how to dominate the seas in civilization 6

How to Dominate the Seas in Civilization 6

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I’ve rewritten the article with a more personal, direct tone, as if I’m sharing my own strategies with you. Here is the revised text:

If you want to dominate in Civilization 6, you can’t ignore the oceans. While armies clash on land, a smart naval strategy can quietly tip the scales of power, giving you global influence and a clear path to victory. This guide is my deep-dive into mastering the waves, designed to turn you from a coastal dabbler into a true maritime sovereign. We’ll navigate through the best civilizations, the critical technologies, and the tactical details to make your fleets the trident with which you command the world.

Forget generic overviews. We’re going to dissect the mechanics of naval warfare with concrete, actionable strategies for every era. From the first paddle of a Galley to the roar of a Carrier battle group, you’ll learn how to build, deploy, and conquer with a fleet that’s both feared and respected. Let’s set sail.

It All Starts with Your Civ: The Foundation of Naval Supremacy

Your quest for maritime power begins with choosing your civilization. While any civ can build ships, a few are built to rule the waves, with unique abilities, units, and infrastructure that give them a massive head start.

Tier S: The Unquestionable Masters of the Sea

  • England (Victoria or Eleanor): England is the quintessential naval powerhouse. Their Royal Navy Dockyard is a game-changer, giving +1 movement to all naval units built there and a gold bonus for being next to a Commercial Hub. This unique harbor also spits out Great Admiral points like crazy. Victoria’s “Pax Britannica” ability seals the deal by giving you a free melee unit on new continents and the powerful Sea Dog, a unique Privateer that can capture enemy ships. With England, you can project power across the globe with incredible speed and economic might.
  • Phoenicia (Dido): Dido is a master of coastal expansion and early naval pressure. She can move her capital to any city with a Cothon, her unique harbor, which offers amazing strategic flexibility. The Cothon itself is a marvel, replacing the Harbor and giving a massive 50% production bonus towards naval units and Settlers in its city. Phoenicia’s unique unit, the Bireme, is a stronger, faster Galley, making them a terror in the ancient seas. With Dido, you can build a sprawling coastal empire and defend it with a scary-good early navy.
  • Norway (Harald Hardrada): The Vikings are all about naval raiding, and Harald is their king. His “Thunderbolt of the North” ability lets all naval melee units perform coastal raids, pillaging districts for gold, faith, and culture. The iconic Viking Longship is a better Galley that can heal in neutral territory, making it a relentless raiding machine. Plus, Norway’s units don’t pay movement costs to embark or disembark, letting them seamlessly move between sea and land. Harald is the undisputed champion of early-game naval aggression.

Tier A: Potent Naval Contenders

  • Indonesia (Gitarja): Gitarja offers a unique path to naval dominance through faith. Her “Great Nusantara” ability gives coastal tiles minor adjacency bonuses for key districts, encouraging you to build powerful coastal cities. Her unique unit, the Jong, is a fantastic Frigate replacement with more combat strength and the ability to form fleets and armadas early. Most importantly, Gitarja can buy naval units with Faith, letting you build a huge navy without relying on production.
  • Japan (Hojo Tokimune): While not a pure naval civ, Japan’s “Divine Wind” ability makes them a nightmare in coastal fights. All land and naval units get a +5 combat strength bonus in shallow water. Combine this with their faster district building, and you can quickly set up well-defended coastal cities with strong naval bases. Their Samurai, though a land unit, becomes incredibly tough with this bonus when attacking from the sea.
  • The Ottomans (Suleiman): The Ottomans bring a unique flavor to naval warfare with a focus on siege and piracy. Their unique naval raider, the Barbary Corsair, doesn’t use movement for coastal raids, making it an incredibly efficient pillager. While their land army is their main strength, a well-used Ottoman navy can cripple enemy economies and support devastating amphibious assaults.

Charting Your Course: Essential Techs and Civics

A powerful navy requires a focused path through the technology and civics trees. Prioritizing the right innovations is crucial for unlocking the units, buildings, and policies that will become the backbone of your maritime empire.

