Fastest Religious Victory Civs Ranked

Civ 6's Fastest Religious Victory Paths: Top Faith Civs

Achieving a Religious Victory in Civilization 6 can be surprisingly swift, especially if you're not facing heavy religious competition. While many Civs boast strong Faith generation, some excel at rapid Religious victories. This guide highlights the Civ leaders best suited for a quick religious win, focusing on strategies to maximize their Faith-generating potential.

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 hinges on religious warfare. Taxis provides significant combat and religious boosts for each converted Holy City, while unit kills spread your religion. Hippodromes fuel rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Focus on the Theology and Monarchy civics for quick Policy Slot acquisition. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against units following 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 (+1 Faith per copy of Resource improvements; 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 Leader ability. Founding cities on Hills provides a balanced approach, generating Science and Culture alongside Faith. Maximize Faith by building Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills. Focus on acquiring multiple copies of Bonus and Luxury Resources and trading with resource-rich civilizations.

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, +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 city growth and Faith generation. Place Holy Sites next to rivers to maximize Faith and Housing. Aqueducts boost Amenities and Faith. The Prasat provides substantial Faith and Culture. Prioritize Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to enhance growth and mitigate negative river effects. Rapidly spread your religion with Apostles and Missionaries.

Peter - Russia: Tundra Domination

Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy (Trade Routes with advanced civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture).

Civ Ability: Mother Russia (+5 extra founding tiles; 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's Russia is a powerhouse for Religious Victories. The ability to found cities with extra tiles and the Lavra's expansion mechanic allow rapid territorial control. Tundra tiles provide significant Faith and Production. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon further enhances Tundra yields. Focus on building Lavras and utilizing Great People to expand your borders and Faith output.

These strategies, when implemented effectively, can lead to remarkably fast Religious Victories in Civilization 6. Remember that success also depends on map generation and the actions of other players.