Ibn Battuta – Strategy and Guide

Intro

Ibn Battuta stands out in Civilization VII as an inspiring figure and a testament to the power of exploration. Born into a Moroccan and Berber family in the early 14th century, he embarked on an extraordinary journey across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Through his travelogue (often referred to as the Rihla), Ibn Battuta captured the essence of the many cultures he encountered, offering a fascinating glimpse into the medieval world. In Civ VII, he brings this spirit of discovery directly to the game, challenging players to push the boundaries of their empires and venture into the unknown.

Strategy

If you’re looking for a leader with a distinct knack for exploration, Ibn Battuta is your go-to pick. His playstyle benefits those who want to gain an early advantage in mapping out the terrain and seizing strategic resources. With increased Sight for all units, you can spot threats and opportunities long before your opponents. This is especially valuable when planning settlement spots, scouting for city-states to befriend, or navigating potential choke points.

One of Ibn Battuta’s most distinctive features is his Trade Maps Endeavor. Use it to reveal the fogged-out regions that other leaders have already scouted, forging beneficial relationships while expanding your own worldview. It’s a game-changer for quickly discovering rival cities, key luxury resources, and strategic choke points. As a result, your allies (or future targets) become easier to size up and outmaneuver.

Because his abilities revolve heavily around traversing the map, combining Ibn Battuta’s leadership with strong exploration units (such as Scouts or other reconnaissance specialists) can be immensely powerful. Make sure to keep an eye on potential alliances, as those who share geographical information with you might also be valuable trading partners. Ultimately, the synergy between geographic knowledge and economic growth can propel you toward victory in multiple ways.

Lines

• Greeting: “We are well met upon the traveler’s road. At least I hope so!”
• Attacked: “A future traveler will not be able to tell our dead from yours.”
• Declares War: “I am no soldier. But I employ them. Here they come.”
• Defeated: “In the empty plain I have seen men’s forms turned to stone, and all around them their cities nothing but dust. Is that me?”

These lines capture Ibn Battuta’s thoughtful, poetic approach to life—even in a game of empire-building. His words often reflect both curiosity and caution, reminding us that diplomacy and careful planning can sometimes speak louder than raw force.

Civilopedia Entry

Many histories focus on Europe as a central hub, but Ibn Battuta’s travels show the remarkable vitality of the Muslim world during the Middle Ages. As trade routes spanned continents, he journeyed from North Africa through the Arabian Peninsula, inland to Persia, across Central Asia, into India, and further into East Asia. His name—Shams al-Din Abu’Abdallah Muhammad ibn’Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Lawati al-Tanji ibn Battuta—reflects an extensive heritage, but it was his thirst for knowledge and adventure that truly defined him.

Over the course of nearly three decades, Ibn Battuta documented customs, landscapes, and cultures in his travelogue, offering a snapshot of the world in the 14th century. While some of his claims are debated by historians, there’s no denying his significance as a traveler, scholar, and chronicler of everyday life across vast regions. In Civ VII, this commitment to exploration manifests in gameplay that encourages you to traverse the map, uncover hidden gems, and forge alliances based on shared discoveries.

Unique Ability: The Marvels of Traveling

Ibn Battuta’s hallmark is The Marvels of Traveling, a distinctive bonus that grants:

• Multiple Attribute Points after researching the first Civic in every Age.
• Increased Sight for all units.
• A Unique Endeavor: Trade Maps, which gradually reveals the explored areas of other leaders—perfect for navigating the world quickly and building alliances.

These boons align perfectly with a playstyle that values adaptation, trade-based diplomacy, and swift reconnaissance.

Agendas

Ibn Battuta’s main agenda, Far and Wide, can heavily influence diplomatic relations:

• Positive Relationship Boost: He warms up to players who have revealed the most Fog of War, rewarding rival leaders who mirror his passion for exploration.
• Ties: If there’s a tie for coverage, he grants a moderate bonus to all involved.
• Negative Relationship: Those who stay confined or fail to map new lands will see a slight deterioration in relations. Staying idle won’t earn you Ibn Battuta’s favor.

Trivia

• Ibn Battuta traveled more than 70,000 miles in his lifetime—outpacing other famed explorers like Marco Polo.
• His name literally translates to “son of the duckling.”
• He served at various times as a theologian, ambassador, and judge, roles that reflect his deep scholarly grounding.
• His travelogue, the Rihla, offers modern readers a valuable window into medieval trade networks, cultural practices, and everyday life.

TL;DR

Ibn Battuta is a powerful leader choice for players who love to explore early and often. By leveraging his extra Sight and unique Trade Maps Endeavor, you can map out the board faster than your opponents, seize strategic resources, and form lucrative alliances. His agenda rewards wide exploration and penalizes isolation, so keep your scouts on the move if you want to remain in his good graces. For anyone aiming to outmaneuver rivals and establish a far-reaching empire, Ibn Battuta’s leadership style shines bright in Civilization VII.