Civilization VI Guide for Returning Players: Updates and Strategies

Introduction: Reacquainting with Civilization VI

If you’re a returning player to Civilization VI, you’ll find that numerous updates, expansions, and changes have potentially transformed the gameplay since your last foray. This guide aims to help you catch up quickly, outlining the major additions and offering strategies that reflect the current state of the game.

1. Understanding New Expansions and Features

Expansions to Know:

• Rise and Fall: Introduced in February 2018, this expansion added new mechanics such as Great Ages, Loyalty, and Governors, which significantly impact city management and stability.
• Gathering Storm: Released in February 2019, this expansion brought environmental effects like volcanoes, storms, and climate change, along with a new World Congress diplomatic system, and additional civilizations.

Key Features:

• Loyalty: Cities now have a Loyalty score that can lead to them declaring independence if it gets too low. Managing your cities to ensure high loyalty is crucial, especially near other civilizations.
• Era Score and Ages: Your actions contribute to your Era Score, which determines if your civilization enters a Golden, Normal, Dark, or Heroic Age, each providing different challenges and bonuses.
• Governors: Specialize your cities with unique Governors, each providing distinct bonuses and abilities.
• Environmental Effects and Power: Manage resources wisely as the world around you can change dramatically due to climate change and natural disasters.

2. Adjusting Your Strategy

Adapt to New Systems:

• Plan for Ages: Strive for Golden Ages by achieving Era Score milestones through historic accomplishments. Avoid Dark Ages by planning strategic developments and conquests.
• Use Governors Wisely: Deploy Governors where their unique abilities will have the most impact, such as using the Agriculturist to boost food production in a farming city.
• Diplomacy in Gathering Storm: Engage actively with the World Congress to secure favorable resolutions and make use of the Diplomatic Favor currency.

3. Harnessing New Units and Technologies

Explore New Additions:

• Each expansion introduced new units, technologies, and civics. Familiarize yourself with these to take full advantage of new strategic options, such as Spec Ops, a late-game recon unit that can perform airdrops.

4. Tips for Effective Play

Strategic Tips for Veterans:

• Focus on Amenities and Housing: These are crucial for city growth and stability. Overlooking them can lead to penalties that hinder your civilization’s progress.
• Climate and Geography Awareness: Pay attention to the environmental impact of your actions, particularly in Gathering Storm, where resource exploitation can lead to severe consequences like flooding or droughts.
• Dynamic Diplomacy: Diplomatic relationships are more dynamic and can significantly impact your game. Use spies and diplomatic actions to sway other leaders and city-states.

5. Engaging with Updated AI

Understand AI Changes:

• AI behavior has been refined across various updates to make it more predictable in terms of aggression and diplomacy. Understanding each leader’s traits and agendas is more crucial than ever for effective interaction and strategy formulation.

Conclusion: Embrace the Evolution

Returning to Civilization VI with its expansions and updates offers a richer and more complex experience than ever before. By understanding the new mechanics and adjusting your strategies accordingly, you can enjoy rediscovering the game and potentially mastering it in new ways. Whether aiming for a Cultural, Science, Domination, or Diplomatic victory, the depth of gameplay now offers more paths and strategies to explore. Enjoy your renewed journey through the ages!