Can You Name Civilizations In Relation To Religion ?

[moors]

Can you name civilizations that could never be optimal without religion ?

Can you name civilizations that would be even better without trying to get a religion ?

I like to add the maximum amount of additional civilizations and city states to smaller maps so that I can minimize the amount of things I have to control to play the game, however adding them doesn't raise the maximum number of religions creatable, so it becomes harder for civilizations to get a religion.

I think if I know the answers to these questions I can choose my civilization and play better...

 

[conorbebe]

I can’t name all the civs that very religious focused off the top of my head (although Spain and India come to mind of course), but there are leaders with a low religious preference in the game, so not having enough religions in the game should not affect them. These include: Gilgamesh, Gorgo, Pericles, Qin Shi Huang, Trajan, Teddy, Victoria, Alexander, and John Curtin.

 

[Ondolindë]

I believe these are the civs that must have a better use of religion to win or that have the best chance going that route to win. I am using Zigzagzigal guides and ratings on Steam as a standard which I think are pretty insightful, without using mods:

Russia 10/10
India 9/10 or 10/10
Arabia 9/10
Spain 9/10
Khmer 9/10
Poland 9/10
Scythia 8/10
Egypt 8/10

Having said that, I don't think there is one that could "never be optimal" without religion. Russia, for example, does manage incredibly well with Culture victory and Science even, and not necessarily dependent on religion, per se. India could go for domination also, but it will be harder for it, and religion does help it a lot, but it is not "never optimal".

Also, If I am getting you right and if you play with mods, try Religion Expanded by p0kiehl. You don't have to worry about the number of religions available, but as @conorbebe said after the Fall Patch, I believe, you do have civs that are not into religion.

As to your second question, I believe Kongo is the only real one by default just because religions often go to it and its benefits. Another one would probably be Macedon and some have said Rome and Germany, especially on Deity. People just don't bother with it. I love religions because I think it adds to the richness of the game and it does give benefits, but one has to be good at knowing how far to go and invest in that. Hope this helps.

 

[Alexander's Hetaroi]

I would add Indonesia to the above list as well that is good in religious victory especially on an island plates map. Faith from coastal cities plus no movement penalties for religious units moving from land to water can help. Unfortunately the first time I played with them I didn't make it in time. Of course I still was making so much faith that I could instead spend it on my navy.
That being said going for a Religion is kind of a toss up.
I would argue that religions are important with just:
India
Spain
Poland
Khmer
Arabia
Russia
Japan
Those I mentioned above all have specific abilities tied directly to holy sites, beliefs, buildings, relics, and religious units. AI Scythia end up being good too as they spam Kurgans everywhere, so that is an option. Egypt's sphinxes also give faith as well.
Any other Civ will not necessarily prioritize getting religions other than the ones I listed unless they find some sort of early source of faith, which is why Scythia and Egypt fall into religious because their improvements will give faith.