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Civilization VII

Civ 7 Fresh Water Tiles

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Civ7 - What is Fresh Water

Fresh Water tiles provide more happiness to settlers in Civilization VII (Civ 7). Learn more about Fresh Water in this guide, including how to find Fresh Water tiles and why you should settle on them.

List of Contents

What is Fresh Water?

Increases Happiness Yield

Fresh Water

Freshwater is a source of water for your settlement's population. If available, it boosts a tile's happiness yield, making it an important factor when choosing where to settle.

When to Build More Settlements

Penalizes Tiles with No Access

Fresh Water Bonus and Penalty

Settling on tiles without Freshwater access immediately penalizes your tiles with -5 Happiness. If you can't afford this, always choose tiles with Freshwater. Your settlers will be so happy that they'll reward you with +5 Happiness for doing so!

How to Find Fresh Water Tiles?

  1. Settle on Blue Tiles
  2. Look for Building Icon
  3. Ignore Red and Yellow Tiles

Settle on Blue Tiles

Fresh Water Tiles

When looking for unclaimed tiles to settle, choose blue tiles to gain access to Freshwater. If possible, settle near Natural Wonders boost your yields further.

Wonders

Look for Building Icon

No Fresh Water Access

Tiles with building icons are also great settlement locations. If you find a blue tile with this icon, send your settlers there immediately to claim it. These locations provide both Freshwater and easy access to natural resources.

This icon can also appear on yellow tiles, but hovering over them will indicate that the area lacks Freshwater access.

List of All Resources

Ignore Red and Yellow Tiles

Settlement Recommendation

Red tiles on the map are uninhabitable, meaning settlers cannot establish a new town there. This is because red tiles are either already occupied, have natural obstacles such as mountains, or contain a natural resource. None of these will have Freshwater as a source.

Yellow tiles, on the other hand, are habitable and can serve as the capital for new towns or cities. However, settling on them will penalize your Happiness by -5, as mentioned above, since they also don't have fresh water.

Where to Settle

Civilization VII (Civ 7) Related Guides

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How to Play Civ 7 Early Game Strategy Guide
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Fresh Water Tiles Why Can't You Build a Factory?
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What is X Per Age? How to Defend and Conquer Cities
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Should You Melt or Construct Relic? Game Speed
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