Conquering Deity difficulty in Civilization VI is a monumental task, and choosing Australia (the Outback Tycoon) adds another layer of challenge. Australia's unique abilities, while powerful, require a specific strategy to truly leverage on Deity. This guide will break down the key steps to victory, covering everything from early game strategies to late-game domination.
Early Game: Mastering the Outback
Australia's unique ability, "Outback Stations," grants additional production and food based on adjacent pastures. This makes early game expansion and food production crucial.
Focus on Early Growth and Production:
- Settle near pastures: Your initial city placement is paramount. Prioritize settling near multiple pasture tiles to maximize the benefits of Outback Stations. Don't be afraid to settle slightly further from coast for optimal pasture access.
- Prioritize production buildings: Focus on building the Monument and Granary early to boost your population and culture generation. This will help you accelerate your growth and secure early tech advantages.
- Scout aggressively: Use your scout to thoroughly explore your surroundings, identifying potential expansion locations and rival civilizations. Early scouting helps you identify threats and opportunities.
Securing Early Advantages:
- Research Animal Husbandry: This crucial technology unlocks pastures and significantly boosts your early game food production.
- Secure key resources: Prioritize obtaining strategic resources like horses or iron for future military expansion.
- Manage your production carefully: Balance your production between units, buildings, and infrastructure to maintain a steady progression.
Mid Game: Expanding Your Empire
As you expand, Australia's strengths start to shine. However, the Deity AI is unforgiving; passive play won't cut it.
Strategic Expansion and Defense:
- Maintain a strong military: Always maintain a sufficient military force to defend against potential attacks. Deity AI will not hesitate to declare war.
- Prioritize key technologies: Focus on technologies that enhance your military (like Military Science) and infrastructure (like Construction).
- Utilize Outback Stations: Continue to strategically expand, always placing cities near plenty of pastures to take full advantage of this powerful ability.
- Diplomacy: Try to form alliances with weaker civilizations to create a buffer against stronger empires. However, be prepared to betray them if necessary.
Key Technologies and Civic Choices:
- Traditions: Focus on the traditions that best support your chosen victory path. If aiming for a domination victory, a strong military focus is key. For a cultural or religious victory, prioritize those supporting those paths accordingly.
- Ideologies: Select an ideology that complements your early game choices and strategic goals. The best choice often depends on your specific circumstances and victory conditions.
Late Game: Domination or Peaceful Victory?
Australia's flexibility allows for various victory paths.
Domination Victory:
- Superior Military: Australia's ability to quickly establish production through Outback Stations, can feed into producing a strong military force, even on Deity. Leverage superior military technology and tactics to conquer your opponents.
- Strategic Alliances (or betrayals): While building your military, cautiously build alliances with weaker neighbors to help in any conflicts, but remember the Deity AI will do the same, so be prepared to break alliances.
Other Victory Paths (Cultural, Religious, Science):
While Australia isn't traditionally a first-choice for these paths, with careful planning and strategic alliances, they're achievable:
- Culture: Focus on gaining tourism by securing key resources and building wonder.
- Religious: Spread your religion through missionaries and ensure you have enough faith to expand faster than others.
- Science: Focus heavily on researching technologies that boost your science generation.
Remember: Deity difficulty requires constant adaptation. Observe your opponents' actions, adapt your strategy, and always be prepared for unexpected challenges. The key to winning is careful planning, efficient resource management, and a strategic approach to both military expansion and diplomacy. Good luck, Governor!
