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Overbuilding is one of severalnew mechanicsintroduced inCivilization VII. At a glance, it may seem like a fairly simple one, but there’s a lot more to Overbuilding than first meets the eye. As well as knowing how to use it, players will need to understand when Overbuilding can help to improve their settlements.
There are also a few quirks toCiv 7’s Overbuilding mechanic that aren’t immediately apparent, such as there being a small chance for Artifacts to be uncovered during the process. As such, fans of the game should take a moment to read up on Overbuilding inCivilization VIIto understand how it can benefit them.
How Does Overbuilding Work in Civ 7?
Overbuilding makes it easier for players to modernize their settlements, with new structures being built over the old ones rather than on new tiles. This is particularly useful whenplayers transition into a new ageand some of their older buildings become outdated, as it allows players to modernize their settlements and thus maximize their base yield and bonuses without disrupting the overall output.
When Should You Overbuild in Civ 7?
Knowing when and where to overbuild inCiv 7can be very important, as misuse of the mechanic can sometimes lead to things getting worse rather than better. Put simply,players should aim to build over structures with ones that offer similar bonuses and effects, while also making note of how the new structure and the bonuses it provides will impact the buildings around it.
The best strategy is tostick to like-for-life overbuilding, such as replacing a Library with an Academy. This way, the overall makeup of the district remains the same and players will be guaranteed to improve their base yield. As for the when part, players may wish to refrain from overbuilding while their settlements are small, as getting +6 Science from a Library and an Academy is still better than only getting +4 from the latter.
However, as settlements become more densely populated and empty space becomes harder to come by, overbuilding is a must for those hoping toincrease the output of their towns and cities. If they’re in the Exploration Age, they shouldchoose a Plutocracy Governmentandresearch the Piety Civicto unlock the Commune Social Policy, as doing so will grant a decent bonus to Overbuilding. Those playing as the Majapahit Civilization can alsomaster the Wayang Civicfor another nice Overbuilding bonus.
Overbuilding is also incredibly useful whenattempting to secure a Culture Victory, asOverbuilding can sometimes result in the discovery of Artifacts. Some players have suggested thatArtifacts may be more likely to appear when building over religious buildings like Altars and Temples, although, as of the time of writing, the jury’s still out on this one, as there’s nowhere near enough evidence to support or refute the theory.
