A collective groan is often heard from the player community when a settler, intended to be the seed of a glorious empire, spawns in a location completely encircled by mountains. This scenario, often perceived as a death sentence, can feel like the game has dealt an unwinnable hand. However, analysis on forums shows that a mountain-locked start, while challenging, is far from a guaranteed loss. In fact, with the right strategy, it can be a blessing in disguise, offering unparalleled defensive security and the potential for explosive growth in specific areas. This guide will provide a comprehensive, actionable framework for turning a seemingly disastrous start into a decisive victory.
The Initial Assessment: A Blessing or a Curse?
The first step is to objectively assess the situation. A mountain-locked start is not a monolithic experience; its viability depends on a number of factors.
- Tile Yields: The immediate priority is to examine the yields of the tiles within your mountain ring. A plethora of high-food tiles, such as deer, fish, or wheat, can fuel rapid population growth, which is essential for a “tall” playstyle. Conversely, a lack of production tiles (hills, woods, stone) can be a significant early-game impediment.
- Civilization and Leader: Certain civilizations are uniquely suited to a mountain-locked start. The Inca, with their ability to work mountain tiles and build mountain tunnels early, are the undisputed masters of this scenario. Other civilizations, such as those with bonuses to internal trade routes or faith generation, can also thrive.
- Proximity to Coast: A single coastal tile within your mountain ring can be a game-changer, opening up the possibility of a harbor and naval exploration. This can be your gateway to the outside world, allowing you to bypass the mountains entirely.
- Strategic Resources: The presence of strategic resources like horses, iron, or niter within your mountain ring can significantly alter your strategic calculus. These resources can provide a crucial military or economic edge, even in isolation.
The Early Game: Building a Self-Sufficient Fortress
With a mountain-locked start, the early game is a race against time to become self-sufficient and build a strong foundation for future growth.
Technological Trajectory
Your early technological choices are critical. Many professional gamers suggest a beeline for technologies that enhance your internal economy and scientific output.
- Pottery and Writing: These are non-negotiable early technologies. Pottery unlocks the granary, which is essential for population growth, and Writing unlocks the Campus district, which will be the engine of your scientific progress.
- Animal Husbandry and Mining: These technologies unlock crucial bonus resources and production tiles. Animal Husbandry is particularly important if you have deer or other animal-based resources, while Mining is essential for accessing hills and stone.
- Bronze Working: This technology reveals iron, a critical strategic resource. Even if you can’t immediately expand to it, knowing its location is vital for future planning.
Civic Priorities
Your early civic choices should focus on policies that bolster your internal growth and prepare you for a specialized victory path.
- Code of Laws: This is your first civic, and it unlocks the God-King policy card, which provides a crucial early boost to faith and gold.
- Craftsmanship: This civic unlocks the Agoge policy card, which provides a bonus to the production of ancient and classical era melee and ranged units. This is essential for defending against early barbarian threats.
- Foreign Trade: This civic unlocks the trade route, which is your lifeline to the outside world. Even if you can only trade with a nearby city-state, the extra gold and potential for alliances are invaluable.
District Placement: The Cornerstone of Your Strategy
With limited space, district placement is a puzzle that must be solved with precision. A popular strategy is to plan your entire city layout from the very beginning, using map tacks to visualize your future metropolis.
- The Campus and Holy Site: These are your two most important districts in a mountain-locked start. The adjacency bonuses from mountains can provide a massive boost to your science and faith generation. A +4 or +5 Campus or Holy Site is not uncommon in a mountain-locked start, and it can propel you to a scientific or religious victory.
- The Commercial Hub and Harbor: If you have a coastal tile, a Harbor is a must-build. It provides an extra trade route, which is invaluable for a landlocked empire. If you don’t have a coastal tile, a Commercial Hub is a viable alternative, providing a trade route and a significant amount of gold.
- The Industrial Zone: The Industrial Zone is a powerful district that can provide a significant boost to your production. However, it requires careful placement to maximize its adjacency bonuses. A popular strategy is to place it next to an aqueduct and a dam, which can provide a +4 adjacency bonus.
The Mid-Game: Reaching for the Outside World
The mid-game is a period of transition, as you shift your focus from internal development to external expansion.
Unlocking the Mountains: The Power of Military Engineers
The key to breaking out of your mountain prison is the Military Engineer, a unique support unit that can build mountain tunnels. This is a game-changing ability that allows you to create a network of tunnels through the mountains, connecting your isolated city to the outside world.
- The Chemistry Technology: The Military Engineer is unlocked with the Chemistry technology, which is a high-priority research goal in the mid-game.
- Tunnel Placement: The placement of your mountain tunnels is a critical strategic decision. A popular strategy is to build a tunnel that connects your capital to a nearby city-state or a strategically important location.
The Power of Espionage
With limited military options, espionage can be a powerful tool for influencing the outside world.
- The Diplomatic Service Civic: This civic unlocks the spy, a versatile unit that can be used to steal technology, sabotage production, and foment rebellions in enemy cities.
- Spy Missions: A popular strategy is to use your spies to steal Great Works from your rivals, which can provide a significant boost to your culture and tourism.
The Governor’s Role
Governors can provide a significant boost to your city’s growth and development.
- Magnus the Steward: Magnus is an excellent choice for a mountain-locked start, as his “Internal Trade” promotion provides an extra +2 food to internal trade routes.
- Pingala the Educator: Pingala is another strong choice, as his “Librarian” promotion provides a +15% boost to science and culture in his city.
Victory Paths: The Art of the Possible
While a domination victory can be challenging from a mountain-locked start, it is not impossible. However, other victory paths are often more viable.
The Scientific Victory: A Race to the Stars
A scientific victory is the most natural path for a mountain-locked civilization. The massive adjacency bonuses from mountains can provide a significant boost to your science generation, allowing you to outpace your rivals in the race to the stars.
The Religious Victory: A Crusade from the Mountains
A religious victory is another strong option. The adjacency bonuses from mountains can provide a massive boost to your faith generation, allowing you to found a religion early and spread it to the far corners of the world.
The Cultural Victory: A Beacon of Light
A cultural victory is a more challenging but still viable option. A popular strategy is to focus on generating Great Works of art, music, and writing, which can attract tourists from around the world.
From Isolation to Domination
A mountain-locked start in Civilization 6 is not a death sentence; it is a test of strategic ingenuity. By embracing the defensive advantages of your mountain fortress, focusing on internal development, and strategically planning your expansion, you can turn a seemingly disastrous start into a decisive victory. Analysis on forums shows that players who have mastered the art of the mountain-locked start are often the most formidable opponents, capable of weathering any storm and emerging victorious. The mountains may be your prison, but they are also your greatest strength.