Civilization 6: Fastest Paths to Religious Victory
A Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're not facing heavy religious competition. Several civilizations excel at generating Faith, rapidly acquiring Holy Sites, and achieving a Religious Victory faster than others. While some civs offer more consistent religious wins, these leaders, with the right strategy, can secure a rapid victory.
Theodora - Byzantine: Conquest and Conversion
Leader Ability: Metanoia – Holy Sites gain Culture equal to their adjacency bonus; Farms gain +1 Faith from Hippodromes and Holy Sites.
Civilization Ability: Taxis – +3 Combat and Religious Strength per converted Holy City; killing a unit spreads your religion.
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 Byzantine ability boosts combat and religious strength with each converted Holy City, and killing enemy units spreads your religion. Hippodromes facilitate rapid conquest by providing free Heavy Cavalry. Focus on the Theology and Monarchy civics for faster policy progression. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against those following your religion. Convert cities before invading for a swift takeover.
Menelik II - Ethiopia: Hilly Faith Generation
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 gain +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, spreads +1 Appeal).
Menelik II's power comes from efficient Faith generation. Found cities on Hills to leverage his Leader ability, converting Faith into Science and Culture. Focus on resource acquisition and trade for extra Faith. Build Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains for maximum Faith bonuses. Prioritizing Culture alongside Faith accelerates Civic tree progression.
Jayavarman VII - Khmer: Riverine Faith Boom
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 next to Aqueducts, +1 Faith next to Holy Sites.
Unique Units: Domrey (Medieval Siege unit), Prasat (+6 Faith, Relic slot, extra Housing, Culture, and Food with certain beliefs). +0.5 Culture per citizen.
Jayavarman VII excels at rapid Faith generation and city growth. Place Holy Sites next to rivers for massive Faith gains and utilize Aqueducts for extra Amenities and Faith. The Prasat provides significant Faith and boosts Culture. Prioritize Wonders like the Great Bath and The Hanging Gardens to enhance growth and mitigate river penalties. Focus on Apostle production for rapid conversion.
Peter - Russia: Tundra Triumph
Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy – Trade Routes grant +1 Science and +1 Culture for every 3 Technologies or Civics the trading partner is ahead of Russia.
Civilization Ability: Mother Russia – +5 extra founding tiles; Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production; units are immune to Blizzard; 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 there).
Russia's strength lies in its unique ability to exploit Tundra terrain. Found cities to maximize tile acquisition and leverage the Faith and Production bonuses from Tundra tiles. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Lavras expand your territory with Great Person spending, allowing for rapid expansion and Faith generation. St. Basil's Cathedral provides further Tundra bonuses.
These strategies highlight how each civilization can leverage its unique strengths for a fast Religious Victory in Civilization 6. Remember that success also depends on map generation and in-game choices.
