What are the most useful wonders?

[halfhalfharp]

I know that the significance of wonders are different in different victory routes and playstyles. Although it is highly situational, there are also some essential ones like the Stonehedge, Colossus, etc. Due to the abundance of wonders and the abundance of wonders that does not benefit my game play, I usually just ignore most of them. But I am sure that you may find some different usage of those wonders untouched?

Which of the wonders will you find useful and which playstyle will you use to fit them?

(just listing a few that I can rmb in the game, so not all of them are here):
Stonehedge: Priority to build if we are playing religiously.
Hanging garden: 15% growth rate, as what I have heard, is trash.
Pyramids: Great for the extra builder charge, must have wonder for Cleo/Qin.
Great Library: What is this.
Colossus: Not really useful for me, as I dun have many coastal games.
Temple of Artemis: I dont think it is that powerful for + food on camps, as camps are not that plentiful in game for me.
Oracle: + great people points. Is it worth rushing?
Colosseum: Great amenity enchancer
Kliwa Kisi(am i right?): What is this.
Alhambra: extra military policy? I have heard that it is good for Germany, but usually I build it as France.
Terracotta Army: not really useful, even for a conquering playstyle. Builing more units is more powerful I guess.
Kokoto-in(?): What is this.
Ankgor Wat: +1 population +1 citizen slot per city right? Is the effect significant? I think it can make a more drastic benefit to larger empires.
the Russian Basilica (sorry whats the full name of this): What is this.
Potala Place: What does it do? Never take a look in what it can do actually.
Great Zimbabwe: I think its a great wonder to have if we have a lot of bonus resources. The gold from trade will be OP. But will it be a waste if we have only 1-2 bonus resources?
Ruhr Valley: Great wonder for production, although not easy to build.
Oxford Uni: What does it do actually.
Casa di Contracion: what is this.
Taj Mahal: The OP golden age wonder. Great for late game wonder builder.
Forbidden palace: I think the extra economic card is quite useful, although it is hard to leave a space adjacent to the city centre in mid game.
Chichen Itza: Great jungle wonder, useful for Brazils and Kongo?
Statue of Liberty: Is it useful in keeping the loyalty? The extra settlers seem to be a bit more useful to me.
Science station in south pole: Anyone actually build it? I really wonder.
Big Ben: What does it do?
Hermitage+Bolshoi Theatre: Cultural wonders. But I think they are not that necessary unless we are relying on great works. Normally I will just build more cities and use Reyna's ability to buy districts.
Effiel tower: Good for cultural games and national parks placement. I suppose it is mainly for cultural game?

 

[MarigoldRan]

Terracotta Army is actually rather useful for war-game Cree. That level 3 ambush is needed.

 

[MaryKB]

I quite enjoy the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. I find retiring the Great Admirals a second time useful, but I use it even more with my Great Engineers. I have found it very useful with the engineers who boost wonder production and help space races. I have used it with Carl Sagan to win games very quickly.

I also often try to build the Venetian Arsenal for the free navy units. It is really useful when building Armadas, getting a second one for free.

I will try to build Great Zimbabwe if I can, since I love trade routes and a focus on economic development. I will often in the early game look for cities that might have a good location for this wonder (cattle and lots of other bonus resources).

 

[acluewithout]

I really like building the Alhambra. It’s probably not even in the top 10 best wonders. And it never actually helps me with any particular victory type. But it always feels like a good game when I build it.

That and the Collosus. I mean, it’s in the opening video. You’ve got to build it if you can.

 

[Turrdy]

I quite enjoy the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. I find retiring the Great Admirals a second time useful, but I use it even more with my Great Engineers. I have found it very useful with the engineers who boost wonder production and help space races. I have used it with Carl Sagan to win games very quickly.

I also often try to build the Venetian Arsenal for the free navy units. It is really useful when building Armadas, getting a second one for free.

I will try to build Great Zimbabwe if I can, since I love trade routes and a focus on economic development. I will often in the early game look for cities that might have a good location for this wonder (cattle and lots of other bonus resources).

Same here! Venetian Arsenal and Great Zimbabwe are my absolute favourites!

I also like all the wonders that give a policy card slot: Potala Palace, Forbidden City, Alhambra and Big Ben.

Oh, and PETRA PARTYYYYYY!
Honestly, in my next game I'm going to try building Petra, Huey, Chicken Pizza, and St. Basils Cathedral in one city. Well, at least it's on my bucket list

 

[historix69]

Alhambra, Forbidden Palace, Potala and Big Ben give the 4 additional card slots, so they are always usefull unless you win the game the next turns anyway.
You forgot the Great Lighthouse with +1 naval movement.

 

[SammyKhalifa]

The Temple of Artemis is actually quickly becoming one of my favorite wonders.

ToA, Pyramids, Forbidden Palace, Colosseum probably the four useful for any style or win condition.

