How Do You Win Rome in Civ 5?

By Michael Ferguson

In Civilization V, winning a domination victory by conquering cities is one of the most exciting ways to emerge victorious. And when it comes to capturing cities, Rome is a civilization that excels in warfare and territorial expansion. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps on how to win with Rome in Civ 5.

Understanding Rome’s Unique Abilities

Before diving into conquering cities with Rome, let’s take a look at their unique abilities:

  • Unique Unit: Roman Legion
  • The Roman Legion is an early-game melee unit that replaces the Swordsman. It has increased combat strength and can build roads and forts, making it essential for rapid movement and fortification of conquered lands.

  • Unique Building: The Baths
  • The Baths provide additional Happiness and Production bonuses for each source of Marble or Stone in the city.

    This unique building allows you to maintain a happy population while focusing on military conquests.

  • Unique Ability: The Glory of Rome
  • Rome gets a free Monument in each city they found. This ability ensures that your empire develops quickly by providing early Culture bonuses, which are crucial for unlocking social policies that enhance military capabilities.

Early Game Strategy

To kickstart your journey towards conquering cities as Rome, it’s important to focus on expanding your empire early on:

  • City Placement: Settle your first city near sources of Marble or Stone to maximize the benefits from The Baths. Additionally, prioritize settling near rivers or coastlines for access to fresh water and trade routes.
  • Building an Army: Once your first city is established, start producing Roman Legions.

    These units will serve as the backbone of your early military forces and help you capture nearby city-states or weak neighboring civilizations.

  • Research: Prioritize technologies that unlock military units and infrastructure improvements. Opt for technologies such as Iron Working to access iron resources, which will allow you to upgrade your Legions to more advanced units like the Ballista.

Conquering Cities

As Rome, your ultimate goal is to conquer and control as many cities as possible:

  • Spy on Enemy Cities: Utilize your spies to gather information about enemy cities. This will provide you with valuable insights into their defenses, military strength, and wonders they have constructed.
  • Plan Your Attacks: Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the cities you plan to attack.

    Look for cities with weaker defenses or those located in strategic positions that offer advantages for expansion.

  • Coordinate Attacks: Timing is crucial when launching multiple attacks. Coordinate your forces and strike simultaneously on different fronts to keep your enemies off-balance and prevent them from reinforcing their cities efficiently.
  • Road Network: Use Roman Legions to build a road network connecting your conquered cities. This will enable swift movement of troops and facilitate trade routes, boosting your economy.

Maintaining Happiness and Growth

To sustain a large empire, it’s essential to manage happiness and growth effectively:

  • The Baths: Construct The Baths in each city that has access to Marble or Stone resources. The additional Happiness and Production bonuses will help counterbalance the unhappiness caused by conquests.
  • Social Policies: Prioritize social policies that offer happiness bonuses, such as Monarchy or Autocracy.

    These policies will help maintain a stable and content population.

  • City-State Allies: Establish alliances with city-states to gain additional resources, luxuries, or military units. City-state allies can provide crucial support during times of war and contribute to overall happiness.

Advanced Warfare Tactics

Once you’ve established a solid foundation for your empire, it’s time to employ advanced warfare tactics:

  • Siege Equipment: Upgrade your Roman Legions to Ballistas and Trebuchets to bolster your siege capabilities. These units can deal significant damage to city defenses, making it easier for you to capture cities.
  • Air Support: As you progress through the eras, unlock air units like Bombers and Fighters.

    Use them strategically to weaken enemy cities before launching ground assaults.

  • Naval Supremacy: Build a powerful navy to control coastal regions and launch amphibious assaults on enemy cities. Utilize ships like Battleships and Carriers for maximum impact.

With these strategies in mind, you are now equipped with the knowledge to dominate as Rome in Civilization V. Expand your empire, conquer cities, and pave the way for a glorious victory!