The Technological Tides: Key Naval Unlocks

  • Ancient Era: Your journey starts with Sailing to unlock the Galley. Right after, grab Shipbuilding for the Quadrireme (your first naval ranged unit) and the Library to keep your science moving.
  • Classical & Medieval Eras: Celestial Navigation is non-negotiable; it unlocks the Harbor district and the Great Lighthouse. Next, Cartography is key for the Caravel (for exploration) and, more importantly, the Frigate, the workhorse of mid-game navies.
  • Renaissance & Industrial Eras: The Mercantilism civic is a game-changer, letting you form fleets and armadas. For tech, Square Rigging unlocks the Privateer raider (and England’s Sea Dog). The Industrial Era is a huge leap forward with Steam Power, which unlocks the formidable Ironclad, followed by Steel for the mighty Battleship, the king of the seas for a long time.
  • Modern & Atomic Eras: As you hit the modern era, Electricity unlocks the Destroyer to hunt submarines. Combustion unlocks the Submarine itself, a stealthy predator. Finally, Advanced Flight and Composites bring the Aircraft Carrier, changing the game with air power. The late game is all about the Nuclear Submarine and Missile Cruiser, the apex predators of the sea.

The Civic Currents: Policies for a Powerful Fleet

Your government policies are vital for supporting your naval ambitions. Slotting the right cards can give you huge bonuses.

  • Early Game: Use the Maritime Industries card for +100% production on early naval units. Veterancy helps too, with +30% production for Encampment and Harbor districts.
  • Mid Game: Professional Army is essential, cutting unit upgrade costs by 50%. Press Gangs gives +100% production towards Renaissance and Industrial era naval units.
  • Late Game: The International Waters policy gives +100% production for modern naval units, keeping your fleet on the cutting edge.

Assembling Your Armada: Strategic Unit Compositions

A great admiral knows a fleet is more than just ships; it’s a balanced team of specialized units.

The Naval Unit Classes: A Tactical Trinity

  • Naval Melee: These are your brawlers (Galley, Destroyer). Their job is to screen your ranged units, absorb damage, deliver the final blow, and capture cities.
  • Naval Ranged: These are your primary damage dealers (Quadrireme, Frigate, Battleship). Protect them at all costs, as they’re the key to breaking enemy fleets and sieging cities.
  • Naval Raider: This class (Privateer, Submarine) excels at coastal raiding and surprise attacks. They are perfect for crippling an enemy’s economy. Submarines are especially deadly with their stealth.

Building a Balanced Battle Group: Composition by Era

  • Ancient & Classical: I usually go for a 2:1 ratio of Galleys to Quadriremes. The Galleys form a protective screen while the Quadriremes dish out damage. If you have a unique early unit like the Bireme or Viking Longship, spam it.
  • Medieval & Renaissance: The Frigate changes everything. A fleet of 3-4 Frigates with a couple of melee units for protection can rule the seas. This is when the Venetian Arsenal wonder becomes a game-changer, doubling your naval production. If you can build it, you can field an unstoppable force.
  • Industrial & Modern: The Battleship is now the centerpiece of your fleet. A “death stack” of 3-4 Battleships, escorted by Destroyers to counter subs, is terrifying. The Aircraft Carrier adds a new dimension. A Carrier loaded with Bombers can project power deep into enemy territory.
  • Atomic & Information: Your late-game fleets should be a mix of Missile Cruisers for ranged power, Nuclear Submarines for stealth and nuclear deterrence, and Destroyers for anti-sub warfare. The Carrier remains a vital asset.

Honing the Edge: The Art of Naval Promotions

Promotions turn fresh recruits into seasoned veterans. Choosing the right ones can turn the tide of any battle.

