Trade Goods & Luxury Resources

Trade Goods & Luxury Resources - Civilization VII guide section covering Understanding the distinction and strategic use of trade goods and luxury resources is

Mastering the acquisition and utilization of Trade Goods and Luxury Resources is paramount to a thriving civilization in Civilization VII. These valuable commodities not only fuel your economy but also provide crucial bonuses to your population's happiness and unlock powerful diplomatic and military advantages.

Understanding Trade Goods

Trade Goods are the backbone of your empire's economy, generated by specialized districts and improvements. They are primarily used to establish and maintain trade routes, both internal and external.

Key Trade Goods & Their Sources:

• Strategic Resources: (e.g., Iron, Horses, Uranium, Oil)
  • Location: Found on specific tiles, often revealed by Scouts or revealed through technological advancement.
  • Strategy: Prioritize settling near these resources. Build Mines, Lumber Mills, or Oil Wells to extract them. Essential for building advanced military units and infrastructure.
• Bulk Goods: (e.g., Grain, Livestock, Timber)
  • Location: Abundant on fertile plains, forests, and grasslands.
  • Strategy: Farms, Lumber Mills, and Pastures are your primary improvements. These are crucial for early game food and production, supporting population growth and city development.
• Artisan Goods: (e.g., Textiles, Pottery, Metalwork)
  • Location: Often require specific improvements like Workshops or Artisans' Quarters built in or adjacent to cities.
  • Strategy: Focus on building these districts once your basic needs are met. They provide significant Gold income and can be traded for other vital resources.

The Importance of Luxury Resources

Luxury Resources are rare and provide a significant boost to your civilization's overall Happiness. Each unique Luxury Resource provides a specific amount of Amenity to a set number of cities. Managing these is key to preventing unrest and maximizing your empire's potential.

Key Luxury Resources & Their Effects:

• Spices:
  • Location: Often found in tropical or coastal regions.
  • Strategy: Settle near these tiles and build Plantations. Provides +1 Amenity to 4 cities.
• Dyes:
  • Location: Can appear in various terrain types, often in temperate zones.
  • Location: Build Plantations. .
• Silk:
  • Location: Frequently found in grassland or plains biomes.
  • Strategy: Build Plantations. .
• Furs:
  • Location: Common in colder climates, near tundra or snow.
  • Strategy: Build Camps. .
• Gems:
  • Location: Typically found in hilly or mountainous terrain.
  • Strategy: Build Mines. .
• Whale/Fish:
  • Location: Coastal tiles or specific river tiles.
  • Strategy: Build Fishing Boats. .

Strategies for Maximizing Trade & Luxury Resources

1. Early Exploration: Send out Scouts immediately to reveal the map and identify potential resource locations.
2. Strategic Settling: Prioritize settling cities near clusters of valuable Trade Goods and Luxury Resources.
3. Improvement Focus: Research technologies that unlock the necessary improvements (Mines, Farms, Plantations, Camps, Workshops) and build them promptly on resource tiles.
4. Trade Routes: Establish Trade Routes with other civilizations or city-states to generate Gold and Science. Exporting surplus Luxury Resources can also yield significant benefits.
5. Diplomacy: Use surplus Luxury Resources as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations. Trading them to civilizations lacking them can secure alliances or valuable resources in return.
6. City Management: Ensure your cities have access to enough Luxury Resources to maintain high Happiness levels. Unhappy cities suffer penalties to production and combat strength.