I see so many players treat city-states as a side quest in Civilization—a little bonus here, a few resources there. Let me tell you, that’s a huge mistake. If you really want to dominate, city-states are the key. They’re your secret weapon, an unseen empire that can give you the decisive edge to win the game. I’m going to break down how I move beyond the basics and turn these minor powers into the foundation of my victory. It’s time to master the art of influence, because real power isn’t just about how big your borders are, but how far your influence reaches.
The Unseen Empire: Why City-States Are Your Most Powerful Asset
First things first, you have to change how you think about city-states. They aren’t just passive resource dispensers. I see them as specialized, dynamic extensions of my own empire, each one plugging a gap or supercharging a strength.
The whole system boils down to two things: Envoys and Suzerainty. Envoys are your influence points. The more you send, the better the rewards. But Suzerainty is the real prize. That’s when you have the most Envoys (at least three) and become their protector, unlocking a unique, often game-changing bonus. This is where the real strategy begins—it’s a constant diplomatic tug-of-war for control.
Don’t forget their strategic value on the map, either. A loyal city-state can be a perfect buffer against an aggressive neighbor, a forward base for your army, or a chokepoint to block off rivals. Denying these advantages to your opponents is a subtle but massive geopolitical win.
The Art of the Envoy: Mastering Influence and Suzerainty
So, how do you get these all-important Envoys? You can’t just wait for them to trickle in. You have to be aggressive.
- Be the First to Say Hi: In the early game, I make exploration my top priority. The first major civilization to meet a city-state gets a free Envoy. I’ll send my scout on a smart path to rack up several of these before my rivals even know what’s happening. This can let you lock down a powerful military city-state for an early rush.
- Use Your Policy Cards: Don’t sleep on your diplomatic policies. I always slot in Diplomatic League as soon as I can. Later, cards like Containment and Gunboat Diplomacy become essential. Choosing a government with extra diplomatic slots, like the Classical Republic, lets you stack these for huge gains.
- Hunt for Envoys Everywhere: Beyond the obvious, I’m always looking for other ways to get Envoys. I pay close attention to city-state quests and tweak my build order to complete them—it’s the most efficient way to gain influence. I also use the World Congress, certain Great People, and even my spies to get an edge. If you’re playing a leader like Pericles or Tamar, you’re practically built for this, so you should be leaning into it hard.
When you’re deciding where to send your Envoys, think about your victory condition. Early on, I grab whatever gives me an immediate boost. Mid-game, I start focusing on city-states that align with my win condition (Science, Culture, etc.). By the late game, it’s a high-stakes chess match, and I’m prepared to invest heavily to protect my key alliances.
A City-State for Every Season: A Typology of Urban Allies
Not all city-states are the same, and knowing which one to court for your specific strategy is key. Here’s a breakdown of how I think about them.
Militaristic City-States: The Forgers of Conquest
If I’m going for a Domination victory, these are my best friends. They boost unit production, but their real power is in the Suzerain bonus.
* Akkad: Lets your melee units attack city walls without penalty. This is incredible for an early-game rush.
* Ngazargamu: Lets you buy land units with Faith. A Faith-based economy can suddenly field a massive army.
* Hattusa: Gives you a copy of strategic resources you’ve revealed but don’t own. A total lifesaver if you’re missing Iron or Niter.
My Go-To Strategy: If I’m playing as Alexander the Great and find Akkad early on, I know I can secure its bonus to make my Hypaspists absolute monsters against city walls. This can cripple a neighbor before they even get going.
Scientific City-States: The Architects of Progress
For a Science victory, these are non-negotiable.
* Geneva: A massive +15% Science when you’re at peace.
* Bologna: Your districts generate +1 Great Person point of their type. This helps you snap up those game-changing Great Scientists.
* Seoul: A free Eureka for a random tech every time you enter a new era.
My Go-To Strategy: I love pairing Geneva with a leader like Scotland’s Robert the Bruce. If I can maintain peace, the science output from our combined bonuses is just staggering.
