Embracing the Divine: Religious Conversion in Civilization VI

Yes, absolutely! In Civilization VI, you can convert your cities and, ultimately, your entire civilization to a different religion. This process is dynamic and influenced by various factors, making religious management a crucial aspect of gameplay. Successfully converting to a new religion requires a strategic understanding of religious units, pressure, and the mechanics governing religious dominance within your cities.

Understanding Religious Conversion in Civ 6

The Basics of Religious Dominance

The cornerstone of religious conversion in Civ 6 lies in the concept of a “predominant religion”. A religion becomes predominant in a city when the majority of its citizens follow it. The presence of religious units like Missionaries, Apostles, and even rival religious units (if you choose not to defend!) influences this balance.

How to Convert

The main way to change a city’s religion is by using religious units to spread religion. When a religious unit uses its “Spread Religion” ability within a city, it adds followers of that religion to the city’s population. If this brings the religion’s follower count above that of the existing religion(s), the city can be converted.

City-State Conversion

While you can convert city-states to your religion, remember that this doesn’t annex them. Rather, converting a city-state can bolster your influence with them, especially if they have religious bonuses linked to the religion you’re spreading.

Strategic Considerations

Be mindful of the long-term impacts of converting cities, including loyalty and diplomatic consequences. Rapidly converting cities without proper defenses may leave your civilization vulnerable to a counter-conversion. Religious conversions can lead to religious disunity, which could harm your civ.

FAQs: Your Burning Questions About Religion Answered

1. Can I force another civilization to adopt my religion?

You can’t directly force another civilization to adopt your religion, but you can heavily influence their cities through religious pressure and conversions. If you convert more than 50% of the cities in another civilization, your religion becomes the predominant one for that civilization, which is key for achieving a religious victory.

2. Is a religious victory the only benefit of focusing on religion?

No, religious beliefs can significantly enhance other victory types as well. For example, certain religious tenets can boost your culture output, science, or even production, making them valuable for Culture, Science, and Domination victories.

3. Can I lose my own founded religion?

Yes, it’s possible to lose your religion if your cities are converted by other civilizations’ religious units. Maintaining a strong religious presence and defending against rival religions is crucial for preserving your faith.

4. What happens if I miss out on founding a religion?

If you miss out on founding a religion, you can still participate in the religious game. You can convert to another religion and benefit from its bonuses, but you won’t be able to customize your own set of religious beliefs.

5. How do I get more Great Prophet points?

Generating Great Prophet points involves building Holy Site districts and their associated buildings (Shrines and Temples). Some civilizations and wonders also provide bonuses to Great Prophet point generation.

6. What’s the best way to defend my religion against conversion?

Defending your religion involves using Apostles with the “Debater” promotion to engage in theological combat against rival religious units. Building Holy Sites with Temples provides religious strength, making it harder for other religions to convert your cities. The Inquisitor unit is also great for purging other religions from your lands.

7. Is it worth building Stonehenge to found a religion early?

Building Stonehenge provides a guaranteed Great Prophet, allowing you to found a religion early. However, it takes time and production, so consider whether the opportunity cost outweighs the benefit.

8. How does religious pressure work?

Religious pressure spreads passively from cities with a majority religion to nearby cities. The strength of the pressure depends on the city’s population, Holy Site buildings, and proximity to other cities with different religions.

9. What are the best religious beliefs for a religious victory?

There are many useful religious beliefs, but some notable examples include:

• Worship Beliefs: Cathedral, Mosque, Wat, and Gurdwara provide Faith and other bonuses.
• Founder Beliefs: Tithe (gold for each follower) and Church Property (culture for each follower) are great.
• Follower Beliefs: Religious Community (+production), Jesuit Education (faith to purchase campus/theater square buildings).

10. Can city-states spread religion?

Yes, city-states with religious bonuses can passively spread their religion to nearby cities, potentially influencing the religious landscape.

11. What are the benefits of converting city-states to my religion?

Converting city-states can strengthen your suzerainty bonus with them, especially if their unique ability is tied to a specific religion. It can also increase your overall faith output.

12. What is theological combat?

Theological combat occurs when religious units from different religions engage in battle. The outcome determines which religion loses influence in the targeted city. Apostles with combat-oriented promotions are invaluable for these battles.

13. How do I use Gurus effectively?

Gurus heal religious units, allowing them to spread religion more frequently and survive theological combat. Position them strategically to support your Apostles and Missionaries. Remember to use them sparingly, focusing more on spreading and defending your religion.

14. How does the number of religions allowed in a game determined?

The number of religions depends on the map size and the number of civilizations. Typically, it’s half the number of civilizations plus one. This makes getting a religion more competitive in smaller maps.

15. What’s the best civilization for a religious victory?

Several civilizations excel at religious victories, including:

• India: Benefits from early Faith generation when meeting new civs.
• Russia: Starts with Faith-generating tundra tiles.
• Spain: Gains bonus Faith from converting cities.
• Khmer: Great at feeding their people due to religion, which makes them more versatile.

Conclusion: Mastering Religious Conversion

Converting cities and dominating the religious landscape in Civilization VI is a multifaceted endeavor. It requires careful planning, strategic use of religious units, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. It can dramatically affect your strategy in the game. Whether you’re aiming for a religious victory or simply seeking to enhance your civilization’s overall capabilities, mastering religious conversion is essential. Remember that playing games has great academic applications and benefits as proven by the Games Learning Society, which fosters interdisciplinary research! Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.