Civilization VI: Fastest Science Victory Civs, Ranked

Civilization VI: Mastering the Fastest Science Victories

Civilization VI offers three victory conditions, with Religious Victories being the quickest and Culture Victories the most time-consuming. Science victories fall somewhere in between, but with the right leader, they can become surprisingly straightforward. While many civilizations can efficiently navigate the tech tree, these leaders excel at achieving rapid Science victories. The key is leveraging their unique abilities and strategically expanding your empire.

Seondeok - Korea: Seowons and Governor Promotions

Leader Ability: Hwarang (+3% Culture and Science per Governor promotion)

Civilization Ability: Three Kingdoms (+1 Food and +1 Science per adjacent Seowon for Farms and Mines respectively)

Unique Units: Hwacha, Seowon (+4 Science, -2 Science for adjacent Districts)

Seondeok's strength lies in the synergy between Seowons and her Leader ability. Early game expansion is crucial. Utilize Magnus' promotion (preventing population loss when creating Settlers) for rapid city growth. Prioritize Civics that unlock Governor titles to maximize the Science and Culture bonuses from promotions. Strategically place Seowons at least two tiles from city centers, adjacent to future Mines to exploit the Korean bonus. This optimized placement ensures maximum Science output while mitigating the Seowon's adjacency penalty.

Lady Six Sky - Maya: Observatory Optimization

Leader Ability: Ix Mutal Ajaw (+10% Yields within 6 tiles of the capital, free Builder upon founding; -15% Yields beyond 6 tiles)

Civilization Ability: Mayab (+1 Amenity per adjacent Luxury Resource; Farms gain +1 Housing and +1 Production next to Observatories)

Unique Units: Hul'che, Observatory (+2 Science from Plantation adjacency, +1 from Farms)

Lady Six Sky's ability encourages a compact empire. Focus on establishing 5-6 cities within a 6-tile radius of your capital, utilizing the free Builders effectively. Place Observatories next to Plantations or Farms to maximize their adjacency bonuses. This concentrated approach, while limiting expansion, allows for incredibly efficient Science generation.

Peter - Russia: Trade Route Domination

Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy (+1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 technologies/civics ahead of Russia on Trade Routes)

Civilization Ability: Mother Russia (+5 extra founding tiles; Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production; units immune to blizzards; enemies suffer double penalties in Russian territory)

Unique Units: Cossack, Lavra (expands by 2 tiles when a Great Person is spent)

Peter is a versatile leader, excelling in Culture and Religious victories. However, his ability to leverage Trade Routes for Science makes him a viable option for a fast Science victory. Utilize Russia's extra founding tiles for aggressive early expansion. Focus on building Campuses near mountains and enhancing trade capabilities through Currency Exchange and Harbor Districts to maximize Science gains from Trade Routes.

Hammurabi - Babylon: Overcoming the Science Penalty

Leader Ability: Ninu Ilu Sirum (free lowest-cost building for any District except Government Plaza; free Envoy when building other Districts)

Civilization Ability: Enuma Anu Enlil (instant Eureka unlocks, -50% Science)

Unique Units: Sabum Kibittum, Palgum (+2 Production and +1 Housing; +1 Food for adjacent Fresh Water)

Babylon's -50% Science penalty might seem daunting, but rapid expansion mitigates this significantly. Prioritize triggering Eurekas through diverse actions, focusing less on initial Science production and more on growth, trade, and production. Utilize Spies to steal Eureka opportunities from technologically advanced civilizations. By the Classical era, establish around six cities with Campuses. Hammurabi's ability allows for free early buildings, significantly boosting Science output later. Maintain Science production while prioritizing Eureka triggers to maintain a technological advantage.

By understanding and utilizing the unique strengths of these leaders, you can significantly increase your chances of achieving a swift and decisive Science victory in Civilization VI. Remember that strategic city placement, efficient resource management, and timely technological advancements are key to success.