Of the many types of Victory in Civilization 6the Scientific Victory is one of the most challenging to achieve. Winning it requires investment in Science and Technology, and several steps are required to fully complete the Space Race project that ultimately completes Scientific Victory. If players want to properly prepare for a Science Victory, they will need to choose the best leader for the task.
In Civilization 6There are several leaders who can achieve a Scientific Victory, but a select few are especially equipped for the task. Here are 10 of the best leaders for players looking to achieve a Science Victory in Civilization 6and some general tips for utilizing your unique attributes.
10
Frederick Barbarossa of Germany
While most of the other leaders on this list have abilities or traits that boost Science in some way, Germany, led by Frederick Barbarossa, is one of the best Civ 6 civilizations for achieve a scientific victory if players utilize their production capabilities strategically. Production is essential for a Science Victory as players begin the research projects needed to launch into space and beyond. However, this can only be done with a solid city-building strategy centered around a unique German building, the Hansa.
Players will need to take advantage of the Hansa, the German version of the Industrial Zone, which is cheaper to build, offers a +2 production bonus for certain adjacent districts, and additional production bonuses based on district or resource placement. The Hansa is essential to maximizing production and eventually pursuing the scientific research projects necessary for a victory.
9
Hammurabi of Babylon
This will not be the traditional approach to a Scientific Victory, but Hammurabi is able to take the lead in technology research through the ability Enuma Anu Elil of Babylon. This feature completes an entire technology after triggering a Eurekaas opposed to just a portion of it, at the high cost of -50% science output per turn, forcing players to focus on completing Eureka tasks rather than maximizing science yields.
Players can overcome the Science production penalty by completing as many Eurekas as possible, as quickly as possible, especially early in the game with the Sabum Kibittum, a unique unit from the Ancient Era. Focusing on exploration, tribal villages can provide Eureka as a rewardwhile Hammurabi can simultaneously build each type of district whenever possible. His unique ability Ninu Ilu Sirum grants one free building in each district type once constructed.
8
John Curtin from Australia
To achieve a scientific victory with John Curtin, players will want to focus on building districts in breathtaking pieces to take advantage of the +3 yields as part of Australia's unique Land Down Under feature. By increasing the population as much as possible using the Outback Station building, players can maximize science and production output and finish projects quickly. Becoming overlord of science-based city-states will also help.
The campuses gain excellent adjacency bonuses to Australia, so science output won't be a problem if players place these districts near reefs, mountains, or both – either way, these are ideal places for Australia and John Curtin to settle. Taking advantage of the Digger unit during the Modern Era will be essential to defensive strategy as players pursue the Science and Production necessary for Scientific Victory.
7
Wu Zetian of China
Wu Zetian uses espionage as his main skill, Manual Of Entrapment, which empowers spies and rewards players with faith, culture, and science in successful espionage missions. This ability also allows players to purchase Spies with Faith and grants a free spy plus additional spying ability after discovering Defensive Tactics. China's Dynastic Cycle feature allows Eurekas and Inspirations to fill 50% of the cost instead of the usual 40%, and grants a random Eureka or Inspiration after building a wonder.
In total, these skills and traits can be used strategically for a Scientific Victory if players focus on espionage and Steal Tech Boosts missionsas well as completing Eurekas whenever possible. Using Faith to buy spies will reduce your costs, and strategizing around Eurekas will put Wu Zetian ahead in the pursuit of Science.
6
Alexander of Macedon
If players want to avoid the militaristic route with Alexander, Macedonia is also a great candidate for a Science Victory, given the boosts to Eurekas from conquests, as well as a Science bonus from the Basilikoi Paides building. Alexander will require military tactics regardless of the victory players seekbut it is possible to establish early dominance without completely destroying all other civilizations by focusing on advancing production and researching technologies in pursuit of a scientific victory.
