Trading is a very important part of Civilization 7 and you’re going to have to eventually learn it if you want to succeed in this game. This feature has also been changed quite drastically from previous Civilization games and can be tough to adjust to at first.
This article will tell you all about trading in Civilization 7, including how you can set up Trade Routes and use Merchants and much more.
How Does Trading Work In Civilization 7
To start trading in Civilization 7, you need first to produce a Merchant Unit. These Merchants must be unlocked and researched before they can be produced. Once you have produced a Merchant, they will be able to create trade routes with potential nearby settlements. These trade routes can then be used to exchange resources and start your trade. This full process is explained in detail down below:
Producing Merchant Units
To start producing Merchants, you must first unlock them. This can be done by performing the following tasks:
- In the Antiquity Age: Research the Code of Laws Civic
- In the Exploration Age: Research the Economics Civic
- In the Modern Age: Research the Steam Engine Technology
Although the Economics Civic can take a fair bit of time to unlock, the Code of Laws Civic can be unlocked fairly quickly which means you can start your trading not too long after establishing your civilization. These Merchants will be available to purchase and research once you have unlocked either one of these Civics. You will also be able to unlock some rare and unique Merchants at the same time.
Setting Up Trade Routes
While your Merchants are being researched, you can potentially send out some Scouts to find neighboring settlements and ideally keep friendly relations with them to help your trade activities. Although it may be tempting to fight any settlements you come across, keeping friendly relations with them can be a lot more important in the long run.
You can click on your Merchants to check potential settlements where you can establish trade relations. Once you have chosen a location, you will need to move your Merchants to the area you want in that exact settlement. When your Merchant reaches the settlement you have chosen, you can click on them and then on the ‘Create Trade Route’ Button on the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Once you click this button, you will be able to allocate the resources of the trading settlement in the Resource Allocation menu on the top left of the screen. You can then assign all the resources you want to receive. The trade route will either be Caravan-based or Trade Ship-based, depending on whether it is connected by land or water. These routes can also be attacked by enemies so you will have to be aware of this possibility at all times.
Note that you can only establish trade relations with a single power by default and you will need to access the Diplomacy Menu and click on the ‘Improve trade relations’ button to create more. Trading will also be limited to friendly civilizations, even including Independent Powers if you’re their Suzerain.
Creating More Resource Slots
You may find yourself running out of Resource Slots once you have started trading with multiple settlements. You can increase the number of these slots by heading into the Technologies Tab and then researching the Currency and Navigation tech trees.
You can then place more of the buildings mentioned in these Tech Trees such as the Market in the Currency Tree in the Antiquity Age and the Tomb of Askia in the Exploration Age to get more potential Resource Slots. These will be key in the long run as you look to increase your trade potential with other settlements and gain even more resources.
Also check our guide on how to select the best start location in Civ 7.
