What if the only path to victory in Civilization 6 was through the abilities of Great People? This compelling thought experiment forces a radical re-evaluation of every strategic decision, transforming the familiar rhythm of the game into a tense, focused race for historical luminaries. In this scenario, military conquest, religious conversion, and technological supremacy are not ends in themselves, but merely means to a singular end: the generation and strategic deployment of Great People. This guide delves into the strategic and tactical shifts required to master this unique challenge, offering a comprehensive framework for achieving victory when only Great People can seal your fate.
The Great Person Victory: A New Paradigm
In a standard game of Civilization 6, Great People are powerful assets that accelerate progress towards conventional victory conditions. In this challenge, however, they are the only path to victory. This fundamental shift in perspective has profound implications for every aspect of gameplay, from city planning and district placement to technology choices and diplomatic relations. The player community has extensively analyzed the nuances of this hypothetical scenario, and a consensus has emerged: the most viable paths to victory are a modified Culture Victory, a hyper-accelerated Science Victory, or a strategically flexible Religious Victory. Each of these paths requires a relentless focus on generating Great Person Points (GPP) and leveraging the unique abilities of Great People to their fullest extent.
Path 1: The Cultural Hegemon – A Symphony of Great Works
Analysis on forums shows that the most direct path to victory in a Great People-only challenge is a modified Culture Victory. This strategy hinges on overwhelming the world with Tourism generated by the Great Works of Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians.
Building the Cultural Engine: Districts and Wonders
Your early-game priority is to establish a network of cities capable of generating a massive surplus of GPP for cultural Great People. This means a laser focus on building Theater Square districts and their associated buildings: the Amphitheater, the Art Museum, and the Broadcast Center.
- The Amphitheater: This is the foundational building of your cultural engine. It provides slots for Great Works of Writing, which are essential for generating early-game Culture and Tourism. Many professional gamers suggest prioritizing the construction of Amphitheaters in your first few cities to begin accumulating Great Works as quickly as possible.
- The Art Museum: As you progress into the mid-game, the Art Museum becomes the cornerstone of your Tourism generation. The key to maximizing its effectiveness is the “theming bonus,” which doubles the Culture and Tourism output of an Art Museum that contains three Great Works of the same type from three different artists. A popular strategy is to carefully manage your acquisition of Great Artists to ensure you can achieve this bonus in as many cities as possible.
- The Broadcast Center: In the late game, the Broadcast Center provides the final, decisive push for your Culture Victory. It offers slots for Great Works of Music, which generate a significant amount of Tourism.
Wonders are also a critical component of this strategy. The Oracle, available in the Classical Era, is widely considered to be the single most important Wonder for any Great Person-focused strategy. Its +2 GPP bonus for every district in the city where it is built is a game-changing advantage. Combining The Oracle with Governor Pingala’s “Grants” promotion, which doubles GPP generation in a city, can create a “super-city” that churns out Great People at an astonishing rate.
The Cultural Great People: Your Keys to Victory
- Great Writers: These are the workhorses of your early- to mid-game cultural strategy. Each Great Writer creates two Great Works of Writing, which provide a steady stream of Culture and Tourism. A popular strategy is to “snipe” Great Writers with desirable abilities, such as those who provide bonus Culture or amenities, by running the “Write Great Work” project in your Theater Squares.
- Great Artists: In the mid- to late-game, Great Artists become your primary source of Tourism. Their ability to create Great Works of Art, especially when combined with the theming bonus of the Art Museum, is the engine that will propel you to victory. Analysis on forums shows that players who successfully execute this strategy often trade Great Works with other civilizations to complete their theming bonuses.
- Great Musicians: These are the closers of your Culture Victory. Their Great Works of Music provide a massive late-game Tourism boost. According to the player community, it is often wise to save a few Great Musicians for the final turns of the game to create a “tourism bomb” that pushes you over the finish line.
Path 2: The Scientific Virtuoso – A Race to the Stars
A Science Victory in a Great People-only challenge is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires meticulous planning and a bit of luck. This path focuses on using the abilities of Great Scientists and Great Engineers to accelerate your technological progress and complete the Space Race projects before any other civilization can achieve their own victory condition.
