In the grand strategy of Civilization 6, Faith is a currency as vital as Gold or Production. It is the engine of religious victories, the wellspring of Pantheons, and the key to unlocking powerful Great People. But what if the sprawling infrastructure of Holy Sites, Shrines, and Temples fell silent? What if the only way to generate this crucial resource was through the acquisition and veneration of Relics? This hypothetical scenario dramatically reshapes the game, elevating a niche mechanic into the central pillar of a new, potent strategy. Analysis on forums shows that such a limitation would force a radical rethinking of priorities, turning the early game into a frantic hunt for sacred objects and the mid-game into a complex dance of theological combat and cultural influence.
This guide delves deep into the strategic implications of a Relic-only Faith economy. We will explore the civilizations best equipped to thrive in this environment, the critical wonders that become indispensable, and the tactical nuances of generating a steady stream of these holy artifacts. According to the player community, this is not merely a theoretical exercise; it is a blueprint for a powerful and unconventional path to victory.
The Early Game: A Frantic Hunt for Sacred Artifacts
In a world where traditional Faith generation is non-existent, the first 100 turns become a desperate scramble for the few sources of Relics available. The player who can secure an early Relic gains an insurmountable advantage, not just in Faith, but in the ability to shape the religious and cultural landscape of the game.
The Importance of Early Exploration
With Holy Sites rendered inert for Faith generation, the role of early scouts and warriors becomes paramount. Their primary mission is no longer just to map the world and find city-states, but to actively hunt for Tribal Villages (often called “goody huts” by the community). A popular strategy is to invest heavily in early military units, not for conquest, but for widespread exploration. The chance of finding a Relic in a Tribal Village is small, but in this scenario, it is a game-changing opportunity.
The Kandy Connection: A Top Priority
The city-state of Kandy is, without exaggeration, the single most important discovery in the early game. Securing suzerainty over Kandy provides a Relic for every new Natural Wonder discovered. This transforms exploration from a passive activity into an active generator of your primary resource. Many professional gamers suggest that if Kandy is in the game, it should be your absolute top priority. Sending your first envoy to Kandy and then focusing on completing its quests is a non-negotiable opening move.
The Pantheon Problem: A Shift in Priorities
Without a steady stream of Faith from Holy Sites, founding a Pantheon becomes a significant challenge. The +25 Faith required is a formidable obstacle. The most reliable way to achieve this is through the “God-King” policy card, which provides +1 Faith and +1 Gold in the capital. This makes unlocking the “Code of Laws” civic and adopting this policy an immediate priority.
Once you have enough Faith to found a Pantheon, the choice is critical. With no Holy Site adjacency bonuses to amplify, many of the top-tier Pantheons become useless. Instead, the focus shifts to those that provide other tangible benefits. “Religious Settlements,” which grants a free Settler, is a powerful choice for early expansion. “Fertility Rites,” providing a free Builder and a boost to city growth, is another strong contender.
The Mid-Game: The Martyrdom Engine and the Rise of the Reliquaries
The mid-game is where the Relic-only strategy truly comes into its own. This is the era of “Apostle spam” and the strategic use of theological combat to generate a steady stream of Relics. The key to this strategy is the “Martyr” promotion for Apostles, which generates a Relic when the Apostle is killed in theological combat.
Mont St. Michel: The Cornerstone of the Strategy
The wonder Mont St. Michel is the linchpin of the entire Relic-generation engine. It automatically grants the “Martyr” promotion to all Apostles created in that city. According to the player community, rushing this wonder is the most important mid-game objective. Its construction requires a significant investment in production, but the payoff is immense. With Mont St. Michel, every Apostle you produce becomes a potential Relic.
The Yerevan Alternative: A Powerful Backup
If you are beaten to Mont St. Michel, all is not lost. The city-state of Yerevan allows you to choose the promotion for your Apostles when you are its suzerain. This is a powerful ability that can be used to guarantee the “Martyr” promotion. While not as efficient as Mont St. Michel, which provides the promotion for free, Yerevan is a crucial backup plan.
The Art of Theological Combat: “Suicide” Apostles
Once you have a source of “Martyr” Apostles, the next step is to get them killed. This may seem counterintuitive, but in a Relic-only economy, it is the primary method of Faith generation. A popular strategy is to send your “Martyr” Apostles on “suicide missions” deep into enemy territory. The goal is to engage in theological combat with enemy religious units and lose. Each defeat will grant you a precious Relic.
