In the vast realm of Civilization VI, the choice of civilization can profoundly impact your path to victory. Each civilization offers a unique tapestry of abilities, unique units, and strategic advantages that can shape your gameplay experience. From the sprawling empires of the Sumerians to the enigmatic realms of the Maya, the selection of the best civilization can provide you with a significant edge in the race to achieve greatness.
Among the select few that stand out as the most formidable, the Sumerians reign supreme with their unparalleled headstart in technological advancements. Their access to the Calendar and Writing technologies from the onset enables them to rapidly establish a strong foundation for scientific and cultural development. Furthermore, their Ziggurats, unique to their civilization, provide substantial production bonuses, allowing them to outpace their rivals in constructing wonders and amassing a formidable army.
However, the Maya pose a formidable challenge to the Sumerians’ dominance. Their calendar system, unique to their civilization, grants them access to Key techs and unique buildings earlier than their peers, enabling them to establish a strong religious and cultural presence early in the game. Additionally, their Observatory, a unique improvement, provides them with increased science yield and allows them to unlock crucial technologies at an accelerated pace. The Maya’s strategic positioning in the Americas also gives them access to abundant resources, providing them with a significant advantage in sustaining their growth and military expansion.
Domination: The Most Warlike Civilizations
When it comes to conquering the world and crushing your enemies beneath your heel, certain civilizations in Civilization VI stand out as the undisputed masters of warfare. These warlike civs possess unique abilities, units, and bonuses that make them formidable opponents on the battlefield.
1. Mongols
Led by the legendary Genghis Khan, the Mongols are the undisputed masters of mounted warfare in Civilization VI. Their Keshik unit is a terror on the battlefield, dealing massive damage to enemy units from horseback. Additionally, the Mongols’ pasture improvements provide a significant bonus to cavalry production, allowing them to field armies of mounted warriors with ease.
| Trait | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Horse Lords | +15% Production towards Cavalry units in cities with a Pasture |
| Mongol Horde | +1 Strength and Range to all cavalry units |
Science: Unlocking the Secrets of the Cosmos
Civilizations with a Strong Scientific Edge
In the pursuit of knowledge and advancement, certain civilizations stand out as powerhouses of scientific discovery and innovation. Let’s explore some of the best civs for scientific domination in Civilization VI:
Korea
- Characteristic: Seowon Districts grant additional Science and Culture yield for each adjacent Campus or Theater Square.
- Bonus: Science output is further boosted by Hanyang, Korea’s unique building, which increases Science yield by 15% for each different Wonder built by Korea.
- Strategy: Focus on building Seowon Districts adjacent to Campuses and Theater Squares to maximize Science and Culture yields. Utilize Hanyang to snowball your scientific dominance by rapidly constructing Wonders.
Germania
- Characteristic: The Hanse provides an additional bonus for each City with a Commercial Hub and Hansa district.
- Bonus: Eureka bonuses are doubled for all technologies, accelerating Scientific research.
- Strategy: Establish Hansa and Commercial Hub districts in multiple cities to maximize bonus yields. Prioritize unlocking technologies quickly by taking advantage of the accelerated Eureka bonuses.
Babylon
- Characteristic: Eureka bonus is doubled for all technologies.
- Bonus: Cities can build Libraries and Universities 25% faster, granting a significant boost to Science generation.
- Strategy: Rush to build Libraries and Universities in as many cities as possible. Utilize the doubled Eureka bonuses to rapidly advance through the technology tree.
Culture: Inspiring Great Works and Tourism
In Civilization VI, culture is a powerful force that can be used to inspire great works, attract tourists, and gain diplomatic favor. The following civilizations excel at cultural pursuits:
Greece
Greece’s unique ability, “Pericles’ Legacy,” grants them a bonus to culture for each city with a Theatre Square and a Government Plaza. This bonus is further increased when Greece has a Golden Age.
In addition, Greece’s unique unit, the Hoplite, is a powerful melee unit that can be upgraded with the Acropolis building. The Acropolis also provides a bonus to culture and tourism.
Together, these abilities make Greece a formidable cultural powerhouse in Civilization VI.
France
France’s unique ability, “Château,” grants them a bonus to culture for each tile with a Château improvement. The Château also provides a bonus to tourism and housing.
