Borders (or territory) refers to tiles controlled by a 
Settlement, owned by either a civilization or an 
Independent Power in Civilization VII and its expansions. Expanding borders is essential for claiming territory, which allows civilizations to access new 
Resources, provides additional tiles for 
Citizens to work, and creates space for constructing 
Buildings and 
Tile Improvements.
Mechanics[]
Borders serve two primary functions:
- Defining the area where a Settlement can modify tiles, either by working them or constructing Buildings.
- Restricting
Military access for other civilizations.
Borders also have 1 
Sight, providing visibility of all hexes within and around your territory.
Border limits and tile ownership[]
Unlike in previous Civilization games, a Settlement's borders can expand up to 3 hexes away from its 
City Center. Once a tile is claimed by a Settlement, its ownership is permanent — it cannot be reassigned to another Settlement within its range.
Access and movement[]
All Settlement borders contribute to your global border, which, by default, can only be entered by your own military units. However, 
Civilian Units that do not possess any form of 
Combat Strength can move through these borders freely, regardless of their affiliation. Units like Settlers, Scouts, and 
Commanders, which do have 
Defense Strength values, will still be denied access.
These and standard military units from other civilizations can enter your territory only if you and their leader sign an Open Borders agreement, form an 
Alliance, or go to 
War. Military units from Independent Powers can enter your territory only if you have a 
Hostile relationship or become their Suzerain (in the case of a City-State.
Border expansion[]
Growth event
Expanding a Settlement's borders is crucial for growth and development. This is primarily achieved through growth events, which occur when a Settlement accumulates enough 
Food. When a growth event is triggered, a Citizen can be assigned to improve a tile, claiming all surrounding unowned tiles within the 3-hex radius — similar to a Culture Bomb in Civilization VI.
Borders can also expand through the construction of Buildings and finishing 
Wonders, making strategic development an important tool for territorial growth. A key tactic, "leapfrogging," allows players to rapidly claim outer tiles by doing one of the following:
- Constructing a Building over an existing Improvement.
- Using the freed Citizen to improve a new outer tile. This instantly claims the surrounding tiles and bypasses the need to wait for another growth event.
This trick can be further exploited through the use of Wonders. By placing a Wonder on a tile, the assigned Citizen is freed and can be reassigned to another tile. If the project is then canceled immediately, the Wonder can be relocated to the newly reassigned tile. This process can be repeated for every valid Wonder placement, enabling significant border expansion within a single turn without having to commit for a finished structure.
Additionally, Migrants can be used to claim a single tile within a Settlement's borders, providing an alternative method for controlled expansion.
Border diplomacy[]
Borders can influence relationships with other leaders in several ways, depending on their proximity and interaction. Settling too close to another civilization's borders or having your borders directly touch theirs can worsen relations with their leader.
Additionally, having military units stationed within an opponent's borders during wartime increases the likelihood of them accepting a favorable peace agreement. This makes military units a valuable diplomatic asset when negotiating terms.
See also[]
- Borders in other games
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