Civs Ranked: Claiming Religious Supremacy in Civilization VI

Mastering Religious Victory in Civilization VI: A Guide to Swift Faith Generation

Achieving a Religious Victory in Civ VI can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're not facing stiff religious competition. Several civilizations excel at Faith generation, allowing for rapid expansion of your religion and a quick path to victory. This guide highlights four leaders who can achieve this with exceptional speed, provided you prioritize the right strategies.

Theodora – Byzantine Empire: A Master of Religious Warfare

• Leader Ability (Metanoia): Holy Sites gain Culture equal to their adjacency bonus; Farms gain +1 Faith from adjacent Hippodromes and Holy Sites.
• Civilization Ability (Taxis): +3 Combat and Religious Strength per converted Holy City; killing a unit spreads your religion to the controlling civilization or city-state.
• Unique Units: Dromon (Classical ranged unit), Hippodrome (replaces Entertainment Complex, grants Amenities and a free Heavy Cavalry).

Theodora's strength lies in combining domination and religious expansion. The Taxis ability makes conquering and converting cities incredibly efficient. The Hippodrome provides a steady stream of Heavy Cavalry, facilitating rapid conquest. Focus on the Theology and Monarchy civics for quicker policy slot acquisition. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against units of your religion, further boosting your expansion. Combine military pressure with Missionaries and Apostles for swift Holy City conversions.

Menelik II – Ethiopia: Faith from Hills and Resources

• Leader Ability (Council of Ministers): Cities founded on Hills gain Science and Culture equal to 15% of their Faith output; +4 Combat Strength for units on Hills.
• Civilization Ability (Aksumite Legacy): Resource improvements gain +1 Faith per copy; International Trade Routes grant +0.5 Faith per resource in the origin city; Archaeologists and Museums can be purchased with Faith.
• Unique Units: Oromo Cavalry (Medieval Light Cavalry), Rock-Hewn Church (+1 Faith per adjacent Mountain or Hill, provides Tourism from Faith after Flight).

Menelik II's strategy centers on hilltop cities. His leader ability provides a balanced approach, generating Science and Culture alongside Faith. Prioritize founding cities on Hills, maximizing Faith generation without sacrificing other yields. Construct Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for optimal Faith bonuses. Accumulate multiple copies of resources and leverage trade routes for additional Faith. A focus on Culture alongside Faith accelerates Civic tree progression.

Jayavarman VII – Khmer Empire: River-Based Faith Generation

• Leader Ability (Monasteries of the King): Holy Sites gain Food equal to their adjacency bonus, +2 adjacency from Rivers, +2 Housing near Rivers, and trigger a Culture Bomb.
• Civilization Ability (Grand Barays): Aqueducts provide +1 Amenity and +1 Faith per citizen; Farms gain +2 Food near Aqueducts and +1 Faith near Holy Sites.
• Unique Units: Domrey (Medieval Siege unit), Prasat (+6 Faith, Relic slot, extra Housing, Culture, and Food with certain beliefs).

Jayavarman VII thrives on strategically placing Holy Sites next to rivers. His leader ability provides massive Faith generation, Housing, and Culture. The Grand Barays ability further boosts Faith and Amenities. Prioritize Aqueduct construction and Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to enhance growth and mitigate negative river effects. Rapid city growth and high Faith output enable swift religious dominance. Utilize Apostles and Missionaries for efficient conversion.

Peter – Russia: Tundra Domination and Lavra Expansion

• Leader Ability (The Grand Embassy): Trade Routes grant +1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 technologies or civics ahead of Russia.
• Civilization Ability (Mother Russia): +5 extra founding tiles; Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production; units are immune to Blizzards; enemies suffer double penalties in Russian territory.
• Unique Units: Cossack (Industrial Era), Lavra (replaces Holy Site, expands by 2 tiles when a Great Person is spent).

Peter's strength lies in exploiting Tundra terrain. His civilization ability grants significant Faith and Production bonuses to Tundra tiles. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further enhances these yields. The Lavra's expansion mechanic allows for rapid territorial growth. Focus on building Settlers (with the Magnus promotion) to expand widely across the Tundra. The Lavra's expansion mechanic, combined with high Faith generation, allows for rapid religious victory.

These four leaders offer distinct yet powerful strategies for achieving a swift Religious Victory in Civilization VI. Choosing the right leader and adapting your strategy to the game's conditions is key to success.