As a grand-strategy game, players ofCivilization 6will need to optimize every resource on the map to gain an advantage over their opponents. Those resources can include both Unique and Luxury bonuses, terrain modifiers, natural wonders, and of course, city-states.
In some cases, players are not too interested in closely following the city-states' politics and what advantages they bring when the player becomes a suzerain for a city-state. This can prove to be fatal as they might miss the positive flow of diplomatic favor after being a suzerain, and the unique bonuses that each city-state brings to their civilization.
10Kabul
Enables Quick Unit Promotions & Strengthens Offensive And Defensive Capability
As the backbone of a civilization, military units are very important to eithersafeguard a city from barbariansor even storm a civilization’s city. Each unit has its own specified types to either rout other units or lay siege to a city with ease, such as Catapults. Moreover, each unit also has its own promotions type.
By being a suzerain to Kabul, players can promote their units quicker than usual with double experience from the battles they initiate. Players who are looking to win the map with a Domination victory type will appreciate this, as they will need their units to be at their best with the maximum promotions possible.
9Auckland
Create Huge Coastal Cities With Its Massive Bonuses
When playing on a map dominated by coast tiles, Auckland shines the most as one of the most contested city-states on that map. Its bonuses are massive enough that players might go as far as to protect the city-state by destroying other civilizations near the city-state.
The additional production boosts shallow water tiles such as coasts and lakes by +1, which when coupled with improvements and a Shipyard, will grow immensely. Although the city-states might not be too contested in maps with huge landmass, Auckland is still strong enough to warrant enough attention fromCivilization 6players.
8Akkad
Perfect For Warmongering Civilizations Aiming To Knock Down Cities Early
Civilizations with warmongering tendencies will find this city-state indispensable for them as it allows them to have units capable of taking down walls without Siege Towers, or even a Catapult in the early game. With a simple 2-3 Swordsman, players will be able to take cities even with Medieval Walls, should they suzerain this city-state.
If a player succeeded in being a suzerain to this particular city-state, their melee units would be able to do full damage to a city’s walls without any extra help needed. This will enable the player to take down even the most fortified citiesduring all stages of the game.
7Brussels
Hotly Contested Among Civilizations Aiming To Rush Wonders
World Wonders are naturally competitive as they provide huge bonuses and are only able to be built by one player per game. Certain civilizations might have an edge while building wonders, but Brussels in particular will provide a huge boon to players who wish to build a wonder without getting worried about being overtaken by other civilizations in the game.
Due to its unique ability, players can expect Brussels to be highly contested among other civilizations, especially during multiplayer.A considerable amount of envoysmight be needed to be a suzerain of this city-state.
6Bologna
Provides Valuable Great Person Points To Ensure Advantages
Players ofCivilization 6would do well to not ignore Great Persons in the game, as it hugely boosts their chance of winning the game due to the bonuses that a Great Person could give. For example, a Great Person would be able to instantly build a wonder or even add bonus sciences to the city.
Therefore, becoming Bologna’s suzerain can be trickyas other playerswill also want the bonuses themselves as well. Moreover, the Great Person point is not only limited to one type, but all the types including Great Artists and Great Musicians alike.
5Johannesburg
Boosts Production Towards Cities With Any Resources, Making It A Powerhouse
Naturally, players will prefer to settle their cities near resources, be it luxury, strategic, or even bonus resources. These resources by themselves will give huge bonuses to the cities. After being a suzerain to Johannesburg, the bonus will be even higher by its positive production modifiers for every improved resource type.
For example, a city with 4 types of resources in their workable tiles will receive a huge +4 Production, increasing to +8 Production after researching Industrialization. These bonuses make Johannesburg one of the most contested city-states in the game.
4Yerevan
Important For Every Civilization That Wishes To Strengthen Its Religion
Religion is one of the most important aspects for players to focus on in a game ofCivilization 6, especially ifthey are aiming for a Religious Victory, which requires them to have a religion pre-dominant against all other civilizations. Being a suzerain to Yerevan will aid the players in doing so.
Moreover, by being able to choose any possible promotion for Apostles, players will be able to defend their cities from conversions as well, even if they are not aiming for a Religious Victory. It is almost guaranteed for a player to need numerous Envoys to be able to compete with other civilizations for Yerevan’s suzerainty.
3Zanzibar
Hotly Contested For Its Amenities-Boosting Bonuses
Amenities are king in everyCivilization 6game, especially in higher difficulties, due to reduced amenities modifier for each player’s civilization, excluding the AIs. By having positive or even overflowing amenities, players will be granted positive modifiers to their cities, such as higher Productionand faster citizen growth.
Therefore, the coveted 6 amenities provided by Cinnamon and Cloves by Zanzibar are very important to get in every game should they be available. Therefore, it might be worth it for a player to ‘bank’ their envoys in case they encounter Zanzibar in the later stages of the game to instantly become their suzerain.
2Geneva
Flat Science Bonuses For Every City, Ensuring Technological Advantage
Although it is limited by its peace modifier, even warmonger civilizations will find Geneva quite beneficial for them, as they can use the peace downtime to build up their technology. The flat 15% Science bonuses for all cities are huge enough to warrant a peace-time for warmongers to stock up their assault units and catch up technology-wise.
However, players can expect stiff competition, as Geneva is generally one of the most hotly contested city-states in the game. Stocking up on envoysor through espionage are some of the optionsthat a player can take to take suzerainty of the esteemed city-state.
1Kumasi
Although the bonuses of Kumasi might appear to be low, the bonus cultures and gold will snowball into victories for players who are capable of using the modifier properly. Culture and gold bonuses that the player can gain for every trade route based on the player’s specialty district means that the player is able to use their biggest cities to gain a huge amount of culture and gold.
With these bonuses, the player can focus on science instead, as they are capable of defending by simply using the huge gold modifier and gaining civics with the bonus culture as well.
