Civilization 6’sNew Frontier Pass came to an end earlier this year, after adding 8 new civilizations to Firaxis' sprawling historical strategy. These additions enhancedCivilization 6with a range of new playstyles, from the warlike Gran Colombia to the mercantile Portugal.
RELATED:Minecraft Player Recreates Civilization 6’s Bolshoi Theater In-Game
One of the most unique civilizations added inCiv 6’s New Frontier Passwas Vietnam. Lead by Lady Bà Triệu, Vietnam is a civilizationfocused on Culture and Domination. While that may seem simple enough, the unique Nine Dragon River Delta feature makes Vietnam a tricky prospect for the new players. Here’s how to master it.
10Place Districts Carefully
Vietnam inCivilization 6is all aboutwoods, rainforest, and marsh.As such, players can only place their land-based Districts on these three removable tile features. It may seem like this is more of a liability than a buff, but the faction is also given several bonuses to counter the added difficulty.
Each of the buildings inside these Districts is given anextra output based on the tile it’s on.This means that Vietnam players should attempt to spread their Districts between woods, rainforest, and marsh where possible, to avoid specializing too heavily.
9Build An Early Holy Site
While all of Vietnam’s land Districts are affected by theNine Dragon River Deltafeature, some can get more from its benefits than others. The bonus resources are given for each building in the District, meaning that Districts with more early buildings are better.
Enter the Holy Site, which hasall three of its buildings available by the Classical Era.This gives the players a chance to snap up a hefty bonus that will last the entire game. In addition, the Holy Site has a Woods adjacency bonus, and also offers the additional Culture that Vietnam needs going into the mid-game.
8Take Care When Expanding
While Vietnam’s start bias should ensure that it has a good amount of woods, rainforest, and marsh in its capital, players will need to consider these features while expanding. All Vietnamese cities have to deal with the Nine Dragon River Delta limitations, which means a poorly placed city can be disastrous.
All early cities should be placed withaccess to a good amount of the removable features,allowing them to build the Districts they need. Vietnam players should particularlyavoid desert and snow tiles,as they have almost nothing to offer the civilization.
7Rush To Medieval Faires
Medieval Faires is hands-down the most important Civic orTech inCivilization 6for Vietnam. This is because it enables players to plant woods with their Builders, granting the ability to create new District spots for the first time.
Vietnam players shouldfocus on Culture generation in the early gamefor this reason, as being able to place woods will greatly expand their potential city options. Planting woods can also be a fantastic defensive tool, slowing down enemy armies while granting Vietnam bonuses.
6Build An Impenetrable Empire
Bà Triệu’s unique abilitygives units attack bonuses and increased movement in woods, rainforest, and marsh. These bonuses aredoubled in friendly territory,meaning that a heavily-forested Vietnam can be almost impossible to invade.
RELATED:5 Differences Between Humankind and Civilization 6
Thisgreatly favors Vietnam’s preferred Domination victory,giving the player an unassailable fortress to launch their attacks from. Vietnam’s unique Encampment the Thành will let the player double-down on protection, granting not only defense but alsoCulture and Tourism.
5Construct All The Thànhs
The Thành is probably thebest Encampment replacement inCivilization 6, and is essential to both the Cultural and Domination victories. Firstly, it doesn’t follow the normal rules of a District, meaning that itcan be built in every city without penalty,and gets to avoid the limitations of the Nine Dragon River Delta feature.
It’s also cheaper to build, meaning that a Vietnam player has no real reason not to build one in every city. Finally, the Thànhgrants +2 Culture for every adjacent District, and the same for Tourism after Flight has been researched. This bonus makes the Encampment replacement the core of Vietnam’s cultural victory.
4Be Ready to Attack
While Vietnam’s preferredvictory conditions inCivilization 6are Culture or Domination, most of their bonuses are geared toward the latter. Domination victories aren’t always possible to pull off, depending on the layout of the map, but all Vietnam players should be prepared to conquer.
While it may be tempting to remain safe in the unassailable Vietnamese woodland empire, players will inevitably have to strike out at their enemies. Fortunately,terrain bonuses and a powerful unique unit makes Vietnam just as strong on the offense.
3Expand in the Medieval Era
Mostcivilizations inCivilization 6have an Era that they’re particularly strong in, and players should be aware of when that Era is approaching. For Vietnam, it’s theMedieval Era, which gives access to both the Medieval Faires Civic and their unique unit the Voi Chiến.
Combining the power of the Voi Chiến and the ability to create new woods, Vietnam players should plan to expand heavily in the Medieval Era. Conquered cities can have additional woods added to support the placement of new Districts in the future.
2Don’t Forget Religion
While Vietnam is clearly geared toward the Domination and Culture, players shouldn’t forget the power of Religion. The usefulness of the Holy Site when combined with the Nine Dragon River Delta feature means thatmost Vietnam players will get an early religion.
Though Vietnam might struggle to generate enough ofCivilization 6’s Missionaries and Apostlesfor a full Religious victory, that doesn’t mean that a faith can’t be useful. For example, Vietnam’s religious units also benefit from Bà Triệu’s unique ability, and can cover difficult terrain very quickly.
1Fall Back on Culture
Like many of theCultural civs inCivilization 6, Vietnam’s Tourism generation doesn’t come online until late in the game. This means that players can fall back on a Cultural Victory after trying another first.
ADomination victory inCivilization 6may be halted by a tough neighbour, and a Religious victory by a zealous rival. Therefore it’s important for Vietnam players to remain flexible, and beprepared to turn their impressive Culture generation into Tourismwhen necessary.
Civilization 6is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
