How to Set Up a Trade Route in Civilization VII

Trade routes are back in Civilization VII, offering a fascinating way to connect with your other settlements and even other players. This is one of the more intricate parts of the strategy game that you should learn how to do sooner rather than later. Here’s everything you need to know about how to set up a trade route in Civ VII.

How to Create a Trade Route in Civ VII

The crux of the trade route in every Age has to do with the Merchant unit. This is one of the unique units that is available in all three Ages, but you have to unlock it each time. Worse still, it requires different Civics to get in each Age. Here are the Civics and technologies for each Age that you’ll need to unlock for the Merchant:

• Age of Antiquity: Code of Laws Civic
• Age of Exploration: Economics Civic
• Modern Age: Steam Engine Technology

Once you have a Merchant in your city, what you then want to do is befriend one or more of the civilizations that in the same match as you. This will allow you to create a trade route once you select your Merchant. Selecting your Merchant will show the various trade routes you can send it on and the resources you will benefit from through this.

Trade Route Benefits, Explained

The goal of a trade route in Civ VII is to increase the resources you get in your nation. This is done by ensuring that you are selecting resources you have that you want to trade with them. This is why it is vital you figure out what you need, be it Food, Gold, or whatever. Then you just need to focus on the nation that will give you the best resources of that type.

I also recommend setting up your trade route as close as possible to speed up how long it takes. For instance, build a city close to your target trade ally and you’ll get resources from them more often. In addition, it is possible to trade with third-party independent nations, but you must first become Suzerain of that City-State through building relations in order to have this feature.

Civilization VII is available right now for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.