The Scientific Engine: Campuses and Industrial Zones
Your early-game focus should be on establishing a strong foundation of science and production. This means prioritizing the construction of Campus and Industrial Zone districts.
- The Campus: This district is the heart of your scientific enterprise. The Library, University, and Research Lab are all essential for generating the Science and GPP needed to acquire Great Scientists.
- The Industrial Zone: While not as directly tied to Great Scientist generation, the Industrial Zone is crucial for producing the wonders and military units needed to support your scientific ambitions. The Workshop and Factory provide valuable production bonuses, and the Industrial Zone itself generates GPP for Great Engineers.
The Scientific Great People: Your Catalysts for Innovation
- Great Scientists: These are the linchpins of your Science Victory strategy. Their abilities can provide game-changing boosts to your technological progress. Many professional gamers suggest focusing on acquiring Great Scientists with abilities that trigger multiple Eureka moments or provide bonus Science.
- Hypatia (Classical Era): Her ability to instantly build a Library and provide +1 Science to all Libraries is a powerful early-game boost.
- Isaac Newton (Renaissance Era): His ability to instantly build a Library and a University is a massive mid-game accelerator.
- Albert Einstein (Modern Era): His ability to trigger a Eureka for a random Modern or Atomic era technology and provide bonus Great People points is incredibly versatile.
- Wernher von Braun (Information Era): His +100% production bonus towards Space Race projects is the ultimate “I win” button for a Science Victory.
- Great Engineers: While Great Scientists provide the raw scientific power, Great Engineers provide the production muscle. Their abilities to grant production towards wonders and Space Race projects are invaluable.
- Filippo Brunelleschi (Renaissance Era): His ability to grant a large amount of production towards a wonder can help you secure key scientific wonders like the University of Sankore.
- Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance Era): His ability to trigger a Eureka for a random Modern era technology and make Workshops provide +1 Culture is a fantastic mid-game boost.
- Robert Goddard (Modern Era): His ability to trigger the Eureka for Rocketry and provide a +20% production bonus towards Space Race projects is a crucial late-game advantage.
Path 3: The Divine Messenger – A Faith-Fueled Victory
A Religious Victory in a Great People-only challenge is the most flexible and adaptable strategy. It relies on generating a massive amount of Faith to purchase Great People and to overwhelm the world with your religion.
The Religious Engine: Holy Sites and Faith Generation
Your early-game priority is to found a religion and to begin generating as much Faith as possible. This means building Holy Sites and their associated buildings: the Shrine and the Temple.
- The Holy Site: This is the foundation of your religious strategy. It generates Faith and GPP for Great Prophets.
- The Shrine and Temple: These buildings increase your Faith generation and provide slots for religious relics, which can be a significant source of Tourism.
The Religious Great People: Your Instruments of Conversion
- Great Prophets: You cannot win a Religious Victory without a Great Prophet. Securing one of the limited number of Great Prophets available in each game is your first and most important objective.
- Other Great People: The true power of a Religious Victory in this challenge lies in its ability to leverage Faith to purchase any type of Great Person. This allows you to adapt your strategy on the fly, pivoting to a Culture or Science Victory if the opportunity arises. A popular strategy is to use your Faith to “snipe” key Great People from other civilizations, denying them a powerful advantage while simultaneously bolstering your own position.
Conclusion: The Art of the Great Person
The “Great People only” challenge transforms Civilization 6 into a game of strategic foresight and ruthless efficiency. It forces a departure from conventional strategies and a deep dive into the intricate mechanics of Great Person generation and deployment. Whether you choose the path of the Cultural Hegemon, the Scientific Virtuoso, or the Divine Messenger, success in this challenge hinges on your ability to build a civilization that is not just great, but is built by the greats. The player community has demonstrated that with careful planning, a bit of luck, and a relentless focus on the power of individuals, victory is not only possible, but immensely satisfying. The next time you begin a new game, consider this challenge. You may find that it is the most rewarding way to play.# Civ 6 Challenge: What If You Could Only Win Using Great People Abilities?