Religious City-States: The Beacons of Faith
When I’m aiming for a Religious Victory, these city-states do the heavy lifting.
* Jerusalem: Automatically converts your cities and makes them religious pressure cookers.
* Kandy: Gives you a Relic every time you discover a natural wonder, and boosts their Faith and Tourism output.
* Yerevan: Lets your Apostles choose from any available promotion. This is insane.
My Go-To Strategy: Playing as Russia, I’ll make Yerevan my top priority. Their Lavra district is already powerful, but with Yerevan’s bonus, I can create specialized “super Apostles” that can convert the entire world with ease.
Trade City-States: The Engines of Commerce
A strong economy wins games, and these city-states will make you rich.
* Mogadishu: Your trade routes can’t be plundered on water. A must-have on naval maps.
* Muscat: Your Commercial Hubs provide +1 Amenity, which is great for keeping a wide empire happy.
* Zanzibar: Gives you two unique luxury resources (Cinnamon and Cloves) that you can’t get anywhere else.
My Go-To Strategy: As Mansa Musa, my economy is already humming. Getting Suzerainty of Mogadishu makes my international trade routes completely safe, letting me use my navy for offense instead of defense.
Cultural City-States: The Patrons of the Arts
For a Culture Victory, these are your best friends.
* Mohenjo-Daro: Gives cities full housing from being next to a river, even if not on fresh water. This lets you settle in powerful, but otherwise tricky, locations.
* Vilnius: Gives your Theater Squares a major adjacency bonus from rivers.
* Antananarivo: You gain +2% Culture for every Great Person you’ve ever earned. This bonus can snowball like crazy.
My Go-To Strategy: When I play as Kristina of Sweden, I’m already generating a ton of Great People. If I can add Antananarivo’s bonus on top of that, the culture output becomes a tidal wave that speeds me toward victory.
Industrial City-States: The Forges of Production
Production is everything, and these city-states are master craftsmen.
* Brussels: Your cities get +15% Production towards wonders. Essential for any wonder-heavy strategy.
* Mexico City: Gives major adjacency bonuses to several districts when placed by rivers.
* Auckland: Your coastal tiles provide +1 Production, turning them from food spots into production powerhouses.
My Go-To Strategy: As Germany, I’m already building powerful Hansa districts. If I add Brussels to the mix, I can build wonders at a ridiculous speed, denying them to my rivals and securing them for myself.
The Suzerain’s Gambit: Advanced Strategies for a Decisive Edge
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start using your city-state allies for some truly advanced plays. Here are a few of my favorites:
- The City-State Leash: I use this all the time to control territory without having to settle it myself. A loyal city-state in a chokepoint can completely block an opponent’s expansion.
- The Proxy War: Got an annoying neighbor? I love levying a militaristic city-state’s army to do my dirty work. I can harass their units and pillage their lands without risking my own troops.
- The Diplomatic Juggernaut: If you’re aiming for a Diplomatic Victory, this isn’t optional—it’s essential. Every city-state you’re Suzerain of is another vote in your pocket in the World Congress. This is how you take control of global politics.
The Enemy of My Enemy: Countering Your Opponents’ City-State Alliances
Of course, your opponents aren’t just going to let you build up a network of powerful allies. You have to be ready to fight for your influence. Here’s how I handle it:
- Envoy Wars: Sometimes you just have to out-spend them with your own Envoys. Target the city-states that are most critical to their strategy.
- Espionage: A good spy can cause chaos. I’ll send one to foment unrest or even neutralize an opponent’s governor to crush their influence.
- Conquest: And if a city-state is just too important to your rival, sometimes you have to take it off the board entirely. It’s a drastic move that will make other leaders angry, but denying a key asset to your main opponent can be worth the diplomatic cost.
Look, at the end of the day, city-states are a test of your strategic thinking. Ignoring them is like playing with one hand tied behind your back. But if you learn to master them, to weave them into your grand strategy, you’ll unlock a whole new level of play. So next time you start a game, don’t just see a map of empires. See a web of alliances waiting to be forged. The path to victory isn’t just in the cities you build, but in the allegiances you make.