Civilization 7: How To Unlock And Use The Ranged Military Unit

Ranged military units represent one of the most powerful tactical assets in Civilization VII, offering strategic advantages that can dominate battlefields when properly utilized. Understanding how to effectively deploy these units early can dramatically shift the balance of power in your favor.

When beginning a Civilization VII campaign, your military options are initially quite limited. You’ll start with basic infantry units that possess restricted movement capabilities and can only engage enemies from directly adjacent tiles. The Army Commander, available during early Antiquity Age phases, primarily functions to absorb and coordinate existing units rather than provide ranged capabilities.

After your initial combat encounters, you’ll quickly recognize the value of ranged units that opposing leaders may deploy against your forces. These units excel at delivering damage from safe distances—typically two tiles away—enabling you to inflict harm without immediate retaliation. While acquiring these assets doesn’t require extensive waiting, specific research paths must be followed to unlock ranged military capabilities in Civilization VII.

The Animal Husbandry technology unlocks the Slinger unit

Each Civilization VII campaign unfolds differently based on selected difficulty settings, game duration, map configurations, and other variables. Based on extensive gameplay analysis, the initial ranged unit typically becomes available around turn 70 when playing standard length games. This timing represents approximately 35% progression through the Antiquity Age. Starting from advanced ages automatically provides access to certain ranged units from the beginning.

Ranged units become accessible through researching Animal Husbandry technology. This research option appears after completing prerequisite technologies like Navigation. Once Animal Husbandry becomes available for investigation, it generally requires only a handful of turns to complete and delivers multiple valuable bonuses to your civilization.

The primary reward from Animal Husbandry research is unlocking the capacity to produce Tier 1 Antiquity Ranged Units known as “Slingers.” These primitive projectile units employ basic slingshots to attack targets from one or two tiles distance. The trade-off for this extended attack range is significantly reduced defensive capabilities compared to standard infantry formations.

Pro Tip: Research Navigation immediately at game start to accelerate your path to Animal Husbandry. Prioritize building a Slinger production queue in cities with production bonuses to quickly establish ranged superiority over neighboring civilizations.

As you advance through the Antiquity Age, your selected leader and civilization may provide access to specialized ranged unit variants. All players can enhance their ranged capabilities beyond the Antiquity period through technological advancements. For instance, reaching the Modern Age enables production of Rifle Infantry units, which combine firearm-based long-range attacks with substantially improved defensive statistics.

When seeking additional ranged unit options, meticulously examine all available technologies each time research opportunities arise. Certain technologies provide complimentary Commanders or new military units alongside their primary benefits. If uncertain whether a unit possesses ranged capabilities, apply logical assessment—artillery devices like Trebuchets function as ranged siege weapons despite potentially ambiguous unit descriptions.

Rifle Infantry is a ranged unit that features stronger defenses

Common Mistake: Many players overlook civilization-specific ranged units that may become available through unique cultural advancements or leader abilities. Always check your civilization’s special traits for potential ranged unit advantages not available to other factions.

Effective ranged unit deployment requires understanding several critical combat principles. Position your Slingers and subsequent ranged units on elevated terrain like hills whenever possible, as this extends their attack range and improves visibility. Always protect ranged units with infantry screens—position melee units between your ranged assets and enemy forces to prevent easy elimination.

Ranged units universally suffer from reduced defensive metrics compared to their melee counterparts. This vulnerability makes proper positioning absolutely essential for maintaining your ranged advantage throughout extended conflicts. Consider researching defensive technologies or constructing fortifications in areas where you plan to station ranged units for prolonged periods.

For players transitioning from other strategy games, our Complete Guide offers additional military tactics that translate well to Civilization VII’s combat system.

Advanced Tactic: Create “kill zones” by positioning multiple ranged units with overlapping fields of fire. This concentrated firepower can eliminate advancing enemy units before they reach engagement distance.

As you expand your military research, consult our Weapons Unlock guide for insights into technology tree optimization strategies that apply to Civilization VII’s research system.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Civilization 7: How To Unlock And Use The Ranged Military Unit Master Civilization 7 ranged units: unlock strategies, combat tactics, and progression through ages