Franks Strategy Guide

Learn how to conquer Humankind on the highest difficulty. This guide covers AI bonuses, early game strategy, resource management, and optimal map settings for victory.

This guide provides strategies for beating Humankind on the highest difficulty setting. The author, an experienced 4X player, shares insights based on multiple successful playthroughs. It's important to note that the game is subject to updates, which may alter the effectiveness of these strategies.

Humankind Difficulty and General Strategy:

On the highest difficulty, AI players receive significant bonuses:

• +3 Food per Farmer
• +3 Industry per Worker
• +3 Money per Trader
• +3 Science per Researcher
• +60 Stability
• +2 Combat Strength on all Units

These bonuses are flat and scale with AI city development, making the early game challenging. The combat bonus is particularly significant, making early warfare inadvisable. The strategy focuses on:

1. Avoiding early war (until at least the Classical era, preferably Medieval).
2. Establishing trade for luxury resources.
3. Choosing Agrarian and Builder cultures early, and expanding widely to scale into the late game when AI bonuses become less impactful.
4. Prioritizing Fame acquisition, as winning the game requires the most Fame, not just dominance. Avoid transcending cultures too early if it means missing out on Fame opportunities.
5. Triggering the end game condition, with the science ending being the most consistent. Alternatively, mid-game conquest can lead to victory if all other cultures are eliminated or vassalized.

Map Settings:

Optimal map settings to support this strategy include:

• World size: Huge - Provides more space for expansion and diverse minor cultures.
• World shape: Large Pangea - Facilitates easier scouting and interaction with trading partners.
• Land Percentage: 70-80% - Balances land for expansion with enough ocean for accessible trade routes.
• Climate: New World - Ensures a balanced start.