Part 107

Explore Civilization V's Natural Wonders and Resources. Learn about Strategic, Bonus, and Luxury resources, and the unique benefits of wonders like El Dorado and Mount Fuji.

This section covers Natural Wonders and Resources in Civilization V. Natural Wonders are unique map tiles based on real-world locations that provide powerful boosts when a city is built adjacent to them or their tile is controlled. Resources are categorized into Strategic, Bonus, and Luxury types, each offering different advantages for your empire.

Natural Wonders

Natural Wonders appear randomly on the map and offer significant benefits. Controlling the tile grants these bonuses. The Great Barrier Reef is unique as it spans two tiles and is located on water.

Notable Natural Wonders:

• Cerro de Potosi: +1 Food, +1 Production. Impassable: No.
• El Dorado: +5 Culture, +500 Gold (first discoverer). Impassable: Yes.
• Fountain of Youth: +10 Happiness, Free Heal Rate Promotion to adjacent units. Impassable: Yes.
• Mount Fuji: +1 Gold, +5 Culture. Impassable: Yes.
• Krakatoa: +5 Science. Impassable: Yes.
• Old Faithful: +2 Science, +3 Happiness. Impassable: Yes.
• Rock of Gibraltar: +2 Food, +5 Gold. Impassable: Yes.
• The Barringer Crater: +2 Gold, +3 Science. Impassable: Yes.
• The Grand Mesa: +2 Production, +3 Gold. Impassable: Yes.
• The Great Barrier Reef: +2 Food, +1 Production, +1 Gold, +2 Science. Impassable: Yes.

Resources

Resources are crucial for empire development and are divided into three categories:

Strategic Resources

Vital for advanced units and a strong economy. Requires specific technologies to reveal and improvements to exploit.

• Aluminium: Revealed by Electricity. Requires Mine. Provides +1 Production. Found on Plains, Desert, Tundra, Hills.
• Coal: Revealed by Scientific Theory. Requires Mine. Provides +1 Production. Found on Hills, Grassland, Plains.
• Horses: Revealed by Animal Husbandry. Requires Pasture. Provides +1 Production. Found on Grasslands, Plains, Tundra.
• Iron: Revealed by Iron Working. Requires Mine. Provides +1 Production. Found on Deserts, Plains, Hills, Grassland, Tundra, Snow.
• Oil: Revealed by Biology. Requires Offshore Platform (Ocean) or Well (Land). Provides +1 Production. Found on Jungle, Marsh, Desert, Tundra, Snow (Land) and Ocean.
• Uranium: Revealed by Atomic Theory. Requires Mine. Provides +1 Production. Found on Forest, Jungle, Marsh, Grassland, Tundra, Desert, Snow, Hills, Plains.

Bonus Resources

Primarily increase food production, aiding city growth.

• Examples include: Bananas, Cattle, Deer, Fish, Sheep, Wheat.

Luxury Resources

Provide 1 Happiness per unique type and extra gold when worked. Some may offer production boosts if a city demands them.

• Examples include: Cotton, Dyes, Furs, Gems, Gold, Incense, Ivory, Marble, Pearls, Silk, Spices, Sugar, Whales, Wine.

Marsh Tiles: Offer -1 Food, 0 Production, 0 Gold. Combat Bonus -33%, Movement Cost 2. Can yield Oil, Sugar, Uranium. Generally not worth keeping due to the food debuff, unless valuable resources are present.

Oasis Tiles: Offer +3 Food, 0 Production, +1 Gold. Combat Bonus -33%, Movement Cost 1. A good reason to settle desert cities due to the food boost.