Conquer Religion in Civ 6: Top Faith Civs for a Speedy Religious Victory
Securing a Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're not facing stiff religious competition. Several Civ 6 civilizations prioritize Faith, but some excel at achieving this victory type far quicker than others. This guide highlights the best Faith civs for a rapid Religious Victory, focusing on their unique strengths and strategies.
While other civs offer reliable Religious Victory paths, these leaders can achieve a fast win under the right conditions and with a focused Faith strategy.
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 for each 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. The Taxis ability provides significant combat and religious boosts for each converted Holy City, while enemy unit kills spread your religion. Hippodromes facilitate rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Focus on the Theology and Monarchy civics for quick policy slot gains. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against units of your religion. Convert cities before invading for a rapid religious takeover.
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 tile; provides Tourism from Faith after Flight).
Menelik II's strength lies in his Leader ability. Founding cities on Hills provides Science and Culture alongside Faith, preventing imbalances. Prioritize Faith buildings early. Build Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for maximum Faith. Maximize Bonus and Luxury Resources, trade with resource-rich civs, and settle on Hills for balanced growth. A secondary focus on Culture accelerates Civic tree 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; triggers 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; +0.5 Culture per citizen).
Jayavarman VII excels at rapid Religious Victories. His Leader ability makes Holy Sites near rivers incredibly powerful, generating massive Faith, Housing, and Culture. Aqueducts provide extra Amenities and Faith. The Prasat provides significant Faith and boosts Culture. Prioritize Holy Sites near rivers, build Aqueducts, and utilize Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to maximize growth. Produce Apostles (and Missionaries) to quickly convert Holy Cities.
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 ahead).
Civ Ability: Mother Russia (+5 extra tiles on city 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).
Peter is a formidable Religious Victory contender. Russia's ability grants extra tiles and boosts Tundra tiles with Faith and Production. The Lavra expands city borders significantly. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Use Settlers (with the Magnus promotion) to expand rapidly across Tundra. Build Lavras and utilize Great People to expand your borders. St. Basil's Cathedral provides additional Tundra bonuses. Peter's ability to rapidly expand and generate significant Faith makes him a top contender for a quick Religious Victory.
