Any diety ideas sans CS and Barbs?

[planetfall]

I may have missed it, but what is the early era's plan for a domination win on diety without city states and barbarians?
All the ideas I have seen involve leveraging those options, but usually turn them off at game init. I'm just barely able to keep afloat at immortal with just building 1-3 cities and going full military unit production. I trying to think of some way to get leverage at diety, and out of ideas to try.

 

[Oberinspektor Derrick]

You generally want to hit very fast, and hard.
To achieve this you need a good opener where you cut corners to get units out fast, before the AI starts pulling ahead around the early classical era (they start getting a ton of science at that point and will get higher military tech units out against your ancient era tech).
There are several ways to do this, but the easiest revolve around having a strong early game civ (gaul, nubia, mongolia, gran colombia etc.), or play a religious opener where you abuse crusade.

I have written extensively about the religious opener over the years, but I posted this yesterday (near the bottom with my screenshot) where I explain it a bit more:

P

Thread 'Culture Victories - Under 200 Turns - Deity (Any tips? Faves?)'

Apr 15, 2025

I'm currently extending my enjoyment of Civ 6 by trying to knock out as many culture victories as possible, on Deity, in 200 Turns or less (/500 standard).
Does anybody have any favourite Civs for doing this? And any key tips for that civ? Or in general for FAST culture victories?
[I play GS, standard pace, 7 Seas, standard size (8 civs)... no extra features - HATE the extras like Secret Societies, Heroes, Monopolies, etc.]

Thus far, I've knocked out 5 victories:
1. Russia (198 turns). Lavras / Dance of the Aurora / Work Ethic - get to golden ages.
2. Canada (199 turns). Work the...

• Pengwin7
• Replies: 70
• Forum: Civ6 - General Discussions

Though if you really just want to practice it the easy way, Nubia is probably the easiest.
Have 2-3 cities settled, rush archery tech and mass produce pitati archers with a few warriors.

Common for all military gameplay though is that it helps having a strong tactical sense, so that you play the terrain properly, and cycle promotions/pillages to keep units alive, cities sieged and ideally with zero unit losses.

 

[planetfall]

Haven't tried rushing archery and have built too many warriors as tired of losing slingers and definitely have not focused on pillaging. I'll give those two ideas a try. Thank you.

I've read your culture victory idea and it makes sense, but I don't get enjoyment out of playing the game that way.

 

[Oberinspektor Derrick]

I've read your culture victory idea and it makes sense, but I don't get enjoyment out of playing the game that way.

That opener is not about winning a culture victory.
The religious opener is a flexible opener that works for any playstyle, and works very well for domination as it sets up a very strong timing push around the late ancient/early classical era, using the crusade belief to gap military tech discrepancies between yourself and the AI.

 

[planetfall]

Yes, the crusade belief can be used well in early stages. I tried it twice. The first time it was wonderful, but the second the environment was not right as they had already bordered up with med walls and from the map I was having city growth problems as not enough food or production. Now, though, I keep it in mind and ask will crusade work before I select the beliefs for the current game.

Getting very comfortable with immortal by trial testing the ideas for playing on diety. I just need to survive a couple of games two sided AI attack and then I'll try diety.

 

[Oberinspektor Derrick]

I tried it twice. The first time it was wonderful, but the second the environment was not right as they had already bordered up with med walls and from the map I was having city growth problems as not enough food or production.

Your rush is hitting way too late if they already have medieval walls up.
Ideally you want to your rush to happen shortly after you founded your religion, which should be in the late ancient/early classical era.
At that point most AI civs will not have walls up yet, but are likely to start getting ancient walls up soon'ish.
Which is why it's wise to also build a battering ram proactively after you built your invasion force, even if they don't have walls yet, just so you don't get caught out and your siege fails.
When you invade you want to hit as hard and fast as possible (ideally with the city already converted and your units standing just outside it), while having enough leeway that you can handle minor setbacks (such as more advanced units coming out from the AI, or walls finishing).