Sid Meier's Civilization V is the quintessential 4X strategy game where you guide a civilization from 4000 BC to the modern era, competing against AI or human opponents through diplomacy, war, science, and culture. Despite Civilization VI's release, Civ V with its Brave New World and Gods & Kings DLC remains the preferred version for many strategy fans due to its elegant one-unit-per-tile combat, balanced victory conditions, and refined late-game mechanics.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Missile | S | Domination Victory — endgame warfare | The ultimate endgame weapon available after Manhattan Project. |
| Giant Death Robot | A | Domination Victory — late game push | Information Era melee unit with 150 combat strength — the strongest conventional unit. |
| Stealth Bomber | A | Domination Victory — air superiority | Air unit with 85 range bombard strength that cannot be intercepted by normal fighters. |
| Artillery | B | Domination Victory — city siege | The game-changing ranged siege unit available in Industrial Era. |
| Battleship | B | Domination Victory — naval warfare | Naval ranged unit with 3-tile range and high combat strength. |
S-Tier: Nuclear Missile
The ultimate endgame weapon available after Manhattan Project. Nukes destroy city improvements, kill units, and leave radiation that reduces productivity. Using them triggers global diplomatic penalties. A nuclear arsenal deters attack even without using them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Domination Victory — endgame warfare |
| Key Mechanic | tech tree |
| Recommended Build | Science Victory |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Nuclear Missile: Pairs naturally with Science Victory thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Giant Death Robot
Information Era melee unit with 150 combat strength — the strongest conventional unit. Expensive to build and maintain but nearly unstoppable in combat. Building several seals a Domination Victory.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Domination Victory — late game push |
| Key Mechanic | city-state diplomacy |
| Recommended Build | Domination Victory |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Giant Death Robot: Pairs naturally with Domination Victory thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Stealth Bomber
Air unit with 85 range bombard strength that cannot be intercepted by normal fighters. Devastating for softening cities before ground assault. Requires Aluminum strategic resource.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Domination Victory — air superiority |
| Key Mechanic | social policies |
| Recommended Build | Cultural Victory |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Stealth Bomber: Pairs naturally with Cultural Victory thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Artillery
The game-changing ranged siege unit available in Industrial Era. 3-tile range means it can bombard cities without being in firing range. Combined with Logistics promotion (2 attacks per turn), Artillery melts city defenses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Domination Victory — city siege |
| Key Mechanic | great people |
| Recommended Build | Diplomatic Victory |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Artillery: Pairs naturally with Diplomatic Victory thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Battleship
Naval ranged unit with 3-tile range and high combat strength. Controls ocean tiles and bombards coastal cities. Upgrade from Frigates for a smooth naval progression. Indirect Fire promotion allows firing over obstacles.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Domination Victory — naval warfare |
| Key Mechanic | trade routes |
| Recommended Build | Time Victory |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Battleship: Pairs naturally with Time Victory thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Capital City
- Giant Death Robot → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Stealth Bomber → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Nuclear Missile → 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.
- Rush National College by turn 100 — it gives +50% science in your capital. Build only 4 cities (Tradition) before turn 100 and get Libraries in all of them.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Sid Meier's Civilization V Guides
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Sid Meier's Civilization V Overview
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Best Builds
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tier List
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Walkthrough
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Beginner's Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tips & Tricks
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Combat Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Boss Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Maps & Locations
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Crafting Guide
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Sid Meier's Civilization V, check out these related guides:
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- Stellaris Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
