Civilization V: Economic Victory Guide

Understanding Economic Victory Conditions#

In Civilization V, nailing the economic aspect is more than just piling up gold—it’s about managing resources, trade, and diplomacy effectively. Although there isn’t a specific ‘Economic Victory’ condition like in some other Civ games, mastering your economy gives you a massive edge toward other victory types like Diplomatic or Science Victory. Here’s a breakdown of key strategies to get your civilization rolling in gold and resources.

1. Building a Strong Economy From the Ground Up#

City Placement: When founding new cities, location is everything. Prioritize spots with access to luxury resources (like Gold, Silver, and Gems) and strategic resources (Iron, Horses). Coastal cities are gold mines due to trade opportunities, so don’t neglect those shores!

Early Game Buildings: Start with essential economic buildings like Granaries and Markets. Granaries boost food production, meaning faster population growth, which equals more working citizens. Markets, unlocked with Currency, increase gold output directly.

2. Trade Routes Are Your Best Friends#

Domestic and International Trade#

Trade routes can be a game-changer. Use Caravans and Cargo Ships to establish trade routes with other civilizations or your own cities. International routes often provide more gold, but don’t ignore domestic routes—they can support your smaller cities and help them grow.

Strategic Partners#

Partner with city-states and other civs, especially those with different resources. Focus on trading luxury resources to keep your citizens happy and productive. Always aim to have a diverse economy and avoid one-trick-pony strategies.

3. Keep Your Treasury Full#

Economy Boosting Wonders#

Wonders like the Colossus and the Great Zimbabwe provide significant gold boosts and additional trade opportunities. Target these if you’re aiming to dominate economically.

Taxes and Policies#

Adopting economic social policies is essential. Policies in the Commerce and Rationalism trees can supercharge your economy—Commerce is all about enhancing gold production, while Rationalism boosts science and indirectly supports economic growth through research efficiency.

4. Diplomacy and City-States#

City-State Relationships#

Befriending or allying with city-states can provide you with crucial resources, extra units, and other benefits. Aim to keep a few key city-states on your good side. Use gold to influence their favor and secure these allies.

Gold in Diplomacy#

Use your excess gold to bribe or entice other civilizations into favorable deals or to avoid wars. Diplomacy guided by gold can keep your civilization stable and prosperous.

5. Managing Expenses#

Unit and Building Maintenance#

Keep an eye on your expenses. Sustaining too many units or unnecessary buildings can drain your funds. Disband outdated units and avoid constructing buildings that don’t directly benefit your current strategy.

Balancing Act#

It’s crucial to strike a balance between expanding your empire and maintaining healthy finances. Too many cities can lead to high maintenance costs, so grow at a sustainable pace.

6. Science as an Economic Catalyst#

Research Agreements#

These are deals you can make with other civs that boost scientific research after a set amount of time, generating mutual benefits and often resulting in economic perks.

Technological Advancements#

Prioritize techs that boost economic buildings—Banking, Economics, and Railroad are essential. The better your tech, the more efficient your economy.

Conclusion#

Mastering your economy in Civilization V isn’t just about hoarding gold—it’s about strategic city placement, smart use of trade routes, leveraging policies, and effective diplomacy. By creating a robust economic foundation, you fortify your path toward various victory conditions. Keep an eye on your finances, ally wisely, and let your gold work for you. In no time, you’ll be turning your civilization into a thriving, unstoppable empire.

Need more tips? Check out our section on Science Victory for a deep dive on how technology can propel your civilization to greatness!

Managing Gold and Trade in Civilization V#

When it comes to Civilization V, having a strong economy can make or break your quest for victory. Gold isn’t just shiny; it’s your ticket to building armies, advancing tech, and even bribing other leaders. Let’s dive into how to master the art of managing gold and trade in this timeless strategy game.

