In Civilization VII, the approach to establishing and protecting trade routes has evolved significantly from previous entries, particularly Civilization VI. This guide aims to help you effectively maximize gold and resource yields by leveraging strategic trade route management.

Establishing Trade Routes

1. Unlock and Produce Merchants
– Merchants are crucial units for creating trade routes. To unlock them, pursue the Code of Laws Civic in the Antiquity era followed by Economics in the Exploration era. This represents a progressive path within the Civic tree.
– After unlocking, you can either produce or purchase Merchants in your cities. Unique civilizations may have specific Merchants (e.g., Ming’s Mandarin Merchant) that become available concurrently with the civic, giving a potential early advantage.

2. Identify Suitable Trade Route Destinations
– Prior to creating a Merchant, scout the surrounding map for settlements of other civilizations or independent city-states with whom you can trade. Note that you must be a suzerain of an independent city-state to establish a route with them.
– When you select an unassigned Merchant, potential trade route destinations are highlighted: green for valid routes and red for invalid routes.

3. Move the Merchant Manually
– Unlike Civ VI, where trade routes could be automated, in Civ VII you must manually transport your Merchant unit into the target settlement’s borders. Depending on distance, this may take several turns.
– Upon arrival, you will see a prompt to initiate the trade route, solidifying the opportunity for immediate resource gains.

4. One-Time Resource Rewards
– Trade routes in Civ VII yield one-time resource rewards, which typically include gold and various other yields, upon establishment rather than ongoing bonuses. Therefore, it’s essential to prioritize sending Merchants to locations that offer the most significant immediate returns.

Protecting Trade Routes for Maximum Yield

1. Position Merchants Strategically
– To reduce risk, position Merchants near your borders or in neutral territories. This minimizes exposure to hostile regions which may complicate safe travel.
– Trade with civilizations or city-states that maintain friendly or neutral relations with you to decrease the likelihood of hostilities against your Merchants.

2. Military Escort and Patrols
– Civ VII does not automate trade route protection, making it essential for you to ensure trade route safety. Station military units along the Merchant’s path or near the target settlement to deter or respond to potential threats.
– An active military presence can be pivotal in protecting your trade interests from unexpected assaults.

3. Diplomatic Relations
– Good diplomatic ties with other civilizations and city-states will reduce the chance that your Merchants will face attacks or experience blocked trade routes.
– Being a suzerain of city-states not only facilitates trade but also enhances protection for your trade routes, fostering secure trade environments.

4. Monitoring Trade Routes
– Although Civ VII features UI highlights for potential trade routes, it’s vital to actively monitor your Merchants. Ensure their safety and ensure prompt movement to trade destinations.
– Be prepared to replace Merchants if necessary to maintain a consistent flow of trade and continue earning those valuable resource bonuses.

Summary Table: Key Steps

| Step | Description |
|————————–|————————————————————————–|
| Unlock Merchants | Research Code of Laws and Economics Civics to produce Merchants. |
| Find Trade Destinations | Locate friendly settlements or city-states near your territory. |
| Move Merchant Manually | Physically move the Merchant unit to the foreign city to establish the route. |
| One-Time Rewards | Gain instant resource bonuses upon trade route setup. |
| Protect Trade Routes | Employ military escorts, patrols, and maintain diplomatic relations to secure merchant safety. |

Conclusion

By taking a strategic approach to trade in Civilization VII, focusing on high-value immediate returns, manually managing Merchant routes, and ensuring their safety through military presence and diplomatic efforts, you can effectively maximize your wealth and resources from trade. This dynamic and interactive trade route system encourages not just planning but active engagement in the growth and sustainability of your civilization’s economy.