Anno 1800 is a game of strategy, expansion, and resource management, where influence plays a pivotal role in shaping your empire. Influence determines your ability to build ships, settle islands, construct Trade Unions, Town Halls, and Harbor Masters, and even engage in propaganda. This guide will break down how influence works, how to gain it, and the best strategies for managing it effectively.

Understanding Influence: The Foundation of Your Empire

At its core, influence is a resource that controls many aspects of the game. From military might to cultural expansion, influence dictates how you interact with the world. Players start with a base amount of approximately 125 influence, which increases as your population grows. Influence is spent on various aspects of your empire, including:

• Ships and Military Fleets – Used to dominate the seas and control trade routes.
• Island Shares and Settlements – Essential for expanding your empire.
• Trade Unions, Town Halls, and Harbor Masters – These provide crucial economic and logistical boosts.
• Cultural Modules – Including zoos, museums, and botanical gardens.
• Propaganda – Used to manipulate public sentiment, increasing productivity or preventing revolts.

Gaining Influence: Building a Stronger Empire

Gaining influence in Anno 1800 is primarily tied to population growth. As your global population increases, so does your influence.

Population Milestones

• Every 800 new citizens grant additional influence.
• Upgrading from Engineers to Investors significantly boosts influence.
• Skyscrapers (introduced in DLCs) also contribute small amounts of influence.

For a player focused on rapid expansion, the best approach is to continue growing your population while upgrading residents to higher tiers. Investors, in particular, provide a significant influence boost, making them a key focus in the late game.

Propaganda: To Use or Not to Use?

Players can use propaganda in the newspaper system to manipulate public sentiment. However, its utility varies based on playstyle. While some players prefer to use influence to increase workforce efficiency and maintain public order, others avoid it entirely.

If you prefer military dominance or expansion, your influence might be better spent on ships and conquering islands rather than on propaganda. However, for players aiming for economic or cultural supremacy, propaganda can be a useful tool for maintaining stability and maximizing productivity.

Military vs. Cultural Influence

Influence allocation differs based on playstyle. Here are two main strategies:

1. Military Expansion

• Use influence on ships to dominate AI opponents and expand your control over trade routes.
• Secure islands early to prevent AI from establishing a foothold.
• Build a navy to protect against pirate threats and AI aggression.
• Conquer AI settlements using military fleets if needed.

2. Cultural Expansion

• Invest in zoos, museums, and botanical gardens, which consume influence but provide tourism benefits and aesthetic appeal.
• Utilize policies from the Palace (DLC required) to regain influence for each cultural module built.
• Focus on attractiveness to boost your city’s prestige.

The Role of DLCs in Influence Management

If you have Anno 1800’s DLCs, influence management becomes even more dynamic. Here’s how some of the most impactful DLCs help with influence:

• Seat of Power DLC – Allows policies that reduce influence costs for cultural modules, effectively making them free.
• High Life DLC – Introduces skyscrapers, which boost influence generation as they are upgraded.
• New World Rising DLC – Adds stadiums that periodically grant free influence through world championship events.

For players struggling with influence, acquiring these DLCs can provide significant advantages.

Early Game Strategy: Conquering Islands

One of the best early-game strategies is rapid island acquisition. If you’re playing with AI opponents, securing key islands early prevents them from gaining a foothold. In areas like the Arctic and the New World, settling all available islands first ensures exclusive control over resources and reduces competition.

Late Game Influence Strategies

As you progress into the late game, influence needs shift from expansion to optimization. Here’s how to efficiently manage it:

• Use commuter piers (unlocked at the Engineer level) to maximize labor distribution across islands.
• Switch to investor-tier population growth for steady influence gains.
• Utilize DLC bonuses like the stadium in New World Rising to generate extra influence over time.
• Consider island takeovers using military or economic means to secure more territory.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Influence in Your Empire

Influence is one of the most critical resources in Anno 1800, shaping your playstyle and strategic decisions. Whether you focus on military dominance, economic prosperity, or cultural expansion, efficiently managing influence can make or break your empire. By balancing population growth, wise spending, and strategic expansion, you can ensure that your empire thrives in both the short and long term.

If you have additional tips on maximizing influence, share them in the comments! Happy city-building, and may your empire flourish!