To execute this strategy effectively, it is important to manage your religious pressure. Losing theological combat can reduce your religious influence in nearby cities. Therefore, it is best to conduct these “suicide missions” far from your own borders. Many professional gamers suggest using your Apostles’ “spread religion” charges before sending them to their demise, as this maximizes their utility.
The “Reliquaries” Belief: The Great Multiplier
The “Reliquaries” religious belief is the final piece of the puzzle. It triples the Faith and Tourism yields from your Relics. This is a game-changing belief that transforms your Relic-generation engine into a powerhouse of Faith and Culture. Securing a religion and choosing “Reliquaries” is a top priority. The Faith generated from your early Relics should be saved for this purpose.
The Late Game: From Faith Engine to Victory Machine
By the late game, a successful Relic-only player will have a vast collection of Relics, each generating a significant amount of Faith and Tourism. This powerful engine can be leveraged to achieve a variety of victory conditions.
The Cultural Victory: An Inevitable Path
The most natural victory path for a Relic-only strategy is a Cultural Victory. With the “Reliquaries” belief, each Relic generates a substantial amount of Tourism. Combined with the “Cristo Redentor” wonder, which negates the late-game penalty to religious tourism, a large collection of Relics can quickly overwhelm the cultural defenses of other civilizations.
Analysis on forums shows that a player with 20 Relics and the “Reliquaries” belief can generate over 480 Tourism per turn from Relics alone. This is a formidable amount that can easily lead to a Cultural Victory.
The Diplomatic Victory: A Surprising Synergy
The massive Faith generation from a Relic-only strategy can also be used to achieve a Diplomatic Victory. Faith can be used to purchase Great People, including Great Generals and Great Admirals, who can be retired for Diplomatic Favor. Additionally, the “Mahabodhi Temple” wonder, which grants two free Apostles, can be built to further boost your Apostle production and, consequently, your Relic generation.
The Domination Victory: Fueling the War Machine
While less direct, the Faith generated from Relics can also be used to fuel a Domination Victory. With the “Theocracy” government, Faith can be used to purchase land units. A player with a strong Relic engine can field a massive army of Faith-purchased units, overwhelming their opponents with sheer numbers.
The Best Civilizations for a Relic-Only World
In a world where Relics are the only source of Faith, certain civilizations have a distinct advantage. Their unique abilities and bonuses can be leveraged to maximize Relic generation and utilization.
Poland: The Undisputed Champion
Jadwiga of Poland is, without a doubt, the most powerful leader in a Relic-only scenario. Her “Lithuanian Union” ability grants +4 Gold, +2 Culture, and +2 Faith from Relics. This is in addition to the base yield of the Relic, making Polish Relics incredibly powerful. Furthermore, her unique “Sukiennice” building provides a bonus to trade routes, which can be used to further boost your economy.
Kongo: The Master of Relic Utilization
Mvemba a Nzinga of the Kongo is another top-tier choice. While the Kongo cannot found their own religion, they gain all the beliefs of any religion that has a majority in their cities. This means they can easily adopt the “Reliquaries” belief without having to found their own religion. Furthermore, the Kongo gain +2 Food, +2 Production, and +4 Gold from each Relic. They also have five extra slots for Relics in their capital, making them masters of Relic storage and utilization.
Khmer: The Apostle Factory
Jayavarman VII of the Khmer is a strong contender due to his ability to generate a massive number of Apostles. The Khmer’s unique “Prasat” building provides a Relic slot and grants a free Apostle upon completion. This allows the Khmer to quickly build a large force of “Martyr” Apostles, fueling their Relic-generation engine.
A New Path to Victory
The hypothetical scenario of a Relic-only Faith economy in Civilization 6 presents a fascinating strategic challenge. It forces players to abandon traditional strategies and embrace a new, unconventional path to victory. The frantic early-game hunt for sacred artifacts, the mid-game mastery of the “martyrdom engine,” and the late-game explosion of Faith and Culture create a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience. While this scenario may never be a standard feature of the game, the analysis of its strategic implications reveals the hidden depth and versatility of the Relic mechanic. It is a testament to the intricate design of Civilization 6 that even a single, seemingly minor rule change can give rise to a whole new world of strategic possibilities.