Settler timing is one of the most crucial elements of a successful Civilization VI campaign. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran—especially if you’re using the Better Balanced Game (BBG) mod—this guide covers the optimal windows for settler production, including benchmarks, decision-making scenarios, and advanced strategies to expand your empire efficiently.

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Early Game Settler Strategy

Default Build Order

• Start with two Scouts, followed by two Settlers in your capital.
• After your initial settlers, transition to a district, monument, or builder, depending on your terrain and civ bonuses.

Settler Cost Scaling

Settler production cost increases by 37.5% per settler trained:

• 2nd Settler = +37.5% cost
• 3rd Settler = +75% cost
• Captured cities or settlers do not raise the production cost.

Pro tip: Settlers that are lost or captured still count toward scaling—so protect them!

Wait for Colonization Policy

Unlock the Colonization card from the Early Empire civic. It provides +50% production toward settlers, making it far more efficient to produce them after this milestone.

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When to Make Settlers: Civ-Specific Scenarios

1. Nubia – Builder & Monument Focus

• Plan: Improve terrain with Nubian Pyramids and monuments early.
• Settler Timing: Around Turn 26, queue two settlers once Colonization is active.

2. Congo – Early Tribal Builder

• Plan: Start with a free builder from a tribal village; skip early builder.
• Settler Timing: Begin settler production around Turn 21, five turns earlier than Nubia.

3. Abraham Lincoln – Faith-Driven Expansion

• Plan: Use Mount Everest + Monumentality to buy settlers with faith.
• Settler Timing: Train one settler before Turn 30, then rely on faith purchases supported by Magnus to avoid population loss.

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Government Plaza: Ancestral Hall vs. Audience Chamber

Your Government Plaza building has a direct impact on your expansion style:

Ancestral Hall

• Effect: +50% settler production and a free builder for each new city.
• Ideal for: Wide empires aiming for ~10 cities by Turn 50.

Audience Chamber

• Effect: +1 amenity and +4 housing in cities with governors.
• Ideal for: Tall empires aiming for ~8 cities by Turn 50.

Which Should You Choose?

• Pick Ancestral Hall if:
  • You have room to settle 10+ cities.
  • Your capital has resources (forests, stone) to chop with Magnus.
  • You’re aiming for wide religious or science gameplay.
• Pick Audience Chamber if:
  • You’re limited by land.
  • Your cities have low food or are in tundra/plains.
  • You rely heavily on governors and tall infrastructure.

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Late Cities: How to Make Them Productive

Settling after Turn 50? Here’s how to help late cities catch up fast:

1. Location, Location, Location

• Settle within 6 tiles of a factory to benefit from its +6 production aura.

2. Chop for Growth

• Use builders to chop nearby features (woods, stone, deer).
• Chops scale with era and tech/civic progress—late-game yields are enormous.

3. Immediate Builder Investment

• Buy a builder as soon as the city is founded.
• Focus on food and production improvements to jumpstart growth.

Example: In a Nubian game, a city settled on Turn 59 became fully functional by Turn 70 through optimal chopping and adjacency planning.

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Summary of Key Expansion Strategies

• Initial Plan: Open with 2 scouts, 2 settlers, and transition based on terrain and civ bonuses.
• Colonization Card: Wait to produce settlers after unlocking Colonization for optimal efficiency.
• Government Plaza: Choose between Ancestral Hall (wide) and Audience Chamber (tall) based on your map and strategy.
• Civ-Dependent Timing: Adjust settler strategy depending on civ traits, builder access, and faith generation.
• Late Cities: Chop resources, improve key tiles, and settle near factories to maximize value.

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By mastering settler timing and tailoring your expansion to each unique game, you’ll establish a strong foundation for any victory type in Civilization VI. Let me know in the comments which civ you’d like to see covered next, and happy expanding!