Civilizations Dominating the Divine: Ranking the Speediest Religious Victories

Mastering Religious Victory in Civilization VI: A Guide to Faith-Focused Civs

Achieving a Religious Victory in Civilization VI can be surprisingly swift, particularly if you're not facing stiff competition. Several civilizations excel at generating Faith, but some significantly outperform others. This guide highlights the top contenders for a rapid Religious Victory, focusing on strategies to maximize their Faith generation and expansion.

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 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 strategy hinges on religious warfare. Byzantium's ability boosts combat and religious strength with each converted Holy City, while unit kills spread your religion. The Hippodrome fuels rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Prioritize Theology and Monarchy civics for policy slots. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat against units of your religion. Convert cities before invading for a swift takeover. Combine military pressure with Missionaries and Apostles for rapid Holy City conversions.

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 tile; 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 building Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for maximum Faith. Maximize Bonus and Luxury Resources, trading with civs rich in these resources. Prioritize Culture alongside Faith to accelerate Civic tree 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.
• 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). +0.5 Culture per citizen.

Jayavarman VII's Leader ability is exceptionally powerful. Placing Holy Sites next to rivers yields massive Faith, Housing, and Culture. Khmer's ability boosts Amenities and Faith from Aqueducts. The Prasat provides significant Faith and Culture. Prioritize Aqueducts and Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to enhance growth and mitigate river-adjacent penalties. Rapidly spread your religion with Apostles and Missionaries.

Peter - Russia: Tundra Domination

• Leader Ability (The Grand Embassy): Trade Routes with more advanced civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 Technologies or Civics they lead by.
• Civilization Ability (Mother Russia): +5 extra tiles when founding a city. 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 there).

Peter's strategy centers on exploiting Tundra terrain. Russia's ability grants additional tiles, Faith, and Production on Tundra. The Lavra allows for rapid expansion. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Use Magnus-promoted Settlers to expand without population loss. Build Lavras and St. Basil's Cathedral to maximize Tundra bonuses. Peter's ability to rapidly expand and generate Faith makes him a formidable contender for a quick Religious Victory.