Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

As a seasoned Civilization 6 player with over a thousand victories under my belt, I can confidently say that taking on the Know Your Enemy challenge calls for strategic thinking and swift action. First off, having Magnus as your Governor is an excellent choice due to his ability to build Settlers without depleting Population in the city where he’s stationed. This comes in handy during this challenge, especially considering the limited number of turns at our disposal.


Sid Meier’s “Civilization 6” stands out as one of the most impactful games in the strategy genre. This is a comprehensive historical strategy title that has received continuous support from developers, manifesting through regular updates, new gameplay modes, additional leaders and civilizations to explore, along with other content additions like monthly challenge events.

In the “Know Your Enemy Challenge,” players are put in the position of defending China, where they’ll face off against Genghis Khan’s Mongolia. This time, players will assume the role of Wu Zetian, collaborating with Yongle and Qin Shi Huang to fend off Mongolia’s attacks. What makes this challenge distinctive is its unusual setup and gameplay style, which demands a strategy that deviates from the norm seen in a standard game of “Civilization 6.

Enabling the Know Your Enemy Challenge Mode

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

From the game’s primary interface, you can opt for the “Know Your Enemy” challenge. This option rotates on the main screen and offers two selections based on the difficulty of the challenge. For those seeking an advanced challenge, select the “Emperor Level Know Your Enemy Challenge.” If you prefer a more standard experience, choose the “Prince Level Know Your Enemy Challenge.

Know Your Enemy Game Parameters

The Know Your Enemy monthly challenge has a unique setup. The map is inspired by a section of land along the Great Wall of China. Here are the game parameters, which cannot be changed:

  • Difficulty: Prince / Emperor
  • Speed: Standard
  • Player Leader: Wu Zetian
  • Map Type: Custom
  • Map Size: Custom
  • Ruleset: Gathering Storm
  • Start Era: Medieval
  • Resources: Sparse
  • World Age: Old
  • Start Position: Standard
  • Temperature: Standard
  • Rainfall: Standard
  • Sea Level: Low

As a gamer, diving into this medieval world, I find myself starting at Turn 136 instead of from the beginning, with a total of 305 turns ahead. Given that pace, it seems like an engaging and speedy challenge I’m ready to conquer!

The Situation at Game Start

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

At the game’s onset, the player starts with one city, three military units, a spy, a builder, and a scout. Other players, including the formidable Genghis Khan, will already be visible on the map. The player is initially granted 6 Governor Titles, which can be utilized right away, and is provided with several Eurekas and Inspiration boosts. The player benefits from Wu Zetian’s exclusive Leader Advantage, as well as the communal Chinese Dynastic Cycle Ability.

Wu Zetian’s Leader Bonus and the Dynastic Cycle Ability

Manual of Entrapment Leader Bonus:

  • Receives a free Spy with Defensive Tactics, Spies can be purchased with Faith
  • Spies operate as if 1 level more experienced
  • Successful espionage missions in foreign cities grant 100% of Science, Faith, and Culture produced per turn by that city

Dynastic Cycle Ability:

  • Eurekas and Inspirations provide an extra +10% Science and Culture when gained
  • Completing a Wonder grants two random Eurekas and Inspirations from that Wonder’s Era

Victory Conditions for the Know Your Enemy Challenge

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

To emerge victorious in the Know Your Enemy Challenge, the path is straightforward: either survive until the turn timer expires, or vanquish Genghis Khan.

Tips and Tricks for the Civilization 6 Know Your Enemy Challenge

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

Use the Governor Titles Effectively

A great first choice of Governor is Magnus, who can allow the player to build Settlers without spending any Population in the city where he’s stationed. This is a massive help during the Know Your Enemy challenge since there aren’t that many turns and Population is a precious resource. He can also boost the Growth Rate of the city where he’s stationed, so it’s a great way to pump out Settlers and keep the population growing.

An excellent alternative is Governor Victor, who brings valuable advantages to both military and defensive strategies. One of his promotions also has the power to avert a city from entering the Siege state, making him particularly effective in this scenario. While other Governors may offer more specific benefits, Governors Magnus and Victor stand out as exceptional picks for this challenge.

Expand Immediately

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

In this specific challenge of Civilization games, it’s crucial to expand more than usual. The AI opponents in this game will grow rapidly, and since they start close to the player, their growth could potentially hinder players who don’t expand quickly enough. This could limit a player’s capacity to defend against Genghis Khan.

On this map, resources are scarce, which means it’s crucial to select the location for your next city wisely. Focus on choosing places that provide easy access to essential resources.

Use the Spies

In the game, Wu Zetian’s Leader Bonus is particularly advantageous for covert activities, such as espionage, making it a strategic choice to utilize this bonus during challenges. Initially, you are provided with a Spy that can be deployed effectively in various ways, including:

Use the World Congress Effectively

In the game of Civilization 6, while the World Congress may often be disregarded, it proves incredibly beneficial during the Know Your Enemy challenge. Since Genghis Khan is the only belligerent force in this scenario, any chance to propose resolutions limiting his trading capabilities or affecting his Grievance generation are valuable opportunities that should not be missed.

Utilizing the Special Resolutions could also prove quite beneficial, particularly when Genghis takes control of an allied city. This scenario offers significant advantages to players targeting Genghis Khan, potentially expediting the conquest process.

Use the Great Wall Improvement

Civilization 6: Know Your Enemy Challenge Guide

Improving the Great Wall is exclusive to China, and it significantly aids in this specific task because it generates Gold and boosts military unit effectiveness on its territory. This advantage can prove beneficial in fending off Barbarians on the map as well as defending against Genghis Khan.

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2024-09-24 21:14