Cities: Skylines is Colossal Order's city-building simulation that became the definitive modern city builder after SimCity 2013's failure. You build and manage a city from a small town to a metropolis of hundreds of thousands, handling traffic, zoning, utilities, public transport, and citizen happiness. The game's deep traffic simulation is both its greatest strength and biggest challenge — everything flows through your road network. With extensive mod support through the Steam Workshop, the game's potential is nearly limitless.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roundabouts | S | Any intersection with traffic flow below 80% | The single most effective traffic tool. |
| Highway Interchanges | A | Highway connections to city arterials | Grade-separated interchanges (cloverleaf, turbine, stack) prevent highway traffic from stopping. |
| Bike Lanes | A | Short-distance trips within districts | Bike lanes on roads encourage cycling, reducing car traffic. |
| Metro Lines | B | High-density corridors, cross-city connections | Underground metro moves the highest volume of passengers without using road space. |
| Bus Routes | B | Last-mile connections, low-density areas | Buses are the simplest public transport and work as metro feeders. |
S-Tier: Roundabouts
The single most effective traffic tool. Roundabouts eliminate traffic light stops, maintain flow, and handle high volumes. Place them at any intersection with congestion. A simple two-lane roundabout fixes most residential intersection problems.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Any intersection with traffic flow below 80% |
| Key Mechanic | traffic management |
| Recommended Build | Road Network |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Roundabouts: Pairs naturally with Road Network thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Highway Interchanges
Grade-separated interchanges (cloverleaf, turbine, stack) prevent highway traffic from stopping. The vanilla game provides basic interchanges but Steam Workshop has thousands of custom designs. Never use traffic lights on highways.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Highway connections to city arterials |
| Key Mechanic | district zoning |
| Recommended Build | Transit Hub |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Highway Interchanges: Pairs naturally with Transit Hub thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Bike Lanes
Bike lanes on roads encourage cycling, reducing car traffic. Citizens will bike for short-to-medium trips. Dedicated bike paths through parks connect neighborhoods efficiently. Bike lane roads have lower car capacity but overall move more people.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Short-distance trips within districts |
| Key Mechanic | public transport |
| Recommended Build | Industrial Zone |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bike Lanes: Pairs naturally with Industrial Zone thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Metro Lines
Underground metro moves the highest volume of passengers without using road space. Metro stations should be placed in high-density areas. Lines should connect residential to employment. Don't create too many stops — express lines are more efficient.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | High-density corridors, cross-city connections |
| Key Mechanic | water and electricity |
| Recommended Build | Commercial Core |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Metro Lines: Pairs naturally with Commercial Core thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Bus Routes
Buses are the simplest public transport and work as metro feeders. Keep routes short (5-8 stops) and frequent. Dedicated bus lanes prevent buses from getting stuck in traffic. Every residential area should have bus access to a metro or train station.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Last-mile connections, low-density areas |
| Key Mechanic | policy management |
| Recommended Build | Residential Suburb |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bus Routes: Pairs naturally with Residential Suburb thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Starter Tile
- Highway Interchanges → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bike Lanes → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Roundabouts → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Roundabouts fix 90% of traffic problems. Any intersection below 80% traffic flow should be converted to a roundabout.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Cities: Skylines Guides
- Cities: Skylines Cities: Skylines Overview
- Cities: Skylines Best Builds
- Cities: Skylines Tier List
- Cities: Skylines Walkthrough
- Cities: Skylines Beginner's Guide
- Cities: Skylines Tips & Tricks
- Cities: Skylines Combat Guide
- Cities: Skylines Boss Guide
- Cities: Skylines Maps & Locations
- Cities: Skylines Crafting Guide
- Cities: Skylines Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Cities: Skylines, check out these related guides:
- Manor Lords Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Frostpunk Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