 

[Unaha-Closp]

I can never resist the Wonders that give additional policy slots. Nor can I resist the Venetian Arsenal - it is always available it seems and to have two of a thing for the production cost of one is so tempting. Got a City on the Coast that isn't contributing majorly to your Victory Condition? What if it made 2 of a thing to keep your coastal cities safe? I'm in. Same for Terracotta Army - 2 for the cost of 1. These are all purpose Wonders for me that I will get if I can regardless of game - but I don't play Deity that often so don't have to beeline for the victory condition. Generally any Wonder that contributes to your victory plan is worth it if you can. If I can get the Pyramids then I will, same as Petra, but sometimes you just aren't near desert so they aren't critical.

Edit - is it a mod I use that gives me an extra unit with Terracotta Army? I think so - so scratch that one. I'm cheating 2nd Edit - It is 100% a mod I have installed that gives me 2 for 1 on the Terracotta. I'll get my modded coat and show myself out.

 

[halfhalfharp]

Terracotta Army is actually rather useful for war-game Cree. That level 3 ambush is needed.

You mean using the scouts to rush? Wow, but will it be practical? It seems like we need a lot of set up for this but the other civs can produce stronger units by that time.

I quite enjoy the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. I find retiring the Great Admirals a second time useful, but I use it even more with my Great Engineers. I have found it very useful with the engineers who boost wonder production and help space races. I have used it with Carl Sagan to win games very quickly.

I also often try to build the Venetian Arsenal for the free navy units. It is really useful when building Armadas, getting a second one for free.

I will try to build Great Zimbabwe if I can, since I love trade routes and a focus on economic development. I will often in the early game look for cities that might have a good location for this wonder (cattle and lots of other bonus resources).

Interesting. I never build the Maloseum as I rarely hv the chance to build navy (and great admirals). Seems that you are playing island maps a lot. I like the Zimbabwe too but I cant get well along with it... as France, which I usually play as. Balancing the commercial hubs, wonders, and chaeux all beside the river is a headache.

 

[historix69]

Edit - is it a mod I use that gives me an extra unit with Terracotta Army? I think so - so scratch that one. I'm cheating

Maybe you confuse it with Civ5 TerraCotta?

 

[MaryKB]

Same here! Venetian Arsenal and Great Zimbabwe are my absolute favourites!

I also like all the wonders that give a policy card slot: Potala Palace, Forbidden City, Alhambra and Big Ben.

Oh, and PETRA PARTYYYYYY!
Honestly, in my next game I'm going to try building Petra, Huey, Chicken Pizza, and St. Basils Cathedral in one city. Well, at least it's on my bucket list

Oh my gosh, how could I have forgotten Big Ben? I love that wonder! My main problem with it is that as I am building the wonder I refuse to spend money, as I feel I'm losing out on interest or something. One time I managed to get 40,000 gold from Big Ben (a game where I managed to get into 6 digits in my treasury). Gold, gold, gold, GOLD!

Interesting. I never build the Maloseum as I rarely hv the chance to build navy (and great admirals). Seems that you are playing island maps a lot. I like the Zimbabwe too but I cant get well along with it... as France, which I usually play as. Balancing the commercial hubs, wonders, and chaeux all beside the river is a headache.

I usually play on Continents, and almost always have a coast line.

I actually use it more for the Engineers than the Admirals though. The value of the extra charge for Space Race engineers cannot be overstated.

 

[Liufeng]

the Russian Basilica (sorry whats the full name of this): What is this.

St Basil's Cathedral, and it's a must have if you're playing a religious/cultural Victory and build Mont St Michel (and if you're playing as the Khmer, you cannot not build it). That 100% for religious tourism and relic slots are great (the other boni are a bit meh, except if you're playing as Russia and the city has some tundra tiles).

Kliwa Kisi(am i right?): What is this.

Kilwa Kisiwani is useful if you intend to befriend lots of CS, especially that it gives you +15% output of the CS's type (if you befriend 2 of the same type) : for example, if you have built the Wonder and you're suzerain of Hattusa and Babylon, all you're cities science output augment of 15% (same goes for culture, gold, production, ...).

Kokoto-in(?): What is this.

Kotoku-in is only useful if you're playing religiously, as it gives the city +20% of faith production and four warrior monks. And even so, it's not that great ...

Casa di Contracion: what is this.

Actually, the Casa de contratacion is great, as it gives you 3 promotions for your governors, and boosts the citiesoutputs in a foreign continent if they have a governor ! (plus, GM points !)

Great Library: What is this.

It's good if you're playing for a science Victory (or even a cultural Victory, with the great writing works slots and GW points), as it gives eurekas and GS points

Oxford Uni: What does it do actually.

Very efficient Wonder if you're playing a science Victory, as it gives you 2 free techs and 3 GS points (and 2 writing great works slots).

 

[Bosque]

I always go for the Mausoleum for the extra charges for Great Admirals and Great Engineers. The other wonder I always beeline for is the Apadana. It makes it much easier to become suzerain of multiple city states. I will frequently end a game as suzerain of a dozen or more... sometimes every CS in the game.

