To manage trade routes effectively in Civilization VI, consider factors like maximizing yields, establishing routes to cities with high bonuses or lacking resources, protecting routes from barbarians or enemy units, and constantly reassessing routes based on changing conditions and upgrades for optimal efficiency.
1. Understanding Trade Routes in Civ 6
Trade routes are a vital part of Civilization VI as they allow you to establish connections between your cities and other civilizations to boost various aspects of your empire. Before delving into managing your trade routes effectively, it's crucial to understand the mechanics behind them. Trade routes generate benefits such as food, production, gold, science, culture, or religious pressure, depending on the type of route and the placement of the cities involved.
2. Prioritize Your Objectives
When managing trade routes in Civ 6, it's essential to prioritize your objectives based on the current needs of your empire. Are you looking to boost production in specific cities, grow your population, gain extra gold, or enhance your science output? Identifying your priorities will help you optimize your trade routes effectively. Different types of routes cater to distinct objectives, so tailor your decisions accordingly.
3. Establish Internal Trade Routes
Internal trade routes connect your cities within your empire and help facilitate growth and development. It's usually a good strategy to focus on internal trade routes early in the game to boost your cities' development before expanding externally. By establishing internal trade routes, you can enhance food and production yields, which are crucial for city growth and infrastructure development.
4. External Trade Routes and International Relations
External trade routes connect your cities with foreign civilizations or city-states. When managing external trade routes, consider factors such as the destination city's resources, the presence of barbarians along the route, and the potential benefits for both parties involved. Building trade routes with friendly civilizations can strengthen your diplomatic relations and provide valuable bonuses.
5. Utilize Commercial Hubs and Harbors
Commercial Hubs and Harbors are district types in Civ 6 that significantly enhance the benefits of trade routes. By strategically placing these districts in your cities, you can increase the yields of your trade routes, generate additional gold, and unlock powerful bonuses through trade route-related buildings and policies. Invest in these districts to maximize the efficiency of your trade network.
6. Adapt to the Changing Landscape
The efficiency of your trade routes can be impacted by various factors such as war, diplomatic changes, city captures, or new technological advancements. It's crucial to adapt to the changing landscape of the game by rerouting your trade routes, establishing new connections, or prioritizing different objectives based on the evolving circumstances. Flexibility is key to effectively managing trade routes in Civ 6.
7. Plan for Late-Game Strategies
As the game progresses, your trade routes become even more valuable, providing substantial benefits to advance your late-game strategies. Consider optimizing your trade routes for maximum science output to boost your technological advancements, or focus on cultural exchange to accelerate your civic progress. Tailor your trade routes to complement your overall victory condition objectives in the late game.
8. Monitor and Evaluate Performance
To manage your trade routes effectively in Civ 6, it's essential to constantly monitor and evaluate their performance. Keep track of the yields generated by each route, consider reassigning trade routes to different destinations based on changing priorities, and ensure that your trade network is optimized to support the growth and development of your empire. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your trade routes will help you stay competitive throughout the game.