The Narrative of Humankind

Learn how to conquer Humankind on the highest difficulty. Get expert tips on early game strategy, combat, and leveraging culture bonuses to secure victory.

Hey there! So you want to tackle Humankind on the highest difficulty, huh? It's a tough nut to crack, but totally doable. I've been through the wringer on this a few times and want to share what I've learned. Keep in mind, the game's still pretty new when I'm writing this, so some things might change with updates, but the core ideas should stick around.

Humankind Difficulty Explained

First off, let's talk about what makes 'Humankind' difficulty so brutal. The AI gets some pretty sweet bonuses:

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

Now, here's the kicker: these FIMS (Food, Industry, Money, Science) bonuses are flat. That means they're super strong early on when your cities are small, but they don't scale as well later. For example, an early bonus of +9 Industry in a small city might require a whole Industry District to match. But in a huge late-game city, that same +9 is pocket change compared to what a single Mine can produce. So, you're at a big disadvantage at the start, but it should theoretically get easier as you progress.

That +2 Combat Strength bonus is no joke either. It's like giving the AI their own special unit right from the get-go. You basically can't win a straight fight in the early eras (Neolithic and Ancient). So, the strategy is clear: avoid combat until at least the Classical era, and usually, you'll want to wait until the Medieval era.

The stability bonus is a bit harder to pin down, but it definitely helps the AI keep their cities happy. The best way to counter this is by trading for luxury resources.

Your Winning Strategy

So, how do you actually win? Here’s the game plan:

1. Avoid Early Wars: Seriously, don't pick fights until the Classical era at the earliest. Focus on building up.
2. Trade for Luxuries: Keep those trade routes flowing to grab luxury resources. They're key to keeping your stability up and countering the AI.
3. Go Wide, Not Tall: Build lots of cities rather than focusing on just a few huge ones. This helps you scale better into the late game when the AI's bonuses become less significant. Aim for Agrarian and Builder cultures early on to boost your economy and infrastructure.
4. Rack Up Stars: The goal is to get as many stars (Fame) as possible. Every action should be geared towards earning stars.

It's a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on building a solid foundation, and you'll outpace the AI in the long run!