 

[Lily_Lancer]

1yramid,+efficiency for Magnus chop
2:Forbidden City, Printing is a tech with very high priority in R & F . (+3 Combat Strength), so the already strong Forbidden becomes much more useful. Previously printing tech was not with high priorty so the city is not extremely good.

 

[MarigoldRan]

You mean using the scouts to rush? Wow, but will it be practical? It seems like we need a lot of set up for this but the other civs can produce stronger units by that time.


Interesting. I never build the Maloseum as I rarely hv the chance to build navy (and great admirals). Seems that you are playing island maps a lot. I like the Zimbabwe too but I cant get well along with it... as France, which I usually play as. Balancing the commercial hubs, wonders, and chaeux all beside the river is a headache.

Well, I modded the Okitchaw to have 4 more strength to cancel out the Diety combat bonuses.

But at 24 strength the Okitchaw is a DEADLY fighter due to its mobility. It's a 3-move warrior that can forest walk. Two of them cost the same as a horsemen and are just as mobile. Besides, it's fun.

 

[PYITE]

I always plan for a Colosseum spot. With Magnus it’s pretty easy to chop it in around turn 70 and have it impact at least 6 cities giving a huge culture and amenities boost to your civ.

 

[Siptah]

Useful in (almost) all games: Mausoleum, pyramids, temple of Artemis, colosseum, Zimbabwe, Big Ben, casa

Useful when you have the perfect spot or a specific victory: Petra, Eiffel Tower, cristo redentor, st. Basil‘s, Huey, Hagia sophia, Apadana, Kilwa, Oxford, Arsenal

I‘m not as big a fan of the card wonders anymore. Sure, they are nice to have though.
Oracle is a Great wonder, but the AI loves it.

 

[halfhalfharp]

St Basil's Cathedral, and it's a must have if you're playing a religious/cultural Victory and build Mont St Michel (and if you're playing as the Khmer, you cannot not build it). That 100% for religious tourism and relic slots are great (the other boni are a bit meh, except if you're playing as Russia and the city has some tundra tiles).

Kilwa Kisiwani is useful if you intend to befriend lots of CS, especially that it gives you +15% output of the CS's type (if you befriend 2 of the same type) : for example, if you have built the Wonder and you're suzerain of Hattusa and Babylon, all you're cities science output augment of 15% (same goes for culture, gold, production, ...).

Kotoku-in is only useful if you're playing religiously, as it gives the city +20% of faith production and four warrior monks. And even so, it's not that great ...

Actually, the Casa de contratacion is great, as it gives you 3 promotions for your governors, and boosts the citiesoutputs in a foreign continent if they have a governor ! (plus, GM points !)

It's good if you're playing for a science Victory (or even a cultural Victory, with the great writing works slots and GW points), as it gives eurekas and GS points

Very efficient Wonder if you're playing a science Victory, as it gives you 2 free techs and 3 GS points (and 2 writing great works slots).

Very informative you are. I wonder if the great library is really that useful for sci victory. For pure science players (say, Korea), when the civics has caught up the Recorded History, they already completed most of the ancient/classical techs. Therefore I think it is a wonder mainly for cultural players to catch up the science they ignored. I think it best fits China, which has an interwining route of both sci and culture.

The oxford Uni is also less useful to me as it needs a 18- 24 turns to complete. 20 turns is a period of time that most late game players has completed a dozen of the modern techs. It maybe somewhat useful but not too important.

Emmm Casa sounds great ... but it is really situational I guess. I normally build the government plaza around the capital city to boost district outputs so the chance to have it on a different continent is rare

The other religious wonders are sth that I have never touched, sounds like I should have a try.

 

[blackcatatonic]

Always build: The Oracle, Forbidden City, Big Ben, Casa, Oxford, Ruhr, Cristo Redentor, Statue of Liberty

Like a lot and will build if I can: Pyramids, Petra (I will always build these if I can find the desert), Apadana, Temple of Artemis, Colosseum, the Colossus, Huey, Potala, Alhambra (the AI loves these two, a little more than I do), Kilwa

Probably don't build often enough: Mausoleum, the various culture slot wonders (esp. Broadway which the AI always beats me to), Zimbabwe, Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Venetian Arsenal (it's an amazing wonder for what it does, it just does something I don't need very much)

Never build: Stonehenge, unless I'm playing for a religious victory (which almost never happens) AND I have a dream start with the right Eurekas, lots of production and of course stone. The AI loves it so it's a huge risk even starting, plus even if you do get it that's a very long time at a crucial point of the game when you could have been building more useful things. The Great Library and Chichen Itza as well. Kotoku - I built it once for giggles but it's pretty useless.

 

[blackcatatonic]

Emmm Casa sounds great ... but it is really situational I guess. I normally build the government plaza around the capital city to boost district outputs so the chance to have it on a different continent is rare

To be honest I consider Casa worth it just for the extra governor points. Can be really useful if you're expanding quickly and want to get another governor out to your outposts, or if you want to quickly boost one to get one of the 3rd tier promotions.