How to Play on Archipelago Maps in Civilization VI: Strategies for Success

Introduction: Navigating the Waters

Archipelago maps in Civilization VI consist of numerous islands scattered across a vast ocean, presenting unique strategic challenges and opportunities. Such maps favor civilizations with strong naval capabilities and adaptability. Here’s how you can maximize your success on archipelago maps, leveraging the seas to your advantage.

1. Choose the Right Civilization

Certain civilizations have advantages on water-heavy maps due to their unique units, abilities, or infrastructure:

• Norway (Harald Hardrada): Excels with their strong naval units and ability to conduct coastal raids.
• Indonesia (Gitarja): Benefits from Kampungs (unique improvement) which provide housing, production, and food on coastal tiles.
• England (Victoria or Eleanor of Aquitaine): Gains a free melee unit when settling on continents other than their home continent and excels in naval warfare and colonization.
• Phoenicia (Dido): Can move their capital to different coastal cities, supporting a sprawling maritime empire.

2. Prioritize Naval Technology and Infrastructure

Focus on Maritime Research:

• Invest early in technologies that enhance your naval capabilities and infrastructure, such as Sailing, Shipbuilding, Cartography, and Naval Tradition.
• Prioritize building Harbors in your coastal cities. This not only boosts your naval unit production but also increases trade route capacity and gold income.

3. Expand Aggressively and Wisely

Settlement Strategies:

• Expand rapidly to claim strategic islands before your rivals do. Look for islands with ample resources, particularly those with luxury and strategic resources.
• Consider the strategic placement of your cities for defense and trade. Cities should be placed to control chokepoints and sea lanes.

4. Master Naval Warfare

Build and Use a Strong Navy:

• Maintain a versatile fleet composed of both melee ships for capturing cities and ranged ships for bombarding enemies.
• Use your naval superiority to control the seas, protect trade routes, and conduct amphibious warfare against enemy islands.

5. Leverage Trade Routes

Economic Strategy:

• Utilize the potential of extended sea-based trade routes that archipelago maps naturally support. Sea routes generate more gold than land routes.
• Protect your trade routes with your navy and use policies to enhance trade route yields.

6. Adapt to Island Living

Resource Management:

• Develop your cities to be self-sufficient where possible, especially in terms of food production, as islands may have limited space for farms.
• Utilize unique improvements and districts that maximize the benefits of coastal and water tiles.

7. Prepare for Climate Change

Anticipate Rising Sea Levels:

• Later in the game, rising sea levels can submerge coastal tiles. Anticipate this by building flood barriers and considering city placement away from the lowest coastal tiles.
• Monitor and invest in technologies and civics that mitigate or delay the effects of climate change.

Conclusion: Mastering Archipelago Maps

Playing on archipelago maps in Civilization VI requires a strong naval focus, strategic foresight in city planning, and the ability to adapt to a maritime lifestyle. By choosing the right civilization, focusing on naval development, strategically expanding, and leveraging the economic potential of the seas, you can dominate the archipelago and lead your civilization to victory across the scattered islands of the world.