In the grand strategy of Civilization 6, the pursuit of a Science Victory is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires meticulous planning, a keen understanding of game mechanics, and the foresight to secure the right advantages at the right time. While some civilizations are tailor-made for a technological tear through the ages, achieving this victory with the American civilization presents a unique and rewarding challenge. The player community has extensively analyzed and debated the optimal paths, and a consensus has emerged: with the right wonder selection, the Americans can indeed reach for the stars and achieve a decisive Science Victory.
This guide synthesizes the collective wisdom of seasoned players and forum analysts to provide a definitive roadmap for constructing the must-build wonders for an American Science Victory. We will delve into the strategic synergies between America’s unique abilities and the game’s most powerful scientific wonders, offering a phase-by-phase breakdown of which marvels to prioritize and why.
The American Advantage: Setting the Stage for Scientific Dominance
Before we dive into the wonders themselves, it’s crucial to understand the tools at your disposal as the leader of the Americans. While not as overtly science-focused as civilizations like Korea or Scotland, America’s abilities provide a surprisingly potent foundation for a technological victory.
Theodore Roosevelt (Bull Moose): The Environmental Scientist
According to the player community, Theodore Roosevelt’s “Bull Moose” persona offers a subtle yet powerful path to scientific dominance. His “Antiquities and Parks” ability grants +2 Science to tiles with Breathtaking appeal adjacent to a mountain or natural wonder. This may seem like a culture-focused ability at first glance, but astute players have learned to leverage it for a significant early-game science boost.
A popular strategy is to settle your initial cities near mountains and natural wonders, maximizing the potential for high-appeal tiles. The construction of Preserves and their subsequent buildings, the Grove and Sanctuary, further enhances the yields of adjacent unimproved tiles, creating a cascade of science, culture, and faith. This early science injection can be the springboard for a powerful technological trajectory, allowing you to unlock key technologies and wonders ahead of the competition.
Abraham Lincoln: The Industrial Powerhouse
Abraham Lincoln, on the other hand, provides a more indirect but equally effective route to a Science Victory. His “Emancipation Proclamation” ability, which grants a free melee unit upon the completion of an Industrial Zone or its buildings, might seem geared towards a Domination Victory. However, analysis on forums shows that this ability can be masterfully repurposed for a scientific pursuit.
The influx of free military units with no maintenance costs creates a formidable defensive force, deterring potential aggressors and allowing you to focus on your scientific and economic development. The production bonus from Industrial Zones is the real prize here. A strong industrial base is the backbone of any successful Science Victory, and Lincoln’s abilities allow you to build a production powerhouse that can churn out Campuses, wonders, and, eventually, the crucial space race projects with unparalleled efficiency.
Founding Fathers: The Ultimate Flexibility
Both American leaders benefit from the “Founding Fathers” civilization ability, which converts all diplomatic policy card slots into wildcard slots. This provides an incredible degree of flexibility, allowing you to tailor your government policies to the specific needs of your scientific endeavor. Many professional gamers suggest using this flexibility to slot in powerful science-boosting policy cards like Rationalism and Natural Philosophy as soon as they become available, further accelerating your technological progress.
Early Game Wonders: Laying the Foundation for a Technological Revolution
The early game is a critical period for establishing a strong foundation for your scientific ambitions. The wonders you build during this era can provide a lasting advantage that will propel you through the rest of the game.
The Oracle: The Great Person Catalyst
The Oracle is consistently ranked by the player community as one of the most powerful early-game wonders for any victory type, but it is particularly potent for a Science Victory. Its ability to grant +1 Great Person point of each type (including Great Scientists and Great Engineers) and reduce the faith cost of purchasing Great People is invaluable.
For an American Science Victory, securing The Oracle should be a top priority. The additional Great Scientist points will help you recruit these powerful individuals early and often, providing you with instant technology boosts and other valuable benefits. The discount on purchasing Great People with faith is also a game-changer. A popular strategy is to generate a steady stream of faith through Holy Sites or other means and use it to snipe key Great Scientists and Engineers before your rivals can.
Etemenanki: The Marshland Miracle
Etemenanki is a more situational but potentially game-changing wonder. It provides +2 Science and +1 Production to all Marsh tiles in your empire, and +1 Science and +1 Production to all Floodplains tiles in your empire that do not have a resource. If your starting location is blessed with an abundance of Marsh or Floodplains, Etemenanki can provide a massive and sustained science boost throughout the game.
