What Does Launch Inquisition Mean in Civ 6?
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Launching an Inquisition in Civilization VI is a powerful game mechanic that allows a player who has founded a religion to actively combat the spread of other religions within their cities. It’s the nuclear option in the religious game, enabling the creation of Inquisitors, specialized religious units dedicated to removing the influence of rival faiths and solidifying the dominant religion in your empire. Think of it as a religious cleanse, ridding your lands of unwelcome spiritual influences. It provides the ability to control and dominate the religious landscape of your civilization.
The Mechanics of Launching an Inquisition
The key to unleashing this potent ability lies with your Apostles. These advanced religious units, acquired after founding a religion, possess unique promotion options. One of these crucial promotions is “Launch Inquisition”. When an Apostle with this promotion uses its ability on one of your Holy Sites, it triggers the Inquisition, unlocking the ability to produce Inquisitors in that city. Remember, you can only create Inquisitors after an Apostle has used the Launch Inquisition ability.
This action has several significant consequences:
- Inquisitor Production: After launching the Inquisition, any city with a Holy Site following your religion can produce Inquisitors using Faith. Inquisitors are crucial for purging other religions.
- Religious Defense: Your cities become more resistant to religious conversion attempts from Missionaries and Apostles of other religions. This acts as a defensive wall, making it harder for foreign faiths to gain a foothold.
- Offensive Religious Warfare: Inquisitors themselves can actively remove the influence of other religions from cities, weakening competing faiths.
Strategic Considerations for Launching an Inquisition
Knowing when to launch an Inquisition is just as important as knowing how. Several factors should influence your decision:
- Severity of Religious Pressure: Are rival religions actively converting your cities? If you’re constantly battling religious conversions, an Inquisition is a strong countermeasure.
- Strength of Your Own Religion: Is your religion well-established, or is it still vulnerable? Launching an Inquisition too early can backfire if your own faith is not strong enough to withstand the backlash.
- Diplomatic Implications: Launching an Inquisition can anger other civilizations that follow different religions. Be prepared for potential diplomatic consequences, including war.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: Consider the Faith cost of producing Inquisitors versus the benefits of removing competing religions. Is it a worthwhile investment?
- Victory Condition: Are you aiming for a religious victory? If so, an Inquisition is almost essential to eliminate rival religions and convert all civilizations to your faith.
The Power of the Inquisitor Unit
The Inquisitor unit itself is specifically designed for religious purification. Its primary ability is to remove the influence of other religions from a city. Each time an Inquisitor uses this ability, it reduces the religious pressure of all religions other than your own. Over time, repeated uses of the Inquisitor can completely eliminate other religions from a city, making it almost exclusively devoted to your faith. They serve as religious police.
How to Utilize Inquisitors Effectively
- Strategic Placement: Position Inquisitors in cities that are under heavy religious pressure from competing faiths.
- Religious Cleansing: Use the Inquisitor’s ability repeatedly to eliminate the influence of rival religions.
- Defensive Role: Keep Inquisitors stationed in your Holy Cities to deter religious conversions.
- Support with Apostles: Combine Inquisitors with Apostles to both cleanse and convert cities. The Apostle will assist in the spread of your religion.
- Upgrade Strategically: Certain religious beliefs can enhance the effectiveness of Inquisitors, making them even more powerful.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of an Inquisition
While the Inquisition is a powerful tool, it also has potential drawbacks:
- Faith Drain: Producing Inquisitors can be expensive, draining your Faith reserves that could be used for other purposes.
- Diplomatic Backlash: Aggressive use of Inquisitors can lead to negative relationships with other civilizations, potentially resulting in war.
- Internal Unrest: If your population is already diverse in terms of religion, forcefully removing religions can lead to unhappiness and unrest in your cities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Launching an Inquisition in Civ 6
Here are 15 frequently asked questions related to launching an Inquisition in Civilization VI:
1. What are the prerequisites for launching an Inquisition?
You must have founded a religion and have an Apostle with the “Launch Inquisition” promotion available to use its ability. In addition you must have a holy site with a building that can be used to launch the inquisition.
2. How do I get an Apostle with the “Launch Inquisition” ability?
Apostles gain promotions randomly when created. When promoting an apostle you may see the “Launch Inquisition” option. To make this more likely build religious structures that provide bonus promotions.
3. Can I launch an Inquisition in another civilization’s city?
No, you can only launch an Inquisition in your own cities.
4. What is the cost of producing an Inquisitor?
The cost of producing an Inquisitor is paid in Faith and varies depending on game speed and other factors.
5. Can Inquisitors engage in theological combat?
Yes, Inquisitors can engage in theological combat, but their combat strength is generally weaker than that of Apostles.
6. How do I defend against an Inquisition launched by another civilization?
The most effective defense is to convert your cities to their religion first, make sure to keep apostles handy in case of attack, or eliminate them militarily.
7. Does launching an Inquisition affect my diplomatic relations?
Yes, launching an Inquisition can lead to negative diplomatic relations with civilizations that follow other religions.
8. Is there a limit to the number of Inquisitors I can produce?
No, there is no limit to the number of Inquisitors you can produce, as long as you have enough Faith.
9. Can I remove my own religion from my cities with an Inquisitor?
No, Inquisitors can only remove the influence of other religions, not the religion you founded.
10. What happens if I eliminate all other religions from a city with an Inquisitor?
The city will become almost exclusively devoted to your religion, making it very difficult for other religions to gain a foothold.
11. Does launching an Inquisition have any impact on my Great Person points?
No, launching an Inquisition does not directly impact your Great Person points.
12. Can I launch multiple Inquisitions in different cities?
Yes, you can launch multiple Inquisitions in different cities, each requiring an Apostle with the “Launch Inquisition” promotion.
13. How does the effectiveness of an Inquisitor change over time?
The effectiveness of an Inquisitor does not change over time, but the amount of religious pressure required to fully convert a city may increase as the game progresses.
14. Are there any policies or civics that enhance the effectiveness of Inquisitors?
Yes, certain policies and civics can enhance the effectiveness of religious units, including Inquisitors. Look for policies that improve religious strength or reduce the cost of religious units.
15. Does launching an Inquisition guarantee a religious victory?
No, launching an Inquisition does not guarantee a religious victory. It is only one tool among many that you can use to achieve religious dominance. You still need to spread your religion to all civilizations to win.
The religious aspects of Civilization VI add layers of strategy that make each playthrough unique. If you’re interested in exploring the educational dimensions of games like Civilization VI, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Their research explores how games foster learning and engagement.
In conclusion, launching an Inquisition in Civilization VI is a powerful but risky move. Used wisely, it can secure your religious dominance. Used carelessly, it can lead to diplomatic isolation and internal unrest. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before unleashing the Inquisitors upon the world.