Civilization VI: Fastest Religious Victory Civs, Ranked

Civ 6: Conquer the Faith – Fastest Religious Victory Paths

A Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're the only player pursuing it. While many Civs boast strong Faith generation, some excel at achieving a rapid Religious victory. This guide highlights the Civ leaders best suited for this fast-paced strategy.

These top Faith Civs prioritize rapid Faith generation, swift Holy Site acquisition, and ultimately, the fastest Religious Victory. While others might offer more reliable paths, these leaders, with the right conditions and strategic focus, 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 to its owner.

Unique Units: Dromon (Classical ranged), Hippodrome (replaces Entertainment Complex, grants Amenities and a free Heavy Cavalry).

Theodora's strategy centers on religious warfare. Byzantium's ability boosts combat and religious strength with each converted Holy City, while unit kills spread your religion. Hippodromes facilitate rapid conquest through free Heavy Cavalry. Her Holy Site Culture bonus accelerates Civic progression; prioritize Theology and Monarchy for more Policy Slots.

Theodora excels at a combined Domination/Religious strategy. Focus on combat encounters to spread your religion, even without conquering every city. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against those following your religion. Convert cities before invading for a swift takeover. Combine military pressure with Missionaries/Apostles for rapid Holy City conversions.

Menelik II – Ethiopia: Hilltop Faith

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 grant +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, +1 Appeal to surroundings).

Menelik II's strength lies in his Leader ability. Founding cities on Hills provides Science and Culture alongside Faith, allowing balanced development. This enables early Pantheon and Religion acquisition. Construct Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for maximum Faith. Maximize Bonus and Luxury Resource copies and trade for extra Faith. Prioritizing Culture alongside Faith accelerates Civic progression.

Jayavarman VII – Khmer: Riverine 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.

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 is excellent for rapid Religious victories. His Leader ability makes Holy Sites near rivers incredibly powerful, generating substantial Faith, Housing, and Culture. Khmer's Aqueduct bonus further boosts Faith and Amenities. Prasat provides significant Faith and other benefits. Prioritize Holy Sites near rivers, build Aqueducts, and utilize Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to maximize growth and amenities. Generate Apostles/Missionaries for rapid peaceful conversion.

Peter – Russia: Tundra Triumph

Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy – Trade Routes with more advanced civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 technologies or civics they are ahead.

Civ Ability: Mother Russia – +5 founding tiles, 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).

Peter is a powerhouse for Religious Victories. Russia's ability grants extra Faith and Production from Tundra tiles, allowing rapid expansion and early Faith generation. Lavras significantly expand your territory with Great Person usage. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further boosts Tundra yields. Utilize the Magnus promotion to prevent population loss during expansion. St. Basil's Cathedral provides additional Tundra bonuses. Rapid city growth and Lavra expansion lead to overwhelming Faith generation.

These strategies, when executed effectively, can lead to remarkably fast Religious victories in Civilization 6. Remember that success depends on map generation, opponent actions, and your ability to adapt to changing circumstances.