City Management#

Your main source of gold will be your cities. Here’s how to ensure they’re pumping out those precious coins:

Building Priorities: Start with Markets and Banks. These increase your gold output significantly. As your cities grow, add Stock Exchanges and National Treasury if you can.
Tile Improvements: Assign citizens to Gold-focused tiles like those with Trading Posts. Also, make sure you improve luxury resources like Gold or Gems.
Specialist Slots: Markets, Banks, and Stock Exchanges provide Merchant Specialist Slots. Merchants increase your gold output further and can generate Great Merchants over time, who can conduct valuable trade missions.

Trade Routes#

Trade routes are your gold mine, and you should be strategic about where and who you trade with.

Types of Trade Routes: There are two types in the game: Land and Sea. Sea routes generally offer more gold, so prioritize them when you can. Harbors and Seaports will be your allies here.
Internal vs. International: Internal routes boost food and production, which can be helpful, but international routes are where the gold’s at. Trading with wealthy or allied cities nets you more gold.
Caravans and Cargo Ships: Max out these units depending on your focus. Keep an eye on potential routes and update your trades regularly for maximum benefit.
Diplomatic Relations: Always maintain good relationships with other civilizations. Friendly civs often give better trade deals and are less likely to disrupt your trade routes.

Economical Policies#

Certain social policies and ideologies can significantly boost your wealth. Choose wisely as they shape your civilization’s economic future.

Commerce Policy Tree: Unlocking this early gives immediate gold benefits. Policies like Trade Unions (reduces road maintenance) and Mercantilism (increases gold from buildings) are game-changers.
Freedom Ideology: If you prefer a more democratic approach, Freedom offers policies like Capitalism which boosts gold output for cities with specialists.
Autocracy and Order: These ideologies generally favor militaristic and production bonuses but can still be helpful with policies like Futurism (Order) if you aim for a cultural victory with lots of gold to support your efforts.

City-State Relations#

City-states are excellent sources of gold, but it takes a bit of political maneuvering.

Alliances: Becoming Allies with mercantile city-states grants regular gold tributes. Focus on securing these alliances first.
Gold Gifts: If you have the funds, gifting gold to city-states can solidify alliances quickly. Use this to secure crucial city-states that other civilizations are targeting.
Quests and Competitions: Complete city-state quests and participate in World Congress competitions to earn favor without spending too much.

Additional Tips#

Resource Management: Ensure you’re selling excess resources. Keep an eye on the resources other civilizations need and trade wisely.
Avoid Unnecessary Expenses: Monitor your military and city maintenance costs. Disband outdated units and avoid building unnecessary improvements.
Save for Rainy Days: Like in real life, saving gold for emergencies, like when an aggressive neighbor declares war, is a smart move.

Gold might not win you the game outright, but it’s the fuel that can power your civilization to milestones others can’t reach. Happy trading, and may your coffers overflow!

Building Wealthy Cities in Civilization V: The Ultimate Economic Guide#

So, you want to build the richest cities in Civilization V? Smart move! Wealthy cities can bankroll your empire, allowing you to grow faster, field massive armies, and bribe your way to diplomatic victories. Here’s how to make your cities trailblazers of prosperity.

Location, Location, Location#

First things first: choose your city sites wisely. The best spots for rich cities are near rivers and coastal tiles. Rivers give extra Gold with the Trading Post improvement and coastal tiles allow for lucrative Harbor and Seaport buildings. Settling near luxuries like Gold, Silver, and Gems adds bonus gold right from the start!

City Management 101#

Next up, let’s talk about what to build. Starting with the basics:

Trading Posts: These are your bread and butter. Build them on flatlands instead of farms. Later, they become Gold mines!
Markets, Banks, and Stock Exchanges: Essential buildings that multiply your gold output. Prioritize these in cities with high populations or lots of trade routes.

For even better results, focus on Great Person improvements:

Great Merchants: Use their trade missions to city-states for quick cash infusions or build Customs Houses for steady gold.

Wonders Make You Wonderfully Rich#

Certain wonders can turn your city into a gold powerhouse. Here’s a quick rundown of the key ones:

Colossus: Adds an extra trade route and gives harbor cities extra gold.
Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: Every time you expend a Great Person, you get bonus gold.
Petra: If you have a city in a desert with floodplains, this can be game-changing. Every desert tile (even those without resources) gets extra gold.

