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Roads in Civilization 7 are a game-changer. They connect your settlements, speed up movement, and boost trade. Want to expand your empire or dominate commerce? Mastering road-building is a must.
How to Build Roads in Civilization 7
You’ve got two main ways to get roads in Civilization 7:
- Expanding Your Settlements – Build a new Settlement close enough to an existing one, and a road will automatically connect them.
- Setting Up Trade Routes – Send a Merchant to a foreign or Independent Power’s Settlement, and if it’s within range, a road appears.
Simple, right? Unlike temporary structures, Roads stick around, making movement and trade easier throughout the game.
Road Distance Requirements in Civilization 7
How far apart can Settlements be before a road forms? That depends on the Age you’re in:
- Antiquity Age – 10 tiles
- Exploration Age – 15 tiles
- Modern Age – 20 tiles
If your cities are within these limits, Roads will automatically link them. No extra effort needed.
Trading with Independent Powers
Want to build Roads to Independent Powers? Here’s how:
- Set up a Trade Route by sending a Merchant to their city.
- Make sure the city is within the 10-tile limit (or more, as Ages progress).
Why bother? Because trading isn’t just about goods. It strengthens diplomatic ties and keeps your economy thriving.
Road Obstacles and How to Avoid Them
Not every path is smooth. Sometimes, obstacles get in the way:
- Impassable Terrain – Mountains, lakes, and other barriers block Roads.
- Independent Powers in the Way – Their settlements might disrupt your plans.
The fix? Plan ahead. Place Roads on open, flat terrain to keep your routes efficient.
Upgrading Roads to Rail Networks in the Modern Age
Roads are great. But Rail Networks? Even better. Once you hit the Modern Age, you can upgrade your Roads into Railways by building Rail Stations. This means:
- Instant movement between Settlements
- Faster deployment of Units during war
- Boosted economy with efficient resource transport
Additional Benefits of Rail Networks
Rail Networks don’t just speed things up. They also unlock Factories, giving you a serious production edge:
- Train military units faster
- Gather resources more efficiently
- Expand and dominate with ease
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