Civ 7 - Unique Units top 7 choices

[Lazy sweeper]

I'll start. My choices goes along with my top 7 new civs to include.
All civs to include cultural specific traits. Aka Asians Archers looks different from western archers. African swordsmans looks different from Asians, Europeans.
American scouts can move through jungle, woods, or water swamps much faster. African units move faster in deserts. Finns in snowy terrain or tundra.

Tibet - Monk warrior, initially bamboo, then long pikes. Liquid swords. Asian Archers.
Amazonian - Jungle warriors - poison skirmichers
Finns - Berserkers with double Axe, Single Hammer, and pikes. Aka Vikings asymmetry- composite bows archers (fast release). Also Mountain warriors (Giant warriors)
Swiss - Lanzknechts pikemens. And Mountain warriors in antiquity (way bigger and more fearful than NON mountain civs.
Apaches, Iroquis or Sasquatch. Horsemen riders. Horse Archers. Sasquatch, Giant warriors, Spearthrowers, mixed melee-skirmish. Fast woods scouts runners.
Morocco - Camel warriors, Camer archers. Desert archers.
Illirian, or Sparta - Falanges swordsmans.

Regarding USSR (Russia) , France (Franks) , Italy (Rome), UK, Japan, USA, Germany... These civs have LOADS of unique units each starting with the Industrial revolution...
Tanks, airships, airplanes of all kinds, ships of all kinds, submarines... Russia usually is the one easily forgotten...

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

Jezailchi - Afghanistan - The jezail was a heavy rifle used by the Pashtuns against the British during the Anglo-Afghan Wars; had a destructive effect due to their superior range compared to the British rifles. In a 1UPT game I could see them being a hybrid ranged-melee unit.

Zamburakchi - Afghanistan/Persia/Afsharids - The zamburak was a small swivel cannon mounted on a camel, and was used to utterly devastating effect by the military genius Nader Shah and his student-turned-shah Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Camel Javelineer - Qedarites/Arabia - The Qedarites were an ancient Arab people in the Near East, notable for using camel warriors. The Wikipedia page on the Qedarites notes that they extensively used camelry in their wars, and that a javelin-wielding army destroyed an invading Antigonid army.

War Rocket - Mysore/India - If we don't get a scattered India in Civ7, then we really should at least get Tipu Sultan as an alternative Indian leader (in a minor DLC most appropriately) with his famous war rockets as a leader-tied UU. After the defeat of the Mysoreans these weapons were researched by the British who would use them as inspiration for their own missile designs.

Iron Hawk - Tanguts - I don't have much info about this unit, but I dig the name

Iron Pagoda Cavalry - Jurchen/Manchu/Jin - The Jin army was noted for their powerful cavalry, skilled horsemen thanks to their nomadic hunting lifestyle. The horsemen were also known to be equipped with heavy armour. They also look really cool:

Zenata Cavalry - Morocco/Andalus/Spain - These highly mobile light cavalry were an effective part of the military of the Emirate of Granada, and inspired the jinete who would be fielded extensively by the Castillians/Spanish.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Apaches, Iroquis or Sasquatch. Horsemen riders. Horse Archers. Sasquatch, Giant warriors, Spearthrowers, mixed melee-skirmish. Fast woods scouts runners.

The Iroquois should get unique musketmen if they were to return. They were the first tribe to use gunpowder successfully.

Tanks, airships, airplanes of all kinds, ships of all kinds, submarines... Russia usually is the one easily forgotten...

The T-34 Tank would be a nice break from the Cossacks.

Zamburakchi - Afghanistan/Persia/Afsharids - The zamburak was a small swivel cannon mounted on a camel, and was used to utterly devastating effect by the military genius Nader Shah and his student-turned-shah Ahmad Shah Durrani.

It's too bad we couldn't have gotten that as Nader Shah's leader UU.

For the rest:
Vietnam- Mong Dong was a coastal warship not unlike the famous Turtleship of Korea. It's something different than giving every single SEA civilization a variation of an Elephant UU.

Ethiopia-Shotelai- Axum era warriors with curves swords.