Trade Routes: The Gold Rush#

Trade routes are some of the biggest gold generators. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Internal vs. External Trade Routes: External routes (to city-states or other civilizations) usually give more gold. They’re riskier because they can be plundered, but the payoff is often worth it.
Buildings That Boost Trade: The Caravansary and Harbor increase the value of trade routes, so always build these in your trade hub cities.

Investing in the right policies can skyrocket your wealth. Here are some to focus on:

Commerce Tree: This is a no-brainer for a gold-centric strategy. Every perk in this tree directly or indirectly boosts your gold.
Freedom Ideology: Choose “Capitalism” for reduced gold maintenance or “Economic Union” for better trade routes.

Diplomatic Deals#

Don’t forget diplomacy. Trading excess resources, luxury goods, and strategic resources with other civilizations can give you significant gold boosts. Always be on the lookout for good deals.

Golden Ages#

Golden Ages are periods when your empire generates extra gold. To maximize your gains:

Triggering Golden Ages: Use Great Artists or accumulate enough happiness.
Maximizing Output: Time your Golden Ages to occur when you have a lot of trade routes, markets, and banks. This will multiply the gold effect.

Keeping It All Secure#

Finally, remember to defend your wealth. Rich cities are prime targets for enemies. Invest in a solid military for protection or build defensive structures like walls and castles to buffer your defenses.

By following these tips, your cities will sparkle with wealth, allowing you to out-economy everyone on the map. Just remember: more gold equals more power, more growth, and more chances of winning the game. Now get out there and make that dough! 🤑

Need help with other aspects of Civilization V? Check out our full guide here for more awesome strategies!

Using Great Merchants and Trade Routes#

Civilization V is all about making smart choices to steer your civilization towards dominance. And if you’re looking to win without resorting to outright war, you’ll need to get acquainted with Great Merchants and Trade Routes. These economic tools can give your civ a serious edge when it comes to making money and keeping your people happy. Let’s break it down.

Great Merchants: More Than Just Moneybags#

Great Merchants are powerful units that emerge from your cities when you generate enough Great Person Points in the economic category. You can generate these points by building specific wonders, buildings like the Market or Bank, and by appointing specialists in the Merchant slots of specific buildings.

Great Merchants can do a couple of really incredible things:

1. Conduct a Trade Mission:
Sending a Great Merchant to a city-state and conducting a Trade Mission there gives you a huge sum of gold and increases your influence with that city-state. This can be a game-changer if you need a quick cash boost or want to sway city-states to your side.

2. Construct a Customs House:
Using a Great Merchant to build a Customs House on a tile near one of your cities will increase the gold yield of that tile significantly. This can help improve your gold per turn, especially if you have several Customs Houses spread across your empire.

Pro Tip: Make sure to protect your Great Merchants on their journey to city-states. Armies of barbarians or rival civs can easily snatch them if you’re not careful.

Setting Up Trade Routes: The Backbone of Your Economy#

Now, let’s talk about Trade Routes. This is where you’ll see your gold reserves swell and your cities hum with prosperity. Here’s how to make the most out of them:

1. Internal Trade Routes:
These are trade routes you set up between your own cities. They’re especially useful in two scenarios: boosting food supplies to grow a city faster or increasing production to speed up building projects. If you have a burgeoning city that’s lagging behind in development, an internal trade route can be a real lifesaver.

2. External Trade Routes:
Trade with other civilizations or city-states to earn gold, science, and a little diplomacy. Picking your trade partners is strategic:

Trade with rich, peaceful civs: They’re less likely to plunder your routes, and they often have the best goods.
Trade with city-states: Boosts your influence and can affect their allegiance.
Consider religious pressure: If you’re pushing your religion, trade routes can help spread your faith faster.

Figuring Out the Best Trades#

Distance and Safety: Longer routes can offer more gold but are riskier. Make sure you’ve got a secure path.
Resources: Trade routes with civs offering unique resources can improve your happiness levels.
Frequency: Establish high-frequency trading with a few key partners rather than scattering trades everywhere.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on potential dangers like rival military units or barbarians when setting your routes. Plundered trade routes can disrupt your economy badly.