The Basilikoi Paides is a building unique to Macedonia that produces Science equal to 25% of any non-civilian units created in that city. Players will need to advance technologies with Alexander anyway to stay up to date with the latest military weaponry. Alexander can advance Science during his conquests while also limiting the ability of other civilizations to pursue a scientific victory.
5
Saladin (vizier) of Arabia
Saladin is a strong candidate for the Scientific Victory due to his ability to leverage Faith and Religion into the yields of Science through The Last Prophet, the unique feature of Arabia that encourages other civilizations to adopt the Arabian religionand the Justice of Faith leader ability. This allows Saladin to establish a religious base in all other civilizations and command them to gain +1 Science production per turn and 10% increase in Science, Faith and Culture production of Arab cities.
A Religious Victory may seem like the most obvious choice for Saladin, but Arabia is a strong candidate for a Scientific Victory due to the many scientific bonuses provided by the Faith. Faith and Science work together cohesively for Arabia, with the Madrasa building providing a bonus to Faith equal to the Campus district's adjacency bonus.
4
Pachacuti of the Inca Empire
Because of Pachacuti's emphasis on Mountain tiles and Inca abilities focused on mountainous areas as well, players will naturally find their Campus districts receiving +1 adjacency bonuses to Mountain Science tiles. The Incas are a prosperous civilization that utilizes high population growth and increases in production, therefore, completing projects later for Scientific Victory becomes very viable.
Production bonuses for the Inca Empire include the Mit'a skill, allowing citizens to work on Mountain tiles and increasing Mountain tile production by up to +3 in the Industrial Age. The Terrace Farm building will also increase food and housing productionas well as Production if placed next to an Aqueduct or Fresh Water. The Inca can also teleport with the Qhapaq Ñan Builder ability, which won't necessarily help with Scientific Victory, but is still a lot of fun to use.
3
Lady Six Heaven Maya
Lady Six Sky of the Mayan civilization will give players a huge advantage from the start in the quest for Scientific Victory. Lady Six Sky's Ix Mutual Ajaw ability increases all income for cities within six blocks of the capital. This allows for consolidated and focused gameplay, where players can build the Observatory from scratch and start increasing Science income from the beginning of the Ancient Era.
The Observatory is cheaper to build than Campus buildings and offers a +2 Science bonus to all adjacent crops, as well as a +1 science bonus for every two adjacent Farm or District tiles. Crucially, plantations, farms and districts need to be strategically considered within each cluster city to maximize scientific yields, and Hul'che's unique units will be excellent for protection against Civilization 6they are discouraging barbarian invaders or opposing civilians.
2
Seondeok from Korea
Seondeok of the Korean Empire relies on strategies around Governor placement, as his Hwarang ability allows Governors established in a city to provide a +3% boost to Culture and Science for each of their Promotions, including the first. Furthermore, the Korean district of Seowon replaces Campus and provides +4 to Sciencebut will give -1 to Science for each adjacent District, making placement important. Instead of building Seowon District close to cities, isolate it from other buildings and build Farms and Mines to maximize your adjacency bonuses.
The use of Governors is crucial to Seondeok's Scientific Victory because the promotions boosts will really start to increaseespecially after all Governors are acquired. It also requires the advancement of Culture because the Governor's Promotions and placements will only occur with Culture income.
1
Robert The Bruce of Scotland
Because of Robert the Bruce and Scotland's focus on production and science, achieving a scientific victory with Scotland is much easier than almost any other civilization in the game. Building golf courses close to each city center will maximize Scotland's efficiency, and it is advisable to take advantage when a neighboring civilization needs help so that players can use Rober the Bruce's Bannockburn ability, giving a 100% increase in production and a movement increase after declaring a Liberation War.
Importantly, Scotland's Scottish Enlightenment feature gives a +5% boost to Science and Production in Happy cities, while Happy cities also produce additional Great Scientist and Great Engineer points in Campuses and Industrial Zones, respectively. If players want to maximize scientific output and achieve a scientific victory in Civilization 6Robert the Bruce of Scotland might be your best bet as a leader.