Berbers- Numidian Cavalry- Carthage apparently had them in Civ 4 but it would nice if they could come back without being under Carthage.

Ireland-Fianna-I see most people mentioning the Gallowglass, but I think it would be cool if they had a unit which was also around before the Medieval period. Plus those are specific to Ireland whereas the Gallowglass warriors were from Scotland as well.

Honorable mentions:
Argentinian Gauchos or French Musketeers- I think it would be cool if we got a UU that could create or inspire a Great Work.

Japan Ashigaru- I know the Samurai is iconic but I think it would be cool to have them alongside the Samurai at some point.

 

[Bonyduck Campersang]

It's too bad we couldn't have gotten that as Nader Shah's leader UU.

For Nader Shah I would prefer the Jezayerichi as a UU, and have the Zamburakchi as an Afghan unit (if they both appear in Civ7)

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

For Nader Shah I would prefer the Jezayerichi as a UU, and have the Zamburakchi as an Afghan unit (if they both appear in Civ7)

I guess that would make more sense considering it's also the name of his agenda.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

I don't like 1UPT rules. it is very off scale..
Mine.
1. Dromon for Byzantium, being medieval unit (and melee. flamethrowers didn't have a good range)
2. Macedonian Pezhetairoi. superior classical era 'linear infantry' choice.
3. English longbowmen
4. Dutch Dunkirkers.
5. Italian Galeass
6. Indonesian (similiar) galeass ('Djong' is mislabled.)
7. French Le Blanc (Fusilier replacements, available earlier. an equally rival to British 'Redcoats' if they ever returns)

Alternatively
1. Spain will get Tercio instead of Conquistadores. Pike and Shotte replacements with superior overall combat stats.
2. Portugal will get Caravel (while everybody else get Carrack, this unit is mis-labelled for years, what shown up in Civ6 is actually a generic carrack given that one is slightly bigger than late cogs and capable of oceanic navigations. something cogs can't do, though i'm not sure what 'Kraweel' actually is but Lisa von Lubeck is.. according to Wiki entry, described as 'Kraweel' while other sites said it is a (late) cog.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

1. Dromon for Byzantium, being medieval unit (and melee. flamethrowers didn't have a good range)

I'm fine with it being a ranged unit. I don't think it should only be one ranged though like the regular quadrireme.

4. Dutch Dunkirkers.

Weren't the Dunkirkers fighting for the Spanish monarchy though?

6. Indonesian (similiar) galeass ('Djong' is mislabled.)

I think in game it's designed as looking like a Borobudur ship.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

Weren't the Dunkirkers fighting for the Spanish monarchy though?

The Dutch started issuing "Letters of Marque" to ships operating as privateers out of Dunkirk around 1583, or about 15 - 17 years after the "80 Years' War" or "Dutch Revolt" started against Spain. The 'Dunkirkers' were noticably shallow-draft and fast and were also the first vessels sometimes referred to as Frigates - about 150 years or so before the 'real' frigates were designed by the French. Although the privateers were supposed to operate against Spain, I have no doubt that they also occasionally attacked French, English, other nations' ships, most of whom were either enemies or at least, not friends of the Spanish. Officially, though, they were licensed to attack Spanish ships, and the shallow-draft light construction was later applied to the Dutch navy's first Ships of the Line of the 1660s, which tended to carry fewer guns on no more than 2 decks instead of 3, but also were faster and more maneuverable than their English opponents.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

^ so De Zevern Provincien is rightly Frigate replacements if Frigate should be\ listed amongs the 'Cruiser/Destroyer' lineage and not 'Ships of the Line' / BB?

Also did the final iterations of Ships of the Line the French design? did the French name these designs sincce these are the clear 'Age of Enlightenment' warship designs and distinct from Carrack-Galleon and derivatives of the two previous centuries.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

^ so De Zevern Provincien is rightly Frigate replacements if Frigate should be\ listed amongs the 'Cruiser/Destroyer' lineage and not 'Ships of the Line' / BB?

