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Unleash the Power of Apostles: A Comprehensive Guide to Religious Domination in Civ 6

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So, you want to dominate the world through faith in Civilization 6? A key unit in achieving that goal is the Apostle. Think of them as your religious generals, leading the charge to convert cities and spread your beliefs far and wide. Here’s the short answer on how to get them: You need a city with your majority religion and a Temple district building in that city. Then, you can purchase them using Faith. Easy enough, right? But there’s a lot more to it than that! Keep reading to become an Apostle expert and forge your own religious empire.

Understanding the Apostle’s Role

Before diving into the specifics of acquisition, let’s understand why Apostles are so valuable. They aren’t just missionaries with fancier hats. Apostles are your main tool for:

Spreading your religion: Apostles are more effective at spreading religion than Missionaries due to higher religious combat strength.
Evangelizing beliefs: This is where Apostles truly shine. They allow you to modify your religion by adding or changing religious tenets, significantly impacting your civilization’s bonuses.
Launching Inquisitions: Once an Apostle uses this ability, you can then purchase Inquisitors to purge your cities of other religions and protect your dominant faith.
Religious Combat: Apostles engage in theological combat with other religious units to spread their religion.
Healing: Apostles act as healers, supporting nearby religious units.

Acquiring Apostles: The Step-by-Step Guide

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Here’s how you reliably churn out Apostles:

Establish a Religion: This might seem obvious, but you can’t get Apostles without a founded religion. Prioritize securing a Great Prophet early in the game. Build a Holy Site district and then construct a Shrine in the Holy Site to increase Great Prophet Points per turn.
Establish Religious Dominance: You need a city with your religion as the majority religion. Use Missionaries to convert cities if necessary. If another religion has significant presence, consider theological combat or using Inquisitors (after an Apostle has launched an inquisition.)
Build a Temple: This is the critical step! The Temple district building (requires a Holy Site district) unlocks the ability to purchase Apostles. Temples require a certain civic, which changes based on if you have the base game or any DLCs installed.
Accumulate Faith: Apostles are purchased with Faith, not gold. Faith is generated from Holy Sites (and their buildings), religious civics, natural wonders, religious city-states and certain leader abilities. Enhance your Faith output to produce Apostles faster.
Purchase the Apostle: Go to the city screen, find the production menu (usually where you build units or other city projects), and you should see the Apostle available for purchase with Faith. If you don’t see them, double-check the previous steps!

Maximizing Your Apostle Production

Once you can produce Apostles, here are a few tips to maximize their effectiveness:

Promotions: Apostles can gain promotions that enhance their abilities. Consider bonuses like increased spreading strength, combat bonuses, or the Martyr promotion (generates a Relic when they die in theological combat).
Strategic Placement: Use Apostles to target cities with low religious pressure from your religion or cities with active competing religions.
Defense: Protect your Apostles! They can be killed by opposing religious units or, if you’re at war, military units. Accompany them with Warriors or other military units if necessary.

Mastering Evangelize Belief

One of the Apostle’s most crucial functions is to Evangelize Belief. This action allows you to choose a new belief for your religion, or strengthen the existing ones. Here’s how to use it effectively:

Plan Ahead: Consider your civilization’s strengths and weaknesses. Choose beliefs that synergize with your existing strategy.
Adapt to the Map: Are there lots of coastal cities? A bonus to Faith production in coastal cities could be valuable. Mountainous terrain? Consider a bonus related to mountains.
Defend Against Opposing Beliefs: Choose beliefs that counteract the effects of other religions. For example, if a rival religion has a strong production bonus, you might choose a belief that boosts production in your cities.
Consider the long game: Beliefs will provide bonuses throughout the entire game, so don’t focus entirely on early game bonuses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about Apostles in Civilization 6:

Why can’t I purchase an Apostle? You likely don’t have a Temple in a city with your religion as the majority religion. Double-check these requirements.
How many religions can there be in a game? The number of religions depends on the map size and number of civilizations. The formula is typically half the number of civilizations plus one.
Can Apostles be killed? Yes, Apostles can be killed by other religious units in theological combat or by military units if you’re at war.
What’s the difference between a Missionary and an Apostle? Missionaries are cheaper and primarily spread religion. Apostles are more expensive, stronger at spreading religion, can evangelize beliefs, and launch inquisitions.
How do I get Relics from Apostles? Build Mont St. Michel and promote Apostles with the Martyr ability. When these Apostles die in theological combat, they generate a Relic.
What is the best promotion for an Apostle? It depends on your strategy. Debater increases combat strength, Translator helps convert foreign cities, and Martyr can generate Relics.
How do I launch an Inquisition? Select an Apostle and use the “Launch Inquisition” ability while in a city with a Holy Site. This allows you to purchase Inquisitors.
Can I convert Barbarians with Apostles? Yes, some Apostles gain the ability to convert adjacent Barbarians to your side.
How does an Apostle act as a Medic? Apostles heal adjacent religious units by 20 per turn.
What is the easiest way to win in Civ 6? While subjective, many find Domination victories relatively straightforward, requiring strong military and strategic city capture. Religious victory can be achieved by converting all other major civilizations to your religion.
What happens if I lose my religion? Cities following your religion gain +3 loyalty. Cities that do not follow your religion lose -3 Loyalty.
Can you wipe out a religion completely? Yes, conquer the holy city with an army and spread a different religion.
Can I steal a religion? You cannot directly steal another civilization’s religion, but you can convert their cities and effectively replace their faith with your own.
Is it worth getting a religion? Absolutely! Religions offer numerous benefits, including military bonuses, increased production, and Great Person generation.
What are some things not to do in Civ 6? Don’t try to be a jack of all trades, don’t focus only on the ocean, don’t neglect your military, and don’t underestimate the power of city-states.

Conclusion: The Path to Religious Victory

Mastering the art of acquiring and utilizing Apostles is crucial for achieving a religious victory in Civilization 6. By understanding their role, following the steps to acquire them, and strategically using their abilities, you can spread your faith across the globe and lead your civilization to enlightenment. So, go forth, build your Temples, gather your Faith, and unleash the power of your Apostles! Remember, strategy, planning, and adapting to your game are key to victory. For more insightful perspectives on the intersection of learning and gaming, explore the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Good luck, and may your religion reign supreme!