In addition, France’s unique unit, the Musketeer, is a powerful ranged unit that can be upgraded with the Louvre building. The Louvre also provides a bonus to culture and tourism.
These abilities make France another excellent choice for cultural victory in Civilization VI.
Brazil
Brazil’s unique ability, “Carnival,” grants them a bonus to culture for each city with a Carnival improvement. The Carnival also provides a bonus to tourism and amenities.
In addition, Brazil’s unique unit, the Mineiro, is a powerful melee unit that can be upgraded with the Sambadrome building. The Sambadrome also provides a bonus to culture and tourism.
Brazil’s unique resources, Coffee and Sugar, can also be used to generate additional culture.
| Civilization | Unique Ability |
|---|---|
| Greece | Pericles’ Legacy |
| France | Château |
| Brazil | Carnival |
These are just a few of the civilizations that excel at cultural pursuits in Civilization VI. With the right strategy, any civilization can achieve a cultural victory. However, these three civilizations have unique abilities and units that make them especially well-suited for this type of victory.
Religion: Spreading Faith and Gaining Belief
Religion is a powerful tool in Civ 6 that can be used to gain a variety of benefits, including religious victories. In order to spread your faith and gain belief, you will need to found a religion and build religious units. Once you have founded a religion, you can choose one of six beliefs to follow. Each belief provides different bonuses, so it is important to choose the one that best suits your playstyle.
Once you have chosen a belief, you can start spreading your faith by sending your religious units to other cities. Each city that you convert will generate belief, which can be used to purchase additional religious units or to enhance your religion’s effects. You can also gain belief by building holy sites and other religious buildings. The more belief you have, the more powerful your religion will become.
Converting Cities
There are two main ways to convert a city to your religion: peaceful conversion or religious pressure. Peaceful conversion occurs when you send a religious unit to a city and the city’s owner chooses to convert voluntarily. Religious pressure occurs when the total amount of religious pressure from your religion in a city is greater than the total amount of religious pressure from all other religions. When a city is converted, its population will adopt your religion and you will gain control of the city’s holy site (if there is one).
Enhancing Religion
There are several ways to enhance your religion once you have founded it. One way is to build holy sites in your cities. Holy sites provide a base amount of religious pressure and can be upgraded to provide even more. You can also build other religious buildings, such as cathedrals and mosques, which provide additional bonuses. Another way to enhance your religion is to convert other cities to your faith. The more cities that follow your religion, the more powerful it will become.
Table: Common Religious Beliefs and Their Bonuses
| Belief | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Ancestor Worship | +1 Production for each population unit in a city with a Holy Site. |
| Divine Spark | +1 Great Prophet point for each Holy Site. |
| Feed the World | +1 Food for each population unit in a city with a Holy Site. |
Diplomacy: Forming Alliances and Negotiating Peace
Alliances
Alliances are crucial for securing your empire and gaining advantages in the game. They provide several benefits, including increased military strength, shared intelligence, and economic bonuses.
Pact Types
| Pact Type | Effects |
|---|---|
| Defensive Alliance | Mutual defense in case of war. |
| Offensive Alliance | Joint wars against a common enemy. |
| Research Agreement | Share scientific breakthroughs. |
| Trade Agreement | Increased trade benefits and access to new resources. |
Negotiating Peace
Negotiating peace is essential for ending wars and preserving relationships. Consider the following factors:
Strategic Positioning
Negotiating from a position of strength (e.g., after a military victory) can give you an advantage.
Enemy War Weariness
Monitor the enemy’s war weariness level. They may be more willing to negotiate if it’s high.
Demands
Be reasonable with your demands. Excessive demands may lead to rejection or further conflict.
Alliances
If you have strong alliances, consider using them as leverage in peace negotiations.
Wonder Building: Constructing Architectural Marvels
In Civilization VI, constructing Wonders is a strategic aspect that can significantly boost your civilization’s progress. These architectural marvels grant various bonuses, ranging from increased production to scientific advancements.
Types of Wonders
There are two main types of Wonders: Ancient and World Wonders. Ancient Wonders become available early in the game and provide modest bonuses. World Wonders, on the other hand, are more powerful but require significant resources and a later age to construct.
Benefits of Building Wonders
Constructing Wonders offers numerous benefits:
- Bonuses: Wonders grant specific bonuses that enhance your civilization’s capabilities.
- Tourism: World Wonders generate tourism, which can attract foreign visitors and provide additional income.
