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The Galley is an Ancient Era naval melee unit in Civilization VI.

Strategy[]

The Galley is the first naval unit in the game and has the highest Strength Combat Strength available in the Ancient Era. As should be expected, its combat capabilities are quite limited, though it is relatively cheap to produce and can still be used to explore the waters around one's starting continent, capture coastal cities, or harass the enemy by pillaging coastal improvements.

Barbarian Galleys will sometimes appear alongside Quadriremes. Maritime civilizations should proceed to Shipbuilding and Exploration as soon as possible so as to upgrade to superior naval units!

Civilopedia entry[]

With a shallow draft, slender hull, minimal decking, and propelled by oars, the galley was the first boat (or ship, if grandiose) dedicated to warfare. Although most had sails on a single mast that could help, galleys were propelled primarily by human sweat. Galleys tended to stay in shallower waters near shore, not being particularly seaworthy. But these were the mainstay of the early Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian and Roman navies in the Mediterranean … as well as barbarian pirates everywhere. Initially carrying just archers and spearmen for floating melee battles, eventually rams, catapults and even cannon were added to their armaments, making them useful even into the early Medieval Era. But in time the galley – and all its descendants, the biremes, triremes, dromons, etc. – were made obsolete by the more maneuverable (and bigger) sailing warships. And those didn’t need a bunch of sweaty and grumbling oarsmen.

See also[]

Civilization VI Units [edit]
Civilian SettlerBuilderTraderArchaeologistSpyNaturalistRock Band
Land military AT CrewArcher (Hul'che1Pítati Archer1) • ArtilleryBarbarian Horse ArcherBarbarian HorsemanBombardCatapultCavalry (CossackHuszár Llanero1) • Courser (Black Army Oromo Cavalry1) • Crossbowman (Voi Chiến1) • Crouching TigerCuirassier (Rough RiderWinged Hussar1) • Field Cannon (Hwacha ) • Giant Death Robot Heavy ChariotHelicopterHorseman (Hetairoi1) • Infantry (Digger1) • Keshig Knight (Mandekalu Cavalry MamlukTagma1) • Line Infantry (Garde ImpérialeRedcoat) • Machine GunMalón Raider Man-At-Arms (Khevsur BerserkerSamurai) • Maryannu Chariot ArcherMechanized InfantryModern ATModern ArmorMountie Musketman (ConquistadorJanissary ) • Nihang1Pike and Shot (Carolean ) • Pikeman (Impi ) • Questing Knight4Ranger (Highlander ) • Rocket ArtillerySabum Kibittum1Saka Horse ArcherScout (Okihtcitaw ) • Skirmisher (Warak'aq ) • SlingerSpearman (Hoplite) • Spec Ops Swordsman (Hypaspist1Immortal1LegionNgao MbebaToa ) • TankTrebuchet (Domrey1) • Vampire3VaruWar-CartWarrior MonkWarrior (Eagle Warrior1Gaesatae1) • Zombie5
Naval military Aircraft CarrierBattleship (Minas Geraes) • Caravel (Nau1) • DestroyerFrigate (De Zeven Provinciën Jong1) • Galley (Bireme Viking Longship) • IroncladMissile CruiserNuclear SubmarinePrivateer (Barbary Corsair Sea Dog) • Quadrireme (Dromon1) • Submarine (U-Boat)
Aircraft BiplaneBomberFighter (P-51 Mustang) • Jet BomberJet Fighter
Support Anti-Air GunBattering RamCultist3Drone MedicMilitary EngineerMobile SAMObservation BalloonSiege TowerSoothsayer2Supply Convoy
Religious ApostleGuruInquisitorMissionary
See also Great PeopleHeroes
1 Requires DLC2 Apocalypse mode only • 3 Secret Societies mode only • 4 Heroes & Legends mode only • 5 Zombie Defense mode only
Added in the Rise and Fall expansion pack.
Added in the Gathering Storm expansion pack.