10 Best Civilization 6 Leaders, Ranked

Restrict which leader to play during a Civilization 6 by Sid Meier The campaign can be difficult, especially considering the variety of gameplay approaches and independent features. Choosing the right leader for the right strategy can be a crucial component to victoryserving as part of the strategic depth that makes Civilization 6 stands out as a great strategy game on the Nintendo Switch and other modern platforms. Starting with the right leader is important, shaping the rest of the game for players.

Considering the strength of each leader, their diversity of skills and each type of victory possible, There are ten leaders who stand out as the best for any Civilization 6 game. Their range of skills and characteristics give each a unique calling card, but they are excellent options for specific objectives.

10

Basil II rules with strength and the divine

This king finds balance between religion and his military

Basil II comes with the Byzantium and Gaul Pack, leading the Byzantine Empire using both military and religious. Religion is fundamental to this leader, with leadership and civilizational capabilities that combine the spread of religion and military power and build the path to a stronger army. He leads with aggressive early gameplay to allow his religion to flourish, as each victory in combat increases the spread of his religion. As the Divine Civic is discovered, it will provide the player with a Tagma, a unique heavy cavalry unit rooted in the Medieval Era that replaces knights.

All your light and heavy cavalry units take full damage when attacking cities that follow your religion, representing how the battle is influenced by its influence on religion. Other than that, playing as Basil II also gives you access to naval units called Dromons, which surpass the Quadriremes and Hippodrome as an entertainment district. With all its characteristics, it is important focus on religion and military during a playthrough to secure a victory. To be sure, this hybrid approach can guarantee both domination and religious victory, as they both work together like Basil II.

9

Use Queen Seondeok for science

Another hybrid angle to the game

As one of the female leaders Civilization 6, Seondeok was ruler of Korea as queen of Silla of the Three Kingdoms period. In the game, it is based on science and culture, with your governors in each city providing +3% to both areas with each promotion. In line with their time period, mines also receive +1 science and farms receive +1 food for each adjacent district, helping civilization while pushing for a scientific victory.

Unlike Basil II, she is not limited to these two fields, as she also has the help of a unique military unit, the Hwachas. They replace field cannons and are unlocked once gunpowder is researched, providing strong combat and ranged attacks at a cheaper production cost. The Hwacha is not strong enough to emphasize a military approachhowever. However, the combined scientific and cultural advantages make it quite strong, but it is only available in the Rise and fall DLC and is only worth players’ time if they want a scientific victory.

8

Peter the Great for a religious victory

He’s not called great for no reason

Peter the Great is a strong choice for a flexible approach to Civilization 6. The production of high faith may be a strong path to victory for religion, but the opportunities for expansion and scientific and cultural generation make any victory viable. The Tsar provides civilizations with a unique building, the Lavra, which serves the same role as a sacred site but generates additional Great People points.

Like Queen Seondeok, it also focuses on culture and science. It also allows one of these wins, but he finds strength mainly in science and religion, adaptable to each one. Furthermore, with the spread of religion, it also allows trade routes with more advanced civilizations and gains +1 to faith and Tundra production, opening all paths to its success. Because of his flexibility, he can be fun to play with as a leader.

7

Abe Lincoln’s military strength

For the colonial approach

Following the colonial history of the United States of America, Abe Lincoln models his power around the country’s military and general industrializationconquering the map with these strengths. As important as balance is to ensure victory, Lincoln facilitates a total focus on domination through military and industrial power.

Every time Lincoln builds a new Industrial Zone or a building within one, provides a new free melee unit with +5 combat strength that does not require resources to maintain. The United States also has a unique air unit, the P-51 Mustangs. This Modern Era unit is unlocked far down the tech tree with Advanced Flight, but it is extremely strong and can reach 10 pieces each turn. Industrial zones provide +2 amenities and +3 Loyalty, also aiding the internal growth of the civilization, but Plantations will receive -2 Loyalty.

6

Kupe is good for a strategic victory

As leader of the Māori people

Kupe is a great option for those looking for strength at sea, in terms of exploration and a strong start to Civilization 6setting the tone for the entire play. It will always start in the ocean, with also +2 to science and culture until the first city is established, allowing their civilization to grow while finding their home. He is also great in terms of defending rights, as he defends sustainability.

