In Civilization VII (Civ 7), Influence is a valuable resource primarily used with City-States, which are small, independent entities that can ally with you for various benefits. Here’s how you can strategically spend Influence:
1. Gaining Favor with City-States:
•Quests: Completing City-State quests is one of the best ways to gain Influence. The types of quests vary, from military tasks like clearing barbarians to cultural ones like constructing specific buildings.
•Gifts: Sending gold, units, or resources as gifts directly to City-States can increase Influence. The type of gift can be tailored to the City-State's type (Military, Cultural, Scientific, etc.), which might yield better returns.
•Envoys: Sending Envoys, which you can earn through various game mechanics like city projects, policies, or great people, is a direct way to boost Influence. Each Envoy sent increases your standing with a City-State.
2. Strategic Benefits from City-States: 
Military City-States:
•Suzerain Bonus: As the Suzerain (the civilization with the most Influence in a City-State), you can levy their military units for a significant gold cost, providing an instant army for a limited time.
•Unit Discounts: Some Military City-States offer cheaper units or upgrades.
Cultural City-States:
•Theming Bonuses: Cultural City-States can help you get theming bonuses from museums or wonders, significantly boosting tourism.
•Culture Per Turn: Gain additional culture each turn, aiding in advancing through the civic tree.
Scientific City-States:
•Science Per Turn: Increases your science output, speeding up your tech research.
•Eureka Moments: Certain City-States might give you boosts towards technologies.
Trade City-States:
•Gold Per Turn: Increases your gold income, useful for all aspects of empire management.
•Trade Route Capacity: More trade routes mean more gold, resources, and influence with other civilizations.
Religious City-States:
•Faith Per Turn: Essential if you're aiming for a religious victory or need faith for natural wonders, great people, or purchasing naturalists/apostles.
3. Diplomatic Actions:
•Alliances: High Influence can lead to alliances with City-States, providing passive bonuses like additional amenities or strategic resource access.
•Protection: Influence can deter other civilizations from targeting your allied City-States, preserving your strategic benefits.
•Voting Power: In World Congress meetings, having influence over City-States can increase your diplomatic leverage for resolutions.
4. Emergency Situations:
•Defending City-States: Sometimes, you might need to spend Influence to defend a City-State from barbarians or other civilizations, ensuring they remain under your influence.
•Emergency Levies: If you need a quick military boost, levying troops from Military City-States can be crucial in urgent situations.
Strategy Tips: 
•Focus: Decide early which City-States align with your victory strategy and invest Influence there. If going for a cultural victory, prioritize Cultural City-States.
•Diversify: Don’t put all your Influence into one type of City-State; a balanced approach can provide a more robust empire.
•Monitor Competitors: Keep an eye on how much Influence your rivals have with City-States. You might need to counteract their influence if they're close to becoming Suzerain.
•Long-Term Investment: Think of Influence as a long-term investment. The benefits compound over time, so consistent, strategic spending is more beneficial than erratic investments.
•Era-Specific Advantages: Some civilizations have unique ways to gain or spend Influence more effectively in certain eras. Use these to your advantage.
By strategically managing your Influence, you can significantly enhance your empire's capabilities in Civilization VII, complementing your chosen path to victory.
