Civilization VI: Fastest Science Victory Civs, Ranked

Conquer Civ 6 with These Speedy Science Victory Civilizations

Civilization 6 offers three victory paths, but a swift Science victory can be surprisingly achievable with the right leader. While many civilizations excel in tech advancement, these stand out for their potential to dominate the tech tree and secure a rapid win. Remember, strategic empire expansion and leveraging unique abilities are key to success.

Seondeok – Korea: Seowons and Governor Power

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

Civilization Ability: Three Kingdoms (+1 Food and 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 her ability and Korea's unique Seowon district. Early game expansion is crucial. Utilize Magnus' promotion (preventing population loss when creating Settlers) for rapid city growth. Prioritize Civics that unlock Governor titles, maximizing the Science and Culture boosts from promotions. Strategically place Seowons at least two tiles from city centers, adjacent to future Mines to leverage the bonus Science. This optimized placement, combined with rapid expansion, ensures a significant Science advantage.

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 Luxury Resource adjacent to the city center; Farms gain +1 Housing and +1 Production adjacent to an Observatory)

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. The free Builders are invaluable for early development. Place Observatories next to Plantations or Farms to maximize their adjacency bonuses. This concentrated approach, coupled with efficient resource management, makes for a powerful Science engine.

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; enemy civilizations suffer double penalties in Russian territory)

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

While Peter excels in Culture and Religion, his Trade Route bonuses make him a strong Science contender. His extra founding tiles allow for aggressive early expansion and forward settling. Focus on building Campuses near mountains and developing strong trade networks via Currency Exchange and Harbors. Maximize the Science and Culture gains from your most advanced trade partners.

Hammurabi – Babylon: Eureka Exploitation and Expansion

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

Civilization Ability: Enuma Anu Enlil (Instant Eureka unlocks; -50% Science empire-wide)

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

Hammurabi's -50% Science penalty is offset by his ability to rapidly expand and trigger Eurekas. Early game focus should be on triggering Eurekas through diverse actions, not solely Science production. Prioritize Currency, Production, and city growth. Utilize Spies to accelerate Eureka progress by spying on technologically advanced civilizations. By the Classical Era, establish around six cities with Campuses. Hammurabi's free building ability allows you to acquire crucial Campus buildings later, boosting Science output significantly. While Eurekas remain the focus, maintain Science production to ensure a strong finish in the Space Race.

By mastering these strategies and leveraging each civilization's unique strengths, a fast Science victory in Civilization 6 becomes a realistic and rewarding goal.