Boosting Science Production in Civilization VII

In Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, focusing on science is one of the many strategies your civilization can employ to secure a victory. Along with Cultural, Diplomatic, Military, and Economic wins, a Scientific victory can present unique challenges, largely depending on your leader’s skills and the structure of your civilization. To accelerate your Scientific progress and contribute towards your victory, it’s essential to build specific facilities and invest in research from the start.

Pursuing a Scientific victory often requires a different approach than a Military or Domination victory in Civ 7. While science-focused nations generally adopt a more defensive stance, it’s vital to prioritize protecting your territory and fostering strong diplomatic relationships. Cooperation with other civilizations is a key aspect of advancing science, reflecting both the game’s mechanics and historical trends in our world.

Understanding Science in Civ 7

Advancing Your Nation’s Technology

Advancements in your Technology Tree are unlocked through your nation’s scientific progress, allowing you to achieve new breakthroughs across different ages. Reaching various milestones in the Tech Tree is essential to achieving a Science victory, so it’s important to make rapid progress ahead of your rivals. With new technologies, your civilization also becomes tougher to attack as you develop better units and equipment.

Prioritizing Science yields allows you to speed up the discovery of new technologies. In essence, Science becomes a resource obtained through the buildings, units, wonders, or other boosts you create. This yield determines the technology advancements you can pursue, as long as you meet additional prerequisites relevant to your current age and those of your opponents.

Science in Civ 7 is also linked to different Legacy Paths, each offering higher Science yields by the end of an era. For instance, displaying multiple Codices can help your nation achieve legacy milestones for certain civilizations, rewarding you with benefits that inch you closer to a Science victory. The buffs and bonuses earned through scientific pursuits will aid in fulfilling your overall victory conditions.

Ways to Boost Science in Civ 7

Implement Diverse Strategies for Each Age

To enhance Science yields, you can utilize various methods, from leveraging specific leader abilities to constructing targeted buildings within your civilization. Science growth varies from age to age, requiring tailored strategies throughout different eras to outpace your competitors.

Resources generated from cities can also yield Science when allocated to various settlements. Locations capable of producing Science yields are indicated by a blue flask on the game map. Examples include Incense in the Antiquity Age and Tea in the Modern Age, which are valuable resources for driving up your civilization’s Science yield.

Top Units and Leaders for Boosting Science

Designating Specialist units to specific tiles is a productive method to increase Science yields, although these units must be positioned within Districts and Quarters. They enhance the Science output of their tile and nearby areas, leading to significant Science accumulation over time. However, these units demand greater Food and Happiness than typical units, so planning accordingly is vital.

Some leaders in Civ 7 are particularly well-suited for Science victories, each with unique advantages that enhance your scientific output. The following leaders are noteworthy choices:

• Confucius – Offers 25% extra Growth in Cities and gains +2 Science for each Specialist.
• Ben Franklin – Provides +1 Science per Age for every Endeavor supported or initiated. Also enhances Science yields from Production buildings within Cities.
• Himiko, Queen of Wa – When collaborating with an ally, both receive +25% Science. Additionally, earns +4 Science per Age for each Leader with whom you’ve maintained amicable relations.

The Ming, Maya, and Meiji civilizations are also particularly adept at achieving Science victories, with each offering distinct benefits for this victory track. For instance, the Ming Civ in the Exploration Age boasts +50% Science in its Capital but suffers -15 Science per turn for every Social Policy active. Understanding the synergies between Civs and Leaders can significantly enhance your strategy toward a Science victory.

Optimal Buildings for Boosting Science

Building certain structures during various Ages is one of the simplest ways to enhance your Science. Some of the most effective constructions include:

• Antiquity Age: Library, Academy
• Exploration Age: Observatory, University
• Modern Age: Aerodrome, Launch Pad, Schoolhouse, Laboratory

Establishing Libraries early is crucial, as the displayed Codices significantly boost your Science output in the early stages of the game. You can also utilize the Academy to research Writing and Mathematics within the Tech Tree, facilitating rapid improvements in your Science yields. Though these buildings require substantial production resources, their construction will help elevate your civilization into a Golden Age.

Constructing Wonders in Civ 7 can also dramatically boost your Science yield. For instance, Serpent Mound grants +3 Science and +2 Production from all unique improvements in its settlement during the Exploration Age. Other notable Wonders, such as Mundo Perdido and Oxford University, are excellent choices to pursue, but it’s wise to prioritize Wonders that offer broad benefits for your civilization’s needs.

Leading Policies for Science Growth

Your choice of policies can determine your success in achieving a Science victory within the game. One highly effective strategy is to consistently select Science options during narrative events that occur across different Ages. Doing so typically leads to a temporary boost to your nation’s Science yields, aligning well with your other objectives.

A variety of Social Policies can enhance your Science, like Tool Making during the early game. Here are additional policies worth pursuing to prioritize Science growth:

• Literature – Provides a 50% Production bonus toward Science buildings.
• Scholars – Adds +1 Science for each Specialist.
• Social Science – Grants +2 Science for each Specialist while increasing their Food cost by 50%.
• Preservation Societies – Yields +3 Science from Great Works.

A range of policies from the Civic tree can also contribute to Science increases, so it’s beneficial to focus on that aspect during a Science-oriented playthrough. Players striving for higher Science yields may also inadvertently advance toward a Cultural victory in Civ 7, thereby allowing for strategic flexibility in pivoting to another victory type if necessary.

Top Technologies for Boosting Science

Science directly influences the Tech advancements you can achieve from the Technology Tree, with specific discoveries contributing to your victory strategy. Focus on the following technologies across different Ages for optimal Science yield:

• Antiquity Age: Writing, Mathematics, Writing 2
• Exploration Age: Education
• Modern Age: Flight, Aerodynamics, Rocketry

Throughout each Age, you have opportunities to engage in Research Collaborations with other civilizations, allowing for faster technological advancements. Collaborating yields a 50% Science increase for both parties, with the civilization accepting the offer utilizing fewer resources than the initiator. While maintaining vigilance to prevent rival Science nations from closing in on a victory, this strategy can also work to your advantage.

Additionally, certain early-game religious pursuits, like the “God of Wisdom” Pantheon, can offer your civilization a head start in science. By creating a robust foundation for developing new technologies, your Science yields will continually improve throughout each Age in Sid Meier’s Civilization 7.