Explorers play one of the most critical roles in Civilization 7. These special units become available in the final stage of the game — the modern era. Explorers study all available continents on the map and collect lost artifacts or, simply put, relics. These items are a mandatory condition for achieving a cultural victory in the game and opening the Great Exhibition. So how do you use them correctly? Let's figure it out in this guide.
First, we need to research one of our nation's cultural branches — "Natural History." After unlocking it, we will be able to create special units — explorers.
When our city produces its first explorer, it will be necessary to study all known continents on the map. Each contains a certain number of artifacts.
Without discovering a specific region, we cannot collect artifacts. Exploring a hypothetical Kazakhstan or Atlantis can be done at the nearest museum or university: the required places are marked with a magnifying glass and an ancient vase. It is worth noting that explorers can freely move across another ruler's territory and use their buildings.
Once the regions are fully explored, we can begin collecting artifacts. Now, look for the icon with a shovel. This is the place where you can dig up the much-needed relic. Lead your unit there and activate the collection.
After activating the collection, the explorer will eventually unearth something rare: a piece of paper, an axe, or chainmail from past eras. But the work doesn't end there. Next, we need to place the artifact in one of the buildings. A museum or palace will be needed. The more museums we have, the more relics we can display. Used artifacts also provide a bonus to the country's culture.
To progress toward a cultural victory, it is necessary to collect 15 artifacts. But what if the entire map is explored and relics are still lacking? Of course, one could resort to the simplest and most brutal method — attacking neighbors. But there is a simpler and more humane way. It is necessary to study the social institution "Hegemony." Then our explorers will be able to find the most ancient relics. The method of finding remains the same.
What to do if other countries have surged ahead in artifact searching and are about to open the World Exhibition? Sanctioning the leader can help. Through influence, you can literally devalue their artifacts by questioning their authenticity. This way, you can buy time to catch up and surpass your opponent. How to properly use influence and how to obtain this resource in large quantities can be found in this guide.