Guide: The Best Civ and Leader Combos To Win a Military Victory in Civilization 7

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A Military Victory in Civilization 7 is not achieved by conquering the entire world — but it's the next best thing for any bloodthirsty tyrant out there.

To achieve military domination, you'll be tasked with forcefully establishing your Ideology and your empire around the globe. But controlling what's left of the other powers is a bit of a hassle, so the invention of nuclear weapons will be what gives you the last word on any negotiating table.

Friedrich celebrating a successful war against José Rizal in Civilization 7. 2K Games

Learn how to win a Military Victory in Civilization 7 with the tips below, including the best civs and leader for this win type.

Best Civs and Leaders for a Military Victory in Civilization 7

Achieving world domination by force is a goal that benefits from a variety of factors. Naturally, leaders and civs with combat-related bonuses will have an easier time with this. However, the same is true for those with Production bonuses, as they can pump out units more quickly, or even those with strong Happiness generation — don't forget, wars make your populace sad, which results in yield penalties. There are also leaders or civilizations who thrive when every peer hates them, making them perfect for a classic warmonger run.

Best leaders for a Military Victory in Civilization 7:

• Ashoka (World Conqueror): Strong Production and Happiness generation.
• Augustus: Strong Production, benefits from expansion.
• Charlemagne: Strong Happiness generation and free units.
• Friedrich (Baroque): Free units, easy access to other Paths as a side-product of conquests.
• Friedrich (Oblique): Free units, better Commanders, and synergy with Science.
• Ibn Battuta: Versatile thanks to his Wildcard Attribute Points.
• Machiavelli: Perfect for war-mongering.
• Napoleon (Emperor): Gains Gold by making everyone hate him.
• Napoleon (Revolutionary): Higher movement for all units.
• Trung Trac: Best Commanders in the game, strong Science synergy.
• Xerxes (King of Kings): Combat bonuses, additional resources on conquests, higher Settlement Limit.

Best civs for a Military Victory in Civilization 7:

• Antiquity Age: Khmer, Maurya, Persia, Rome
• Exploration Age: Mongolia, Norman, Spain
• Modern Age: America, French Empire, Meiji Japan, Prussia

A Prussian army marching out from a settlement in Civilization 7. 2K Games

How to Get a Military Victory in Civilization 7

It's worth pointing out that you first need to reach the Modern Age to have a shot at winning the game through this victory condition.

Here are the steps you need to take to win a Military Victory in Civilization 7:

1. Unlock Political Theory (requires Social Question, Modernization, and Natural History).
2. Unlock Democracy, Fascism, or Communism.
3. Research Combustion (requires Steam Engine and Military Science).
4. Research Flight (requires Academics, Steam Engine, Military Science, Urbanization, Combustion).
5. Capture a settlement from a player following a different Ideology.
6. Score 20 Ideology Points by capturing settlements.
7. Construct the Manhattan Project Wonder.
8. Complete the Operation Ivy Project.

The path toward world conquest begins with unlocking the Political Theory Civic and then joining one of the three available Ideologies — Democracy, Fascism, or Communism. You'll also want to research Combustion and Flight to modernize your military.

From that point on, it's all about scoring Ideology Points through battlefield success: Every City and Town you capture will earn you some points — extra points get awarded if the settlements belong to someone following a different Ideology from yours.

Once you've gobbled up 20 Ideology Points, you unlock the Manhattan Project Wonder. Build it in one of your Cities — preferably in one with high Production — and then complete the Operation Ivy Project to cement your supremacy with the threat of nuclear destruction.

The Military Victory thus requires quite a mixture of resources: Aside from high Production you'll want Culture and Science in equal measure.

How to Get Military Legacy Path Points in Civilization 7

Netting Military Legacy Points throughout the game offers you juicy discounts on the Manhattan Project and Operation Ivy in the endgame — not to speak of additional Attribute Points for your leader and a world-spanning empire with even more military potential.

Funnily enough, the Military Legacy Path need not be very bloody throughout the Antiquity and Exploration Ages, as you can earn Legacy Points through peaceful expansion as well as war. During the Antiquity Age, you are tasked with earning twelve Pax Imperatoria Points. Founding settlements grants you one point, capturing settlements grants you two points.

In the Exploration Age, the same conditions apply: You need to earn twelve Pax Imperatoria Points with founded settlements granting one point and captured settlements granting two. Converting settlements to your Religion grants two points as well — however, points can only be earned with these methods in the Distant Lands during this Age.

Mongolia is the only exception at the moment, being able to earn points on the home continent. However, waging war against your old neighbours can still be an effective way to earn points, because you can demand settlements located in the Distant Lands during peace negotiations — that's an easy way to get some colonies without having to do any of the hard work of colonizing.

For more insights on the game, read our interview with the Civilization 7 developers.