The legacy of Atlantis, a city of unparalleled wealth, advanced technology, and divine favor, has captivated imaginations for centuries. While its existence remains a tantalizing mystery, the “what if” scenario of its inclusion in Civilization 6 has been a hot topic of discussion across player communities and forums. Analysis on these platforms reveals a shared desire for a civilization that not only dominates the seas but also introduces unique gameplay mechanics rooted in its mythical origins. This guide synthesizes those community-driven concepts into a definitive look at how Atlantis could be realized as a playable, mythical civilization in Civ 6.
Leader: Atlas, the First King
According to many speculative threads, the most fitting leader for Atlantis is its first king, Atlas. Son of Poseidon, Atlas is envisioned as a leader who embodies the dual nature of the ocean: its capacity for both immense prosperity and destructive power.
Leader Ability: Pillars of the World
A popular strategy concept for Atlas is the “Pillars of the World” ability, reflecting his role as a foundational leader. This ability would grant:
- +1 Production and +1 Science to coastal cities for every adjacent sea resource. This encourages players to prioritize coastal settlements and actively seek out resource-rich areas of the map.
- All naval units gain +5 Combat Strength when fighting in coastal waters. This ability would make Atlantis a formidable early-game naval power, capable of defending its shores and projecting power across the seas.
- A unique “Tidal Wave” project in coastal cities after researching the “Tsunami Barriers” civic. This project, when completed, would allow a player to target a coastal city of another civilization, damaging its walls and districts. The targeted player would receive a notification of the impending disaster, giving them a chance to prepare. This introduces a high-risk, high-reward mechanic that reflects the mythical power of Poseidon.
Leader Agenda: Oceanic Dominance
Atlas’s agenda, “Oceanic Dominance,” would be straightforward. He would favor civilizations with strong navies and a significant number of coastal cities, while disliking those who neglect their coastlines or maintain a weak naval presence. This agenda would create interesting diplomatic dynamics, especially on water-heavy maps.
Civilization Abilities: Echoes of the Deep
The core of Atlantis’s gameplay would revolve around its unique relationship with the ocean. Community analysis suggests a set of abilities that would make Atlantis a powerhouse on coastal tiles.
Ability: Aquatic Adaptation
A frequently discussed idea is “Aquatic Adaptation,” which would allow Atlantis to thrive in coastal environments. This would grant:
- All cities founded on or adjacent to a coast gain +2 Housing and +1 Amenity. This would allow for rapid growth in coastal cities, making them population centers earlier in the game.
- Fishing Boats provide +1 Food and +1 Gold. This simple but effective bonus would make Fishing Boats a cornerstone of the Atlantean economy.
- A free Builder appears whenever a city is founded on a coast. This would give Atlantis a significant early-game advantage, allowing for rapid improvement of coastal tiles.
Ability: Lost Knowledge of the Ancients
To reflect its mythical status as a technologically advanced civilization, Atlantis would have the “Lost Knowledge of the Ancients” ability. This would grant:
- A free Technology and Civic at the start of each new era. This would represent the rediscovery of lost Atlantean knowledge, giving the civilization a consistent boost throughout the game.
- Campus districts receive a major adjacency bonus from coastal tiles. This would further incentivize the placement of Campuses in coastal cities, making Atlantis a strong contender for a Science Victory.
Unique Unit: Triton Guard
The “Triton Guard” is a popular concept for Atlantis’s unique unit, replacing the Swordsman. This amphibious warrior would be a key component of Atlantis’s early-game military strategy.
Unit Abilities and Stats
- Higher Combat Strength: The Triton Guard would have a base Combat Strength of 38, slightly higher than the Swordsman’s 36.
- Amphibious: The unit would suffer no combat penalties when attacking from or to a water tile.
- Coastal Mobility: The Triton Guard would be able to embark and disembark in a single turn, allowing for swift amphibious assaults.
- Oceanic Resilience: The unit would heal +10 HP per turn when in coastal waters.
Strategic Use
The Triton Guard would be a versatile and powerful early-game unit. Its amphibious capabilities would make it ideal for clearing barbarian outposts on remote islands, launching surprise attacks on coastal cities, and defending Atlantis’s own shores. Many professional gamers suggest that a “Triton Rush” could be a viable strategy for early-game domination on archipelago or coastal maps.
Unique Infrastructure: Coral Reef Farm & Orichalcum Mine
To further enhance its coastal prowess, Atlantis would have two unique tile improvements.
Coral Reef Farm
The “Coral Reef Farm,” replacing the standard Farm, would be a cornerstone of the Atlantean economy.
- Placement: Can only be built on coastal tiles.
- Yields: Provides +2 Food, +1 Production, and +1 Science if adjacent to a Fishing Boat.
- Strategic Value: This improvement would transform otherwise unproductive coastal tiles into valuable sources of Food, Production, and Science, making Atlantis’s coastal cities incredibly powerful.
Orichalcum Mine
The mythical metal of Atlantis, Orichalcum, would be a unique luxury resource exclusive to the civilization.
- Placement: Can be built on any land tile with a “Geothermal Fissure” feature.
- Yields: Provides +4 Gold, +2 Production, and +1 Science. The city with an Orichalcum Mine also receives +2 Amenities.
- Strategic Value: The Orichalcum Mine would provide a significant boost to Gold, Production, and Science, making it a high-priority improvement. The limited availability of Geothermal Fissures would make these tiles highly contested.
Strategies for Playing as Atlantis
Analysis on forums shows that Atlantis would be a versatile civilization with multiple paths to victory.
Science Victory
A Science Victory is the most natural path for Atlantis. The combination of “Lost Knowledge of the Ancients,” the Campus adjacency bonus from coastal tiles, and the Science output of Coral Reef Farms would give Atlantis a significant technological advantage. The strategy would be to:
- Settle a network of coastal cities: Maximize the number of Campus districts with coastal adjacency bonuses.
- Build a strong navy: Protect your coastal cities and trade routes.
- Focus on key technologies: Prioritize technologies that boost naval power and scientific output.
Domination Victory
While not a traditional Domination civilization, Atlantis could achieve a naval-based Domination Victory. The strategy would involve:
- Early-game aggression with Triton Guards: Use their amphibious capabilities to conquer coastal cities.
- Leverage the “Pillars of the World” ability: Your naval units will be formidable in coastal combat.
- Utilize the “Tidal Wave” project: Weaken enemy coastal defenses before launching an assault.
Cultural Victory
A Cultural Victory is also a viable option for Atlantis. The strategy would be to:
- Build a strong economy: Use your coastal cities to generate wealth and build Wonders.
- Focus on coastal Wonders: Prioritize Wonders like the Colossus and the Great Lighthouse.
- Develop a unique “Atlantean Resort” tile improvement: A late-game improvement that could be built on coastal tiles and would provide a significant boost to Tourism.
Diplomatic Victory
Atlantis’s unique mechanics could also lend themselves to a Diplomatic Victory. The “Tidal Wave” project, while seemingly aggressive, could be used as a deterrent, forcing other civilizations to negotiate. A popular strategy is to use the threat of the Tidal Wave to extract concessions and build diplomatic favor.
Conclusion
The concept of Atlantis as a playable civilization in Civ 6 offers a wealth of exciting possibilities. By synthesizing the best ideas from the player community, a picture emerges of a civilization that is not only a naval powerhouse but also a scientific and economic force to be reckoned with. With a unique blend of mythical abilities, powerful units, and strategic depth, Atlantis would be a welcome and game-changing addition to the world of Civilization 6.