- Cultural Victory: Building certain Wonders contributes towards a Cultural Victory.
Key Wonders for Wonder Building
To maximize your Wonder-building potential, consider acquiring the following key Wonders:
| Wonder | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Petra | +2 Production in Desert tiles |
| Great Library | +1 Science from Campuses and Libraries |
| Colosseum | +2 Amenity and +2 Culture per Entertainment District |
Expansionism: Settling New Lands and Expanding Borders
1. Early Settler Production
Civilizations with strong early settler production can establish a wide empire quickly. Consider civilizations like Rome, Phoenicia, and Egypt, which gain production bonuses to settlers.
2. Settler Capacity
Civilizations with abilities that increase settler capacity, such as Rome’s Legion trait, can transport multiple settlers at once, allowing for rapid expansion.
3. Settler Movement
Civilizations with units that provide support or movement bonuses to settlers, like India’s Varu, can navigate difficult terrain and settle in strategic locations.
4. Military Support
Civilizations with strong military units can protect settlers from hostile forces, allowing them to establish outposts in disputed regions. Consider civilizations like Macedon and Germany.
5. Trade Routes
Civilizations with trade-oriented abilities, like Phoenicia’s Cothon, can establish profitable trade routes, providing resources to support their expanding empire.
6. Colonization
Civilizations with unique colonizing abilities, like Spain’s Conquistadors, can establish colonies on foreign continents, providing additional territory and resources.
7. City-State Influence
Civilizations with abilities that boost their influence over city-states, like Greece’s Acropolis, can secure access to valuable resources and bonuses without the need for direct conquest.
Trade: Amassing Wealth and Dominating the Market
1. Portugal: The Seafaring Traders
With the Nau Catrinee unique unit and the Feitorias district, Portugal can establish trade routes with ease. Their bonuses to trade routes over both land and sea make them the undisputed masters of maritime commerce.
2. Netherlands: The Merchants of Europe
The Dutch East India Company unique improvement and the Polders district provide the Netherlands with a trade empire that spans the globe. Their bonuses to trade route capacity and production make them a formidable economic force.
3. England: The Rule Britannia
England’s Royal Navy unique unit and the Dockyard district give them a dominant presence on the seas. Their bonuses to trade routes from coastal cities make them a formidable naval trading power.
4. Phoenicia: The Mediterranean Traders
With the Bireme unique unit and the Cothon district, Phoenicia is well-suited for establishing trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. Their bonuses to trade routes over water make them a powerful civilization for maritime commerce.
5. Ottomans: The Spice Road Masters
The Ottoman Empire benefits from the Grand Bazaar unique unit and the Janissary district. These units can protect and enhance trade routes, giving them a strategic edge in international trade.
6. Austria: The Habsburg Empire
The unique ability of Austria to marry into other civilizations grants them access to valuable trade routes and diplomatic bonuses. Their bonuses to trade routes with married civilizations make them a powerful player in the trade game.
7. Cree: The Fur Traders
The Cree civilization has the Travois unique unit and the Mekewap district, which are specifically designed for establishing trade routes across vast distances. Their bonuses to trade routes with city-states make them a formidable trading partner.
8. Mali: The Songhai Empire
Mali possède une combinaison unique d’avantages commerciaux. Avec l’unité Marchand spécial, qui peut établir des routes commerciales vers des villes étrangères sans avoir besoin d’une connexion, et le bonus de production pour les routes commerciales passant par des déserts, Mali contrôle le commerce dans les régions arides.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique District |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Nau Catrinee | Feitorias |
| Netherlands | Dutch East India Company | Polders |
| England | Royal Navy | Dockyard |
Espionage: Spying on Enemies and Gaining an Advantage
Espionage is a powerful tool in Civilization VI that allows you to gain valuable information about your opponents and sabotage their efforts. There are two main types of espionage: spying and counterespionage.
