Carthage, with its focus on trade and coastal cities, has quickly become a fan-favorite civilization in Civilization VII. With its unique one-city challenge and powerful trade and military units, the right leader can help elevate Carthage’s strengths to new heights. Here’s a look at the three best leaders to pair with Carthage in Civ 7, each of whom brings something unique to the table.
Choosing Augustus, the leader of Rome, for Carthage may seem ironic, given the historic conflict between the two powers. However, Augustus is a perfect match for Carthage, especially with its one-city challenge. His leadership offers a substantial bonus for the capital, with +2 production for every town. This bonus works particularly well with Carthage’s unique ability to have many towns, even with just one city. These towns can help feed the capital and build it up quickly, while Augustus’ bonus reduces the cost of purchasing buildings in towns by 50%.
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With Augustus, the power of Carthage’s towns becomes clear. The ability to generate a lot of towns and capitalize on the production bonuses from Augustus makes for a highly efficient empire. Augustus also benefits from Carthage’s unique units like the Numidian Cavalry and the colonist units, creating a balanced mix of military and economic growth.
The synergy between Augustus and Carthage is undeniable. Not only does Augustus help Carthage develop its capital, but his bonuses to towns allow for rapid growth and easy infrastructure development, making him a no-brainer pick.
Another great choice for Carthage is Niccolò Machiavelli, the Italian leader known for his strategic political savvy. Machiavelli’s ability to levy military units from city-states that are not under your control is a huge advantage for Carthage, particularly because Carthage can only have one city producing units. While Carthage’s capital can build units, it’s often more efficient to rely on other cities or city-states for military support. With Machiavelli, the ability to levy military units from city-states without worrying about suzerain status is a game-changer.
Moreover, Machiavelli’s diplomatic focus can provide much-needed gold, which can be used to expand towns quickly. This is critical for Carthage, as it needs to build up towns to support the one-city challenge. Machiavelli also provides the flexibility to engage in warfare when necessary, thanks to his ability to declare war without the usual diplomatic consequences. This flexibility makes him a strong leader for players looking to balance diplomacy and military expansion.
While not as synergistic as Augustus, Machiavelli’s focus on economic and military strategy gives Carthage a well-rounded approach, especially when dealing with city-states and diplomacy.
Xerxes, the leader of Persia, rounds out the list of top leaders for Carthage. His ability to increase the trade route limit with other civilizations by one is particularly powerful for Carthage, a civilization built around trade. With this extra trade route, Carthage can expand its economic reach even further, sending merchants to more cities and generating wealth and resources much faster than usual.
The additional trade routes are invaluable, especially early in the game when Carthage can quickly ramp up its economic development. Xerxes also provides +50 culture per trade route, which supports cultural growth alongside the economic boom. This combination of trade and culture makes Xerxes an ideal pick for players who want to dominate the economic landscape while also progressing culturally.
In addition to his trade bonuses, Xerxes also offers +1 culture and +1 gold per age from unique buildings and improvements, adding even more value to Carthage’s already robust trade network. The extra merchants and increased trade routes will turn Carthage into a true economic powerhouse, capable of dominating both on land and at sea.
These three leaders bring out the best in Carthage’s unique abilities. Whether you’re focused on rapid capital development, leveraging diplomacy for military advantage, or expanding your trade empire, these leaders provide diverse strategies to enhance Carthage’s strengths. Try them out and see which one best suits your playstyle!
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