Conquering the Cosmos: Your Definitive Guide to Science Victory in Civilization VI

Winning a Science Victory in Civilization VI is about more than just building a bunch of Campuses. It’s a multifaceted endeavor requiring strategic planning, efficient city management, and a focused approach to technological advancement. To achieve this celestial goal, you need to be the first civilization to launch a satellite, land a human on the moon, and establish a Martian colony. Each of these requires specific projects done in a Spaceport district, meaning you need to secure several of these districts. More than anything, it comes down to generating a massive amount of Science to catapult yourself to the forefront of technological advancement.

Building the Foundation: Early Game Science Strategy

The early game is crucial for setting the stage for your scientific triumph. Here’s how to build a strong foundation:

• Pottery First: As the article states, your first research should always be Pottery. This unlocks Writing, which leads to Campus Districts. Establishing a Campus early provides a significant science boost.

• Strategic City Placement: Settle cities near mountains, reefs, or geothermal vents to maximize Campus adjacency bonuses. Plan your cities around these bonuses to generate a solid science output.

• Meet City-States: Explore early and often to meet scientific City-States like Geneva or Hattusa. Suzerainty over these City-States grants bonuses to Science. Send envoys early to secure your standing.

• Early Wonders: The Great Library is extremely advantageous for any civ aiming for a science victory. It provides Eureka bonuses that help you to get ahead of your competition.

Mid-Game Momentum: Scaling Your Science Output

As you transition into the mid-game, it’s time to amplify your science production:

• Establish Trade Routes: Internal Trade Routes to your own cities with Campuses and Industrial Zones boost both Science and Production, accelerating your progress.

• Research Agreements: Once you’ve established positive relations with other civilizations, consider establishing Research Agreements. Note these can be broken by war so maintain a strong military.

• Government Choices: As the article mentions, Communism is a strong choice for Science Victories in the late game due to its production bonuses. In the mid-game Rationalism will serve you better in the short term.

• Great Scientists: Recruit Great Scientists like Isaac Newton, Hypatia, or Albert Einstein. Use their abilities to boost your science output or complete key technologies, ensuring that you benefit from their unique buffs.

Late-Game Launch: The Space Race

The late-game is all about the Space Race. Here’s how to secure your victory:

• Spaceports: Build multiple Spaceports to launch your Martian colony projects simultaneously. As the article suggests, you don’t want to have to build all three components for the colony in the same city.

• Production is Key: Maximize production in your Spaceport cities. Use Industrial Zones, Coal Power Plants, and policies like Production Queue to accelerate production.

• Great Engineers: Recruit Great Engineers to rush production on key space race projects. Use these engineers to boost production in your districts, helping to get to the finish line faster.

• Policies: Optimize your government policies for science and production. Policies like Five-Year Plan or Space Race provide huge boosts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the path to a Science Victory:

1. What is the best civilization for a Science Victory in Civ VI? While several civilizations are well-suited for Science, Korea stands out with its unique Seowon district, providing a significant science boost. Other strong contenders include Scotland and Australia, with production bonuses and strategic flexibility.

2. How important are Campus adjacency bonuses? Campus adjacency bonuses are crucial. Aim for placements adjacent to mountains, rainforests, geothermal vents, or districts to maximize their science output.

3. What are the key technologies to prioritize? Prioritize technologies that unlock Campus Districts, Universities, Research Labs, and the three Martian colony projects. Don’t neglect technologies that boost production.

4. Should I focus on building wonders when going for a Science Victory? Yes, certain wonders like the Great Library, Oxford University, and Amundsen-Scott Research Station can significantly boost your science and production. However, don’t sacrifice essential infrastructure for wonders.

5. How do I manage my economy while focusing on science? Maintain a balanced economy by building Commercial Hubs and Harbors. Use Trade Routes to generate income and boost science and production in your cities.

6. What is the best government for a Science Victory? As the article mentions, Communism provides significant production bonuses in the late game, crucial for completing space projects. Democracy also provides excellent production bonuses with strong city planning.

7. How do I deal with warmongering neighbors when pursuing a Science Victory? Maintain a strong military to deter aggression. Focus on defensive infrastructure like walls and ranged units. Form alliances with other civilizations for mutual protection.

8. Are Religious beliefs important for a Science Victory? While not essential, certain Religious beliefs like Jesuit Education (allowing you to use faith to purchase campus buildings) or Science benefits can provide additional advantages.

9. How many cities should I aim to have? The number of cities depends on your play style and available land. A wide empire with 10-15 well-developed cities can be highly effective for a Science Victory. As the article suggests, you cannot have too many cities in Civ 6.

10. What is the role of Great People in a Science Victory? Great Scientists and Great Engineers are crucial for boosting science output and accelerating production on space projects. Prioritize recruiting them through Campus projects and policies.

11. How do I manage my culture while focusing on science? While Culture is not the primary focus, it’s still important for unlocking beneficial policies and governments. Build Theater Squares and recruit Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians to generate culture.

12. Is it better to have a few large cities or many smaller cities? A mix of both can be effective. Large cities with high populations can maximize campus bonuses and production, while smaller cities can provide strategic resources and additional district slots.

13. What if another civilization is ahead of me in science? Focus on espionage to sabotage their space projects or steal technologies. Improve your own science output and production to catch up.

14. What are the best policies for a Science Victory? Key policies include Natural Philosophy (increased campus adjacency bonus), Rationalism (increased science in cities with campuses), Five-Year Plan (increased production in cities), and Space Race (increased production towards space projects).

15. How long does it take to achieve a Science Victory? The time varies depending on the game speed, difficulty level, and your play style. On standard speed, a Science Victory can typically be achieved between turns 250 and 350.

Advanced Strategies: Min-Maxing Your Science Game

Beyond the basics, here are some advanced tips to elevate your Science Victory game:

• Strategic Use of Spies: Deploy spies to sabotage production in enemy Spaceports or steal key technologies. Spies can also be used to defend your own cities from enemy espionage.

• Optimize District Placement: Carefully plan district placement to maximize adjacency bonuses. Consider placing Industrial Zones adjacent to Aqueducts and Dams for increased production.

• Ruthless Expansion: Don’t hesitate to expand aggressively to secure strategic resources and good city locations. Early expansion can provide a significant advantage in the long run.

• Understanding Eurekas: Plan your research to trigger Eurekas (boosts that cut technology research time in half) to ensure that you research your technologies as quickly and efficiently as possible.

• Utilizing Rock Bands: Even if culture is not your end goal, Rock Bands can be useful, if you get the right promotions. Rock Bands are good for earning tourism in the late game and will help with your economy.

Final Thoughts: Reaching for the Stars

Achieving a Science Victory in Civilization VI is a challenging but rewarding experience. By following these strategies, optimizing your cities, and focusing on technological advancement, you can lead your civilization to conquer the cosmos and secure your place in history. So, fire up your game, select your favorite science-focused civilization, and prepare to launch your journey to the stars! For more insights into the world of gaming and learning, explore the resources available at the Games Learning Society, and delve into the innovative work at GamesLearningSociety.org.