The Path to Power: Recommended Promotion Trees

  • The “Line” Promotion Tree (Melee): For melee units, this is the best choice. It gives you more combat strength vs. naval units, more movement, and better defense. The final promotion, Auxiliary Ships, lets them heal faster, making them incredibly tough.
  • The “Bombard” Promotion Tree (Ranged): For ranged units, this tree is essential. It boosts your ranged strength and, most importantly, gives you +1 range, a truly game-changing promotion.
  • The Raider Promotion Tree (Raider): For raiders, this tree enhances their pillaging and gives them combat bonuses for surprise attacks.

A key tip for all units: always aim to form Fleets and Armadas. Combining units into a single, more powerful entity is a massive force multiplier.

The Shores of Power: Coastal Cities and Wonders

Your naval power is built on strong, productive coastal cities. They are your shipyards and the economic engines for your expansion.

Building the Perfect Port: Coastal City Specialization

When settling on the coast, look for lots of sea resources and defensible terrain. Your first priority is always the Harbor district. A well-placed Harbor with good adjacency bonuses will generate tons of gold, food, and production. In the Harbor, the Shipyard is essential, as it provides production equal to the Harbor’s adjacency bonus. For defense, an Encampment is also a smart move.

Wonders of the Waves: Maritime Marvels

Several World Wonders are huge for a naval game. Grabbing them can give you a decisive advantage.

  • The Great Lighthouse: An early wonder that gives all naval units +1 movement. This is incredibly powerful.
  • The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Gives all your Great Admirals an extra charge, doubling their powerful abilities.
  • The Venetian Arsenal: Maybe the best naval wonder. It gives you a free second naval unit every time you train one. This lets you build a massive navy at an insane rate.
  • The Colossus: An early wonder that grants an extra trade route and a free Trader, giving your economy a much-needed boost.

The Instruments of Domination: Governors and Policies

Let’s look closer at how your government, governors, and policies work together for your maritime strategy.

The Governor’s Council: Appointing Your Maritime Experts

Governors are great for specializing your cities to support your navy.

  • Victor, the Castellan: He’s your go-to for defending key coastal cities. His promotions make units defending the city much stronger.
  • Liang, the Surveyor: She’s the master of coastal development. Her Aquaculture promotion lets you build the unique Fishery improvement for a huge food boost, letting your coastal cities grow large and productive.
  • Reyna, the Financier: A big navy is expensive. Reyna’s Harbormaster promotion doubles your Harbor adjacency bonuses, bringing in a flood of gold to fund your ambitions.

The Tides of War: Tactical Doctrines for Every Era

Naval warfare in Civ 6 changes over time. You have to adapt your tactics to the current technology.

The Early Game (Ancient & Classical): Raiding and Coastal Conquest

Your early strategy should be about raiding and coastal conquest. Use your Galleys to pillage enemy coasts to disrupt their economy. At the same time, use your Quadriremes to bombard and capture weak coastal cities. This gives you forward bases and denies your opponents sea access.

The Mid Game (Medieval & Renaissance): The Age of the Frigate

This is the age of the Frigate. A fleet of well-promoted Frigates can give you total control of the seas. It’s time for major amphibious assaults, using your Frigates to soften up cities before your ground troops land. If you built the Venetian Arsenal, you can now field an overwhelming force to conquer entire continents from the sea.

The Late Game (Industrial, Modern, & Beyond): The Carrier Battle Group and Global Projection

The late game is all about the Aircraft Carrier and projecting power globally. A Carrier battle group, with a Carrier full of Bombers and an escort of Battleships and Destroyers, is the ultimate naval weapon. Use your Carriers to strike enemy fleets, cities, and infrastructure from a safe distance. Submarines, especially Nuclear Subs, are perfect for stealth attacks and strategic deterrence. In this era, naval dominance means global dominance.

Ultimately, mastering the seas in Civilization 6 isn’t just about building the most ships. It’s a symphony of strategic foresight, economic power, and tactical skill. It’s about knowing your civ’s strengths, charting a deliberate course through the tech and civic trees, and building a balanced fleet. By using the strategies in this guide, you won’t just compete on the oceans; you’ll rule them. The waves will carry you to victory, and history will remember you as the undisputed sovereign of the seas.