Winning in Civilization 6 isn’t just about what happens at the end of the game; it’s about mastering the flow of history itself. The Ages mechanic is the heart of this, a system that can either launch your civilization into greatness or leave it struggling in the dust. If you want to win consistently, you have to learn how to control the Ages. It’s the difference between reacting to the game and making the game react to you.
I’m going to break down the first five Ages you’ll play through, from the very beginning to the start of the industrial revolution. This isn’t just about basic tips; it’s a detailed guide to help you dominate each phase of the game and turn every Era into an advantage.
The Basics: Era Score and Dedications
First, let’s talk about the two things that make the Ages system tick: Era Score and Dedications.
Era Score is basically your “historic achievement” score. Every time you do something cool—discover a natural wonder, build your special unit, be the first to sail around the world—you get points. At the end of an Era, your total score determines what comes next.
You’re usually shooting for a Golden Age, which gives you powerful bonuses to surge ahead. If you just miss the mark, you’ll get a Normal Age, which is fine. If you’re way behind, you’ll fall into a Dark Age, which is tough because of loyalty problems. But don’t panic! A Dark Age can be a strategic gamble. It gives you access to special policy cards and the chance to earn a Heroic Age next—that’s a Golden Age on steroids, with triple the bonuses.
When a new Age starts (unless it’s a Dark Age), you pick a Dedication. This is a huge, era-long bonus that you should pick to match your strategy. Choosing the right one can completely define your success for the next phase of the game.
Age 1: The Ancient Era
Your Goal: Build a solid foundation for the rest of the game.
This is the frantic early game where every decision matters. You’re balancing exploring the map, grabbing land, and building your first cities.
How to Rack Up Era Score:
* Explore Everything: Get a couple of Scouts out there ASAP. Finding Natural Wonders (+3), meeting other civs (+1) and city-states (+1), and finding new continents (+2) are your bread and butter. Being first to circumnavigate the globe is a huge +5.
* Clear Barbarian Camps: Each camp you clear is +2 Era Score (+3 if it’s near your city). This is easy money.
* Settle Smart: You get Era Score for founding cities, especially if you settle in tough spots like desert or tundra, or next to a Natural Wonder.
* Build Your Unique Unit: The first time you build your civ’s unique unit, you get a sweet +4 Era Score.
* Early Wonders: It’s risky, but snagging an early wonder gives a big Era Score boost.
Ancient Era Strategies:
* Golden Age: A Golden Age this early is amazing. “Exodus of the Evangelists” can practically hand you a religion, while “Free Inquiry” will rocket you ahead in science.
* Normal Age: This is a perfectly fine outcome. It lets you focus on expanding and building an army without any extra pressure.
* The Dark Age Gamble: Intentionally triggering a Dark Age is a gutsy move. The “Twilight Valor” policy card gives your melee units +5 Combat Strength, which can make your early warriors terrifying. If you’re playing an aggressive civ like the Aztecs, you can crush a neighbor and set yourself up for a massive Heroic Age comeback.
Priorities:
* Tech/Civics: Go for Animal Husbandry, Archery, and Bronze Working. For civics, beeline to Political Philosophy for your first government.
* Wonders: Be careful. Early wonders are super competitive. Only go for one if you have a major production advantage.
* Military: You need an army, even a small one. Three Slingers and a Warrior can keep you safe from barbarians and opportunistic neighbors.
Age 2: The Classical Era
Your Goal: Define your empire’s identity and start focusing on your victory plan.
The expansion rush is slowing down. Now it’s time to develop your core cities and get serious about how you’re going to win.
How to Rack Up Era Score:
* Build Big: The Classical Era has some of the best wonders. The Colosseum is a must-have for Culture and Amenities. The Great Lighthouse and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus are incredible for naval civs.
* Spread Your Faith: Founding and spreading your religion is a great source of Era Score.
* Leverage Your Uniques: Keep building your unique units, buildings, and districts. Every “first” gets you points.
* Go to War: Winning battles and capturing cities is a reliable way to earn score.
Classical Era Strategies:
* Golden Age: The “Monumentality” Dedication is probably the best in the game. It lets you buy civilian units with Faith at a discount. If you have good Faith generation, you can spam Settlers and Builders and expand like crazy.
* Dark Age Survival: A Classical Dark Age hurts because of loyalty pressure on your new cities. Put governors and soldiers in your border cities to keep them from flipping. The “Monasticism” policy card can be a lifesaver, giving you a Science boost in cities with Holy Sites.
* The Heroic Comeback: If you survive a Classical Dark Age, you’re primed for a game-changing Medieval Heroic Age. Three Dedication bonuses at once can make you unstoppable.
