Rome is one of the strongest and most versatile civilizations in Civilization VI, offering powerful early-game advantages and flexible victory paths. This guide will walk you through Rome’s unique abilities, early strategies, mid-game transitions, advanced tactics, and common pitfalls—whether you’re aiming for domination, science, or culture.

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Rome’s Unique Abilities

1. All Roads Lead to Rome
Automatically builds roads between your capital and any new or conquered cities (if within trade route range).
Benefits:

• Faster military reinforcement and unit movement
• Early trader yields
• Reduced infrastructure setup time

2. Trajan’s Column
All cities start with a free Monument (+2 Culture per turn).
Impact:

• Accelerates early Civic progress
• Quickly unlocks key policies like Colonization, Agoge, and Oligarchy

3. Unique Unit: Legion
A powerful classical-era unit replacing the Swordsman (40 Combat Strength) that can also build forts.
Advantages:

• Strongest classical unit
• Pairs well with Oligarchy (+4 Combat Strength) and great generals
• Affordable iron cost and upgrade path

4. Unique District: Bath
Replaces the Aqueduct, providing:

• +2 Housing
• +1 Amenity (more with geothermal fissures)
  Note: Often overlooked but great for growing large cities

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Early Game Strategy

Tech & Civic Beelines:

• Iron Working (for Legions)
• Masonry (for Battering Rams)
• Writing (if campuses are feasible)
• Political Philosophy: Unlocks Oligarchy for early military dominance
• Colonization and Agoge: Boost Settler and unit production

Build Order Example:

1. Scout → Settler → Settler
2. Encampment in capital
3. Train Warriors → Upgrade to Legions
4. Use Encampment Training to generate great general points

Expansion Tips:

• Prioritize settling near Iron
• Push early conquest with 4–5 Legions and a Battering Ram
• Use Comandante Generals (unique to Bolívar but replace with great generals if needed)

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Mid-Game Transition

Military Conquest:

• Use Legions and rams to sweep neighboring civs
• Promote Legions with Battle Cry for +7 Combat Strength
• Rotate and heal units efficiently to maintain offensive pressure

Economic Setup:

• Build Campuses and Monuments in conquered cities
• Use early conquest gold and production to fuel infrastructure growth

Victory Flexibility:

• Domination: Continue conquests into the medieval and renaissance
• Science: Use your strong empire to rush campuses and research labs
• Culture: Leverage free Monuments and Theater Squares for early influence

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Advanced Strategies

Crusade Rome

• Adopt the Crusade belief (+10 Combat Strength near converted cities)
• Great synergy with early religious plays and Legions
• Pair with Void Singers for Obelisk-based Faith snowballing

Faith Economy with Void Singers + Grand Master’s Chapel

• Obelisks generate Faith from free Monuments
• Buy military units with Faith via Grand Master’s Chapel

Culture Victory Route (“Italian Renaissance”)

• Expand rapidly, settle new cities
• Stack Theater Squares and wonders like Colosseum
• Use Monument spam to dominate Civics Tree

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Best Wonders for Rome

1. Terracotta Army – Free promotions and Great General points
2. Colosseum – Extra Culture and Amenities in a wide radius
3. Jebel Barkal – +6 Iron per turn, synergizing with early Legion rush

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Ideal Governments

• Oligarchy (Tier 1): +4 Combat Strength, ideal for early conquest
• Merchant Republic (Tier 2): Extra gold and trade routes
• Fascism (Tier 3): +5 Combat Strength, great for late-game wars

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Delaying Iron Working – Rush this tech; Legions are your backbone
2. Ignoring Ranged Support – Use Archers to weaken walls and support melee units
3. Forgetting Promotions – Promoted Legions stay relevant for several eras

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Multiplayer Tips

• Use your early Cultural lead to reach Oligarchy before opponents
• Get a Great General ASAP for unstoppable Legion armies
• Overwhelm slower civs before they can build proper defenses

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Conclusion

Rome’s unique strengths—free Monuments, powerful Legions, and early infrastructure—make it one of the easiest civilizations to dominate with in Civilization VI. Whether your goal is domination, science, or cultural victory, mastering the early game with Rome gives you a massive edge.

Let me know what civilization guide you’d like next—Vikings, Japan, or something more off-meta?