Unlock the Secrets: The Ultimate Tier List for Civilization 7’s Exploration Age Wonders!

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At long last, Civilization VII has arrived, brimming with fresh capabilities and structures for gamers to master. Naturally, Wonders remain a significant element, and this new era introduces 13 of them for exploration.

Since the beginning of the Civilization series, wonders have played a crucial role in the gameplay. These grand structures offer substantial advantages during gameplay, surpassing typical buildings in effectiveness, but require more time to construct.

Progressing through the eras, your civilization will evolve, and focus might fluctuate, but there will always be a necessity for Wonders as you strive towards victory. Not all Wonders are equally valuable; it’s crucial to prioritize the right ones since you won’t be able to construct them all.

In your upcoming game of Civilization 7, here’s a helpful guide categorizing the best Wonders to construct for optimal play.

Exploration Age Wonder tier list

TIERWONDER NAME
SHouse of Wisdom
AEl Escorial, Hale o Keawe, Notre Dame, Serpent Mound, Shwedagon Zedi Daw
BBorobudur, Brihadeeswarar Temple, Erdene Zuu, Forbidden City, Machu Pikchu, White Tower

Our tiers explained

  • S: The best Wonders in the game overall
  • A: Very good for most playthroughs
  • B: More situational, though not without merit in the right setting

When delving into this tier list, bear in mind that constructing Wonders successfully largely relies on the path you’ve opted for. It makes no sense to build a militarily-centric Wonder if you’re not keen on engaging in combat, for instance.

Similarly, other forms of returns, such as Happiness, are pleasant additions, yet maintaining a decent level of contentment among your citizens through your governance isn’t overly challenging. This satisfaction, in turn, can make them more adaptable when extraordinary situations like general crises arise.

Wonders typically have culture as their foundation, offering excellent yields, while keeping demands on players minimal by not requiring too much from them.

S-Tier Exploration Age Wonders in Civilization 7

House of Wisdom

  • Effect:
    • +3 Science
    • Gain 3 Relics
    • Has 3 Relic slots
    • +2 Science from Great Works
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Society II or Al-Jabr II (Abbasid Unique Civic)
  • Placement: Adjacent to a District

As a devoted enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the fact that among all Exploration Age Wonders, only the House of Wisdom has managed to break into the S-Tier. If you’re leaning towards a scientific path in your journey, this monument is an unparalleled force, providing an impressive boost to your yield.

In the A-Tier category, the House of Wisdom is sufficient, but what sets it apart is the inclusion of three Relics and slots for additional Relics. This makes it a standout choice and earns it a spot in our S-tier. The House of Wisdom plays a substantial role in the Cultural Legacy Path during the Exploration Age, providing a considerable advantage if you’ve chosen that playstyle, as it lessens the randomness associated with finding Relics.

A-Tier Exploration Age Wonders in Civilization 7

El Escorial

  • Effect:
    • +3 Happiness
    • Has 3 Relic slots
    • +1 Settlement Limit
    • +4 Happiness on Cities within 7 tiles of this Wonder
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Colonialism II
  • Placement: On Rough Terrain

For now, staying on the Cultural Legacy Track, El Escorial stands as a strong contender, yet it falls slightly short of reaching the elite level. Although it offers extra Relic slots, it lacks the extra Relics that the House of Wisdom grants.

It’s important to prioritize happiness, as an unhappy population could potentially lead to your downfall in the long run. El Escorial, however, alleviates many of these concerns and serves as one of the most potent sources for generating happiness.

Hale o Keawe

  • Effect:
    • +2 Culture
    • Constructing a Building on Coast Terrain grants Culture equal to 50% of its cost
    • Has 3 Relic Slots
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Inspiration
  • Placement: Adjacent to Coast, but not adjacent to Tundra

If you’re particularly interested in Culture, Hale o Keawe could be another excellent choice for you. While it provides a straightforward +2 Culture bonus initially, its real strength lies in generating extra Culture through the benefit of Coast Terrain Buildings.

Just like El Escorial, it too features three Relic Slots, simplifying your journey along the Cultural Legacy Path during the Exploration Era a tad more.

Notre Dame

  • Effect:
    • +4 Happiness
    • When in a Celebration all Specialists provide +3 Culture
    • Start a Celebration immediately after constructing this Wonder
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Social Class II
  • Placement: Adjacent to a River and a District

In simpler terms, Civilization 7 offers multiple strategies for winning, and much of this flexibility arises from added mechanisms. One particularly powerful aspect is Celebrations, which feature various Wonders that boost resources (known as Yields) during celebratory occasions.

The cathedral, known as Notre Dame, contributes an additional 3 points of culture during certain timeframes. While activating this bonus may require managing Specialists, it’s generally straightforward to accomplish and has significant potential if played effectively.

Serpent Mound

  • Effect:
    • +4 Influence
    • +3 Science and +2 Production to all Unique Improvements in this Settlement
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: N/A
  • Placement: On a Grassland tile

At the present moment, the upcoming spectacle in the A-Tier is none other than the Serpent Mound. However, it’s crucial to note that its true potential unfolds only when you make use of the unique opportunities it presents through the construction of Special Developments.

