Civilization VI: Fastest Religious Victory Paths

A Religious Victory in Civilization VI can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're not facing heavy religious competition. While many Civs can achieve this victory, some excel at rapid Faith generation and Holy Site domination. This guide highlights the top contenders for a quick Religious Victory.

Theodora - Byzantine: Conquest and Conversion

Leader Ability: Metanoia – Holy Sites gain Culture equal to 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 unit), Hippodrome (replaces Entertainment Complex, grants Amenities and a free Heavy Cavalry).

Theodora's strategy centers on religious warfare. Byzantium's bonus to Combat and Religious Strength for each converted Holy City, combined with religion spreading on unit kills, makes rapid expansion efficient. The Hippodrome fuels conquest with free Heavy Cavalry, accelerating your expansion and religious spread. Prioritize Theology and Monarchy civics for rapid policy acquisition. The Crusades founding belief further boosts combat strength against those of your faith. Convert cities before conquest to maximize your religious influence and swiftly overwhelm opponents.

Menelik II - Ethiopia: Hilltop Faith and Resource Exploitation

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 purchasable with Faith.

Unique Units: Oromo Cavalry (Medieval Light Cavalry), Rock-Hewn Church (+1 Faith per adjacent Mountain or Hills tile, provides Tourism from Faith after Flight, spreads +1 Appeal).

Menelik II’s strength lies in his ability to leverage hill settlements. Founding cities on hills provides a balanced approach, generating Science and Culture alongside Faith. Maximize Faith generation by building Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills. Exploit multiple copies of resources and utilize trade routes to further boost your Faith income. Prioritizing Culture alongside Faith ensures rapid Civic progression.

Jayavarman VII - Khmer: River-Based Faith Boom

Leader Ability: Monasteries of the King – Holy Sites gain Food equal to 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 offers a powerful combination of Faith and Culture. His Leader ability makes Holy Sites near rivers incredibly potent, generating massive Faith and providing significant Housing. Combine this with the Khmer ability’s benefits from Aqueducts and the Prasat’s Faith bonus to create a Faith-generating powerhouse. Prioritize Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to support city growth.

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.

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

Russia excels in a Religious Victory due to its ability to exploit Tundra terrain. The extra Faith and Production from Tundra tiles, combined with the Lavra’s expansion capabilities, allows for rapid territorial growth and Faith generation. The Dance of the Aurora Pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Focus on expanding widely across Tundra regions, utilizing Builders to develop new resources, and strategically spending Great People to expand your Lavras.

These four civilizations offer distinct but highly effective paths to a rapid Religious Victory in Civilization VI. Choosing the right leader depends on your play style and map conditions.