What Does Fortify Do in Civilization 7?

The Fortify command is one of the most useful commands in Civilization 7. Using it can put your mind at ease regarding incoming attacks or even save you when threats are cornering you from each tile.

Most players also use it so that their units aren’t on standby, since you’ll be dealing with several units to command, and some rarely need to move. So here’s what Fortify does and how to use it in battle efficiently in Civilization 7.

What Does Fortify Do For Troops in Civilization 7

The Fortify command allows units to build fortifications on the tile they are currently on, giving them a defensive bonus. Any combat action taken will give the unit on the fortification tile a +6 Combat Strength bonus when attacked.

Other fortification improvements, like the Shore Battery or the Hillfort, may also provide a crucial defensive boost against attacks. This gives towns, cities, and capitals an advantage when fewer units surround them. It should always be harder to take control of a city because troops should have a defensive bonus when they are in their homes.

However, you do need to build those fortifications, specifically at strategic locations (chokepoints between your cities, flanks, or unexplored openings. The best use of this mechanic is possibly setting up fortifications near the enemy you are about to attack, bolstering cities with fewer troops ready for action to prevent any sneaky ideas from the AI leaders, or placing a fortification near a settlement you still need to erect.

Plan out your choke points between settlements and place ranged troops with fortifications. Even two or three troops couldn’t take down your defenses as long as you take advantage of those combat bonuses. Trade routes deserve some protection, too, so you’ll have to plan for those when setting up trades with other settlements or leaders. You never know. Someone else might take advantage of loose defenses and ruin your economy.

Related: What Are Specialists and What Do They Do in Civilization 7?

How to Build Fortifications in Civilization 7

To set up a fortification, the unit or troop must be in the specific tile you want to build the fortifications on. Once the unit or troop is on the desired tile, there’s a fortify button on the lower-right corner of your screen, as seen in the image above.

Building fortifications takes a few turns to finish. If a battle is just around the corner, there’s no point in building fortifications since you wouldn’t know where the actual fight will occur. AI movements are too erratic to predict, so you might as well play defensive if you feel outnumbered.

Players also use fortifications as a way to heal safely. Healing troops only requires time, so skipping turns at a safe location, preferably a fortified tile, is the best way to heal troops. Some might even use a sleep command, and some just let the troops die to reduce upkeep costs.