A strong foundation of influence, plus 4, is well-established, but the truly intriguing elements appear when you add Science and Production for each unique enhancement. If your civilization excels in generating these advantages, this wonder is an excellent choice for you.

Shwedagon Zedi Daw

  • Effect:
    • +4 Science
    • +2 Science on all Rural tiles in this Settlement that have at least 1 Happiness
    • +1 Wildcard Attribute Point
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Education
  • Placement: Adjacent to a Lake

Shwedagon Zedi Daw is deeply committed to scientific advancements and serves as a powerful asset in your pursuit of innovative technologies. A boost of +4 in Science is substantial, and further enhancement can be achieved by constructing this marvel within a Settlement, especially when it includes additional farmland.

Additionally, it offers a Universal Attribute Point that lets you choose a skill for your leader from among the various options.

B-Tier Exploration Age Wonders in Civilization 7

Borobudur

  • Effect:
    • +3 Happiness
    • +2 Food and Happiness on Quarters
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Beauracracy
  • Placement: Adjacent to Coast

As an avid fan, I can’t stress enough the value of securing Borobudur at the start of the Exploration Age. This Wonder is a true marvel that, once you decide to build it, will reward you generously from the get-go. It offers additional food resources and Happiness, not just for the overall happiness of your civilization but also specifically in your residential areas.

After transitioning into a new Age, you should aim to accumulate Yields rapidly so that your game isn’t negatively impacted by your enemies before they have time to take advantage. Quarters are indeed an overpowered feature, but Borobudur doesn’t seem significant enough to rank higher on this list.

Rapidly accumulating Yields after transitioning into a new Age is important because it allows you to maintain your position in the game before your enemies can make substantial moves against you. Quarters are a powerful feature, but Borobudur doesn’t seem impactful enough to rank higher on this list.

Brihadeeswarar Temple

  • Effect:
    • +3 Influence
    • All Buildings gain +1 Happiness Adjacency for Navigable Rivers
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Diplomatic Service
  • Placement: Adjacent to a Navigable River or on a Minor River

The impactful new factor in Civilization 7, known as Influence, significantly shapes how your international diplomacy unfolds. Interestingly, Brihadeeswarar provides a modest +3 Influence, whereas Weiyang Palace offers a more substantial +6 Influence during the Antiquity Age.

This feature, which provides an additional dose of Joy for your inhabitants, seems like an afterthought, making the whole seem more enticing than its inherent value might suggest.

Erdene Zuu

  • Effect:
    • +4 Culture
    • Creating a Cavalry Unit grants Culture equal to 25% of its cost
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Imperialism II
  • Placement: On Flat Desert, Plains, or Tundra

Once more delving into Culture, Erdene Zuu steps into the mix, boosting your Cultural influence by 4 points, propelling you closer to the Legacy Path. However, it’s effectiveness beyond that relies heavily on your preference for constructing Cavalry units.

If you’re considering constructing multiple cultural sites, it could be advantageous to focus on Erdene Zuu first. However, in situations where you’re not building numerous cultural sites, other culture options may be more preferable.

Forbidden City

  • Effect:
    • +2 Culture
    • +2 Culture and Gold on all Fortification Buildings in this Settlement
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Authority II
  • Placement: Adjacent to a District

In continuation with a recurring pattern in this ranking system, the Forbidden City serves as another source of Culture, offering a possible gold reward as well. Given that its performance is heavily influenced by Fortification structures, it may not stand out as a remarkable Wonder in numerous games.

In other words, if you’ve fortified your entire settlement, it will provide a reliable source of culture and gold for the future.

Machu Pikchu

  • Effect:
    • +4 Gold
    • +2 Resource Capacity in this Settlement
    • +4 Culture and Gold on all Buildings adjacent to this Wonder
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Urban Planning
  • Placement: On a Tropical Mountain

Machu Picchu and the Forbidden City share striking resemblances in their architectural design. However, when evaluating them, it’s important to consider whether you value resources (Gold) or cultural significance more at that particular moment, as one may yield more than the other for you.

As a devoted admirer, I must say that having an additional Resource Capacity edge for Machu Picchu is quite beneficial, even though its adjacency bonus might not be as potent compared to others. However, it delivers the same level of enhancement as Forbidden City, just in a slightly unique fashion.

White Tower

  • Effect:
    • +4 Happiness
    • +4 Happiness in this Settlement for every Tradition slotted in the Government
    • Ageless
  • Technology/Civic needed: Sovereignty II
  • Placement: Adjacent to a City Hall

The well-known White Tower in the Tower of London, often recognized as its keep, primarily focuses on fostering Joy within your city. As a standard, it provides a boost of +4, and there’s ample opportunity for further enhancement if you consistently implement Traditions.

If seeking true happiness is a priority for you, there’s hardly anyone who surpasses the White Tower. However, its inability to cater to others somewhat restricts its overall impact within Civilization 7.

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2025-02-12 17:22