutralizing a major invasion route.
Offensive Engineering: Engineers are also great for offense. Their ability to build roads can help your army advance quickly into enemy territory, letting you reinforce your front lines and launch surprise attacks.
How to Do It: Start integrating Military Engineers into your strategy from the mid-game on. Use them to fortify your borders, secure chokepoints, and speed up your invasions. A few well-used Military Engineers can be more valuable than a dozen combat units.
7. Gamble on Goody Huts for Early Momentum
Tribal Villages, or “goody huts,” might seem like a minor, random bonus, but a lucky find can completely alter your early game and set you on a path to victory.
The Importance of an Early Scout: The best way to maximize your goody hut rewards is to explore early. The more huts you find, the better your chances of getting a game-changing bonus like a free settler, a relic, or a tech boost. Building a scout first is almost always the right move.
My Favorite Find: The Relic Rush
One of the best goody hut rewards is a free relic. It gives you a significant boost to faith and tourism and can be the foundation for an early religious or cultural victory. By scouting aggressively, you increase your chances of finding one and getting a massive early-game advantage.
How to Do It: Don’t underestimate goody huts. At the start of the game, make it your top priority to explore and pop as many as you can. A single lucky find can be the difference between a slow start and a dominant one.
8. Master Advanced Religious Combat
Religious combat is more than just a numbers game. There’s a deep layer of strategy to it that often gets overlooked.
The Debater’s Edge: When you’re promoting your apostles, the “Debater” promotion is almost always the best choice. It gives a +20 combat strength bonus in theological combat, which can turn the tide of any religious battle. A few apostles with this promotion can easily defeat a much larger force.
The Martyr’s Sacrifice: The “Martyr” promotion, which gives you a relic if the apostle dies in theological combat, can be a surprisingly good offensive tool. If you’re facing an overwhelming enemy religious force, you can send in a Martyr apostle to die. You’ll get a valuable relic and create a burst of religious pressure that might even convert a nearby city.
A Key Defensive Move: The Inquisition Lockdown
Once you’ve established your religion in your own cities, it’s crucial to launch an Inquisition. This lets you produce Inquisitors, who are cheap and effective at removing enemy religious pressure from your territory. By stationing an Inquisitor in each of your cities, you can make it almost impossible for your opponents to convert your people.
How to Do It: Don’t just spam missionaries. Think strategically about your religious units and promotions. Use Debater apostles to win key battles and don’t be afraid to sacrifice a Martyr for a strategic gain. And always launch an Inquisition to protect your home front.
9. Turn Loyalty into a Weapon
Loyalty isn’t just for preventing your cities from rebelling. It can be a powerful offensive weapon that can flip enemy cities to your side without you ever firing a shot.
The Bread and Circuses Offensive: A great way to put loyalty pressure on an enemy city is to maximize the happiness and population of your own nearby cities. The “Bread and Circuses” city project is perfect for this, as it gives a big boost to your city’s loyalty and amenities. By running this project in your border cities, you can create a wave of loyalty pressure that can overwhelm a nearby enemy city.
The Spy’s Subversion: Spies can directly reduce a city’s loyalty. The “Foment Unrest” mission is incredibly effective, especially when you combine it with other sources of negative loyalty pressure. A well-timed spy mission can be the final push that causes an enemy city to rebel.
The Ultimate Example: The Eleanor of Aquitaine Loyalty Bomb
Eleanor of Aquitaine is the master of the loyalty game. Her ability causes Great Works in her cities to exert negative loyalty pressure on nearby enemy cities. By filling your border cities with Great Works, you can create a “loyalty bomb” that can flip multiple enemy cities in a short time. Combine this with the Bread and Circuses project and a few spies, and you can conquer an empire without ever declaring war.
How to Do It: Be proactive with loyalty. Use your border cities as a staging ground for loyalty offensives. Maximize their population and happiness, run the Bread and Circuses project, and use spies to cause trouble in key enemy cities. With the right strategy, loyalty can be your most powerful weapon.
So there you have it. These are some of the less-obvious strategies that I’ve found really make a difference. Once you start seeing the game as this complex web of systems you can manipulate, it opens up a whole new level of play. Give these a try, and I think you’ll be surprised how much of an edge they can give you.