A Presidential Guide to World Wonders
In the grand strategy of Civilization 6, few leaders embody the spirit of their nation as profoundly as Teddy Roosevelt. A leader of two distinct personas, the “Rough Rider” and the “Bull Moose,” Roosevelt offers a versatile and powerful toolkit for achieving victory. His abilities, deeply intertwined with the American landscape, create unique synergies with a variety of World Wonders. Understanding which Wonders to prioritize is paramount to leveraging his full potential and securing a dominant position on the world stage. This guide provides an in-depth analysis of the best Wonders for Teddy Roosevelt, offering strategic insights for players aiming to lead America to a glorious victory.
The choice of Wonders for Teddy Roosevelt is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. The optimal selection depends heavily on which of his personas you are playing, the victory condition you are pursuing, and the unique geography of your empire. The “Rough Rider” persona, with its potent combat bonus on the home continent, naturally gravitates towards Wonders that bolster military might and production. Conversely, the “Bull Moose” persona, which reaps science and culture from high-appeal tiles, finds its greatest allies in Wonders that enhance the natural beauty of the land and amplify cultural output.
This guide will dissect the strategic value of key Wonders for both of Teddy’s personas, offering a comprehensive roadmap for players of all experience levels. We will explore the best Wonders for cultural, scientific, and domination victories, providing actionable advice and concrete examples to help you make informed decisions and build a civilization that stands the test of time.
The Foundation of an American Empire: Early Game Wonders
The early game is a critical phase for any civilization, and for Teddy Roosevelt, it is an opportunity to lay the groundwork for his unique abilities to flourish. The right early-game Wonders can provide a significant advantage, accelerating your progress towards your chosen victory condition.
For the Bull Moose: Cultivating a Land of Beauty and Knowledge
For players embracing the “Bull Moose” persona, the early game is all about identifying and enhancing high-appeal tiles. The goal is to create a landscape that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also a wellspring of scientific and cultural advancement.
- The Oracle: According to the player community, The Oracle is a top-tier early-game Wonder for any civilization, but it holds particular value for Bull Moose Teddy. Its ability to generate additional Great Person points, especially Great Scientist and Great Writer points, is invaluable for a leader who can directly translate appeal into science and culture. Securing an early Great Scientist can provide a crucial technological edge, while an early Great Writer can kickstart your cultural development. Furthermore, The Oracle’s ability to allow you to purchase Great People with Faith at a discount synergizes well with a Faith-focused early game, which is often a wise strategy for Bull Moose Teddy to secure Naturalists later in the game.
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Pyramids: Many professional gamers suggest that the Pyramids are a powerful, albeit often contested, early-game Wonder. The free Builder upon completion is a significant boon, allowing you to immediately start improving tiles and enhancing their appeal. The extra charge for all Builders is a long-term benefit that pays dividends throughout the game, enabling you to more efficiently create the pristine landscapes that Bull Moose Teddy craves. The +2 Culture provided by the Pyramids is a welcome bonus, further accelerating your progress through the civic tree and unlocking key policies and governments.
For the Rough Rider: Forging a Nation of Strength
For those who choose the “Rough Rider” persona, the early game is a time to assert dominance on your home continent. The +5 combat bonus for units fighting on their home turf is a formidable advantage, and the right Wonders can amplify this military might.
- Statue of Zeus: A popular strategy for an early domination push is to rush the Statue of Zeus. This Wonder provides a significant military injection, granting three Spearmen, three Archers, and a Battering Ram upon completion. For Rough Rider Teddy, these free units are not just cannon fodder; they are elite soldiers on their home continent, capable of overwhelming unprepared neighbors. The early aggression enabled by the Statue of Zeus can secure valuable territory and resources, setting the stage for a successful domination victory.
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Etemenanki: Analysis on forums shows that if your starting location is blessed with an abundance of marsh tiles, Etemenanki can be a game-changing Wonder. The +2 Science and +1 Production to all marsh tiles in your empire can transform otherwise undesirable terrain into a powerhouse of productivity and innovation. For Rough Rider Teddy, the extra production is particularly valuable, allowing you to churn out military units at an accelerated pace and fuel your early conquests.
The Path to Cultural Dominance: Wonders for a Culture Victory
A Culture Victory with Teddy Roosevelt, particularly as the Bull Moose, is one of the most synergistic and satisfying paths to victory in Civilization 6. His abilities are tailor-made for generating massive amounts of tourism, and the right Wonders can amplify this to an unstoppable force.
The Unmissable Masterpieces: Essential Culture Wonders
- Eiffel Tower: According to the player community, the Eiffel Tower is the single most important Wonder for a Bull Moose Teddy Culture Victory. Its effect is simple yet profound: +2 Appeal to every tile in your empire. This is a game-changer, transforming “Charming” tiles into “Breathtaking” ones and unlocking Bull Moose Teddy’s science and culture yields across your entire civilization. The increased appeal also directly boosts the tourism generated by National Parks and Seaside Resorts, the cornerstones of a cultural victory. The Eiffel Tower is not just a recommendation; it is a necessity.
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Cristo Redentor: Many professional gamers suggest that Cristo Redentor is another powerhouse Wonder for a Culture Victory. Its primary benefit is the doubling of tourism from all Seaside Resorts. When combined with the appeal-boosted coastlines created by the Eiffel Tower, this can lead to an astronomical amount of tourism. Furthermore, Cristo Redentor’s secondary ability, which prevents other civilizations from diminishing the tourism from your Relics and Holy Cities with the Enlightenment civic, provides a crucial defensive measure against cultural rivals.
