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The diplomacy system in Civilization 7 has been updated from earlier versions of the game. Firaxis aims to reduce micromanagement and improve the user experience by introducing a new currency called Influence and a simpler interface for interacting with other civilizations.
When you first encounter a leader from another civilization, you can access the diplomacy screen by clicking on their portrait in the top right corner of the screen. This screen gives you details about your relationship with that leader, along with various actions you can take to enhance or diminish your rapport. To perform these actions, you’ll use Influence, so let’s take a closer look at how diplomacy functions in Civilization 7.
If you need some general advice, don’t miss our Civilization 7 tips to help grow your empire.
Using Influence in Civilization 7 Diplomacy
Influence is a novel resource introduced in Civilization 7. Like Gold, you earn Influence at the end of each turn, and can enhance your earnings through policies, production, and research. You can then spend this Influence on various diplomatic actions. There are four main types of diplomatic actions:
- Endeavors: Mutual actions that benefit both nations, such as offering aid or supporting their military.
- Sanctions: Negative actions targeting the opposing leader’s civilization, like denouncing them or lowering their citizens’ happiness.
- Treaties: Agreements that benefit both nations, such as opening borders or improving trade relations.
- Espionage: Conducting covert operations against another nation, which has a risk of being discovered. If you’re caught, you’ll incur a penalty to your Influence and damage your standing with that nation.
However, having enough Influence points isn’t the only requirement. The other nation must also agree to your proposals. When you initiate an Endeavor, they can choose to support, accept, or reject it. Similarly, Sanctions can also be accepted or rejected. Supporting an action provides significant benefits for both parties, but at a cost of Influence. Accepting is always free but yields smaller rewards, while rejecting requires the other nation to spend Influence to negate it.
Given the significant impact Influence can have on your relationships, it’s wise to avoid spending it all at once. Keeping some in reserve can be beneficial for unexpected situations. For example, having ample Influence can be crucial for War Support, so it’s a good strategy to save it up before engaging in conflict.
Using Espionage in Civilization 7 Diplomacy
Espionage operates differently from other diplomatic actions as it takes a random number of turns to complete at the cost of some Influence. If successful, you’ll receive rewards once the action is finished. Upon initiating an Espionage action, the targeted nation isn’t informed upfront, but there’s a chance they may uncover your intention later. If they do, you’ll face a penalty to your Influence gains per turn, and your relationship with that civilization will suffer.
All players can employ Counterspy against rival leaders, which can significantly increase the time it takes for their Espionage actions to complete and lower their success rate. While engaging in Espionage, it’s crucial to monitor your own Influence. A rapid decrease in your Influence might indicate that another player is using Counterspy against you.
Befriending Independent Powers in Civilization 7 Diplomacy
While playing Civilization 7, you’ll navigate diplomatic relationships with major leaders as well as smaller nations known as Independent Powers. These powers typically consist of a single City State and various units that roam the map. Independent Powers can either view you as Friendly or Hostile, but you can still take control of their city regardless of their stance.
To befriend an Independent Power, move toward their city and select the option to “Befriend Independent.” This will require some Influence to start the process. Once initiated, you’ll have to wait several turns to become the Suzerain of that City State, which will grant you rewards, such as establishing a trade route between this City State and your empire.
Be cautious of other civilizations that might also try to befriend the Independent Power. Multiple players can claim suzerainty over a City State, but only one can actually hold the title at a time. You can utilize your Influence to speed up the befriending process and gain the upper hand over other leaders.
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