Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Mastering the Antiquity Age in Civilization 7

As gamers embark on their journey in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, they’ll soon discover that each of the three Ages has its own distinctive characteristics. The Antiquity Age serves as the initial phase in a standard Civ 7 game, presenting unique gameplay mechanics that can be challenging to grasp. To navigate the complexities of this Age effectively, players should devise a strategic approach that aligns with the specific abilities of their chosen leaders and civilizations.

The Antiquity Age is crucial for establishing the groundwork for an entire campaign, requiring players to make strategic decisions based on the strengths and weaknesses of their civilizations and leaders. Depending on the chosen Legacy Paths, priorities will shift, influencing the effectiveness of certain resources, buildings, or strategies. Here are ten insightful tips for excelling in Civ 7’s Antiquity Age.

10 Maintain a Healthy Balance Between Towns and Cities

Towns and Cities: The Recommended Balance

Achieving an optimal balance between towns and cities is essential in the Antiquity Age. Players often face challenges when upgrading Settlements to cities, as towns convert production into Gold, which is paramount for strengthening the empire’s economy and fulfilling leader agendas, particularly when targeting Economic Legacy Paths. The tutorials suggest a basic one-to-one ratio of cities to towns, but this can vary significantly depending on a leader’s strengths.

Certain leaders excel with a predominance of either towns or cities. For example, Augustus’s Imperium Maius ability boosts production specifically in the capital and allows for the discounted purchase of Culture buildings for towns, making town development more appealing. Contrarily, leaders like Confucius benefit from a larger number of cities, as his Keju ability enhances city growth rate.

9 Identify and Establish Alliances and Hostilities

First Impressions are Key in Civ 7

The initial interactions with other civilizations in the Antiquity Age are pivotal in shaping future diplomatic relationships. Players have the opportunity to forge robust alliances or ignite hostilities with nearby Civs and Independent Powers. Since many other civilizations will not become apparent until advancing to the Exploration Age, it is essential to make the most out of those early interactions for trade, warfare, and diplomacy.

Relationships can begin as hostile, neutral, or friendly, and each type carries its advantages. For instance, allying with Lafayette can lead to additional Social Policy slots, whereas engaging with Napoleon could yield financial bonuses through his Continental System Sanction, which impacts opponents negatively.

8 Leverage the Importance of Independent Powers

Incorporate City-States into Your Civilization

While Independent Powers function consistently across all Ages, they hold particular significance in the Antiquity Age. This is the stage for claiming territory and setting up the civilization’s future. These powers can either be integrated into your empire or can be lost to rival civilizations. Some leaders, such as Machiavelli or those from Greece, may find it easier to accrue Influence and incorporate City-States than others.

It’s also crucial to befriend Independent Powers before competitors do; failing to establish these relationships can allow opponents to absorb these entities into their territories. Additionally, nurturing connections with Independent Powers can be critical for pursuing military-oriented Legacy Paths in the Antiquity Age.

7 Make Discoveries a Strategic Focus

Capitalize on Goody Huts During the Antiquity Age

Exploration in the Antiquity Age proves vital, as early Discoveries can significantly shape the civilization’s capabilities. Players have the chance to secure resources and advantages through these semi-random finds, which can also foster positive relations with nearby Independent Powers or initiate quests for exclusive rewards.

Goody Huts are particularly valuable during this period and must not be overlooked. Neglecting to explore and capitalize on them can provide other civilizations with substantial advantages, akin to offering free resources to rivals.

6 Pursue Wonders That Matter

Seven Wonders for Cultural Legacy Pursuits

The Wonders of the Antiquity Age are highly sought after due to the Cultural Legacy Path, which necessitates acquiring several of these Wonder structures. For players focused on Cultural Victory, early Wonders like the Hanging Gardens may become contested as other civilizations vie for them.

While efforts towards a Wonder aren’t lost upon an opponent’s successful acquisition, the frustration of losing a key Wonder to a rival civilization can disrupt specific strategies. Therefore, identifying and prioritizing the construction of Wonders, particularly a civilization’s unique Wonder (such as the Pyramids for Egypt), is a strategic necessity for achieving Cultural Victory.

5 Select Your Pantheon Wisely

Harness the Bonuses from Pantheons

Confucious from Civilization 7 Cover — Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Pantheons introduce a religious dynamic in the Antiquity Age, offering unique bonuses for settlements with Altars. Unlockable through the Mysticism Civic, securing an advantageous Pantheon should be a priority for all players, regardless of their Victory goals.These bonuses are available on a first-come, first-served basis, making it essential to act quickly to claim beneficial options.

In particular, Pantheons can facilitate territory expansion and yield enhancement in settlements. For civilizations such as Maurya, which gains access to an extra Pantheon, selecting a Pantheon that aligns with developed Legacy Paths, like Monument to the Gods for increased Wonder production, can yield significant advantages.

4 Optimize Resource Management for Silk Roads

Achieve Resource Requirements for Economic Legacy

Managing resources effectively in the Antiquity Age is vital, particularly when striving to fulfill the Economic Legacy Path, which entails obtaining twenty various resources. These resources can arise from Settlements, trade routes with City-States, or rewards from engaging with City-States.

Establishing trade routes with City-States is critical early on, and players should explore innovative strategies to maximize resource slots. For instance, unique resources like Camels can offer additional resource slots, while building Markets and Lighthouses can incrementally improve resource capacity. Ensure to dispatch Merchants strategically to expand trade routes as they become accessible.

3 Protect Your Codices

Use Caution to Preserve Your Codexes

Codices, representing the Great Works in the Antiquity Age, are pivotal for completing the Scientific Legacy Path associated with the Great Library. Acquiring these Codices can be challenging, particularly since having a sufficient Great Work slot is essential; otherwise, any Codex acquired without an available slot is permanently lost. This necessitates the construction of infrastructure like Libraries and Academies before seeking Codices.

Moreover, any Codex residing in pillaged structures will be irrevocably lost, further emphasized by the risk of natural catastrophes. This makes strategic placement of Codex-holding buildings critical, and while obtaining Codices is limited, certain pathways exist for acquiring replacements.

2 Utilize Unique Civics, Quarters, and Wonders

Timeless Wonders: Unique Buildings and Their Benefits

Every civilization boasts a unique Wonder that automatically receives a Production bonus, making it a priority to construct during the Antiquity Age—irrespective of the Victory type. These Wonders typically enhance the civilization’s inherent strengths more effectively than alternative Wonders available during this Age.

Furthermore, unique Civic Trees not only align with specific strategies but also unlock buildings and quarters, which retain their value throughout the Ages. Each Civic Tree also introduces Traditions, represented as Social Policies that persist beyond the Antiquity Age and can be critical for ongoing success.

1 Plan Ahead for the Exploration Age Transition

Strategic Preparation for Evolving Challenges

As the Antiquity Age concludes, it is crucial to prepare for the upcoming transition into the Exploration Age, which can significantly influence future strategies. Players should aim to complete individual Legacy Paths while being aware that each accomplishment accelerates the Age transition, potentially triggering a Crisis towards the end of the Antiquity Age. This could manifest as a plague, revolt, or other calamities requiring a tactical shift.

Understanding the implications of the Age transition is equally important, as the Exploration Age introduces changes to unit organization and may alter the presence of Independent Powers and City-States not fully integrated into civilizations. Moreover, cities other than the Capital will revert to towns unless the Silk Roads Golden Age is reached. With these ten strategic insights, players can effortlessly transition from the Antiquity Age in Civilization 7.

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