Civ 6: Conquer the World of Faith – Fastest Religious Victory Paths

A Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're facing minimal religious competition. While many Civs boast strong Faith generation, some are undeniably faster than others. This guide highlights the top Civ 6 leaders for achieving a rapid Religious Victory, focusing on strategies to maximize their Faith-generating potential. Remember, success hinges on prioritizing Faith-focused strategies and meeting specific conditions.

Theodora - Byzantine: Religious Warfare for Rapid 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, while unit kills spread your faith. Hippodromes fuel rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Focus on the Theology and Monarchy civics for quick policy slots.

Strategy: Utilize the "Crusades" founding belief for extra combat strength against those of your faith. Convert cities before invading, leveraging your religious influence to weaken enemies and accelerate conversion. Combine military pressure with Missionaries/Apostles for rapid Holy City conversions.

Menelik II - Ethiopia: Hill Settlements for Balanced Growth

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.

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/Hill, provides Tourism from Faith after Flight, spreads +1 Appeal).

Menelik II's power is deceptively simple. Found cities on Hills to gain Science and Culture alongside Faith, preventing imbalances. Maximize Faith from multiple resource copies and trade routes.

Strategy: Settle on Hills, build Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains, and prioritize resource acquisition and trade. A secondary focus on Culture accelerates Civic tree progression, unlocking religious benefits faster.

Jayavarman VII - Khmer: River-Based Holy Sites for Massive Faith

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 excels at both Culture and Religion. His ability makes Holy Sites near rivers incredibly powerful, generating massive Faith, Housing, and Culture.

Strategy: Place Holy Sites next to rivers, prioritize Aqueducts, and utilize Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to boost growth. Generate Apostles/Missionaries for rapid, peaceful conversions.

Peter - Russia: Tundra Domination for Unmatched Faith

Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy – Trade routes grant +1 Science and +1 Culture for every 3 technologies/civics the trading partner is ahead.

Civilization Ability: Mother Russia – +5 founding tiles; Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production; units 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).

Russia is a formidable all-around civilization, but Peter shines for Religious Victories. His ability boosts early game expansion and Faith generation in Tundra.

Strategy: Utilize the Tundra bonus and the "Dance of the Aurora" pantheon for even more yields. Expand aggressively using Settlers with the Magnus promotion. Lavras enable rapid expansion and high Faith output. St. Basil's Cathedral further enhances Tundra tile benefits.

By mastering these strategies, you can significantly accelerate your path to a Religious Victory in Civilization 6. Remember that adaptability and reacting to in-game events are key to success.