Also did the final iterations of Ships of the Line the French design? did the French name these designs sincce these are the clear 'Age of Enlightenment' warship designs and distinct from Carrack-Galleon and derivatives of the two previous centuries.

Yes and No.

Yes, De Zevern Provincien (there were actually 7 ships with that name in the Dutch navy from 1643 to the present day) was a ship of the line, built in 1665 and so an 'enlarged Dunkirker'. This is the most likely candidate for the in-game Unique, since it was the quintessential Dutch capital ship of the late 17th century and de Ruyter's flagship when he stomped the British Royal Navy in the Second Dutch War. Since Civ VI doesn't have ships of the line, the Frigate is the only possible alternative for it.

BUT ships of the line came out of the British/English ship-building tradition, not the French. Angus Konstam wrote an entire book on the subject: Sovereigns of the Sea, on the capital ship development from the late middle ages to the ship of the line in the 1650s - 1660s. The 'prototype' ship of the line was the Sovereign of the Seas, or Royal Sovereign, built in England in 1637, the first ship built with 3 continuous gun decks mounting over 100 'big guns'. In 1653 CE the English Navy issued the Sailing and Fighting Instructions that called for broadside tactics and 'line of battle' formations, the standard naval tactic for the next 170 years and built around the ship of the line.

French influence came much later, when French shipwrights designed the 74-gun ship of the line from 1740 to 1747. This was widely considered to be the "perfect blend" of sailing and fighting qualities, and by 1793 CE 64 out of the British Royal Navy's 146 ships of the line were '74s'. They were the first warships to carry guns as big as 36 pounders on 2 gun decks and replaced all the older 60 and 70-gun ships of the line completely.

 

[BuchiTaton]

The Iroquois should get unique musketmen if they were to return. They were the first tribe to use gunpowder successfully.

Tomahawk is more unique and allows an earlier unique unit, something needed for what is supposed to be the oldest know native confederation from what is now USA.

The T-34 Tank would be a nice break from the Cossacks.

Streltsy allow like Cossacks to represent the rise of the Russia Empire, with the ability to build Gulyay-gorod (walking forts). They also have the advantage to not be closely related to the history of Ukraine like the Cossacks that turn these into a "controversial" unit because the current events.

1. Spain will get Tercio instead of Conquistadores. Pike and Shotte replacements with superior overall combat stats.

Conquistadores is the way to go. The whole theme and gameplay design of a civ comes first than the units, so Spain is the quintessence of the colonial conquest and the Conquistador unit with the related exploration abilities, native auxiliar recruitment and forced conversion effects have more flavor and value than any better stats for a regular resanissance infantry unit.
In any case the Rodeleros was the part of both Tercios and Conquistadores units that were of notoriety and usefull in both scenarios.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Tomahawk is more unique and allows an earlier unique unit, something needed for what is supposed to be the oldest know native confederation from what is now USA.

I'd still give at least one of them a tomahawk, for a finishing blow not unlike the Redcoat using bayonets, considering they would be a melee unit. Considering the confederacy likely became to be no earlier than 1450, I don't believe they need to have a unit super early. It would be similar to the one used in Humankind.

Streltsy allow like Cossacks to represent the rise of the Russia Empire, with the ability to build Gulyay-gorod (walking forts). They also have the advantage to not be closely related to the history of Ukraine like the Cossacks that turn these into a "controversial" unit because the current events.

Streltsky could work too.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

Conquistadores is the way to go. The whole theme and gameplay design of a civ comes first than the units, so Spain is the quintessence of the colonial conquest and the Conquistador unit with the related exploration abilities, native auxiliar recruitment and forced conversion effects have more flavor and value than any better stats for a regular resanissance infantry unit.
In any case the Rodeleros was the part of both Tercios and Conquistadores units that were of notoriety and usefull in both scenarios.