For a “Bull Moose” Roosevelt player, Etemenanki can be a particularly attractive option. The science and production yields from this wonder can complement the science you’re already generating from high-appeal tiles, creating a powerful early-game science engine. However, be warned: Etemenanki is a highly contested wonder, and you will likely face stiff competition from other civilizations.
Mid-Game Marvels: Accelerating Your Ascent to the Stars
The mid-game is where you begin to accelerate your scientific progress in earnest. The wonders you build during this era will help you pull away from the pack and position yourself for a late-game victory.
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: The Engineer’s Best Friend
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus is another wonder that is consistently praised by the player community for its incredible versatility and power. Its ability to grant an additional charge to all Great Engineers is a game-changer for a Science Victory.
Great Engineers are the unsung heroes of the space race, providing massive production boosts that can shave turns off the construction of spaceports and space race projects. With the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, your Great Engineers become even more potent. A popular strategy is to save your Great Engineer charges for the late game and use them to rush the final, most expensive space race projects, securing you a swift and decisive victory.
University of Sankore: The Trade Route Technologist
The University of Sankore is a solid mid-game wonder that provides a nice mix of science, faith, and Great Scientist points. It also provides a science bonus for each trade route to the city where it is built. While not as flashy as some of the other wonders on this list, the University of Sankore can be a valuable addition to your scientific infrastructure, especially if you are playing as a trade-focused leader or have a large number of trade routes.
Oxford University: The Great Leap Forward
Oxford University is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful science wonders in the game. It provides a massive +20% science boost to the city where it is built, +3 Great Scientist points per turn, and, most importantly, instantly grants you two free technologies upon completion.
Securing Oxford University is a major turning point in any Science Victory attempt. The two free technologies can be a game-changer, allowing you to leapfrog your rivals in the technology tree and unlock key late-game technologies much earlier than you otherwise would. A popular strategy is to time the completion of Oxford University to coincide with the discovery of a particularly important technology, such as Rocketry, to maximize its impact.
Late-Game Triumphs: Securing Your Place in History
The late game is the final, frantic push to the finish line. The wonders you build during this era are all about one thing: accelerating the space race and securing your victory before your rivals can achieve their own.
Ruhr Valley: The Production Powerhouse
The Ruhr Valley is the ultimate production wonder. It provides a +20% production boost to the city where it is built and +1 production to all mines and quarries in that city. For a Science Victory, the Ruhr Valley is an absolute must-build.
The space race projects are incredibly expensive to build, and a strong production base is essential for completing them in a timely manner. The Ruhr Valley, when built in your primary production city, can provide the production muscle you need to churn out spaceports and space race projects with astonishing speed. Many professional gamers suggest stacking the Ruhr Valley with other production-boosting buildings and policies to create a city that can single-handedly win you the space race.
Amundsen-Scott Research Station: The Polar Powerhouse
The Amundsen-Scott Research Station is a late-game wonder that provides a significant science and production boost to all of your cities. It also provides a massive +10 Great Scientist points per turn. While it can only be built on a Snow or Tundra tile, the benefits it provides are well worth the effort.
For an American Science Victory, the Amundsen-Scott Research Station is the final piece of the puzzle. The empire-wide science and production boost will help you power through the final technologies and space race projects, while the influx of Great Scientist points will ensure that you have a steady stream of these powerful individuals to help you cross the finish line.
The Unsung Heroes: Situational and Supporting Wonders
In addition to the must-build wonders listed above, there are a number of other wonders that can be beneficial for an American Science Victory in specific situations.
- Kilwa Kisiwani: If you are able to become the suzerain of a large number of scientific city-states, Kilwa Kisiwani can provide a massive science boost that can rival even the most powerful science wonders.
- Great Library: While its power has waned since the early days of Civilization 6, the Great Library can still be a valuable early-game wonder, especially if you are able to secure it without sacrificing too much production. The free technologies it provides can give you a nice early-game boost.
Conclusion
Achieving a Science Victory with the American civilization in Civilization 6 is a challenging but ultimately rewarding experience. By leveraging America’s unique abilities and prioritizing the construction of the must-build wonders outlined in this guide, you can build a scientific and industrial powerhouse that is capable of reaching for the stars and securing a decisive victory. Analysis on forums shows that the key is to remain flexible, adapt your strategy to the specific circumstances of your game, and never lose sight of the ultimate goal: to boldly go where no civilization has gone before.