Should I Pass on Great People in Civilization VI? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether to pass on a Great Person in Civilization VI is a nuanced one, dependent on your current game state, your civilization’s strategy, and the specific Great Person being offered. In short, the answer is: sometimes, yes, you absolutely should. However, it’s crucial to understand why and when to make this strategic decision. Passing can be a powerful move, but it also carries risks if you don’t understand the game mechanics fully.

Understanding Great People and Their Significance

Before delving into the specifics of passing, let’s recap the importance of Great People in Civilization VI. These individuals, be they Great Scientists, Great Generals, Great Artists, or any of the others, provide significant bonuses and unique abilities that can dramatically shape your empire.

• Great People Points (GPP): Each type of Great Person (Scientist, General, etc.) requires accruing specific points. These points are earned through districts, buildings, and policies.
• Unique Abilities: Once recruited, Great People can be activated in a specific district or used for a passive bonus. These abilities range from triggering Eureka moments to creating masterpieces or granting military buffs.
• Era Relevance: The power of certain Great People diminishes as the game progresses. For instance, a Great General who boosts Classical era units becomes less valuable in the Information era.
• Strategic Importance: Great People can complement a wide array of victory conditions, providing science, culture, military, or economic boosts. Understanding their potential synergy with your chosen path to victory is essential.

When to Consider Passing on a Great Person

So, when should you consider letting a Great Person slip through your fingers? Here are several key scenarios:

1. The Great Person is Underwhelming: Not all Great People are created equal. Some have abilities that are simply less impactful for your specific civilization or your current strategy. If a Great Person’s ability doesn’t synergize with your empire’s goals, it might be wiser to pass.
2. The Great Person’s Era is Incongruent: If you’re already well into the Renaissance era, a Great Person who primarily benefits Classical era advancements is less valuable. Holding your Great Person Points (GPP) for a later, more relevant individual is a sound strategic move.
3. You Lack the Appropriate District: Certain Great People require activation in a specific district, like a Campus for Great Scientists or a Holy Site for Great Prophets. If you haven’t developed the necessary infrastructure, recruiting that Great Person would be wasteful.
4. You’re Saving for a Specific Great Person: The Great People screen allows you to see the upcoming individuals in each category. If you know a particularly powerful Great Person is on the horizon, you might want to save your points to guarantee their recruitment. Remember that, in most game modes, other civilizations can also compete for those same Great People.
5. You Need to Time Your Great Person Acquisition: Sometimes, the timing of a Great Person’s ability is more important than the ability itself. For example, a Great Scientist who grants a free technology might be best used when you’re close to unlocking a crucial technology that will propel you ahead of your rivals. Passing on an earlier Great Person allows you to fine-tune your strategy.
6. Avoiding the Great Person Glitch: In unpatched or older versions of Civilization VI, there was a known bug where passing on a Great Person could prevent you from earning future Great People in that category if another player didn’t claim them first. While this bug has been addressed in most updates, it’s worth being aware of, especially if you are playing an older version.

The Risks of Passing

While passing can be beneficial, it’s essential to understand the risks involved:

• Another Civilization Might Snag Them: The most obvious risk is that another civilization will recruit the Great Person you passed on. If that Great Person is even slightly useful, you’ve given your opponent an advantage.
• Wasted GPP: While you retain your accumulated Great People Points (GPP), the other civilizations continue earning points in the same category. They may catch up and outpace you, potentially blocking you from acquiring future Great People.
• Strategic Opportunity Cost: Every decision in Civilization VI involves a trade-off. Passing on a Great Person might mean missing out on a temporary boost that could have given you an edge in a particular area.
• Potential for Missed Synergies: You might underestimate the value of a particular Great Person in the grand scheme of your strategy. Always carefully consider the potential synergies between Great People and your civilization’s unique abilities.

Strategic Examples

Let’s look at some practical examples:

• Scenario 1: You’re playing as Korea, focusing on Science. The first Great Scientist available offers a small science boost. You know that Hypatia, who provides a library in every city, is coming up next. You might want to pass on the first Scientist to secure Hypatia, as her ability synergizes perfectly with Korea’s science-focused civilization ability.
• Scenario 2: You’re pursuing a Domination victory. A Great Admiral who boosts naval combat in the Classical era appears. However, you’re landlocked and have no intention of building a navy. Passing on this Admiral is a no-brainer.
• Scenario 3: You’re aiming for a Culture victory, but you’re still in the early game. A Great Writer appears, but you lack the Theatre Squares to house their Great Work. It might be more advantageous to wait until you have the necessary infrastructure before recruiting a Great Writer.

A Word of Caution

Always assess the broader context of your game. Consider your victory condition, your civilization’s strengths and weaknesses, and the state of your rivals. Don’t blindly pass on Great People without carefully weighing the potential benefits and risks.

The key is to develop a nuanced understanding of Great People mechanics and the overall flow of Civilization VI. With experience, you’ll become adept at recognizing when to seize a Great Person and when to let them pass.

By mastering this element of the game, you’ll be well on your way to achieving world domination, cultural supremacy, scientific enlightenment, or whatever your desired victory might be! Be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org for even more insights into strategy and learning through games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the complexities of passing on Great People in Civilization VI:

1. Can I see which Great People are coming up next?

Yes, in the Great People menu, you can see the list of upcoming Great People in each category. This allows you to plan your strategy accordingly.

2. Do I lose my accumulated Great Person Points (GPP) if I pass?

No, you retain your accumulated points. They will be applied towards the next Great Person in that category.

3. Can another civilization steal a Great Person I’m saving for?

Yes, other civilizations are also accumulating Great People Points (GPP). They can claim the Great Person before you if they reach the threshold first.

4. Is it always better to grab a Great Person, even if their ability isn’t ideal?

Not always. Sometimes, the opportunity cost of recruiting a less-than-ideal Great Person outweighs the benefits.

5. How do I increase my Great Person Points (GPP) generation?

Build the appropriate districts and buildings, and enact policies that boost GPP generation. For example, Campuses increase Great Scientist Points.

6. Does difficulty level affect Great People acquisition?

Yes, on higher difficulty levels, AI civilizations receive bonuses, including faster Great Person acquisition.

7. Does the game mode affect Great People?

Yes, some game modes, like Heroes & Legends, add entirely new classes of Great People with unique powers. Apocalypse mode adds the Soothsayer Great Person.

8. How important are Great People for a Culture victory?

Great People are extremely important for a Culture victory, especially Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians, who create Great Works that generate tourism.

9. Is it possible to entirely block another civilization from getting a specific Great Person?

Yes, by focusing your GPP generation in a particular category, you can prevent other civilizations from acquiring that Great Person.

10. Should I prioritize Great People over other aspects of my empire?

No, Great People are just one piece of the puzzle. Maintaining a balanced economy, military, and infrastructure is also crucial.

11. What happens if no one claims a Great Person?

If no player claims a great person, the next great person in that category is available. The previous one will be unavailable in the game forever.

12. Are there any civilizations with unique Great People bonuses?

Yes, some civilizations have unique abilities or unique Great People that provide special advantages.

13. Can I get Great People from other civilizations through trade or conquest?

No, Great People are acquired through accumulating Great Person Points (GPP). Conquering a city with a Holy Site or Campus does not grant you the associated Great Prophet or Scientist.

14. How do Great People interact with city-states?

Some city-states provide bonuses to GPP generation, while others provide unique Great People-related abilities.

15. Is there a limit to how many Great People I can recruit?

There is no hard limit, but the cost of each Great Person increases over time, making it progressively more difficult to acquire them.