Conquistadores NEVER operates anywhere in Eurpe!!!!! and they are only comprses of a fraction of Spanish land forces. also they are no amateurs drafted to the army.
My unit criterion in Civ7 follows a hypothesis where 'Anticavalry' and 'Melee' (and Ranged' ) converged in Earlymodern era. since a large block of swordsmen as homogeneous units are useless (Rodeleroes are also part of Tercios and deployed around pikemen and arquebusiers, and too bad didn't last long since these are proven useless shortly later, round steel shields couldn't block musket balls, pike walls are really hard to parry by simple sword swings and didn't stay still, even if one rodelero can parry a group of pike, one o two pikemen can still impale or at least 'push' that rodelero, and arquebusier in the same tercio could shoot at a very close range at one). I don't use the same lens as Civ6 which. if you try to protect Civ6 unit class system, i am NO KAY with! regardless what gameplay system will you use (stacking VS 1UPT).

Are you really okay to disregard this historical sense with fancy situations that a regiment of conqustadores were set loose against bad neighbours of Spain? (particularly France).

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

Conquistadores NEVER operates anywhere in Eurpe!!!!! and they are only comprses of a fraction of Spanish land forces. also they are no amateurs drafted to the army.
My unit criterion in Civ7 follows a hypothesis where 'Anticavalry' and 'Melee' (and Ranged' ) converged in Earlymodern era. since a large block of swordsmen as homogeneous units are useless (Rodeleroes are also part of Tercios and deployed around pikemen and arquebusiers, and too bad didn't last long since these are proven useless shortly later, round steel shields couldn't block musket balls, pike walls are really hard to parry by simple sword swings and didn't stay still, even if one rodelero can parry a group of pike, one o two pikemen can still impale or at least 'push' that rodelero, and arquebusier in the same tercio could shoot at a very close range at one). I don't use the same lens as Civ6 which. if you try to protect Civ6 unit class system, i am NO KAY with! regardless what gameplay system will you use (stacking VS 1UPT).

Are you really okay to disregard this historical sense with fancy situations that a regiment of conqustadores were set loose against bad neighbours of Spain? (particularly France).

Well Spain is designed to go to explore different continents, at least in Civ 6, so yes Conquistadors do make sense as a UU. That being said, I don't see any reason that we couldn't have both, or the Tercio for Civ 7. I think those two are the top choices.

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

Tomahawk is more unique and allows an earlier unique unit, something needed for what is supposed to be the oldest know native confederation from what is now USA.

Streltsy allow like Cossacks to represent the rise of the Russia Empire, with the ability to build Gulyay-gorod (walking forts). They also have the advantage to not be closely related to the history of Ukraine like the Cossacks that turn these into a "controversial" unit because the current events.

Conquistadores is the way to go. The whole theme and gameplay design of a civ comes first than the units, so Spain is the quintessence of the colonial conquest and the Conquistador unit with the related exploration abilities, native auxiliar recruitment and forced conversion effects have more flavor and value than any better stats for a regular resanissance infantry unit.
In any case the Rodeleros was the part of both Tercios and Conquistadores units that were of notoriety and usefull in both scenarios.

Streltsi have the advantage of being a strictly Russian unit, developed by Ivan IV, and their peculiar combination of musket and single-bladed axe was not used by anybody else. The gulay-gorod, on the other hand, was only used for about half a century (roughly, 1530s to 1590s) by the Russians, was originally simply a siege device (allowing troops to get closer to the walls before an assault) and was also used by with more effect in field battles by the Hussites (as the wagenburg) and by the Zaporozhian Cossacks - which rightly should be a Ukrainian unit or maybe a special unit for a City State (Zaporozhye)

Cossacks have affiliated themselves with Russia only since Catherine the Great: before that they were allies as individual hosts and before that they were anti-Russian, resisting Russia's expansion into the modern area of Ukraine and North Caucasus. In fact, when the Cossacks were most unique, as light lancers in the 17th and early 18th centuries, they were anti-Russian. The Cossacks after the Napoleonic Wars (the period that Civ VI models them as 'Cavalry replacements") they were indistinguishable from ordinary light cavalry of the period.

