Humankind: 5 Best Tips for Beginners

Humankind poses a challenge that only few people have the tenacity to overcome: develop a kingdom, and equip it with all the bells and whistles needed to withstand the elements and wrath of conflict. It’s a real doozy, alright, and it most definitely tests the patience of those who’ve never quite traipsed the grounds of an RTS game before. That said, anyone who’s able to onboard a couple of quick tips can, and more often will, clamber over said obstacles and emerge from the other side stronger, wiser, and more susceptible to victory.

Anyway, if you have just picked up a copy of Humankind and aren’t entirely sure which direction to take, then be sure to read on for a few quick pointers. Need a few tips? Here’s everything you should know before starting out.

5. Curiosity Is Key

As you begin your journey into the world of Humankind, you will need to locate and harness a couple of things to get the ball rolling, which are Food and Science. And while Food is pretty self-explanatory, Science, on the other hand, can take some getting used to. For the most part, though, you will be using Science to research new technologies and, with the right nodes unlocked, progress further into new eras and timelines. However, getting ahold of these two things in the beginning of the game can be rather tricky, which is why you’ll need to unearth Curiosities—locations that you can simply travel over for a substantial portion of Food and Science.

Once you’ve managed to find your feet, you’ll want to dispatch your Scouts to explore vast new territories for the sake of acquiring new land, tools, and resources. Do yourself a favor here and set their commands to Auto-Explore, as this will allow you to trial new options and strategies while the Scouts carry out the scavenging duties on your behalf.

4. Don’t Skip to the End

When it comes to fleshing out your Technology tree, you’re going to want to gradually make your way through from beginning to end, and not, for example, skip right to the final nodes for the sake of harnessing the higher power. Fact is, you’re going to need to start out slow, and then ultimately work towards building up certain technological advancements to match with era you’re working through. In other words — don’t skip to the end if you’ve hardly spread the foundations.

Again, you’ll need to accrue a set amount of Science to be able to work through the Tech Tree, which is where Curiosities come into play. If you’re after a bit of a boost in the Science department, then you can also consider following the Scientist Affinity Trait, as this will allow you to research technologies linked to future eras, and not the one you’re currently in.

3. Forget Cultural Wonders

As tempting as it may be to erect a pyramid right off the bat, the truth is, such Cultural Wonders aren’t worth your time or resources — especially during the beginning when you’re still trying to locate your feet. Add the fact that they also take a hundred-plus turns to build, and it’s easy to see why such landmarks just aren’t that important. But that isn’t to say they should be ignored for the entirety of your journey in Humankind, though. To start out, however, you’re going to want to shift your focus over to the more pressing matters, like finding a spot to build your nation’s Capital, for example.

There’ll be a set number of items of the docket to see to before jumping into the Cultural Wonders, such as lay the foundations for an able bodied militia, gather resources, and explore new territories to conquer and build on. If you can plant all the initial seeds and produce an economy that’s both sustainable and productive — then you should switch lanes and invest in the cultural aspects for the sake of giving your nation some identity.

2. Combat Isn’t Everything

Believe it or not, it is actually possible to make it through an entire era without having to invade or defend a piece of land. In fact, you can just about navigate through most obstacles in Humankind without being involved in any direct confrontation at all. Having said that, you should always have some form of military presence at your disposal, if only to use as a last-minute tool against any potential dangers.

Of course, like most turn-based strategy games, having an army to command costs a significant amount of time and effort. So, rather than pouring all of your resources into fleshing out an army for the sake of it, aim to keep something a little more balanced while also working towards other target areas and milestones. Bottom line is, combat isn’t everything, nor is it something that’ll be written in the cards in each and every game, either — so tone it down a little.

1. Know Your Purpose

It isn’t exactly an easy task, but to make it through the seven eras of Humankind, you’re going to need a plan. And when we say plan, we’re talking about premature decisions that’ll shape your nation for better or for worse. To make a difference, though, you’re going to need to lay down some ground rules, and start by choosing a culture to play around with. Note that, while each culture will have its own beliefs and in-game perks, you will need to mold your goals around the culture you opt for. For example, Scientists favor Science and Technology, whereas Militarists favor Units and War.

Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to crack it in a single sitting — especially as there are dozens of combinations to experiment with. If you can help it, though, aim to stay within your limits and keep to your lane; going adrift will only result in an overwhelming amount of work and a quick defeat.

So, what’s your take? Do you have any useful tips for Humankind newcomers? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.