Once colonized, the first city will give civilization a free builder with also +1 population. Additionally, Kupe provides unlocked navigation and shipbuilding technologies, immediately increasing Maori range, and all embarked units gain +2 movement. Embarked units also gain +5 combat strength. Additionally, Kupe focuses on culture, with the Maori-exclusive Marae building increasing +1 faith and culture on each piece, among other bonuses, while replacing Theater Square. This leader, however, is only available with the Storm gathering DLC.

5

Production is key to Queen Victoria

Your Age of Steam personality is a guaranteed win

Queen Victoria has always been a beloved leader throughout the series and this character in particular the Steam Era, is super powerful. Specifically, it focuses on industrialism with production, as cities receive +10% production for each Industrial Zone building and +2 production for all strategic civilization resources.

Victoria’s Age of Steam persona maintains a focus on production, while the Age of Empire version of the leader focuses on military expansion. Putting all your eggs in one basket allows Queen Victoria flies through progress, allowing you to achieve a victory of domination or science.

4

Eleanor of Aquitaine rules with peace

Represent both the English and the French

Unlike most leaders, Eleanor can take control of two civilizations, the English or the French. England focuses on growth and reach, while France allows the production of luxury goods. The English have more advantages at sea, with specialties for their navy, such as the Royal District Shipyard and the Sea Dog naval unit. The Dockyard provides extra gold while producing naval units faster, while the Sea Dog has 40 strength for its melee attacks and 55 for ranged attacks.

Furthermore, without using any violence, Eleanor can influence other leaders by convincing other cities to switch to her side, specifically with loyalty pressure. Large works, however, harm your loyalty, specifically -1 every turn in nearby foreign cities. Eleanor is also only available with the Gathering Storm DLC.

3

Lead the Babylonian Empire as Hammurabi

Accelerate and achieve a scientific victory with technology

In exchange for -50% science per turn, Hammurabi can use Eurekas to immediately unlock technology in the tech tree. This could make scientific advancement much faster than in other civilizations. Eurekas are fundamental to Babylon’s victory.

The Palgum is its unique building, providing the most production, and the first time Government Square is built, it receives the lowest production cost for a building within the district. THE The early-game Sabum Kibittum unit can help boost exploration, triggering more Eurekas with each new discovery. Combined with the Eurekas, Hammurabi can lead players to a scientific victory, but with any other victory it can be a struggle.

2

Jayavarman allows flexible victory

Choose which path suits civilization

As leader of the Khmer empire, Jayavarman VII focuses on his people, with any sacred sites granting a cultural bomb and food equal to their adjacency bonus, and when built on rivers, they provide an additional +2 adjacency bonus and +2 housing. Connected to water, Aqueduct cities receive +1 amenities from entertainment buildings and +1 faith for each population.

Additionally, he receives his own siege unit, the Domrey, and a building, the Prasat. The Domrey’s advanced mobility, strength, and zone of control make it useful for laying siege to enemy cities. Prasat helps boost religion, with +6 faith and bonuses like additional tourism. The Khmer empire is ideally better for a religious or cultural victory, but it can easily accommodate any other type of win, which can be extremely useful for a beginning player.

1

Queen Amanitore is the best

Nubian civilization is adaptable

Unquestionably, Amanitore is the best leader to play Civilization 6. With a pinch of experience, the Queen of Nubia accumulates bonus pieces, allowing those with strategy a victory. Generally speaking, the Nubian civilization receives +20% of production for all districts. When based in a desert, it can especially help with production, since production can reach +40% when a Nubian pyramid is adjacent to the city center. All ranged units also have +30% auto production, with +50% combat experience.

The mines are also essential for Queen Amanitore, as with strategic resources, they provide +1 additional production, while for luxury and bonus resources, they provide +2 gold. Together, they allow any type of victory, as long as it is carefully planned. The production bonus allows for faster progress, producing buildings and units faster than other competing civilizations. Nubia is also seen as a beginner-friendly civilization option, making Amanitore a great choice for Civilization 6 newcomers.

Sources: Civilization by Sid Meier/YouTube (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)