Civilization 7 (Civ 7) continues to challenge players with its intricate mechanics and dynamic gameplay. One of the most daunting challenges in the game is the Plague Crisis, a mechanic that can disrupt even the most well-laid plans. This guide will delve into the intricacies of the Plague Crisis, focusing on the Modern Age and how to navigate it effectively to secure a Victory Condition with minimal hassle. Whether you're aiming for a Scientific, Cultural, or Domination Victory, understanding the Plague Crisis and how to mitigate its effects is crucial.
Understanding the Plague Crisis in Civilization 7
The Plague is a type of Crisis that can occur in Civ 7, affecting Settlements and potentially derailing your progress. When a Plague Outbreak begins, infected Settlements enter a state of Unrest, leading to population loss, pillaged Buildings, and damaged Improvements. However, not all is lost—some tiles may gain bonus Science or Culture, offering a silver lining to the chaos.
Crises typically begin around 70% Age Progress, with new stages activating at 80% and 90%. The speed at which these stages progress can vary, and sometimes an Age may end before the later stages of the Crisis fully unfold. This unpredictability makes it essential to prepare for a Plague Crisis before it begins.
Key Mechanics of the Plague Crisis
Infection Spread:
Plagues spread through infected tiles, and any Unit ending its turn on such a tile will take damage. To avoid unnecessary losses, always move your Units away from infected City Centers when a Plague Crisis begins.Unrest and Recovery:
Infected Settlements remain in Unrest for 6 turns, during which you cannot make purchases, change Town Focus, or repair Buildings and Improvements. After the plague subsides, you can begin repairing the damage.Crisis Policies:
Crisis Policies are your primary tool for managing the Plague. These policies become available at different stages of the Crisis and can help mitigate its effects. Choosing the right policies is critical to minimizing damage and maintaining your empire's productivity.Antiquity Age Crisis: A Strange Year
In the Antiquity Age, the Plague Crisis is particularly challenging because there is no way to cure an infected Settlement. This makes the Plague one of the most difficult Crises to handle in the early game. Major Outbreaks are more likely to occur in Settlements with high populations, multiple Trade Routes, or those under siege by enemy forces. These Outbreaks can then spread to connected Settlements, causing Minor Outbreaks.
Antiquity Age Crisis Policies
When the Plague Crisis begins in the Antiquity Age, you’ll need to choose from the following Crisis Policies:
- Healing Cults:
+5 Happiness on Altars in infected Settlements but -10 Gold on Altars.
This policy is useful if you're struggling with Happiness, especially in military-focused games. - Prognosis:
+2 Science on Science Buildings in infected Settlements but -4 Gold on Science Buildings.
This is ideal for players pursuing the Scientific Legacy Path.
At 80% Age Progress, a second Crisis Policy slot opens, offering three new options:
- Miasma:
Gain 1 Migrant when a City is Infected but -25% Growth in Cities.
Useful for expanding your empire despite the plague. - Recruitment Shortfalls:
+2 Food in Towns but -15 Healing on all Units.
A good choice if you need to sustain your population. - Prosecute Apostates:
+5 Happiness in infected Settlements with a Commander Stationed but -5 Happiness in Settlements with no Altar.
This policy requires strategic placement of Commanders to maximize its benefits.
Exploration Age Crisis: The Death Ship
The Exploration Age introduces new tools to combat the Plague, most notably the Physician unit. Physicians can cure infected Settlements using a one-time Treat the Sick action. However, each subsequent Physician becomes more expensive to produce, so use them wisely.
Divine Punishment vs. Divine Mercy
When a Plague Crisis triggers in the Exploration Age, you must choose between Divine Punishment and Divine Mercy:
- Divine Punishment:
+5 Happiness in infected Settlements that follow your religion, and these Settlements gain a Migrant when infected.
This option helps offset population loss and can be useful for strategic expansion. - Divine Mercy:
Districts, Buildings, and Improvements in Settlements that follow your religion are not damaged by Minor Outbreaks.
This policy is generally more effective for maintaining productivity and reducing repair costs.
Exploration Age Crisis Policies
At 80% Age Progress, you’ll gain access to two additional Crisis Policies:
- Plague Cults:
Gain Culture when Physicians Treat the Sick on a tile with a Temple.
Ideal for players focusing on Cultural Victory. - Humoralism:
Gain Science when Physicians Treat the Sick on a tile with a Hospital.
A strong choice for those pursuing a Scientific Victory.
At 90% Age Progress, a third Crisis Policy slot opens, offering:
- Lazarettos:
Buildings, Improvements, and Districts in Coastal Settlements with a Dungeon are not damaged by Major Outbreaks.
Useful for coastal empires. - Cordon Sanitaire:
Buildings, Improvements, and Districts in Settlements with a Commander Stationed are not damaged by Major Outbreaks.
A valuable option if you have multiple Commanders.
Modern Age Strategies for Handling the Plague Crisis
By the time you reach the Modern Age, your empire should be well-equipped to handle the Plague Crisis. However, the stakes are higher, and the consequences of mismanagement can be severe. Here are some strategies to ensure your empire thrives:
Preemptive Measures:- Build Hospitals and Temples in key Settlements to maximize the benefits of Crisis Policies like Humoralism and Plague Cults.
- Station Commanders in vulnerable Settlements to take advantage of policies like Cordon Sanitaire.
Resource Management:- Stockpile Gold and Production to quickly produce Physicians and other emergency Units.
- Prioritize repairing critical Buildings and Improvements to maintain your empire's productivity.
Crisis Policy Selection:- Choose policies that align with your overall strategy. For example, if you're pursuing a Cultural Victory, prioritize Plague Cults.
- Adapt your policies as the Crisis progresses, taking advantage of new options as they become available.
Expansion and Migration:- Use Migrants from policies like Miasma and Divine Punishment to expand your empire strategically.
- Focus on Settlements with high growth potential to offset population loss.
Religious Influence:- Spread your religion to as many Settlements as possible to maximize the benefits of Divine Punishment or Divine Mercy.
- Use Missionaries to convert enemy Settlements and reduce the spread of the plague.
Conclusion
The Plague Crisis in Civilization 7 is a formidable challenge, but with the right strategies and Crisis Policies, you can turn it into an opportunity for growth and advancement. By understanding the mechanics of the Plague and preparing accordingly, you can ensure your empire remains resilient and on track to achieve its Victory Condition. Whether you're navigating the Antiquity Age, Exploration Age, or Modern Age, this guide provides the tools you need to master the Plague Crisis and lead your civilization to glory.
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