In Civilization 7, the Civics Tree gives players access to tons of useful Diplomatic Actions that gamers can use to improve or worsen their relationships with other players in the game. While some Civics unlock friendly Endeavors, others give players access to unpleasant Sanctions and Espionage options.

Civ 7 Trade Route Guide Trader Merchant
Civilization 7: Trade Routes, Explained

To set up Trade Routes, Civ 7 players must first get a Merchant and follow a new process to establish Trade with another Leader.

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It's important to know how to counter espionage in Civilization 7, as opponents will use it to steal Technologies, give them advantages during Wars, and reveal precious information that can make it easier to win the game. This guide shows gamers how to Counter Spy in Civ 7 so they can protect themselves against shady enemies.

How to Prevent Espionage in Civilization 7

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In Civilization 7, players can spend Influence to send spies to gather or steal information from other Civilizations. However, when they do this, the Reveal Chances are often quite high, but if they don't protect themselves, they will only become aware that they were targeted after they've suffered an espionage attack. Thankfully, there are measures that players can take to prevent espionage from happening.

To prevent espionage in Civ 7, gamers must study the Counter Spy Technology and issue a Diplomatic Counter Spy Action against the Leader they find most likely to send spies to infiltrate their Settlements.

How to Unlock Counter Spy in Civilization 7

Counter Spy is a Diplomatic Action option that can be studied in the Exploration Age Civics Tree. To unlock the Counter Spy ability in Civ 7, players must study the Authority Civic, which becomes available after the Piety Civic is unlocked.

Once Authority is obtained, gamers can start protecting themselves against potential spies. To Counter Spy in Civilization 7, players must first open the Radial Menu and select a Leader. Then, in the Espionage section, they will notice the "Counter Spy" option, which they can select to begin running this Action.

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  • Counter spying lasts 20 turns, and it costs 80 Influence in the Exploration Age and 120 Influence in the Modern Age. Players can only issue a Counter Spy Action against one player at a time, so they must think long and hard about who is most likely to target them.

If a player runs a Counter Spy Action against another Leader, it will triple the amount of time it takes to complete an espionage action, increase how the cost of Influence per turn, make it more likely for it to be revealed, and decrease the success rate of the mission.

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Sid Meier's Civilization VII Tag Page Cover Art
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
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9 /10
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Released
February 11, 2025
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Publisher(s)
2K
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
Yes - all platforms, restrictions apply
Cross Save
Yes, via 2K account
Franchise
Sid Meier's Civilization
Number of Players
1-8 players
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
PC Release Date
February 11, 2025
Xbox Series X|S Release Date
February 11, 2025
PS5 Release Date
February 11, 2025
Nintendo Switch Release Date
February 11, 2025
Genre(s)
Grand Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy, 4X
X|S Optimized
Yes
Local Co-Op Support
No
OpenCritic Rating
Strong
Sid Meier's Civilization VII Press Image 1
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