Can You Buy Great People in Civ 6? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you can buy Great People in Civilization VI (Civ 6), but with some important caveats. While accumulating Great Person points is the primary method of obtaining these powerful individuals, both Gold and Faith can be used to patronize (directly purchase) them. The availability and cost of buying Great People depends on several factors, including how many points you’ve already accrued towards that specific Great Person and the current game era. Let’s delve deeper into how this mechanic works and explore some frequently asked questions.

Understanding Great People in Civ 6

Great People are unique individuals who, when recruited, provide powerful bonuses and abilities to your civilization. There are various types of Great People, each corresponding to different areas of expertise:

• Great Admirals: Enhance naval units and provide naval-related bonuses.
• Great Artists: Create Great Works of Art, which generate Culture and Tourism.
• Great Engineers: Provide bonuses to production, especially towards Wonders.
• Great Generals: Enhance land units and provide military-related bonuses.
• Great Merchants: Boost trade routes and generate Gold.
• Great Musicians: Create Great Works of Music, which generate Culture and Tourism.
• Great Prophets: Needed to found a religion.
• Great Scientists: Provide bonuses to science and research.
• Great Writers: Create Great Works of Writing, which generate Culture and Tourism.

How to Purchase Great People

The ability to purchase Great People with Gold or Faith is a crucial strategic option. It allows you to circumvent the normal accumulation of Great Person points, giving you a potential edge over your rivals. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Access the Great People Screen: This screen displays all available Great People, sorted by type, and indicates how close each civilization is to recruiting them.

2. Check Availability and Cost: The Great People screen will show whether you can patronize a particular Great Person. If the option is available, the cost in Gold or Faith will be displayed. The cost increases as you accumulate more Great Person points towards that individual. It is also possible that you need to unlock a civic or technology to unlock the option to recruit a great person.

3. Consider the Price: The cost of a Great Person increases as more players generate points toward them. So, waiting too long could make a wanted Great Person too expensive.

4. Make the Purchase: If you have sufficient Gold or Faith, simply click the patronize button to immediately recruit the Great Person.

5. Strategic Timing: Buying Great People can be especially advantageous if you’re in a race with another civilization, or if you need a specific Great Person to achieve a particular goal, such as building a Wonder or founding a religion.

The Role of Faith and Gold

Both Gold and Faith are viable currencies for buying Great People. However, civilizations geared towards different victory types may find one more suitable than the other.

• Faith: Civilizations pursuing a Religious Victory, or those with strong Holy Sites, will often have a surplus of Faith, making it an ideal resource for recruiting Great Prophets or other valuable Great People.
• Gold: Civilizations with strong economies, trade routes, or coastal cities tend to accumulate Gold more easily. This Gold can then be strategically invested in acquiring crucial Great People that complement their overall strategy.

Strategic Considerations

Deciding whether to accumulate Great People through Great Person points or buy them is a complex decision that depends on several factors:

• Game Stage: In the early game, saving Gold or Faith for other critical purchases (like military units or Settlers) might be more prudent than buying a Great Person.
• Competition: If you’re in a heated race for a specific Great Person, buying them might be necessary to secure their benefits.
• Victory Condition: Your chosen victory condition should heavily influence your Great Person acquisition strategy. For instance, Cultural Victories benefit greatly from Great Artists, Musicians, and Writers.
• Civilization Abilities: Some civilizations have abilities that make acquiring certain types of Great People easier, thus making purchasing them less necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Great People in Civilization VI, further clarifying the mechanics and strategies involved:

1. How do I generate Great Person Points?

Great Person Points are generated through specialized districts and buildings. For example, Campuses generate Great Scientist points, Holy Sites generate Great Prophet points, and Theater Squares generate Great Writer, Artist, and Musician points.

2. What happens if I run out of Great People to recruit?

Once all Great People of a specific type have been recruited in a game, that type is exhausted. No more Great People of that type will be available.

3. Can I pass on a Great Person?

Yes, you can choose to pass on a Great Person, especially if their ability doesn’t align with your current strategy. Passing allows you to retain some of your accumulated Great Person points and prepare for the next Great Person in that category.

4. Can Great People be captured?

No, Great People cannot be captured by enemy military units. They automatically retreat to their owner’s nearest City Center rather than being killed, except in the case of a nuclear strike.

5. How many Great Prophets are available in a game?

The number of Great Prophets available depends on the map size, usually being half the default number of players plus one.

6. Can I get more than one Great Prophet?

No, only one Great Prophet is allowed per civilization.

7. What is the best way to utilize Great Generals?

Great Generals provide combat bonuses to nearby military units. Position them strategically with your armies to maximize their effect.

8. How do Great Works contribute to victory?

Great Works, created by Great Artists, Musicians, and Writers, generate Culture and Tourism. High Tourism output is crucial for achieving a Cultural Victory.

9. Is it always beneficial to buy Great People?

No. Sometimes, focusing on building infrastructure that generates Great Person points is a more efficient long-term strategy.

10. How does the cost of Great People change over time?

The cost of purchasing Great People increases over time as more players accumulate points towards them. Also, the later the Era, the more expensive to purchase a Great Person.

11. Can city-states recruit Great People?

Yes, city-states can recruit Great People, and this can impact the availability of those Great People for major civilizations.

12. What is the relationship between government types and Great People?

Certain government types can provide bonuses to Great Person point generation, making it easier to acquire them through normal means. Theocracy grants the ability to buy military units with faith.

13. How do I prevent other civilizations from getting the Great People I want?

Focus on generating Great Person points quickly, investing in Spies for counterintelligence to disrupt the other civilizations, and considering buying the Great Person outright if necessary.

14. Are there any Wonders that affect Great People acquisition?

Yes, Wonders such as the Oracle and the Apadana can provide bonuses to Great Person generation. Hagia Sophia gives Faith and Bonus spreads for Missionaries and Apostles.

15. Who are the best civilizations for focusing on Great People?

Civilizations like Greece (Pericles), Korea, and Arabia have unique abilities that make them particularly well-suited for generating Great Person points.

Conclusion

Buying Great People in Civ 6 is a valuable strategic option that can provide a significant advantage. By understanding the mechanics, considering the costs, and evaluating your overall strategy, you can effectively leverage Gold and Faith to acquire the Great People you need to achieve your desired victory condition. Remember to visit the GamesLearningSociety.org website to further explore similar strategies and insights! As you improve at Civ 6 it is important to remember that acquiring a Great Person may be crucial to your win condition!