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Open Seas in Civilization 7 is a daring frontier for your empire’s dreams. You play with cities, land armies, and resources in the game’s early stages. But the sea promises expansion, riches, and untapped potential. Leaders are always looking to find new continents beyond the horizon.
This blog reveals how to open that avenue, sail, and dominate these seas. Learn these steps, and you’ll soon dominate all the great ocean routes in Civilization 7.
Locked to the Coast
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You begin on land with little naval presence. In the Antiquity Age, ships are attached to the coast. You cannot force them into deeper seas.
This phase focuses on local growth. It enables you to accumulate resources and establish a solid foundation. You must be patient before leaping to the next stage.
Primary Goals At This Stage
- Establish a strong economy on your initial continent.
- Explore coastal tiles for possible city locations.
- Research fundamental tech such as Sailing allows land units to move along water shores.
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Open Sea Exploration In Civilization 7
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After you progress beyond Antiquity, a new frontier opens up. Now, the Open Seas in Civilization VII are open. Here, you can build naval units that travel out beyond the coast. But your first ships, such as the Cog, are in danger. They have low movement speed and take HP damage per turn in deep waters.
Why Risk It?
- Find lost islands or continents.
- Open new trade routes.
- Surprise the enemy with an unexpected naval presence.
Addressing Ocean Damage
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Dark-blue water waves cause heavy damage to unprepared ships. Early ships tend to lose 14–20 HP per turn. That causes an instant sink if you stay there.
To avoid this, try to follow a “hop-and-heal” strategy.
- Move a few tiles into clear water.
- Fall back to the coast before your ship’s HP falls too low.
- Repeat until you reach your target.
Use The Key Tech
The biggest jump occurs when you study Shipbuilding. This technology erases ocean destruction for warships. Shipbuilding II brings that advantage to merchant ships.
Cartography is another core upgrade that allows non-war units to enter ocean tiles from the beginning of the Exploration Age.
Critical Technologies
- Shipbuilding
- Shipbuilding II
- Cartography
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Risk and Speed Stability
Confident leaders rush into the sea without completing all applicable tech. That may prove worthwhile if you get used to the territory first. It may backfire if your ships get destroyed halfway.
Consider if you can afford the production cost of new ships. After acquiring Shipbuilding, you eliminate most risks. Compare the benefits with the drawbacks.
Founding Overseas Settlements
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Deeper water creates new continents, so there is more room to expand. If you prepare well, you can seed new cities where the competition has not yet gone. That broadens the reach of your empire. It also disseminates your power around the world. The Open Seas in Civilization 7 do have actual potential if you claim their distant ends.
Top Settlement Tips
- Send Settlers only after Shipbuilding II.
- Guard each Settler with a military escort.
- Look for unique resources or strategic positions.
Power at Sea
Your new navy team does more than just discovery. You can also blockade, sink enemy fleets, and defend trade routes with upgraded units.
Massive sea power makes your empire a worldly figure. Look to applicable wonders or policies that may improve naval power for an added advantage.
Tactical Pointers
- Maintain balanced fleets of ranged and melee vessels.
- Secure supply lines by deploying units along vital routes.
- Make surprise attacks from concealed sea tiles.
Using Technology To Your Benefit
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Research doesn’t stop with Shipbuilding. Additional upgrades tweak ship speed, combat metrics, and range.
The Exploration Age also produces advanced ships in subsequent eras. Continue to invest in your sea future. A powerful ocean presence can cement your victory path.
Vital Reminders
- Keep track of damage per turn when exploring into deep water.
- Get Cartography and Shipbuilding in the correct order.
- Don’t spend good naval units on simple reconnaissance.
- Ports provide trade advantages and faster ship construction.
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Expand, Trade, Conquer
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An empire that can sail well can trade, form alliances, and dominate key choke points. The Open Seas in Civilization 7 are your road to riches. Use that access to accumulate resources, influence, and power to help you throughout the game. Meanwhile, monitor competitor expansions. You have a permanent advantage of the seas if you see them behind you.
Conclusion
The Open Seas in Civilization 7 is one of the most incredible rewards in the struggle for world dominance. To master them takes planning, targeted research, and a willingness to accept early damage. But the payoff can turn your little kingdom into a vast empire.
These Civilization VII tips and tricks give you the blueprint to greatness in Civilization 7. By adopting this strategy, you Master Open Seas in Civilization VII and build a legacy envied by all your competitors.