Ranked: Civilizations for a Swift Religious Triumph in Civ VI

Civ 6: Conquer the Faith – Fastest Religious Victory Civs

Securing a Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, particularly if you're the only one pursuing a religious path. While many Civs boast strong faith generation, some excel at achieving this victory type faster than others. This guide highlights the top contenders for a rapid Religious Victory, outlining their strengths and optimal strategies.

These leaders aren't necessarily the most reliable for a religious win, but under the right conditions and with focused strategies, they can achieve victory quickly.

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.
• Civ Ability (Taxis): +3 Combat and Religious Strength per converted Holy City; killing a unit spreads your religion.
• Unique Units: Dromon (Classical ranged), Hippodrome (replaces Entertainment Complex, grants Amenities and a free Heavy Cavalry).

Theodora excels at religious warfare. Byzantine's ability boosts combat and religious strength with each converted Holy City, while unit kills spread your religion. Hippodromes fuel rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Prioritize Theology and Monarchy civics for policy slots. The "Crusades" founding belief enhances combat strength against those of your faith. Combine military pressure with Missionaries/Apostles for swift conversions.

Menelik II – Ethiopia: Hilltop Faith Generation

• Leader Ability (Council of Ministers): Cities on Hills gain Science and Culture equal to 15% of their Faith output; +4 Combat Strength for units on Hills.
• Civ 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 strength lies in his Leader ability. Founding cities on Hills provides a balanced approach, generating Science and Culture alongside Faith. Focus on acquiring multiple copies of resources, trading with resource-rich civilizations, and constructing Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for maximum Faith. Prioritize Culture to accelerate Civic progression.

Jayavarman VII – Khmer: River-Based 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.
• Civ 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 leverages river placement for massive Faith generation. Holy Sites near rivers provide enormous Faith, Housing, and a Culture Bomb. Aqueducts further boost Amenities and Faith. The Prasat provides significant Faith and other benefits. Prioritize building Aqueducts and Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to enhance growth and amenities. Focus on rapid city expansion and Apostle production for efficient conversions.

Peter – Russia: Tundra Domination

• Leader Ability (The Grand Embassy): Trade Routes with advanced civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 technologies or civics they are ahead of Russia.
• Civ Ability (Mother Russia): +5 extra founding tiles; Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production; units are immune to Blizzards; warring civilizations 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 offers an unconventional but powerful approach. Russia's ability grants extra tiles and boosts Faith and Production on Tundra. The Lavra expands your borders significantly with Great Person spending. The "Dance of the Aurora" Pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Prioritize early expansion using Settlers with the Magnus promotion to prevent population loss. Rapidly build Lavras and utilize Builders to exploit new resources. Peter can achieve incredibly fast Religious victories with efficient Tundra development.