Civilization 6: Difficulty Levels, Explained

Civilization VI, the sixth main-line entry in the beloved turn-based strategy game series, has a lot to offer players in terms of strategic thinking, military gameplay, and even diplomacy. Although it has a strong and thriving multiplayer community, much of the strength of Civilization VI comes from its single-player mode thanks to its addicting 'just one more turn' style of gameplay. The single-player mode includes eight different difficulty levels, so there's something for players of every skill level. This means it's relatively easy to find the difficulty mode which matches the skill level of a given player so that everyone can have fun.

Related

Civilization 6: 23 Tips On How To Get A Domination Victory

The domination victory in Civ 6 is the easiest to understand, but that doesn't mean it's not challenging - these tips will help gamers win the war.

Posts

In the Civilization franchise, difficulty modes can have a massive impact on games, granting various bonuses or disadvantages to players or AI depending on the difficulty chosen. The main way the game modes in Civilization VI do this is by altering the values in four main categories - resource boosts, combat modifiers, research boosts, and starting units. Higher difficulty settings give more bonuses to the AI, while lower difficulty settings give bonuses to the player. Let's take a more in-depth look.

Settler

Easiest Mode

Settler mode is the easiest of the eight difficulty levels, perfect for absolute newcomers to the Civilization franchise. This difficulty setting makes it so the AI receives few to no bonuses in each category. On top of this, AI is actively hindered as well.

The AI's units receive -1 Combat Strength while players get +3, along with a hefty +45% bonus to their XP generation.

Chieftain

Easy Mode

In Chieftain, the disadvantages to the AI are lessened compared to Settler, giving it slightly better chances of standing up to the player.

Here, players get a Combat Strength advantage of +2 instead of a bonus of +3. However, for newer players used to the bonuses given in the Settler difficulty level, this can be a big step up.

Warlord

For a More Experienced Novice

The Warlord difficulty level is where the playing field starts to even out. Although the player still gets bonuses, they're not as advantageous compared to lower difficulties (+1 Combat Strength and +15% bonus XP.)

The decrease in bonus XP means that human players can expect units to be promoted less often. However, when playing at Warlord difficulty, the AI still doesn't receive bonuses for resource production or research.

Prince

Standard Difficulty

Prince difficulty level is where the challenge, and the rewards, start to ramp up. Although AI players in the Prince difficulty mode don't receive any bonuses to resource production or combat values, neither does the player, so it's a balanced ground for both.

Related

Civilization 6: 7 Scariest AI Civilization To Play Against

These AI Civilizations can become a nightmare to deal with for players of Civilization 6.

Posts

By  Evan Arnoldi Sebayang

Players looking for a good balance between the challenge and fun of playing, with losing being a real possibility, should consider setting their game to Prince difficult when setting up a game in Civilization 6.

King

Challenging

The first of the four higher difficulty levels, King is significantly more challenging because the AI receives impressive bonuses to resource production.

On top of that, AI players receive a +15% bonus to unit XP gain as well as research bonuses. They will also start the game with 2 Warriors, increased from 1 Warrior in easier difficulties, as well as 1 free Builder after constructing their first district.

Emperor

Hard Mode

Emperor difficulty is a real challenge, as it gives the AI +2 Combat Bonus and a +30% boost to XP. It also gives them more starting units as well, with a massive 3 Warriors, 2 Settlers (up from 1 in previous modes), and 1 free Builder from the get-go.

These are powerful bonuses that will be difficult to keep up with without a dedicated plan.

Immortal

Very Hard Mode

In Immortal difficulty, the AI receives many more bonuses all around, and some of them are quite significant. Immortal is meant to be a very difficult mode to play, so the player gets nothing in the way of bonuses.

In Immortal, the AI gets 4 free Warrior units, 2 free Settlers, and 2 free Builders to start the game, on top of a +3 Combat Bonus and a +40% XP gain. This is an extremely hard difficulty setting.

Deity

God-Level Difficulty

Deity is the hardest difficulty in the game. It's the ultimate Civilization VI challenge. With absolutely massive bonuses to everything, the Deity-level AI is an economic powerhouse. But they also start with a lot of free stuff, such as 5 free Warrior units, 3 free Settlers, and 2 free Builders

With the huge bonuses the AI gets in Deity level difficulty, it's a proper challenge worthy of the name. This mode is recommended for only the most experienced Civilization VI players, people who have little to no challenge on the harder difficulties.

Difficulty Level Bonuses

Here are the bonuses that the AI and the player will receive for each difficulty setting:

Source: Fandom

Rating block community and brand ratings Image

Sid Meier's Civilization 6

Display card tags widget Display card system widget

Display card community and brand rating widget

Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget

Released

October 21, 2016

Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

• 
• 
• 

Where to play

Close

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

PHYSICAL

• 
• 
• 

Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB

E10+ for Everyone 10+: Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes

Developer(s)

Firaxis Games

Publisher(s)

2K Games

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op

Franchise

Civilization

Number of Players

1-6

Platform(s)

PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Android, iOS

Genre(s)

Strategy

How Long To Beat

23 Hours

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Powered by

Expand Collapse