Diplomatic Considerations#

Managing your trade routes involves more than just logistics; diplomacy plays a big part too. Friendly or neutral civs are generally safer trade partners. Be cautious when trading with civs that are at odds with your allies, as this can impact your diplomatic standing.

Wrapping Up#

Great Merchants and Trade Routes are crucial tools in Civilization V. They enable you to build a robust economy that can sustain your civilization through tough times and help you achieve peaceful dominance. By making strategic choices about where your Great Merchants go and who you trade with, you can tilt the game in your favor without needing to fire a single shot. Happy trading!

Tips for Achieving Economic Victory#

Achieving an Economic Victory in Civilization V means becoming an unstoppable financial powerhouse. This strategy isn’t just about having loads of money; it’s about wielding that wealth to influence, trade, and, ultimately, dominate other civilizations. Here’s how you can pile up gold and rule the world—one deal at a time.

Choose the Right Civilization#

First things first: pick a civ that’s built for making money. Here are some solid options:

Arabia: With their Bazaar, you’ll get double the luxury resources and an extra boost to trade routes.
Venice: They have a unique ability to buy City-States outright, effectively expanding your economy without the need for conquest.

Focus on Gold-Producing Buildings#

To keep that gold flowing, prioritize building structures that boost your economy:

Market: Increases gold in city tiles.
Bank: Gives a bigger gold boost and increases wealth.
Stock Exchange: For an even larger gold increase.
Mint: Especially valuable in cities with gold or silver, providing a nice jump in gold production.

Expand Wisely#

More cities mean more opportunities for wealth but only if you can manage the upkeep. Keep these tips in mind:

Location, Location, Location: Found your cities near rich resources and trade routes.
City Focus: Cities should specialize—some should focus purely on gold by building all the gold-producing buildings and wonders.

Trade Routes are Your Best Friends#

Trade routes can make or break your economic success. Here’s how to maximize their potential:

International Trade: Send trade routes to neighboring civilizations for maximum gold.
Internal Trade: Use these to boost food and production in developing cities.
Naval Trade Routes: Coastal cities are perfect launching points for lucrative sea-based trade.

Utilize City-States for Extra Gold#

Don’t underestimate City-States in your grand economic plan:

Befriend Them: Use your gold to become allies with City-States, which in return, give you gold, resources, or even more trade opportunities.
Mercantile City-States: Prioritize these as they’ll provide a direct gold boost.

World Wonders for Economic Domination#

Building certain wonders can provide unique benefits and set you ahead in the money game:

The Colossus: Provides an extra trade route and bonus gold.
Petra: This wonder is essential if you have a desert city as it supercharges its gold production.
Big Ben: Reduces the gold cost of purchasing items, saving you a ton of money in the long run.

Policy Prioritization#

Certain social policies can significantly enhance your economic strategy:

Tradition Tree: Particularly the policy ‘Landed Elite’ for helping city growth and, indirectly, gold production.
Commerce Tree: This is critical for any economic victory. Focus on the policies that boost gold and reduce maintenance costs.

Stay on Good Terms with Other Civs#

Having good relationships with other civilizations will keep your trade routes safe and fruitful:

Trade Agreements: Regularly trade luxury resources to keep everyone happy and rake in gold.
Avoid War: Conflict disrupts trade routes and costs money—keep the peace to keep the cash flowing.

Keep Innovation Close to Heart#

Technological advancement contributes massively to your economy:

Techs like ‘Banking’ and ‘Economics’ unlock key buildings and opportunities.
Research Agreements: Collaborate with other civs to advance faster and unlock more economic benefits.

With these strategies, you’re well on your way to a prosperous empire that dominates the world market. Remember to keep an eye on your resources, maintain good international relationships, and never stop growing your wealth. Victory through economic might is not just about having the most gold—it’s about knowing how to use it. Go forth and let your treasury overflow!

Happy Civ-ing!