Gran Colombia, under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, is widely considered by the player community to be one of the most formidable domination civilizations in Civilization VI. Analysis on forums shows that their unparalleled speed and powerful unique units create a military momentum that, when harnessed correctly, is nearly unstoppable. This guide provides a detailed, actionable strategy for leveraging Gran Colombia’s strengths to achieve a swift and decisive Domination Victory.
The Liberator’s Arsenal: Understanding Gran Colombia’s Strengths
To pilot Gran Colombia to victory, a deep understanding of their synergistic abilities is paramount. These are not just individual bonuses; they are a finely tuned engine of conquest.
Ejército Patriota: The Foundation of Blitzkrieg
Gran Colombia’s civilization ability, Ejército Patriota, is the cornerstone of their military doctrine. It provides two critical advantages:
- +1 Movement for all units: This is a game-changing bonus that applies from the very first warrior to the late-game Giant Death Robot. This additional movement allows for rapid exploration, faster troop deployment, and the ability to outmaneuver any opponent.
- Promotions do not end a unit’s turn: This is a tactical game-changer. A popular strategy is to attack with a unit, earn a promotion, and then immediately use that promotion to heal or gain a combat advantage before attacking again or moving to a fortified position.
Simón Bolívar’s Leadership: Comandante Generals
Simón Bolívar’s leader ability, Campaña Admirable, grants a free Comandante General at the beginning of each new era. These are not standard Great Generals; they are a unique and powerful asset.
- Unique Abilities: Each Comandante General has a unique set of passive and retirement abilities. These can range from combat bonuses for specific unit types to powerful one-time effects like creating a free unit or instantly healing an entire army.
- Stacking Bonuses: The +5 combat strength bonus from a Comandante General stacks with the bonus from a regular Great General. Many professional gamers suggest positioning your army to benefit from both, creating a formidable +10 combat strength advantage.
The Llanero: The Unstoppable Cavalry
The Llanero, Gran Colombia’s unique Industrial Era unit that replaces the Cavalry, is the centerpiece of their mid-game power spike.
- Adjacency Bonus: Llaneros gain +4 combat strength for each adjacent Llanero. This encourages the “Llanero swarm” tactic, where a tightly packed formation of these units can achieve incredibly high combat strength.
- Lower Maintenance: Their reduced maintenance cost allows you to field a larger and more cost-effective fighting force.
- Synergy with Comandante Generals: Several Comandante Generals have abilities that directly boost Llaneros, including the ability to grant them a permanent combat bonus or instantly heal them upon retirement.
Hacienda: Fueling the War Machine
The Hacienda is Gran Colombia’s unique improvement. While not a direct military tool, it is the economic engine that fuels your conquests.
- Resource Generation: Haciendas provide Gold, Production, and Housing. They also gain significant adjacency bonuses from being placed next to other Haciendas and Plantations.
- Strategic Placement: A popular strategy is to plan your city placement around large, open areas of plains and grasslands, creating vast, interconnected Hacienda complexes that will generate immense yields and fund your ever-expanding army.
The Path to Conquest: A Step-by-Step Domination Strategy
This strategy is divided into three phases, each focusing on a specific set of objectives to build towards a swift and decisive victory.
Early Game (Ancient to Classical Era): Seizing the Initiative
Your primary goal in the early game is to build a strong foundation for your military and to begin applying pressure on your neighbors.
- Aggressive Exploration: Your initial warrior, with its extra movement, is an exceptional scout. Use it to explore your surroundings, locate tribal villages for early bonuses, and identify your nearest neighbors and potential early targets.
- Early Military Production: Do not hesitate to build a few extra warriors and archers early on. The ability to promote and act in the same turn makes your units surprisingly resilient and effective in early skirmishes.
- The First Comandante General: The Comandante General you receive at the start of the Classical Era is a significant power spike. Unlike standard Great Generals of this era, their combat bonus applies to all unit types, including your starting warriors and archers. A popular strategy is to use this early general to lead a surprise attack on a neighboring city-state or civilization.
- Technology and Civics: Your research should be focused on reaching Horseback Riding as quickly as possible. This will allow you to begin building a force of Horsemen, which will form the core of your early-to-mid-game army. On the civics side, aim for Political Philosophy to unlock the Oligarchy government, which provides a valuable +4 combat strength bonus for all melee units.
Mid Game (Medieval to Industrial Era): The Llanero Onslaught
This is where Gran Colombia truly shines. Your goal is to leverage your unique units and leaders to launch a devastating military campaign.
- The “Llanero Swarm”: As you approach the Industrial Era, your primary focus should be on massing a large force of Llaneros. The moment you unlock the Military Science technology, upgrade your existing Horsemen and Coursers. A popular strategy is to group your Llaneros in a tight formation to maximize their adjacency bonus, creating a “death ball” of cavalry that can sweep through enemy territory.
- Unit Composition: While the Llanero is your primary offensive weapon, it is not invincible. Analysis on forums shows that a well-rounded army is still essential.
- Siege Support: Llaneros are not effective against city walls. It is crucial to support them with a contingent of siege units like Bombards and, later, Artillery. Gran Colombia’s +1 movement bonus is particularly beneficial for these slow-moving units, allowing them to keep pace with your cavalry.
- Anti-Cavalry: Be mindful of enemy anti-cavalry units. Consider including some of your own melee or anti-cavalry units to protect your flanks.
- Strategic Retirement of Comandante Generals: Do not be afraid to retire your Comandante Generals for their powerful one-time effects. Many professional gamers suggest timing these retirements for maximum impact. For example, retiring a general who can instantly heal your Llaneros can turn the tide of a major battle, allowing for a relentless, multi-turn assault.
Late Game (Modern to Future Era): Securing Global Domination
By the late game, you should have a significant military and territorial advantage. Your goal is to press this advantage and eliminate any remaining opposition.
- Maintaining Momentum: Your ability to promote and act in the same turn remains a powerful advantage throughout the game. Use it to maintain your offensive pressure, even as you face more advanced enemy units.
- Economic Dominance: Your network of Haciendas should be providing a steady stream of gold and production, allowing you to maintain a large, modern army and to quickly build any necessary infrastructure in your newly conquered cities.
- Pivoting if Necessary: While Domination is the most direct path to victory, Gran Colombia’s strengths can be leveraged for other victory types if necessary. The high movement of your units is beneficial for a Religious Victory, and the production from your Haciendas can be used to pivot to a Science Victory in the late game.
Advanced Tactics and Nuances
Mastering Gran Colombia requires more than just building a large army. According to the player community, these advanced tactics can provide a critical edge:
- The “Hit and Heal”: The synergy between Llaneros and certain Comandante Generals allows for a “hit and heal” strategy. Attack with your Llaneros, and when they become damaged, retire a general to instantly heal them, allowing for a second wave of attacks in the same turn.
- Pillaging for Profit: With their high movement, Llaneros are excellent at pillaging enemy improvements. Use this to cripple your opponent’s economy, heal your units, and fund your war effort.
- Know Your Generals: Familiarize yourself with the unique abilities of each Comandante General. Some provide bonuses to specific unit types, while others have powerful one-time effects. Tailor your strategy around the generals you receive to maximize their impact.
By following this guide and mastering the unique synergies of Gran Colombia, you can lead a swift and decisive campaign that will leave your opponents in the dust. The legacy of Simón Bolívar is one of speed, power, and unrelenting pressure, and with this strategy, you can write your own chapter in the annals of conquest.