Part 82

Master Spain in Civilization V! Learn how Isabella's 'Seven Cities of Gold' power doubles Natural Wonder bonuses and boosts your empire's growth. Get strategy tips!

Alright, let's talk about Spain in Civilization V. Led by Isabella, Spain has a really unique focus on Natural Wonders. They're not really about brute force or building tons of wonders themselves, but about capitalizing on what the map gives you.

Civilization Power: Seven Cities of Gold

This is the core of playing Spain. When you discover a Natural Wonder, you get a Gold bonus. If you're the first one to find it, that bonus is even bigger! On top of that, any Natural Wonder you discover will grant you double Culture, Happiness, and tile yields. This means that a single Natural Wonder can be incredibly valuable, providing a huge boost to your city's output and keeping your citizens happy.

Unique Units:

• Tercio: Replaces the Musketman. These guys are solid infantry units that come a bit earlier in the tech tree than Musketmen.
• Conquistador: Replaces the Knight. These mounted units have a special ability: if they capture a city with a Natural Wonder, they have a chance to convert some of the city's population to your religion. This is huge for spreading your faith and gaining influence across the map.

Unique Building: Spain doesn't have a unique building, so you'll be relying on their power and units.

Strategy Tips for Spain:

• Explore Early and Often: Your absolute top priority is to find Natural Wonders. Get those early scouts out and explore aggressively. The bonus for being the first to discover one is significant.
• Settle Smart: When you find a Natural Wonder, try to settle a city nearby. The doubled yields and Culture/Happiness will make that city incredibly strong. Aim to have multiple cities near different Natural Wonders if possible.
• Leverage the Conquistador: Use your Conquistadors not just for combat, but for their religious conversion ability. If you're aiming for a religious victory or just want to spread your faith, these units are invaluable when capturing cities with Natural Wonders.
• Watch Out for Genghis Khan: The historical text mentions Genghis Khan (Huns) as being very war-focused. While Spain isn't primarily a warmonger, you need to be prepared. If Genghis decides to attack, you might not be able to rely on diplomacy and will need to defend yourself. Don't expect him to be friendly if you're struggling.
• Balance Your Empire: While Natural Wonders are key, don't neglect other aspects of your empire. You'll still need a strong military, good science, and a balanced economy to win. The Natural Wonder bonuses should supplement, not replace, your core Civ V strategy.

Playing Spain is all about capitalizing on the map's treasures. Focus on exploration, smart settling, and using your unique units to their full potential, and you'll find yourself with a very powerful and prosperous empire.