Other 'early Russian' Unique units potentially could be:

Dragoons - All the cavalry Peter the Great raised were dragoons - cheap horsemen on raggedy horses, which were the only kind he could get in northern Russia. There are two things unique about them besides being cheaper than regular Cuirassiers: first, they dismounted to fight, so nobody gets any Anti-Cav bonus against them. Second, Pet er combined them with mounted infantry into a Corps Volante or "Flying Column" that ambushed and destroyed an entire Swedish army of reinforcements and supplies, so a Dragoon unit (rather like Civ VI's Keshiks) could 'escort' regular Line Infantry at Mounted speeds.

Unicorns - mid 18th century Field Artillery that combined the effects of field cannon and howitzers. Could be Field Artillery with an extra Siege Bonus against walls and cities.

Yegerskii - Russian 'Jagers, or light infantry of the lat e 18th century. Not particularly good as light infantry compared to the French or British, but a large percentage of their battalion commanders went on to command armies, so they could provide Great General points when used.

Opolchnye - Militia. They flocked to service by the millions in both the Patriotic War against Napoleon in 1812 and the Great Patriotic War against Hitler in 1941 - 45. Basically, free mediocre infantry, but they can be cheaply Upgraded to regular infantry of the period and could be used from the Industrial through the Atomic Eras. You'd only be able to get them if somebody invaded you, though.

 

[Evie]

Conquistadores NEVER operates anywhere in Eurpe!!!!!

So what?

Plenty of UUs operated only in specific places. The game still has them, and they can operate anywhere. This is a ridiculous reason to reject a UU, and a worse one for doing caps-and-bold yelling.

(Not to mention there is a pretty clear historical link from the reconquista in Europe to the conquistador in the New World, so the European ties are much more complicated than you'd think)

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

So what?

Plenty of UUs operated only in specific places. The game still has them, and they can operate anywhere. This is a ridiculous reason to reject a UU, and a worse one for doing caps-and-bold yelling.

(Not to mention there is a pretty clear historical link from the reconquista in Europe to the conquistador in the New World, so the European ties are much more complicated than you'd think)

There is also a direct link between the conquistadores and the Spanish infantry in Europe: The Conquistadores were armed with arquebus, crossbow, halbard, pike and sword - the same weapons of the first Colunelas in 1493 and Tercios in the 1530s. The Tercios ended up all pike and shot, but not until the last 20 years of the 16th century.

The only difference between Conquistadores and Tercios was numbers: there wasn't anywhere in the New World they needed a 3000-man unit, or could support and transport such a force easily in the 16th century . . .

 

[cupcaketheg]

1-Brazil: I think they should have the Bandeirante as an reinassence era recon unit, although they may be a bit controversial (conquistadores are in the game though, so i think it will be fine). The Pracinhas would be cool to come back, maybe as Getúlio Vargas' UU, since they are very iconic here in brazil (smoking snakes go brrr)
2-Swahili/Oman: grouping these together cuz i believe both of them could have an naval unit based on a type of Dhow, a traditional sailing vessels used in the Indian Ocean. The swahili would have the Jahazi and Oman would have the Baghlah.
3-Morocco: The Goumier could be a modern era cavalry replacement that gains additional combat strengh in friendly territory and in foreing continents, referencing their role in WW2. Wouldnt mind if they got the Barbary Corsairs as their UU instead of the ottomans, especially if they choose Sayyida al-Hurra as a leader. Also, they could have the Black Guard if Ismail Ibn Sharif is their leader.
4-Any Aboriginal culture: Boomerang UU, as an early ranged unit with increased range and power. The name could also be the native word for the boomerang, like calling the UU Baddawal if they choose the Wiradjuri as a representative for an Aboriginal culture (cuz blobbling all Aboriginal cultures into one civ would be pretty bad).
5-Mexico: They have a good amount of possible UUs, but the ones i would pick would be the Soldaderas, cuz girlpowerand guerrilla tactics, and maybe they could have the Rurales if lead by Benito Juárez.
6-Bohemia: War-Wagons/Wagenburgs: an medieval era cavalry replacement that is slower but alot more defensive, they could form a Wagon Fort, gain additional defense strengh from terrain or any other turtling bonus
7-Inuit: Unaaq/Harpoon: could be an early recon unit that removes resources (like Anansi) and have some bonus related to water (maybe enbarking earlier?) with the tradeoff being that they have lower combat strengh.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

