How Much Faith Do You Need to Start a Religion in Civ 6?
In Civilization 6, embarking on the path to religious dominance hinges on a crucial resource: Faith. So, how much Faith do you need to kickstart your spiritual empire? The short answer: you actually don’t need Faith directly to found a religion. Instead, you need 25 Faith to found a Pantheon. From there, you need to earn Great Prophet points to recruit a Great Prophet. Once you have a Great Prophet, and have already founded a Pantheon, you can use them to found a Religion in your Holy Site district.
Understanding this process is essential for crafting a successful religious strategy. Let’s delve into the specifics and address some common questions about founding religions in Civ 6.
Understanding the Religious Game in Civilization 6
The religious game in Civ 6 is a layered process, starting with the acquisition of a Pantheon, progressing to the recruitment of a Great Prophet, and culminating in the founding of a Religion. Unlike other resources like Gold, Food, or Production, Faith generation is typically achieved through specific buildings and districts. Let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Establishing a Pantheon
Your religious journey begins with a Pantheon, a pre-religion belief system that offers early-game bonuses. Reaching 25 Faith triggers the ability to choose a Pantheon belief. These beliefs provide diverse benefits, such as bonus Culture from natural wonders, increased Production towards early-game units, or enhanced Food yields. Selecting the right Pantheon can significantly boost your civilization’s early development and lay the groundwork for your religious ambitions.
Step 2: Earning Great Prophet Points
Once you have a Pantheon, the focus shifts to acquiring a Great Prophet. Great Prophets are not bought with Faith; they are earned by accumulating Great Prophet Points. The primary way to generate these points is through the Holy Site district. Constructing a Holy Site and adding buildings like Shrines and Temples within the district will steadily accrue Great Prophet Points. Some civilizations and city-states also offer bonuses to Great Prophet Point generation. Stonehenge allows for the founding of a religion without needing a Holy Site and also guarantees you a Great Prophet.
Step 3: Founding Your Religion
When you have earned enough Great Prophet Points and recruited a Great Prophet, you can use them to found a Religion in a Holy Site district (or Stonehenge, if you built it). This pivotal moment allows you to customize your religion with four unique beliefs: Follower Beliefs, Worship Beliefs, Founder Beliefs, and Enhancer Beliefs. These beliefs provide a wide array of benefits, impacting everything from Faith generation and city growth to combat bonuses and diplomatic relations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Religion in Civ 6
Here are some common questions players have about establishing and managing their religions in Civilization 6:
1. Why can’t I start a religion in Civ 6?
Several reasons could be preventing you from founding a religion:
- No Pantheon: You need to establish a Pantheon first (requiring 25 Faith) before you can found a religion.
- No Great Prophet: You must earn enough Great Prophet Points to recruit a Great Prophet.
- No Holy Site: Great Prophets typically found religions within a Holy Site district.
- Another Religion Already Founded: If you are playing as a civilization that is the first to found a religion, it could be that another Civ has already founded all available religions.
2. Can you start a religion without a Great Prophet in Civ 6?
No, you cannot start a religion without a Great Prophet. While Faith is essential for establishing a Pantheon, a Great Prophet is the key to founding your religion. You can earn the first Great Prophet reliably by building Stonehenge before anyone else.
3. Is it worth getting a religion in Civ 6?
Whether a religion is worthwhile depends on your victory strategy. A religion is essential for a Religious Victory and can provide significant boosts to a Culture Victory. However, if you are pursuing a Science or Domination Victory, investing heavily in religion might divert resources better spent on other districts and units.
4. What religion is best in Civ 6?
There’s no single “best” religion, as the ideal choice depends on your civilization’s strengths and your overall strategy. However, some popular and powerful beliefs include:
- Cathedral: Provides Faith and a slot for Religious Art, benefiting culture-focused civilizations.
- Mosque: Increases Faith generation and grants Missionaries/Apostles an extra charge, aiding religious spread.
- Wat: Grants Faith and Science, ideal for civilizations balancing religious and scientific pursuits.
- Gurdwara: Offers Faith, Food, and Housing, promoting city growth and stability.
5. How do you get Islam/Catholicism/etc. in Civ 6?
You don’t “get” a specific religion. You create it! After founding a pantheon, earn enough Great Prophet points to recruit a Great Prophet and use him to create a Religion in a Holy Site. During religion creation, you pick the religion’s name and symbol, using real-world religions for inspiration. Catholicism and Islam are simply names you can choose for your religion.
6. How many beliefs can a religion have in Civ 6?
A religion can have a maximum of four beliefs, one of each type: Follower Belief, Worship Belief, Founder Belief, and Enhancer Belief.
7. Can you steal a religion in Civ 6?
No, you cannot take control of another civilization’s religion. However, you can convert their cities to your religion, diminishing the influence of their faith.
8. Can you win with religion in Civ 6?
Yes, you can achieve a Religious Victory by making your religion the dominant faith in every civilization on the map.
9. Can you wipe out a religion in Civ 6?
Yes, you can eliminate a religion by conquering its Holy City (the city where it was founded) and using an Inquisitor to purge its influence. This process requires considerable effort and military strength.
10. What is the best governor for faith in Civ 6?
Moksha, the Cardinal, is the best governor for faith. He enhances religious activities, defends your religion from foreign influences, and boosts Faith generation.
11. How do you convert cities to religion in Civ 6?
You can convert cities to your religion by using Missionaries, Apostles, and Rock Bands or through the passive spread of your religion from nearby cities with a strong religious presence.
12. How do I save my religion in Civ 6?
To protect your religion, build Holy Sites in multiple cities, generate enough Faith to purchase religious units (Missionaries and Apostles), and use Inquisitors to eliminate competing religions within your territory. Securing Jerusalem as a city-state suzerain can also help resurrect your religion.
13. How do you not lose to religion in Civ 6?
Counter religious spread by establishing your own religion or by strengthening your cities against religious pressure through religious combat units (Apostles and Inquisitors) and defensive religious policies. Building Holy Sites and generating counter-pressure is also key.
14. What is Scripture in Civ 6?
Scripture is a government policy card that increases the Faith output of your Holy Sites. It’s especially effective in the early and mid-game when adjacency bonuses are crucial.
15. How do I improve my religious tourism in Civ 6?
Religious tourism is improved through relics, religious art, and the wonders like Hagia Sophia, which generates relics when Great Prophets are claimed. Additionally, policies like Scripture further enhance the attractiveness of your religious centers.
Concluding Thoughts
While the specific amount of Faith needed to found a religion is technically 25 Faith for the initial Pantheon, the true cost is in the long-term investment of building Holy Sites and earning Great Prophet Points. By understanding these mechanics and choosing the right beliefs, you can guide your civilization to religious dominance in Civilization 6.
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