Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Cleopatra and her sphinx lead Egypt to victory in ‘Sid Meier’s Civilization VI’

Oops! We couldn't load this video player
Queen Victoria and Teddy Roosevelt will give the world’s greatest powers a run for their money in Civilization VI, but don’t count out Egypt. Backed by the legendary ruler Cleopatra and the mythical sphinx, Egypt is among the most valuable ally for other nations in the game.

The Nile River is an indispensable resource for Egypt, allowing the land’s crops to flourish, and the importance of this water source was been replicated in Civilization VI. By building districts and other structures close to rivers, the construction period is reduced due to the Egyptian “Iteru” special ability. “Wonders,” which provide additional bonuses to the civilization, will also be completed faster by building them on rivers. If you place a sphinx — Egypt’s famous human-lion hybrid structure — close to a Wonder like the pyramids, you will also receive additional bonuses.

Recommended Videos

Cleopatra’s leadership also comes with its own bonus: additional trade routes to help connect Egypt to other economies. These external trade routes can give Egypt food and gold, helping to make the country and surrounding allies economically interdependent.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“Rather than isolating themselves, the Egyptians remain central to the political landscape throughout the game,” the narrator says in the game’s “First Look: Egypt” video.

If it comes to war, however, Egypt’s Maryannu Chariot Archer units will help you out, as well. The archers, who were among the “elite units in the pharoah’s army,” are most effective when on flat terrain.

“Early in the game it is best at fast attacks,” the narrator adds. “Its mobility means it can respond to wide-ranged threats.”

And while it probably doesn’t need to be said at this point, archers are no match for a hundred of Gandhi’s nukes. If you pick Egypt, you better hope he’s on your side.

Civilization VI hits PC on October 21.

Pre-Order on Amazon

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Prepare for Civilization 7 with this $3 Steam Summer Sale deal
Three Civilization 6 leaders standing above a board with the Eiffel tower on the left.

One of the most exciting announcements for PC gaming fans during Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest live stream this year was for Sid Meier's Civilization VII. It's the next entry in a long-running turn-based strategy game series about building up and thriving as a civilization from scratch. Although Sid Meier's Civilization VII does not come out until next year and doesn't even get a full gameplay reveal until August, this year's Steam Summer Sale provides players the perfect opportunity to catch up on the series.

Navigate to the Featured Deep Discounts section of the Steam Summer Sale and you'll find that Sid Meier's Civilization VI from Firaxis and 2K is available for just $3, a 95% discount from its typical $60 price tag. If you've never played a Civilization game before or want to familiarize yourself with the core tenets of the series ahead of its next entry, this Steam Summer Sale deal provides an optimal opportunity to check it out.

Read more
Civilization 7 finally announced, but you’ll have to wait for more info
The banner for Civilization 7, with highlighted text on a dark background.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII - Official Teaser Trailer

Civilization 7 will conquer your game time soon. The latest in the iconic turn-based 4X strategy franchise was announced by developer Firaxis Games during Summer Game Fest on Friday.

Read more
Civilization VI: All 42 leaders and cultures
civilization vi leaders and cultures guide version 1518032917 header

Civilization VI is an extremely dense game, with countless bonuses for doing seemingly mundane things. Out of all the ways to improve your Civ VI strategy, understanding the cultures and leaders is the most important. After all, you don't want to push Kristina of Sweden to win with a Domination victory, or worse, push Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire toward a Science victory (yikes). To get you started on the right path, we've gathered all 42 civilizations, including the ones from DLC, so you can understand the best leader for your play style.

Note: Leader "agendas" are only in effect for civilizations that are not controlled by the player. Player-controlled leaders cannot operate independently, and therefore have no agenda.

Read more