The Supporting Cast: High-Value Cultural Wonders
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Golden Gate Bridge: A popular strategy for maximizing tourism in a single city is to build the Golden Gate Bridge. This Modern Era wonder not only provides a significant boost to the appeal of all tiles in its city but also doubles the tourism from National Parks and Seaside Resorts within that city’s borders. For Bull Moose Teddy, a city with the Golden Gate Bridge can become a tourism supernova, single-handedly propelling you towards victory.
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Broadway and Sydney Opera House: These late-game Wonders are the capstones of a cultural empire. Broadway provides a significant boost to your Great Writer and Great Musician points, while the Sydney Opera House does the same for Great Musician points. Both Wonders also provide slots for Great Works, allowing you to showcase the cultural treasures of your civilization and generate even more tourism.
The Pursuit of Knowledge: Wonders for a Science Victory
While Teddy Roosevelt is often associated with cultural and domination victories, a Science Victory is a perfectly viable and surprisingly potent option, especially with the Bull Moose persona. His ability to generate science from high-appeal tiles can provide a significant early-game advantage, and the right Wonders can help you maintain that momentum throughout the game.
The Engines of Innovation: Key Science Wonders
- Kilwa Kisiwani: Analysis on forums shows that Kilwa Kisiwani is one of the most powerful Wonders in the game, and it is particularly effective for a Teddy Roosevelt Science Victory. Its ability to provide a +15% yield bonus to all cities for each city-state of that type you are the suzerain of is incredibly versatile. For a Science Victory, becoming the suzerain of two scientific city-states will grant a 30% science boost across your entire empire. Rough Rider Teddy’s “Roosevelt Corollary” ability, which grants a free Envoy when sending a Trade Route to a City-State for the first time, makes it even easier to secure these crucial suzerainties.
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Oxford University: According to the player community, Oxford University is a cornerstone of any Science Victory. This Industrial Era Wonder provides a massive 20% science boost to its city, as well as generating Great Scientist points. The two free technologies it grants upon completion can be a game-changer, allowing you to leapfrog your rivals in the tech tree and secure key late-game technologies.
The Unsung Heroes of Science: Supporting Science Wonders
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Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Many professional gamers suggest that the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is a top-tier Wonder for any victory type, but it has particular value in a Science Victory. The extra charges for Great Engineers are invaluable for rushing the construction of late-game space race projects. A well-timed Great Engineer can shave dozens of turns off the construction of a Spaceport or a Mars Colony, giving you a decisive edge in the race to the stars.
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Ruhr Valley: A popular strategy for late-game production is to build the Ruhr Valley. This Industrial Era Wonder provides a 20% production boost to its city, with an additional +1 production from every Mine and Quarry in the city’s borders. The immense production output of a Ruhr Valley city is essential for completing the costly space race projects in a timely manner.
The Art of War: Wonders for a Domination Victory
With his “Rough Rider” persona, Teddy Roosevelt is a formidable military leader, especially on his home continent. A Domination Victory is a natural fit for this persona, and the right Wonders can turn your army into an unstoppable force.
The Instruments of Conquest: Essential Domination Wonders
- Terracotta Army: According to the player community, the Terracotta Army is a must-build Wonder for any domination-focused civilization. Its ability to grant a promotion to all of your existing land units is a massive power spike. For Rough Rider Teddy, this means his already potent home-continent units become even more lethal. The Great General points provided by the Terracotta Army are also a welcome bonus, helping you to secure the services of these powerful military leaders.
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Alhambra: Many professional gamers suggest that the Alhambra is another top-tier military Wonder. The additional military policy slot it provides offers invaluable flexibility, allowing you to tailor your government to the specific needs of your military campaign. The Great General points it generates further accelerate your acquisition of these crucial units.
The Spoils of War: Supporting Domination Wonders
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Kilwa Kisiwani: Analysis on forums shows that Kilwa Kisiwani is just as valuable for a Domination Victory as it is for a Science Victory. By becoming the suzerain of two militaristic city-states, you can gain a 30% production boost in all of your cities, allowing you to churn out units at an astonishing rate. As with a Science Victory, Rough Rider Teddy’s “Roosevelt Corollary” makes it easier to secure these vital suzerainties.
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Colosseum: A popular strategy for maintaining stability in a rapidly expanding empire is to build the Colosseum. As you conquer more cities, amenities will become a critical concern. The Colosseum provides a significant boost to amenities in all cities within a six-tile radius, helping to keep your newly acquired territories happy and productive.
Conclusion: A Legacy in Stone and Steel
Teddy Roosevelt is a leader of immense potential, capable of leading America to victory through a variety of paths. The key to unlocking his full power lies in a deep understanding of his unique abilities and a strategic selection of World Wonders. Whether you are cultivating a cultural paradise as the Bull Moose or forging a military empire as the Rough Rider, the Wonders you choose to build will shape the destiny of your civilization.
By carefully considering the strategic implications of each Wonder and aligning your choices with your chosen victory condition, you can create a civilization that is both powerful and resilient. From the early-game foundations of The Oracle and the Statue of Zeus to the late-game triumphs of the Eiffel Tower and the Terracotta Army, the right Wonders will serve as enduring monuments to your strategic prowess and the indomitable spirit of America.