In Civilization 7, Independent Powers refer to city-states, a staple in the Civilization series. This time around, the city-state system has seen significant enhancements, making it more engaging than in earlier versions. Unlike the previous games where relationships with city-states were straightforward, the Independent Powers in Civ 7 bring a more dynamic approach. They can be quite formidable and present various enticing benefits to those who invest time and Influence to cultivate friendships with them.
This guide will explore the various types of Independent Powers and how they interact with the game’s age progression system.
What Are Independent Powers?
Independent Powers are unique city-states that appear randomly on the map when the game starts.
They can either be Friendly or Hostile. Friendly city-states are highlighted with a yellow border, while hostile ones are marked with a red border.
Hostile city-states will actively send troops toward your capital, especially on higher difficulty levels such as Immortal and Deity, making them a serious threat. You’ll need to build up your military to defend yourself, in contrast to previous games where barbarians posed a lesser challenge.
Befriending City-States
Each city-state has a specific attribute associated with it: military, scientific, cultural, or economic, which reflect the four victory paths in Civilization 7.
If you know what type of victory you want to pursue, you can strategically choose city-states that align with your goals. For example, if you are playing with Hatshepsut and aiming for a cultural victory, focus on befriending cultural city-states.
To befriend city-states, you will expend a new resource called Influence. At the beginning of the game, this resource is limited, so it’s important to select your targets wisely. Building friendships with city-states requires several turns—as determined by game speed—and other civilizations can pursue the same city-states. You can speed up your efforts by spending more Influence on a city-state.
City-State Rewards
Once you befriend a city-state, you will gain various rewards depending on their type.
Every city-state type features a unique building that can be constructed or acquired in your settlements. For instance, a militaristic city-state allows the construction of the Hillfort, a special building that can be placed over tiles occupied by citizens such as farms.
Additionally, city-states offer benefits linked to their type. Cultural city-states, for example, might provide you with culture for each city-state you control, a free social policy slot, or even a complimentary civic when you become their suzerain.
Your choices here matter greatly, as you might not have access to multiple city-states of the same type. These bonuses stack nicely with your leader and civilization benefits, making a strong focus on Independent Powers a viable strategy for certain leaders.
Interacting With City-States
You have various ways to interact with city-states once you befriend them. For instance, you can encourage growth, raise troops, and strengthen their military.
You can enlist troops from city-states by spending Influence, which can be invaluable, especially if the city-state is near your territory and you need to quickly assemble an army.
Promoting city-state growth allows you to spend Influence to enhance their development. This might be useful if they have yet to access certain resources, and you want to establish a trade route with them. Alternatively, you might aim to acquire a city-state by peaceful means or through force.
Eventually, you may also incorporate a city-state into your own nation. This requires substantial Influence and takes multiple turns, but it can be a strategic way to expand your territory by using Influence instead of gold or resources.
