Choosing Your Champion: A Comprehensive Guide to Picking Leaders in Civilization 6

The heart of any Civilization 6 campaign lies in the choice of leader. Each leader brings a unique set of bonuses, abilities, and playstyles to the table, drastically altering the course of your game. Selecting the right leader can be the difference between a glorious triumph and a crushing defeat. So, how do you pick leaders in Civ 6?

The simplest method is during game setup. When starting a new game, you’ll be presented with a screen to customize your experience. Here, you can:

• Choose a Specific Leader: Browse the available leaders and select the one that best suits your preferred playstyle or victory condition.
• Random Leader: Let fate decide! The game will randomly select a leader for you, offering a fresh and potentially unexpected challenge.
• Advanced Setup: This allows you to further customize your game. In the Advanced Settings menu, you can pick which leaders you’d like to play against and deactivate the option to not allow duplicate Civs and Leaders. You can select a specific leader, or randomly choose from a leader pool you pre-define.
• Leader Pool: This advanced feature grants you ultimate control. Here, you can curate a pool of leaders, ensuring that the random selection aligns with your desired gameplay experience. You can also choose to disable certain civilizations from appearing in your game.

The key to picking the right leader lies in understanding your own playstyle and the strengths of each civilization. Are you a warmonger who prefers to dominate the map with military might? Or a peaceful builder who aims for a cultural or scientific victory? Are you playing on a particular map type? Take the time to research the different leaders and consider how their unique abilities will synergize with your strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Leaders in Civ 6

Here are some frequently asked questions to help you navigate the world of Civilization 6 leaders and make informed choices:

Choosing Leaders

1. Can I choose the same leader multiple times in one game?

   By default, duplicate leaders are not allowed. However, in the advanced game setup, you can disable this restriction and allow multiple players to choose the same leader. This can lead to some interesting and chaotic games!

2. Is it possible to play without any leaders (just a civilization)?

   No, you must choose a leader for each civilization in the game. The leader is intrinsically tied to the civilization and provides the unique bonuses and abilities that define its gameplay.

3. How do I unlock more leaders to play with?

   New leaders are primarily added through DLC (Downloadable Content) expansions and leader packs. Each expansion often introduces several new leaders, each with their unique abilities and civilizations. Purchasing these DLCs expands your roster and adds more variety to your games.

4. Can I change my leader mid-game?

   No, you cannot change your leader during a game. Once you start with a leader, you are locked in for the duration of that campaign. This reinforces the importance of careful leader selection at the beginning of the game.

5. Are some leaders objectively better than others?

   While some leaders are widely considered to be stronger than others, there is no definitively “best” leader. The effectiveness of a leader depends heavily on your playstyle, the map, and the other civilizations in the game. Some leaders excel in specific victory conditions or on certain map types.

Starting the Game

6. Does my starting location change based on my chosen leader?

   Yes, certain leaders have preferred starting biases. These biases influence the game’s algorithm to place your starting city in a location that benefits your leader’s unique abilities. For example, leaders with coastal bonuses are more likely to start near the coast.

7. What’s the best era to start in when picking a leader?

   Traditionally, most Civilization 6 games will begin in the Ancient Era, which is crucial to the ongoing success. However, starting in later eras can provide unique challenges and opportunities. Each era offers a different starting point with varying technologies and social policies already in place.

Leader Abilities and Synergies

8. How do I learn about a leader’s unique abilities?

   In the leader selection screen, you can hover over each leader to view a summary of their unique abilities, units, and infrastructure. Additionally, numerous online resources, such as the Civilization 6 wiki and community forums, provide detailed information about each leader.

9. Which leaders are best for a domination victory?

   Leaders known for their military prowess include Genghis Khan (Mongolia), Montezuma (Aztecs), and Shaka (Zulu). These leaders have abilities that provide military bonuses, unique units, or infrastructure that supports a strong military. The article also mentions Abraham Lincoln.

10. Which leaders are best for a science victory?

    Leaders well-suited for a science victory include Seondeok (Korea), Saladin (Arabia), and Catherine de Medici (France). These leaders often have bonuses to science output, research, or campus districts.

11. Which leaders are best for a culture victory?

    Leaders known for their cultural influence include Pericles (Greece), Eleanor of Aquitaine (England & France), and Kristina (Sweden). These leaders have bonuses to culture output, tourism, or great people generation.

12. Which leaders are best for a religious victory?

    Leaders who excel in religious pursuits include Saladin (Arabia), Gandhi (India), and Mansa Musa (Mali). These leaders have bonuses to faith output, religious spread, or apostle abilities.

Leader Interactions and Strategies

13. Does the AI play leaders differently based on their personalities?

    Yes, the AI’s behavior is influenced by the chosen leader’s historical personality and traits. Some leaders are programmed to be aggressive and expansionist, while others are more peaceful and focused on development. Understanding these tendencies can help you anticipate their actions and plan accordingly.

14. Should I consider the map type when choosing a leader?

    Absolutely! The map type can significantly impact a leader’s effectiveness. For example, leaders with naval bonuses are better suited for coastal maps, while those with terrain-specific bonuses excel on maps with those features.

15. What are some fun civilizations to play?

    Based on information from the article, Poland, Arabia, Greece, Russia, and Japan are fun due to their easy religion. Mongolia because of blitz domination. Macedon because of two unique units and never-ending war. Australia, Scotland, and Georgia because of “world police” opportunities. Finally, Indonesia is fun because small islands become less of a handicap.

Mastering the art of leader selection is a crucial aspect of succeeding in Civilization 6. By carefully considering your playstyle, the strengths and weaknesses of each leader, and the specific conditions of your game, you can significantly increase your chances of leading your civilization to greatness. Remember that the Games Learning Society is a great resource for learning more about the educational aspects of games like Civilization 6. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to explore the intersection of gaming and learning.