What if the only path to victory in Civilization 6 was through the abilities of Great People? This compelling thought experiment forces a radical re-evaluation of every strategic decision, transforming the familiar rhythm of the game into a tense, focused race for historical luminaries. In this scenario, military conquest, religious conversion, and technological supremacy are not ends in themselves, but merely means to a singular end: the generation and strategic deployment of Great People. This guide delves into the strategic and tactical shifts required to master this unique challenge, offering a comprehensive framework for achieving victory when only Great People can seal your fate.
The Great Person Victory: A New Paradigm
In a standard game of Civilization 6, Great People are powerful assets that accelerate progress towards conventional victory conditions. In this challenge, however, they are the only path to victory. This fundamental shift in perspective has profound implications for every aspect of gameplay, from city planning and district placement to technology choices and diplomatic relations. The player community has extensively analyzed the nuances of this hypothetical scenario, and a consensus has emerged: the most viable paths to victory are a modified Culture Victory, a hyper-accelerated Science Victory, or a strategically flexible Religious Victory. Each of these paths requires a relentless focus on generating Great Person Points (GPP) and leveraging the unique abilities of Great People to their fullest extent.
Path 1: The Cultural Hegemon – A Symphony of Great Works
Analysis on forums shows that the most direct path to victory in a Great People-only challenge is a modified Culture Victory. This strategy hinges on overwhelming the world with Tourism generated by the Great Works of Great Writers, Artists, and Musicians.
Building the Cultural Engine: Districts and Wonders
Your early-game priority is to establish a network of cities capable of generating a massive surplus of GPP for cultural Great People. This means a laser focus on building Theater Square districts and their associated buildings: the Amphitheater, the Art Museum, and the Broadcast Center.
- The Amphitheater: This is the foundational building of your cultural engine. It provides slots for Great Works of Writing, which are essential for generating early-game Culture and Tourism. Many professional gamers suggest prioritizing the construction of Amphitheaters in your first few cities to begin accumulating Great Works as quickly as possible.
- The Art Museum: As you progress into the mid-game, the Art Museum becomes the cornerstone of your Tourism generation. The key to maximizing its effectiveness is the “theming bonus,” which doubles the Culture and Tourism output of an Art Museum that contains three Great Works of the same type from three different artists. A popular strategy is to carefully manage your acquisition of Great Artists to ensure you can achieve this bonus in as many cities as possible.
- The Broadcast Center: In the late game, the Broadcast Center provides the final, decisive push for your Culture Victory. It offers slots for Great Works of Music, which generate a significant amount of Tourism.
Wonders are also a critical component of this strategy. The Oracle, available in the Classical Era, is widely considered to be the single most important Wonder for any Great Person-focused strategy. Its +2 GPP bonus for every district in the city where it is built is a game-changing advantage. Combining The Oracle with Governor Pingala’s “Grants” promotion, which doubles GPP generation in a city, can create a “super-city” that churns out Great People at an astonishing rate.
The Cultural Great People: Your Keys to Victory
- Great Writers: These are the workhorses of your early- to mid-game cultural strategy. Each Great Writer creates two Great Works of Writing, which provide a steady stream of Culture and Tourism. A popular strategy is to “snipe” Great Writers with desirable abilities, such as those who provide bonus Culture or amenities, by running the “Write Great Work” project in your Theater Squares.
- Great Artists: In the mid- to late-game, Great Artists become your primary source of Tourism. Their ability to create Great Works of Art, especially when combined with the theming bonus of the Art Museum, is the engine that will propel you to victory. Analysis on forums shows that players who successfully execute this strategy often trade Great Works with other civilizations to complete their theming bonuses.
- Great Musicians: These are the closers of your Culture Victory. Their Great Works of Music provide a massive late-game Tourism boost. According to the player community, it is often wise to save a few Great Musicians for the final turns of the game to create a “tourism bomb” that pushes you over the finish line.
Path 2: The Scientific Virtuoso – A Race to the Stars
A Science Victory in a Great People-only challenge is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires meticulous planning and a bit of luck. This path focuses on using the abilities of Great Scientists and Great Engineers to accelerate your technological progress and complete the Space Race projects before any other civilization can achieve their own victory condition.
