Civilization VI: Fastest Religious Victory Civs, Ranked

Civilization VI: Fastest Religious Victory Paths

A Religious Victory in Civilization VI can be surprisingly swift, particularly if you're not facing stiff religious competition. Several civilizations excel at generating Faith, rapidly securing Holy Sites, and achieving a quick Religious Victory. While some offer more consistent wins, these leaders prioritize speed under the right conditions and with a focused Faith strategy.

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).

Civilization 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 centers on religious warfare. The Taxis ability boosts combat and religious strength with each converted Holy City, while enemy unit kills spread your faith. Hippodromes fuel rapid conquest with free Heavy Cavalry. Focus on Theology and Monarchy civics for quick Policy Slots. The Crusades founding belief enhances combat strength against those of your faith. Convert cities before invading for a rapid 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 on Hills).

Civilization 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 Hill, provides Tourism from Faith after Flight, spreads +1 Appeal).

Menelik II's strength lies in his Leader ability. Founding cities on Hills provides Science and Culture alongside Faith, allowing balanced growth. Maximize Faith building production early. Construct Rock-Hewn Churches near mountains and hills for optimal Faith bonuses. Acquire and trade Bonus and Luxury Resources for extra Faith. Prioritizing Culture alongside Faith accelerates Civic tree progression.

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).

Civilization 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 Religious Victories. His Leader ability makes Holy Sites near rivers incredibly powerful, generating massive Faith, Housing, and Culture. Aqueducts further boost Amenity and Faith. The Prasat provides significant Faith and other benefits. Prioritize building near rivers, utilizing Wonders like the Great Bath and Hanging Gardens to maximize growth and mitigate negative river effects. Rapidly produce Apostles and Missionaries for swift conversions.

Peter - Russia: Tundra Domination

Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy (Trade Routes with more advanced civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture per 3 Technologies or Civics they are ahead).

Civilization 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 offers one of the fastest Religious Victory paths. The combination of extra founding tiles, Tundra bonuses (Faith and Production), and the Lavra's expansion capabilities allows for rapid territorial control and Faith generation. The Dance of the Aurora pantheon amplifies Tundra yields. Focus on building Settlers (with Magnus promotion) to expand widely across Tundra. Lavras greatly expand your territory and Faith output. St. Basil's Cathedral further enhances Tundra tiles. Utilize Builders to exploit new resources unlocked by Great Person expansion.