Priorities:
* Government: Oligarchy is a fantastic all-around choice, giving your units a combat bonus.
* Districts: Master your adjacency bonuses. Plan your cities to get the most out of your Campuses, Holy Sites, and Commercial Hubs.
* Trade: Build a strong trade network for Gold and other resources.
Age 3: The Medieval Era
Your Goal: Strengthen your core empire and start pulling ahead of the competition.
The world is mostly explored, and conflicts start to heat up. This is about building “tall” (developing strong cities) and preparing for the global stage.
How to Rack Up Era Score:
* Build Universities: These are a great source of Era Score, along with wonders like the University of Sankore.
* Upgrade Your Army: Knights and Crossbowmen are the new big threats. Winning battles with them gets you points.
* Religious War: If you’re going for a Religious Victory, now’s the time to be aggressive. Converting a whole civilization is a major score boost.
* Recruit Great People: They all provide a steady drip of Era Score.
Medieval Era Strategies:
* Golden Age: You can tailor a Golden Age to any victory type. “Reform the Coinage” is amazing for boosting your trade routes.
* Dark Age: A Medieval Dark Age isn’t as bad as a Classical one since your cities are more stable. The “Inquisition” policy card is incredibly strong for a religious civ, letting you wipe out rival religions in your lands.
* The Heroic Charge: Coming into a Medieval Heroic Age is a massive power spike. You can combine Dedications like “Monumentality” for expansion and “Free Inquiry” for science to create a powerhouse empire.
Priorities:
* Military: Get Knights and Crossbowmen. You need them to defend yourself and to project power.
* Alliances: The world is getting smaller. Lock in some strong alliances for protection and bonuses.
* Look Ahead: Start thinking about the technologies you’ll need for the Renaissance, like Cartography.
Age 4: The Renaissance Era
Your Goal: Go global. Start a colonial empire and set up your endgame push.
The map is revealed, and the race for new continents begins. This era is all about sea power and economic might.
How to Rack Up Era Score:
* Settle New Continents: This is a huge source of Era Score.
* Build Renaissance Wonders: The Forbidden City (extra wildcard policy slot) and Potala Palace are game-changers.
* Dominate Trade: Control the seas and set up trading companies for a steady flow of points.
Renaissance Era Strategies:
* Golden Age: The “Hic Sunt Dracones” Dedication is perfect for this era. It gives your cities on other continents extra loyalty and population, making it easy to build a colonial empire.
* Dark Age: A Dark Age now is very risky if you have overseas colonies, as they can easily rebel. The “Isolationism” card helps your domestic trade but stops you from settling new cities.
* The Heroic Colonial Empire: A Heroic Age with “Hic Sunt Dracones” can let you paint the map your color, grabbing tons of land and resources.
Priorities:
* Gunpowder: Musketmen and Bombards are the new core of your army.
* Key Techs: Printing and Education are crucial. It’s a race to see who can research them first.
* Culture: This is a great time to focus on generating Great Works of Art, Writing, and Music for a Cultural Victory.
Age 5: The Industrial Era
Your Goal: Execute your final victory plan with the power of industry.
This is where empires are made and broken. Steam power changes everything. You need to become an industrial giant and make your final move.
How to Rack Up Era Score:
* Industrial Wonders: Big Ben and the Ruhr Valley give insane production bonuses and lots of Era Score.
* The Race for Flight: Being the first to build an airport or biplane is a big deal.
* Ideology: Spreading your ideology in the World Congress is a new way to earn points.
* Strategic Resources: Getting Coal and Oil is critical for your military and industry, and it provides Era Score.
Industrial Era Strategies:
* Golden Age: The “Heartbeat of Steam” Dedication gives a massive production bonus to wonders, making it perfect for a late-game push.
* Dark Age: Avoid a late-game Dark Age at all costs. It can be completely crippling.
* The Heroic Finale: A Heroic Age now can give you the final push you need to win, letting you out-produce and out-tech everyone else.
Priorities:
* Industrial Zones: Build them everywhere. They are the engine of your empire now.
* Ideology: Your choice of a Tier 3 government is a huge decision that will affect your relationships with everyone.
* Win the Game: You should have a clear path to victory by now. Focus everything on achieving it.
Beyond the Industrial Age
The game continues with the Atomic and Information Eras, and the same principles apply. Always be thinking about your Era Score, choose your Dedications to match your goals, and use the Ages system to your advantage.
The journey through the Ages is what makes Civ 6 so deep and replayable. Once you learn to master the flow of the game, you’ll be on your way to writing your own history. Now go build an empire that stands the test of time.