The Scientific Engine: Campuses and Industrial Zones
Your early-game focus should be on establishing a strong foundation of science and production. This means prioritizing the construction of Campus and Industrial Zone districts.
- The Campus: This district is the heart of your scientific enterprise. The Library, University, and Research Lab are all essential for generating the Science and GPP needed to acquire Great Scientists.
- The Industrial Zone: While not as directly tied to Great Scientist generation, the Industrial Zone is crucial for producing the wonders and military units needed to support your scientific ambitions. The Workshop and Factory provide valuable production bonuses, and the Industrial Zone itself generates GPP for Great Engineers.
The Scientific Great People: Your Catalysts for Innovation
- Great Scientists: These are the linchpins of your Science Victory strategy. Their abilities can provide game-changing boosts to your technological progress. Many professional gamers suggest focusing on acquiring Great Scientists with abilities that trigger multiple Eureka moments or provide bonus Science.
- Hypatia (Classical Era): Her ability to instantly build a Library and provide +1 Science to all Libraries is a powerful early-game boost.
- Isaac Newton (Renaissance Era): His ability to instantly build a Library and a University is a massive mid-game accelerator.
- Albert Einstein (Modern Era): His ability to trigger a Eureka for a random Modern or Atomic era technology and provide bonus Great People points is incredibly versatile.
- Wernher von Braun (Information Era): His +100% production bonus towards Space Race projects is the ultimate “I win” button for a Science Victory.
- Great Engineers: While Great Scientists provide the raw scientific power, Great Engineers provide the production muscle. Their abilities to grant production towards wonders and Space Race projects are invaluable.
- Filippo Brunelleschi (Renaissance Era): His ability to grant a large amount of production towards a wonder can help you secure key scientific wonders like the University of Sankore.
- Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance Era): His ability to trigger a Eureka for a random Modern era technology and make Workshops provide +1 Culture is a fantastic mid-game boost.
- Robert Goddard (Modern Era): His ability to trigger the Eureka for Rocketry and provide a +20% production bonus towards Space Race projects is a crucial late-game advantage.
Path 3: The Divine Messenger – A Faith-Fueled Victory
A Religious Victory in a Great People-only challenge is the most flexible and adaptable strategy. It relies on generating a massive amount of Faith to purchase Great People and to overwhelm the world with your religion.
The Religious Engine: Holy Sites and Faith Generation
Your early-game priority is to found a religion and to begin generating as much Faith as possible. This means building Holy Sites and their associated buildings: the Shrine and the Temple.
- The Holy Site: This is the foundation of your religious strategy. It generates Faith and GPP for Great Prophets.
- The Shrine and Temple: These buildings increase your Faith generation and provide slots for religious relics, which can be a significant source of Tourism.
The Religious Great People: Your Instruments of Conversion
- Great Prophets: You cannot win a Religious Victory without a Great Prophet. Securing one of the limited number of Great Prophets available in each game is your first and most important objective.
- Other Great People: The true power of a Religious Victory in this challenge lies in its ability to leverage Faith to purchase any type of Great Person. This allows you to adapt your strategy on the fly, pivoting to a Culture or Science Victory if the opportunity arises. A popular strategy is to use your Faith to “snipe” key Great People from other civilizations, denying them a powerful advantage while simultaneously bolstering your own position.
Conclusion: The Art of the Great Person
The “Great People only” challenge transforms Civilization 6 into a game of strategic foresight and ruthless efficiency. It forces a departure from conventional strategies and a deep dive into the intricate mechanics of Great Person generation and deployment. Whether you choose the path of the Cultural Hegemon, the Scientific Virtuoso, or the Divine Messenger, success in this challenge hinges on your ability to build a civilization that is not just great, but is built by the greats. The player community has demonstrated that with a careful planning, a bit of luck, and a relentless focus on the power of individuals, victory is not only possible, but immensely satisfying. The next time you begin a new game, consider this challenge. You may find that it is the most rewarding way to play.