Spying
Spying allows you to gather information about other civilizations. You can use spies to:
- Steal technology
- Damage buildings
- Sabotage units
- Spread propaganda
- Coup d’état
- Establish diplomatic visibility
Counterespionage
Counterespionage allows you to protect your civilization from enemy spies. You can use counterespionage units to:
- Detect enemy spies
- Capture enemy spies
- Turn enemy spies into double agents
- Eliminate enemy spies
Benefits of Espionage
Espionage can provide you with a number of benefits, including:
- Early warning of enemy threats
- Access to enemy technology
- Sabotage of enemy efforts
- Diplomatic leverage
- Increased production and science
Risks of Espionage
Espionage also carries some risks, including:
- Your spies can be detected and captured
- Your spies can be turned into double agents
- Your espionage operations can be sabotaged
- Espionage can damage your diplomatic relations with other civilizations
How to Use Espionage Effectively
To use espionage effectively, you need to:
- Develop a strong spy network
- Use your spies wisely
- Protect your civilization from enemy spies
- Manage the risks of espionage
| Civilization | Unique Ability | Espionage Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Monumentality | +20% Espionage Points from Wonders |
| France | Grandmaster of Culture | +10% Espionage Points from Tourism |
| Germany | Industrial Heartland | +15% Espionage Points from Industrial Zones |
Infrastructure: Building Roads, Aqueducts, and Other Improvements
Infrastructure plays a crucial role in the progress and development of civilizations in Civ 6. By investing in infrastructure, cities can improve their efficiency, access resources, and connect to the rest of the world. Here’s a detailed overview of the key infrastructure components in Civ 6:
Roads
Roads connect cities and allow units to travel faster. They also increase the yield of trade routes that pass through them, making them a valuable investment for commerce and resource distribution. Additionally, roads can help spread religion and culture to adjacent cities.
Aqueducts
Aqueducts provide cities with access to fresh water, increasing the food supply and preventing disease. They also provide a bonus to city defense, making them an important consideration for military strategy.
Granary
Granaries increase the food supply of a city, allowing it to support a larger population. They also provide a bonus to city growth, making them essential for expanding civilizations.
Windmill
Windmills generate additional production for a city, boosting its industrial output. They are especially useful in areas with abundant wind resources, and can provide a significant advantage in terms of economic development.
Marketplace
Marketplaces provide a bonus to gold generation for a city, increasing its revenue. They also increase the growth rate of any trade routes passing through them, making them an important hub for commercial activity.
Bank
Banks allow cities to store gold and earn interest on it, providing a passive income stream. They also increase the trade route capacity of the city, making it more efficient at generating revenue through commerce.
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchanges provide a bonus to gold and production generation for a city, making them a valuable investment for late-game economic dominance. They also increase the science output of the city, contributing to technological advancements.
Hospital
Hospitals increase the health of a city, preventing disease and improving its overall productivity. They also provide a bonus to city defense, making them an important consideration for military strategy.
University
Universities increase the science output of a city, boosting its technological progress. They also provide a bonus to culture generation, contributing to the city’s cultural influence and tourism revenue.
Sewer
Sewers improve the health of a city, preventing disease and increasing its overall productivity. They also provide a bonus to food generation, making them an important investment for sustainable city development.
Best Civilizations in Civilization VI
Civilization VI offers a vast selection of civilizations, each with unique abilities, bonuses, and playstyles. Choosing the best civilization for your game can be a daunting task, but here are a few contenders that consistently rank highly among experienced players:
Germany: Known for its formidable industrial prowess, Germany receives production bonuses from Industrial Zones and unique U-boat units that can raid enemy coastal cities. Its “Hansa” district further enhances production and can generate massive yields in the late game.
Rome: With its “Legion” units, Rome excels in early military dominance. Legions can build roads, allowing Rome to expand its territory and establish a strong foothold. The “Circus Maximus” district provides additional amenities and loyalty pressure, ensuring stability in your cities.
People Also Ask About Best Civs in Civ 6
Which civilization is best for science victory?
Korea: Korea’s “Seowon” districts provide huge science bonuses, especially when adjacent to mountains. Combined with its “Turtle Ship” unique unit, which can capture enemy naval units, Korea is a formidable contender for science victory.
Which civilization is best for domination victory?
Aztecs: The Aztecs’ “Eagle Warrior” units are some of the strongest early game units in the game. They receive combat bonuses when fighting on hills and can build unique districts called “Tenochtitlan” which provide additional culture and production.
Which civilization is best for diplomatic victory?
Canada: Canada’s “Diplomacy” ability allows it to generate favor with other civilizations through trade routes, enabling it to build alliances and influence the World Congress. Its “Ice Hockey Rink” district also provides tourism and culture, making Canada a strong contender for diplomatic victory.
