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Sooner or later, you’re going to have to wage war inCivilization 6.Quick skirmishes and lightning raids on border cities can usually be won with a handful of melee and ranged units, but for all-out war, you’re going to need Support Units - especially on higher difficulties.
Support Units are vulnerable like Settlers and Builders, but as long as you protect them properly they offer major advantages that will turn the tide of any conflict. Their use isn’t always apparent to new players, so if you’re standing at the gates of an enemy city wondering how to use your shiny new Battering Ram, don’t worry - we’ve got all the details below.
What Are Support Units?
Support Units are across between Military and Civilian Units in Civlization 6.They’re used for warfare, but they don’t directly do any fighting. Instead, they providebonuses or protection to nearby combat troops.you’re able to easily identify a Support Unit by theirdiamond-shaped symbol.
Like Civilian Units, Support Units canjoin a Military Unit in a Formation, allowing the two units to travel together. This is important for protecting the Support Unit.If a hostile combat unit enters the same space as an unprotected Support Unit, the Support Unit is immediately destroyed.
How To Use Battering Rams
Battering Ramsbecome available when you researchMasonry, and are vital forconquering citiesprotected by Ancient Walls.Normally, melee attackers suffer a painfuleighty-five percent penalty to Combat Strengthwhen attacking a walled city. If a Battering Ram is adjacent to the walls, thenany melee or anti-cavalry class units(i.e., Warriors, Swordsmen, and Spearmen), can ignore this penalty and attack as normal.
Archersdo not benefitfrom Battering Rams,but can still help wear down the walls from afar.
If you don’t have a Battering Ram, your only real hope for taking a walled city is toknock down the walls with one or more catapults.Note that Battering Ramsonly work against Ancient Walls;once your opponents upgrade to Medieval Walls, you’ll have to upgrade as well.
How To Use Siege Towers
Siege Towersare the direct upgrade of Battering Rams, available with theConstructiontechnology. Like the Battering Ram, they let your troops overcome walls when attacking cities. This time, they do so byletting melee troops bypass the wall entirelyand attack the City Center directly. With a large enough army, this can allow you to take a city in a single turn and avoid a prolonged siege.
Since you aren’t doing any damage to the walls when using a Siege Tower, the city will be able touse its ranged attack to retaliate at full strengthat the end of the turn.
Like the Battering Ram, the Siege Towermust be adjacent to the wallsin order to work. It isineffective against Renaissance Walls.
How To Use Military Engineers
Military Engineersare technically Support Units, but theywork more like specialized Builders.They can construct advanced tile improvements likeForts, Airstrips, andRailroads. If you’re planning to go to war,train some Engineers at an Armoryand have them lay the groundwork first - you’ll be glad you did.
Unsurprisingly, Military Engineers are unlocked with theMilitary Engineeringtechnology.
How To Use Medics and Supply Convoys
Medics, unlocked withSanitation, allow nearby friendly units toheal more health each turn. Normally, units heal less when they are in enemy territory or not Fortified, so having a Medic along can help keep units alive and win wars of attrition.
With the discovery ofCombustion, you canupgrade Medics to Supply Convoys, which also give a movement buff to any units that start their turn adjacent to them. Supply Convoys are available if you have theRise And Fallexpansion enabled.
Siege Towers can be upgraded into Medics.
How To Use Observation Balloons And Drones
These Support Units aregreat for Artillery Bombardmentin the late game. TheObservation Balloonbecomes available once you researchFlight; it has a good sight range that’s ideal for spotting targets, and any siege-class units likeArtillerythat are adjacent to an Observation Balloon get+1 range.A well-placed Artillery company supported by Balloons can blast an oncoming foe to bits before they have a chance to do anything about it!
Once you researchComputers, you can upgrade Observation Balloons toDrones.Drones have aneven longer line of sight, and grant their supported siege weaponsa bonus to Combat Strengthon top of the usual range buff. Late-game units likeRocket Artillerysupported by Drones are a force to be reckoned with.
How To Use Anti-Air Guns and Mobile SAM
Just like it did in real life, air combat changes the face of warfare in Civilization 6. If you don’t have sufficient defenses, an opponent with a powerful air force can run roughshod over your ground-bound armies. ResearchAdvanced Ballisticsto unlock theAnti-Air Gun.The AA Gun willdamage any enemy aircraftthat attacking a target adjacent to it, potentially shooting the offending plane down. At the very least, it can force your opponent to spend some time repairing damaged planes and buy you some time.
The upgraded version, theMobile SAM, is available with theGuidance Systemstechnology. It deals slightly more damage, and iscapable of shooting down guided missiles. Yes, that means it can potentiallyprevent a nuclear strike, even though its success isn’t guaranteed. If an enemy is stockpiling warheads, though, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
