In Civilization VI, a Domination Victory is achieved by capturing the capital cities of every other civilization. While it’s a straightforward victory condition, it is often the most challenging and time-consuming, requiring a combination of military prowess, strategic planning, and careful diplomacy. If you’re aiming for a Domination Victory, you’ll need to balance offense and defense, maintain a strong economy to support your military, and carefully plan your wars. Here’s your ultimate guide to achieving a Domination Victory in Civ VI.
1. Early Game: Build Up Your Military and Infrastructure
The key to a successful military campaign is preparation. Starting off with a solid foundation will ensure that you can wage war effectively later in the game. Here are the essential steps to take early on:
- Focus on Military Units: Early on, you should prioritize building military units. Starting with Warriors and Slingers will allow you to defend against early barbarian threats and potentially other civilizations. As you progress to the Classical Era, aim to have Archers and Spearmen to give you a balanced, defensive army.
- Scout and Expand: While building units, don’t forget to explore the map with Scouts. Understanding your enemies’ positions and resources is vital to planning your future campaigns. Additionally, aim to expand quickly by founding several cities near valuable resources and choke points.
- Key Technologies and Civics: Focus on technologies and civics that will enhance your military. Bronze Working unlocks Iron, essential for creating more advanced units like Legion or Swordsmen. Early Empire and Oligarchy are important civics to boost your military strength and city management in the early game.
- Build Infrastructure: Don’t neglect your economy. Build Campuses and Commercial Hubs to boost science and gold, which are critical for producing advanced military units. You’ll also need to establish a solid base of Production to churn out units quickly once you start your campaigns.
2. Mid-Game: Establish Dominance with Advanced Units and Tactics
By the time you reach the Medieval and Renaissance Eras, you should have established a solid military infrastructure. Now, it’s time to step up your warfare with advanced units and better strategies.
- Upgrade Your Units: As you unlock technologies like Machinery (for Crossbowmen) and Stirrups (for Cavalry), start upgrading your units. Crossbowmen and Knights are formidable units that can deal devastating damage to enemy units and cities. Horsemen or Cavalry are particularly useful for flanking and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
- Siege Units Are Key: In the mid-game, Catapults and Trebuchets become indispensable for sieging enemy cities. These units can deal a lot of damage to city defenses, making it much easier to capture enemy capitals. Invest in a few of them to accompany your attacking forces.
- Diplomacy and Alliances: While you are focusing on building up your military, make sure to manage your diplomacy carefully. Consider forming Military Alliances or Defensive Pacts with nearby civilizations to ensure you have backup in case another enemy decides to declare war on you. Keep your relationships in check, as the AI civilizations may become wary of your growing strength.
- War Timing and Plan: Don’t rush into wars without proper preparation. Wait for the ideal moment when your enemy is weaker, isolated, or distracted. Additionally, consider the War Weariness system—if you’re constantly at war, it can hurt your economy and cities’ stability. Plan your wars carefully to avoid overextending your empire.
3. Late-Game: Master the Art of Conquest and Siege Warfare
Once you’ve reached the Industrial and Modern Eras, your military should be at its peak. In this phase of the game, technological superiority and strategic warfare will determine your ability to win a Domination Victory.
- Use Modern Units: Units like Machine Guns, Tanks, and Bombers are your key to overwhelming any remaining civilizations. Tanks are especially useful for breaking through defenses, while Bombers can weaken enemy cities from the air before your ground troops move in for the kill.
- Air Superiority: Dominating the skies with Fighters and Bombers can give you an immense advantage. Use Bombers to target enemy cities, destroying improvements and weakening enemy units. Fighters help ensure you can defend your bombers and protect your cities from enemy air attacks.
- Nuclear Weapons (Optional): In the late game, you can consider using Nuclear Weapons to quickly devastate enemy cities. A well-placed nuclear strike can cripple a civilization’s ability to defend itself, giving you a huge advantage. However, this can hurt your diplomatic relations, so use it wisely.
- Siege Units (Artillery): By the late game, you’ll want to upgrade to Artillery and Rocket Artillery, which are significantly more powerful than earlier siege units. These units are crucial for long-range bombardment of enemy cities, especially when combined with your air units.
4. Key Civs for Domination Victory
While any civilization can theoretically achieve a Domination Victory, some are better suited for this path due to their unique abilities, units, or bonuses. Here are a few civilizations that excel in military conquest:
- Russia (Peter the Great): Russia’s ability to claim extra territory with their Cossack units and Lavra districts makes them a strong early-game contender. Their Extra Territory from expanding can allow you to control valuable strategic locations.
- Germany (Frederick Barbarossa): Germany’s Hanse district provides significant economic boosts, which can be funneled into military production. They also have access to powerful U-Boats and Panzer units, which are game-changers in the late stages.
- Macedon (Alexander): Macedonia’s ability to maintain strong military units in the face of war exhaustion, combined with their unique Hetairoi (horsemen), makes them great for sustained military campaigns. Alexander’s bonus prevents cities from losing loyalty, allowing him to conquer without worrying about losing control.
- Aztec (Montezuma): The Aztecs can build Unique Builders (Eagle Warriors) that make it easier to capture enemy cities, plus they get early access to Luxury Resources that provide amenities for military units, boosting their strength. Their Tlachtli and Chinampas districts also increase their production of units.
5. War Strategy and Tactics
When it comes to executing your wars, understanding battlefield tactics and using your units effectively is crucial. Here are some important strategies for winning battles:
- Focus Fire: Target enemy units that are vulnerable to your strengths. For example, if you’re using Crossbowmen, target Horsemen or Swordsmen, while your Spearmen should focus on enemy cavalry. Concentrate your fire to eliminate high-priority units quickly.
- Flanking: Use Cavalry or Horsemen to flank enemy positions and destroy weaker units. Flanking provides a bonus to damage, and it can help you take down even the toughest opponents more easily.
- City Siege: When attacking cities, it’s essential to use Siege Weapons to break down city defenses before sending in your ground troops. Try to time your attack with air support or artillery to minimize losses. Don’t forget to use Commanders to boost your army’s effectiveness.
- Keep Your Units Supplied: Always ensure your military is well-supplied and that you have the necessary resources to continue waging war. Trade Routes, Harbors, and Commercial Hubs can help sustain your economy and keep the flow of resources going.
6. Endgame: Finishing the Job
Once you have the upper hand, keep pushing forward. Be mindful of World Congress and any potential diplomatic efforts to stop your rise. However, by this point, your army should be unstoppable. Conquer remaining capitals and eliminate your enemies one by one. With enough military might and strategic foresight, you’ll soon be able to claim victory.
Conclusion
Achieving a Domination Victory in Civilization VI requires careful planning, a strong economy, and decisive military tactics. By early expansion, upgrading your military units, and executing well-planned campaigns, you can conquer the world and establish your empire as the dominant force. Whether you’re building a powerful early-game army or modernizing your forces for the late-game, every step counts in the path to victory.
Good luck, General—may your military campaigns be victorious!
