In the grand strategy landscape of Civilization 6, few leaders can prosecute a war on their home turf with the sheer force and efficiency of Teddy Roosevelt. While one of his personas leans towards a peaceful, culture-focused victory, the other transforms America into a continental powerhouse, capable of sweeping aside any opposition. This guide delves into the strategies and tactics necessary to achieve a decisive domination victory with the Rough Rider himself, turning the American homeland into a fortress and a staging ground for global conquest. Analysis on forums shows that a well-executed American domination strategy is one of the most satisfying paths to victory in the game.
The Foundation of American Might: Choosing the Right Teddy
Before the first city is even founded, a critical choice must be made. Teddy Roosevelt comes in two flavors: “Bull Moose” and “Rough Rider.” For a domination victory, the choice is clear and non-negotiable: select the “Rough Rider” persona. The Bull Moose’s abilities are tailored for a culture victory, providing bonuses for breathtaking appeal. While a powerful leader in his own right, he lacks the military teeth required for a successful conquest.
The Rough Rider persona, on the other hand, is a military machine. His abilities are geared towards aggressive expansion and warfare, particularly in the early and mid-game. This is the Teddy that strikes fear into the hearts of his neighbors and paves the way for an American-led world order.
The Roosevelt Corollary: Your Greatest Weapon
The cornerstone of America’s domination strategy is the “Roosevelt Corollary” leader ability. This provides a staggering +5 Combat Strength bonus to all American units fighting on their home continent. This is a massive advantage that cannot be overstated. In the early game, when units have low base combat strength, this bonus can turn a simple warrior into a formidable foe, capable of defeating stronger units with ease.
Many professional gamers suggest that the key to a successful American domination game is to leverage this bonus to its absolute fullest. This means prioritizing the conquest of your home continent before venturing overseas. The home-field advantage is so significant that it should dictate your entire early to mid-game strategy.
Early Game Strategy: Manifest Destiny in Action
The first 100 turns are a critical period for setting the stage for continental domination. The goal is to expand rapidly, build a strong military, and cripple or conquer your nearest neighbors.
Map Selection and Initial Settlement
According to the player community, the “Continents” map type is the ideal setting for an American domination game. This ensures that you have a sizable landmass to conquer, maximizing the effectiveness of the Roosevelt Corollary.
When placing your first city, prioritize a location with a good balance of production, food, and hills. Hills are particularly important, as they provide defensive bonuses and will later empower your unique unit, the Rough Rider. Don’t be afraid to move your initial settler a turn or two to secure a more optimal starting position.
Aggressive Expansion and Forward Settling
Your first priority should be to expand your borders as quickly as possible. Train a wave of early settlers and claim as much land as you can, focusing on resource-rich areas and strategic chokepoints.
A popular strategy is “forward settling” – placing new cities close to your neighbors to limit their expansion and create a staging ground for future invasions. This is an aggressive move that will likely provoke your neighbors, but with the Roosevelt Corollary on your side, you’ll have the upper hand in any early conflicts.
Early Military and Government
From the outset, focus on building a strong military. A mix of warriors and archers will be sufficient for early skirmishes and fending off barbarian threats. As you progress, aim to build the Terracotta Army. This wonder provides a promotion level to all of your current military units, giving you a significant early-game advantage.
In terms of government, rush for Oligarchy. The military policy slots and combat bonuses it provides are a perfect complement to your aggressive expansionist strategy.
The Mid-Game Power Spike: The Rough Rider Rush
The Industrial Era marks a significant power spike for America with the arrival of the Rough Rider. This unique cavalry unit, which replaces the Cuirassier, is the lynchpin of your mid-game continental conquest.
The Unstoppable Force: Understanding the Rough Rider
The Rough Rider is a truly exceptional unit for several reasons:
- No Strategic Resource Requirement: Unlike the Cuirassier it replaces, the Rough Rider does not require horses. This allows you to mass-produce them without being constrained by resource availability.
- Hill Combat Bonus: The Rough Rider gains an additional +10 Combat Strength when fighting on hills. When combined with the Roosevelt Corollary, a Rough Rider on a hill on your home continent receives a massive +15 Combat Strength bonus, making it one of the most powerful units in the game for its era.
- Culture on Kills: The Rough Rider generates Culture for every enemy unit it defeats on your home continent. This helps to accelerate your civic progression, unlocking crucial policies and governments faster.
Executing the Rough Rider Rush
Analysis on forums shows that the most effective way to utilize the Rough Rider is through a “Rough Rider Rush.” This involves a coordinated strategy of pre-building and upgrading units to create an overwhelming force.
- Pre-build Cavalry: Before you research the Rifling technology that unlocks the Rough Rider, build a large number of regular cavalry units.
- Unlock Rifling: Bee-line the Rifling technology as quickly as possible.
- Upgrade and Conquer: Once Rifling is unlocked, upgrade your entire cavalry force to Rough Riders. You will now have a massive, powerful army ready to sweep across the continent.
Position your Rough Riders on hills whenever possible to maximize their combat bonus. Use them to outmaneuver and crush enemy armies, then move in with siege units to take down city walls. Your goal during this phase is to completely conquer your home continent, eliminating all rival civilizations and securing a powerful base of operations.
Late-Game Strategy: Projecting Power Across the Globe
With your home continent secured, the final phase of the game involves projecting your power across the oceans to capture the remaining enemy capitals. This presents a new set of challenges, as the Roosevelt Corollary will no longer be in effect.
Air Superiority with the P-51 Mustang
The Modern Era brings another powerful unique unit for America: the P-51 Mustang. This unique aircraft, which replaces the Fighter, is your key to achieving late-game air superiority. Like the Rough Rider, the P-51 Mustang does not require strategic resources, allowing you to build a large and powerful air force.
The P-51 has an extended range and bonuses against other fighter aircraft, making it ideal for clearing the skies and supporting your ground invasions. Use your P-51s to escort bombers, strafe enemy units, and establish a dominant presence in the air.
Building a Global Expeditionary Force
To conquer the remaining capitals, you will need a well-balanced expeditionary force. This should include:
- A Strong Navy: A powerful navy is essential for transporting your troops across the ocean and controlling the seas. Battleships and Aircraft Carriers will be the backbone of your naval forces.
- Highly Promoted Ground Units: While your Rough Riders will still be effective, you will need to supplement them with modern armor and infantry. Focus on creating a smaller, highly promoted army rather than a large, inexperienced one.
- Siege and Support: Artillery and Rocket Artillery are crucial for taking down heavily fortified late-game cities. Bring along Great Generals to provide combat bonuses and extra movement.
Optional Supporting Strategies
Many professional gamers suggest incorporating a few supporting strategies to further enhance your domination game:
- Military City-States: Befriend and become the suzerain of military city-states. Akkad is a particularly valuable ally, as it allows your melee units to deal full damage to city walls.
- The Crusade Belief: If you choose to found a religion, the Crusade belief is an incredibly powerful tool for conquest. It provides a +10 Combat Strength bonus to your units when fighting near cities that follow your religion. Spreading your religion to enemy cities before an invasion can give you a significant advantage.
A New World Order
A domination victory with Teddy Roosevelt’s America is a rewarding experience that showcases the power of a well-executed, continent-focused military strategy. By leveraging the immense power of the Roosevelt Corollary, the unstoppable force of the Rough Rider, and the late-game air superiority of the P-51 Mustang, you can systematically dismantle your opposition and forge a new world order under American leadership. The path to victory is clear: unite the homeland, then project your power across the globe. The world is waiting for a leader who speaks softly but carries a big stick.