Unlocking Ancient Wonders: A Deep Dive into Imhotep in Civilization VI

So, you’re curious about Imhotep in Civilization VI? Excellent choice! This Hero is a powerful asset, especially when aiming for a cultural or religious victory. In a nutshell, Imhotep grants +175 production towards wonder construction. But here’s the kicker: this bonus is doubled to +350 production if the wonder being constructed is from the Ancient or Classical Era. He’s a one-use Hero, effectively “retiring” after his ability is used, but that initial burst of production can be the difference between claiming a crucial early wonder and watching another civilization beat you to it.

This makes Imhotep a particularly strong pick in the early game, allowing you to secure wonders like the Great Pyramid, Stonehenge, or the Temple of Artemis with surprising speed. He encourages aggressive wonder-building in the early game, which can snowball into a significant advantage as you build your civilization. Let’s dive deeper and explore some frequently asked questions about this fascinating Hero.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Imhotep

How do I obtain Imhotep?

You can obtain Imhotep by discovering him as a Hero unit from the Heroic Tales game mode, available with the Gathering Storm expansion. When you trigger a Heroic Tales event (usually through exploration, tribal villages, or completing specific city projects), there’s a chance Imhotep will appear as one of the potential Heroes you can recruit.

What are the best strategies for using Imhotep effectively?

The key is timing. Save Imhotep for an Ancient or Classical Era wonder that is critical to your early-game strategy. Wonders that provide significant faith, culture, or early production boosts are ideal. Evaluate the map and your surroundings. If there are resources nearby that boost wonder production through adjacency bonuses, utilize them to maximize Imhotep’s effectiveness. The Games Learning Society explores such connections of game design and education. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more.

Does Imhotep’s production bonus stack with other production bonuses?

Yes! Imhotep’s bonus is additive. It stacks with city production bonuses (like those from production districts, strategic resources like iron, or policies), as well as any wonder-specific production bonuses. This stacking effect is what allows you to construct wonders far ahead of schedule.

Can Imhotep be used to build wonders in captured cities?

Yes, Imhotep can be used in any of your cities, including captured ones. However, be mindful of the city’s loyalty and production capacity. Using him in a recently captured city with low loyalty could be risky, as the city might rebel before the wonder is completed.

Is Imhotep worth recruiting even if I’m not focusing on wonder construction?

In most cases, the answer is still yes. Even if you aren’t planning a dedicated wonder-rushing strategy, a crucial early wonder can provide valuable advantages. However, if you have identified a different Hero that directly complements your chosen victory path (e.g., a military Hero for domination), it might be a more strategic choice.

Does Imhotep’s bonus apply to Natural Wonders?

No, Imhotep’s bonus only applies to wonders you can construct in cities. Natural Wonders are features already present on the map.

What civilizations benefit the most from Imhotep?

Civilizations with early production bonuses, or those that synergize well with early wonders, benefit the most. Examples include:

• Egypt (Cleopatra): The combination of adjacency bonuses for districts placed next to rivers, and the additional culture and production boost from the Sphinx wonder, makes Egypt an excellent candidate for utilizing Imhotep.
• China (Qin Shi Huang): With the ability to use builders to rush early wonders, China can capitalize on Imhotep’s bonus for even faster wonder construction.
• Rome (Trajan): The free Monument in every city and the early access to Legions provides a solid foundation for wonder building, especially if focusing on cultural or domination victories.

Can Imhotep be used in conjunction with Great Engineers?

Yes! Great Engineers that provide production towards wonders work in tandem with Imhotep. Using both effectively can allow you to complete wonders at a truly astonishing pace.

Does the era of the city itself affect Imhotep’s bonus, or only the wonder’s era?

Only the era of the wonder matters. Regardless of what era your city is in when you construct the wonder, if that wonder is from the Ancient or Classical Era, Imhotep’s production bonus is doubled.

How does Imhotep interact with the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus?

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a wonder in itself, allows Great Engineers to trigger their charges an additional time. While it doesn’t directly affect Imhotep’s bonus, it’s a valuable synergy for any civilization pursuing a wonder-heavy strategy.

Can Imhotep be revived after he is used?

No, once Imhotep’s production bonus is used, he is retired and cannot be revived or reused in any way. This makes his use a crucial, strategic decision.

Is it possible to “snipe” a wonder from another civilization using Imhotep?

Absolutely! This is one of the most powerful applications of Imhotep. If you see another civilization nearing completion of a vital wonder, using Imhotep to suddenly inject a massive amount of production can allow you to snatch the wonder at the last moment. This requires careful monitoring of your opponents’ progress.

What is the best pantheon belief to pair with an Imhotep strategy?

Consider pantheon beliefs that boost early production, faith, or culture. Options like God of the Forge (increased production towards early military units), Divine Spark (Great Person points from Holy Sites, Campuses, and Theater Squares), or Monument to the Gods (increased production towards Ancient and Classical Wonders) synergize well with Imhotep’s bonus.

How does the game determine which civilization gets a wonder if multiple civilizations finish it on the same turn?

If multiple civilizations would complete a wonder on the same turn, the civilization with the most production invested in the wonder at the start of that turn will be awarded the wonder. This highlights the importance of having a strong production base before utilizing Imhotep, even if you plan on relying on the bonus.

Beyond early wonders, are there any late-game scenarios where Imhotep could be valuable?

While Imhotep is most effective for Ancient and Classical wonders due to the doubled bonus, the standard +175 production bonus can still be useful in the mid-to-late game if you desperately need a particular wonder to complete a cultural or religious strategy. If you’ve managed to keep him around, and a late-game wonder is critical for your victory, it may be worth using him as a final push.

In conclusion, Imhotep is a versatile and powerful Hero that can significantly accelerate your civilization’s development, particularly in the early game. By carefully planning and executing your strategy, you can leverage Imhotep’s unique ability to secure crucial wonders and propel yourself towards victory. Happy building!