Part 5

Learn the ins and outs of Civilization V combat, from terrain advantages and unit types to city sieges and naval warfare. Plus, understand how cities grow and why they're crucial to your empire.

Hey there! So, you've made it to Part 5, and we're diving into some really crucial stuff: combat and how your cities grow. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds, and once you get the hang of it, you'll be dominating the map in no time.

First off, let's talk about Great Scientists. Their 'New Technology' ability is a game-changer. It lets you instantly research any tech you can currently access, not just the one you're working on. Early on, building an Academy is a solid choice, but later in the game, their ability becomes even more powerful.

Combat Basics

Combat in Civilization V is pretty straightforward at its core: move a unit onto a tile with an enemy unit, and they fight. The winner takes all. Early in the game, with basic units, it's simple enough. But remember, terrain matters!

• Good Terrain: Hills and forests are your friends. They provide cover and defensive bonuses, making it harder for enemies to hit you.
• Bad Terrain: Deserts and marshes can bog your units down, making them easy targets and giving you negative combat effects. Stick to the good stuff when you can!

As the game progresses, your units can be upgraded, and some will require strategic resources like iron. If you have, say, 4 iron and 4 swordsmen that need it, but you lose control of 2 iron resources, your swordsmen will suffer negative effects. So, keep an eye on those resources!

Types of Combat

• City Combat: Attacking cities is tough. You need to reduce the city's health to zero before you can capture it. Cities have a built-in militia that can attack units within 2 tiles. You'll need to 'tame' this militia before sending in your own units to take the city. It's a team effort – either use siege units to soften them up or overwhelm them with sheer numbers.
• Ranged Combat: Units like archers can attack from a distance, and they're devastating in groups. The key is to pair them with a melee unit to protect them. Archers are super vulnerable in close combat, so keep them out of melee range!
• Siege Combat: Siege units (like catapults) are essential for attacking cities. They need a turn to set up but can then bombard enemies and cities alike. Use them to chip away at a city's health before your melee units move in for the capture.
• Mounted Combat: Mounted units, like knights, are fast and hit hard. They have double the movement points of regular ground units and a significant attack bonus. They're great for taking out ranged units or engaging enemy melee. Just be careful – they're weak against lancers, so balance your army composition.
• Naval Combat: Your navy is primarily for bombarding enemy cities and units. Later in the game, units like submarines and missile cruisers become powerful support platforms, capable of sneak attacks and launching guided missiles or supporting naval aviation.
• Air Combat: Air superiority is key. You have bombers for devastating attacks on units and cities, fighters to take out enemy air units and protect your bombers, and gunships that are great against ground targets and cities without needing a base.
• Missile Combat: Guided missiles are good for taking out units efficiently and are relatively cheap. Nuclear missiles? They pack a massive punch but come with serious diplomatic consequences. You'll need the Manhattan Project researched and uranium to launch them.

Cities and Growth

Cities are the absolute backbone of your civilization. You build them with Settlers, and Workers help develop the surrounding land. To grow your cities, you need more people – a higher population is key to unlocking your civilization's full potential.