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A 
Naval Unit is a type of 
Military Unit in Civilization VII and its expansions that has water as its native element. It moves across water tiles and cannot normally move onto land tiles.
Mechanics[]
Naval Units are Military Units that excel in all forms of combat, boasting high 
Combat Strength, 
Ranged Strength, and 
Bombard Strength. This versatility makes them some of the most formidable units in the game. However, their power comes at the cost of restricted mobility, as they are limited to water tiles. To compensate, they have increased 
Movement points when navigating the sea.
Naval Units can be trained in any 
Settlement with at least one water tile. When trained, they spawn on the nearest available water tile adjacent to the 
City Center unless specific 
Buildings dictate otherwise. If all valid water tiles are occupied, Naval Units can also spawn inside the City Center if it is next to a coastal tile or navigable river and on the same elevation. This allows them to defend the 
District while still being able to navigate in and out.
[]
All Naval Units (except submarines) can use the 
Naval Attack action, which is a ranged attack that can only be performed on Land Units or Fortified Districts in 
Range. They also possess the 
Pillage and Coastal Raid actions, enabling them to raid and plunder any adjacent Districts, even on land. This makes them highly effective for harassing enemy shorelines while staying at a safe distance. Despite their shared ability to attack from range, Naval Units can only engage in melee combat when attacking other ships, utilizing their Combat Strength.
Naval units engaging in melee Combat
They exchange blows like Melee Land Units and advance into the enemy's tile upon victory.
[]
Naval Units evolve significantly over time, adapting to new technologies and strategic needs.
Antiquity[]
In the Antiquity Age, Naval Units are limited to coastal waters, severely restricting their exploration capabilities. Their ranged attacks have only 1 Range, reducing their effectiveness in land combat. However, they remain valuable in certain scenarios:
- When navigable rivers are present, Naval Units can navigate inland and raid
Settlements. - Coastal City Centers can be attacked and even conquered by Naval forces.
- Siege Units are scarce in this era, making Naval Units relatively durable if not countered by an opposing fleet.
Exploration Age[]
This is the golden age of naval 
Warfare, driven by technological advancements and the desire for territorial expansion. Key changes include:
- Naval Units can traverse deep ocean tiles, unlocking the ability to discover new continents and Distant Lands.
- Fleet Commanders can be recruited, allowing ships to group together and gain bonuses.
- Extended attack Range makes naval forces more lethal.
- After unlocking Gunpowder, Naval Units are equipped with cannons, significantly enhancing their Bombard Strength and granting them the Siege ability. This allows them to damage units within Fortified Districts, transforming them into devastating siege weapons and formidable naval warlords.
- The importance of naval supremacy increases, as powerful fleets can dominate trade, exploration, and military operations.
Investing in a strong navy during this Age is crucial for securing coastal Settlements, expanding territory, and establishing military dominance, which ensures progression in the 
Economic and 
Militaristic legacy path for the Exploration Age.
Modern Era[]
Naval Units become even more advanced in the Modern Age, dividing into three distinct subcategories:
Each come with unique roles. However, Naval power is less dominant in this era due to the emergence of countermeasures such as advanced Artillery and Air Units.
Heavy[]
Heavy Naval Units function like traditional warships from previous eras, featuring high Combat Strength in all categories and having the Siege ability. This makes them the most versatile Naval Units of the Modern Age.
Light[]
Similar to Heavy Ships but weaker in Combat Strength, Light Naval Units compensate with higher Movement points and higher Range, making them ideal for:
- Scouting and exploration.
- Reinforcing Naval sieges.
- Defending coastlines quickly.
Stealth[]
Stealth Ships are specialized vessels with unique traits:
- No ranged attacks, but highest Combat Strength in the game.
- Invisible to enemies unless engaged in combat.
- Mostly Unaffected by air surveillance (Except when spotted by experienced Aircraft Commanders using Aerial Reconnaissance.
Their main purpose is eliminating enemy Naval forces, making them deadly when used strategically. Though situational, they can disrupt enemy fleets with surprise attacks while remaining undetected.
[]
Standard Naval Units:
| Antiquity Age | Exploration Age | Modern Heavy | Modern Light | Modern Stealth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 |  Cog |
 Ship of the Line |
 Ironclad |
||
| Tier 2 |  Galley |
 Carrack |
 Dreadnought |
 Cruiser |
|
| Tier 3 |  Quadrireme |
 Galleon |
 Battleship |
 Destroyer |
 Submarine |
Unique Naval Units:
| Antiquity Age | Exploration Age | Modern Heavy | Modern Light | Modern Stealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Dhow (Aksumite) |
 Cetbang (Majapahit)  Corsair  Kalam (Chola) |
 Mikasa (Meiji Japanese) |
N/A | N/A |
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Videos[]
Naval combat is a potent weapon in your -Civ7 arsenal ⚓
Naval Combat Gameplay
See also[]
- Naval unit in other games
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