Considering the high learning curve presented by Civilization 6, some of the new players may be looking for a bit of help getting started, and this guide looks to assist with the very first decision they must make: choosing a Civ 6 leader.
To note, there are many leaders in Civilization 6 that are perfectly suitable for beginners, and indeed civs like Germany, Russia, and Sumeria are all great choices for players that are just starting out. However, fans that want the absolute best leader for beginners in Civilization 6 need to look no further than Trajan of Rome.
Updated on December 31st, 2021 by Hodey Johns: Civilization 6 has pulled in a shocking number of players during its time. Most games get bursts of players and then fade out, but Civilization fans start strong and keep going strong until the next game comes out. What's more, these players convince their friends to join in as DLCs and expansions sweeten the pot for those holding out and this global strategy game. Because of this, many new players are joining in and want to know where to start. This guide has been updated to go point-by-point and explain why the leader in question is so great for newcomers.
Why Rome Is So Beginner Friendly
Rome's biggest advantages are gold and extra housing. Neither of these is directly connected to any individual victory condition. But that's exactly the point; they can be made a part of every victory condition!
For beginners, this flexibility is critically important. The beginning is very simple; expand and rely on the Roman Legion units to clear a moderate area. Then, when the cities are all established, look around and decide what kind of victory makes the most sense. In an instant, Rome can surge to the top of the leaderboard and catch all opponents off guard.
The simplicity of the strategy, coupled with the versatile success possibilities, makes this a cinch for newcomers to pick up on. They don't even have to decide on one victory option; Rome can participate in all conditions and see which path makes the most sense without falling behind in any particular category.
All Roads Lead To Rome
- Founded or conquered cities start with a Trading Post and, if within Trade Route range of the capital, a road to it. Trade Routes generate +1 additional Gold from Roman Trading Posts they pass through.
Money covers up a lot of mistakes and Rome starts off with some cash advantages right off of the bat. An automatic trading post that provides an additional Gold may seem like a small advantage later on when developing banks, but early on this will make players more wealthy by doing nothing more than founding or conquering new cities.
When engaging in war, reducing warmonger penalties is easier when wealthy. Since Rome gets this advantage early, they are able to engage in prolonged conflicts and their opponents will likely suffer more than them. Gold is also substantial for other victory conditions.
Trajan's Column
- All founded cities start with a free building in the City Center.
Combined with All Roads Lead To Rome, it's unreal how solid of a start that Rome gets. This advantage translates to a free Monument in the ancient era, immediately providing culture instead of taking the first few turns to build one.
The advantage might not seem like much, but consider that ten cities that take about five rounds to build this structure equals fifty turns of focusing on other important projects. For newcomers, they can start winning via domination without holding back until later on.
Legion
- Upgrades the Swordsman
- Has a build charge
- Can clear terrain
- Can construct a Fort
- Combat strength increased by 5
- Production cost increased by 20
It's fun to dream about winning the game with the Giant Death Robot but this is a rare occurrence. Most conflicts don't make it this long and are settled in the Classical Era. Thankfully, this is a time when Roman military might is impossible to ignore.
The Legion is a replacement for the Swordsman and is better in every way. Unlike many civilizations that just get a stronger unit, the Legion can build a fort for extra defensive prowess. This makes expanding the empire even easier as the legion can camp territories while settlers are being made.
Bath
- Upgrades the Aquaduct
- Production cost decreased by 18
- Extra two housing
- Provides one Amenity
It's all well and good to build cities, but if the population isn't high, then Rome would be in danger of fighting unwinnable wars on multiple fronts. Thankfully, the Bath gives Rome a higher capacity for citizens, ensuring their many cities are productive on many fronts.
This fits right in with how versatile Rome is for new players. If it becomes apparent that any one way of winning will be more likely, gamers can switch their populations to focus on whatever tasks are critical to that goal. Rome is never truly behind, regardless of what the scoreboard says, since a well-managed empire can play catchup in just a few short rounds.
Civilization 6 was released on October 21st, 2016, and is available for PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Android.