"Civilization VII" introduces new strategic elements that change our mindset about warfare in video games, and one of the most impactful additions is the Commander unit. These powerful leaders reshape military tactics by allowing players to coordinate multiple units efficiently.
Understanding how to use Commanders effectively can give you a monstrous advantage on the battlefield. Carry on reading if you want to realize the full potential of them.
How Commanders Work in 'Civilization VII'
Although Commanders are categorized as military units, they do not fight. They mainly absorb and deploy military units to allow better movement and strategic deployment. One Commander can carry six units at a time. Thus, Commanders are crucial for organizing big military operations.
When a Commander absorbs units, the forces travel with him as one entity until deployed. This negates the need to micromanage individual units, streamlining gameplay, and allowing for quicker tactical decisions. However, once deployed, the units regain their independence and must be controlled separately until they are reabsorbed.
Units can be deployed by choosing the Commander on his turn and clicking the "Deploy" button. Units can only be deployed in the tile adjacent to the position where the Commander is.
In case you need to regroup, then take the Commander next to your units and use the absorption function to pull the units under his command.
Why Commanders Are Must-Used in Military Strategy
The advantage of using Commanders is that they can move multiple military units as a single force. They are, therefore, ideal for:
- Coordinating large-scale battles
- Quick reinforcements of the front line
- Efficient withdrawal, thereby avoiding unnecessary losses.
The above puts minimum complexity into controlling multiple units.
You can have multiple Commanders on the map at the same time, allowing for multi-front warfare and strategic troop distribution. However, once a Commander deploys all their units, they serve no purpose until they absorb more troops.
Commander Promotion System
As your Commander engages in successful military operations, they gain Promotion Points, which unlock new abilities through a skill tree system. Commanders level up when their nearby units defeat enemy forces, so it's crucial to keep them engaged in combat scenarios.
Each Commander has five different skill trees, with six unique upgrades in each one. These upgrades can improve all sorts of things about your army, including:
- Increasing combat strength for units nearby
- Producing more when located in cities
- Unlocking the most powerful abilities that enhance military tactics
GameSpot tells us that you can check how many levels a Commander has by looking at the number shown next to their icon on the map. If a Commander dies, they will reappear after several turns, keeping their level and skills. A newly recruited Commander always starts from level one.
Types of Commanders in 'Civilization VII'
There are two main categories of Commanders in the game:
Army Commander
- The very first type of available Commander
- Moves only by land
- Can absorb all units of land military (swordsmen, trebuchets, archers)
- Unlocks during the Antiquity Age
Fleet Commander
- Unlocks at the start of the Exploration Age
- Can absorb and command sea-based units, including combat as well as exploratory ships
- Works similar to Army Commander but is strictly a water-based mover
Civilization-Specific Commanders
Some civilizations have special Commanders with unique abilities that are different from the regular Army and Fleet Commanders. For instance:
Rome's Legatus acts as an Army Commander but can establish new settlements every three levels. Spain's Conquistador might look like a Commander but is actually specialized in producing gold from river tiles instead of military command.
Be certain to check any unit's description before assuming that it works like a Commander. If the unit does not lead and control troops, it's not considered to be a Commander.
Commanders are very important pieces in "Civilization VII." You should learn how to utilize them to make your military force a powerful squad in times of war. You will be the captain of your own ship as a tactician and strategist at the same time.
If they can master this tool, players can command both land and sea battles more efficiently, hence their superiority.
To understand how to absorb, deploy, and promote Commanders, you will gain an advantage over your military strategy: this is how you can maximize the difference against any opponents.
Make sure to explore different skill trees and units specific to each civilization to ensure optimal deployment during warfare.
You can also check our previous "Civilization VI" guide about the best Pantheons to use for starters.