Streltsi have the advantage of being a strictly Russian unit, developed by Ivan IV, and their peculiar combination of musket and single-bladed axe was not used by anybody else. The gulay-gorod, on the other hand, was only used for about half a century (roughly, 1530s to 1590s) by the Russians, was originally simply a siege device (allowing troops to get closer to the walls before an assault) and was also used by with more effect in field battles by the Hussites (as the wagenburg) and by the Zaporozhian Cossacks - which rightly should be a Ukrainian unit or maybe a special unit for a City State (Zaporozhye)

Cossacks have affiliated themselves with Russia only since Catherine the Great: before that they were allies as individual hosts and before that they were anti-Russian, resisting Russia's expansion into the modern area of Ukraine and North Caucasus. In fact, when the Cossacks were most unique, as light lancers in the 17th and early 18th centuries, they were anti-Russian. The Cossacks after the Napoleonic Wars (the period that Civ VI models them as 'Cavalry replacements") they were indistinguishable from ordinary light cavalry of the period.

Other 'early Russian' Unique units potentially could be:

Dragoons - All the cavalry Peter the Great raised were dragoons - cheap horsemen on raggedy horses, which were the only kind he could get in northern Russia. There are two things unique about them besides being cheaper than regular Cuirassiers: first, they dismounted to fight, so nobody gets any Anti-Cav bonus against them. Second, Pet er combined them with mounted infantry into a Corps Volante or "Flying Column" that ambushed and destroyed an entire Swedish army of reinforcements and supplies, so a Dragoon unit (rather like Civ VI's Keshiks) could 'escort' regular Line Infantry at Mounted speeds.

Unicorns - mid 18th century Field Artillery that combined the effects of field cannon and howitzers. Could be Field Artillery with an extra Siege Bonus against walls and cities.

Yegerskii - Russian 'Jagers, or light infantry of the lat e 18th century. Not particularly good as light infantry compared to the French or British, but a large percentage of their battalion commanders went on to command armies, so they could provide Great General points when used.

Opolchnye - Militia. They flocked to service by the millions in both the Patriotic War against Napoleon in 1812 and the Great Patriotic War against Hitler in 1941 - 45. Basically, free mediocre infantry, but they can be cheaply Upgraded to regular infantry of the period and could be used from the Industrial through the Atomic Eras. You'd only be able to get them if somebody invaded you, though.

I'm more on Streltsy as Russian UU. (ALL)
Cossacks should be more of mercs. I don't like them being Cav replacements especially with Imperial Russian Army has their very own regular cavalry that's roughtly the same 'generic cavs' like everybody in Europe.

^ Russian 'Nossack' cavalry (regular light or medium cavalry that's NOT cossack and thus recruited from regular stock and not Ukrainian subjects, also organized regularly as regiments and not hosts.) charging French Cuirassiers in 1812 (Probably in the Battle of Borodino). these are what COSSACKS replace. actually HUSSARS (which were roughtly light dashing raider cavalry) are found amongs ranks of Russians (i'd like this unit to be yet another generic name for Light Cavalry choice everyone has. including Americans!)
they might have been repurposed Dragonui.

'Corps Volante' could be Peter's UU. since he expanded Russia REAL good. he needs military unit that has the speed of Cavalry but can stand ground like Infantry. and can even have their own support artillery attached to each rgt. so here we go.

 

[Lonecat Nekophrodite]

So what?

Plenty of UUs operated only in specific places. The game still has them, and they can operate anywhere. This is a ridiculous reason to reject a UU, and a worse one for doing caps-and-bold yelling.

(Not to mention there is a pretty clear historical link from the reconquista in Europe to the conquistador in the New World, so the European ties are much more complicated than you'd think)

But still Conquistadores NEVER has been deployed in Italian Wars. (and there, Spanish 'Tercio' emerged and they should instead replace Conquistadores).
so what's reason to keep them around and how will you design this unit if you insist on keeping it? (class, capabilitiess)