[GS] Favorite/easiest Civ for each victory type

[LikeMike]

Hello guys,

I recently got back into Civ with both expansions. Just finished a game with the Inca and got a diplomatic victory - I decided to try and get one of each victory types next (except points). So I was looking for suggestions for which leader I should choose for each victory type (it doesn't matter if he/she is from the vanilla game, DLC or one of the expansions). Either the leader that is most fun or has the most synnergies for that victory type. I am playing on Prince, but I don't think that matters...

 

[Naeshar]

I don't have GS, but played many games and the victory each civ/leader is built for are kind of obvious due to the bonuses. I started with leaders, didn't want to switch to civ names. Of course there are many more and it is certainly fine to do any victory with any civ.
Domination: Alexander, Tomyris, Gilgamesh
Science: Robert de Bruce, Seondeok, Frederick Brabarossa
Culture: Pericles, Peter, Theodore Roosevelt
Religion: Peter, Tomyris, Gitarja
Score: Trajan, Gorgo, Qin
Diplomatic (just guessing): Matthias, Tamar, the Canadian dude.
If you pick the first each time, you wont miss an amazing game.

 

[Sagax]

These are subjective picks, and since it’s Prince level, I’ll prefer fun over power level. Although some are way too obvious for a particular victory type, even if I find them boring.

Domination: Alexander, Shaka, Montezuma, Suleiman, Kupe, Matthias
Special Note: Either Eleanor, if you are feeling like a Disney Princess today.

Science: Seondeok, Robert the Bruce, Pachacuti (Diplo Victory is really not their strength), Saladin

Culture: Peter, Qin, Kristina, Gitarja, CdM (use her spies!), Jayavarman, Kupe
Special Note: Freleanor

Religion: Saladin, Phillip, Jadwiga, Peter
Special Note: any warmonger that has “+X combat strength” bonuses to “units”, including Montezuma

Diplomacy: Kristina, Teddy, Laurier

Special mention (leaders that don’t gravitate toward a particular victory, but you may still find them fun): Dido, Mansa Musa, Wilhelmina, Curtin

 

[Zyxpsilon]

I once built a comprehensive spreadsheet of every "details" related to Wonders (bias) as they influence how AI manage any Victory conditions & which they prefer.
Check the ODS file below.

ZigZag even has uploaded a small list of (Agendas) opinions formatted into a Steam guide.

 

[BTSeven7]

I agree with @Sagax for the most part.

Easiest:
Domination: Shaka, Alexander
Culture: Kristina, Pericles/Gorgo, Kongo
Religion: Spain, Saladin (You need to conquer a little with these guys to make it super easy)
Diplo: Teddy
Science: Seondeok (I think way better then RTB, especially on Prince)

Most fun tactics:
-Flipping with Eleanor while going for culture but might be hard on prince. You can flip your neighbors entire civ on King/Emperor easily.

-Suicide Relic Strategy with Jayavarman but hard on prince bc there is not enough counter religion units to kill your missionaries. Emperor is best for this.

-Kupe is a fun different game and pretty easy to Toa rush your neighbors and win a culture victory.

 

[BarbarianHunter]

My .02 cents for the easiest civs for each victory type based on prince level and “newly returning” criteria (ie. highly specialized strategies or high degree of warmongering competence excluded).

Domination: Nubia
Science: Seondeok
Culture: Kristina
Religion: Japan
Score: Trajan
Diplomatic: Canada

 

[Leucarum]

My opinions.

There's a lot of contenders for the best at domination. I like Montezuma and Alexander for having abilities that stay relevant all game plus pack a good early game punch.

For science Seondeok is probably the most straightforward. I prefer Robert but Seondeok is easier.

For culture, on difficulties where the AI doesn't eat all the city states I'd vote Pericles. The early theater squares and juicy culture generation gains are a big deal. Mvemba has a soft spot in my heart as he first leader I played and I find he has a very fun culture game.

Religion: Russia has got to have the most straightforward religious game. Mali can really dominate here too but are less straight forward.

For Diplomacy... Canada and Sweden are the obvious contenders. Canada is probably the better of the two at diplo victory, but it's the most awkward victory type at present unfortunately

 

[Archon_Wing]

Dom:: Nubia
Science:: AUS
Religion: Russia
Culture: Greece
Diplo: Who Cares

 

[BTSeven7]

Diplo: Who Cares

Good call.

 

[Sostratus]

I am playing on Prince, but I don't think that matters...

Domination: Shaka, Alexander

Dom:: Nubia

Because this is prince, I would argue that Nubia specifically, although they are premier deity level warmongers, slip behind a civ like Alexander, Shaka, or Montezuma. Instead of having to pull off an archer rush and then win off the back of an expanded power base, you get very direct, game long boosts out of Alexander and Montezuma. Shaka doesn't have anything turn 1 but he's also extremely strong once you can use his ability.

Straight up +combat strength for having luxuries which accelerates the more successful you are at conquering, seems like the most straight forward.

For science, Seondeok of Korea is probably the best. But Gilgamesh is no slouch either. Very fun and straightforward civ with everything available right at the start: just build some ziggurats on rivers and you will be a powerhouse.

 

[Archon_Wing]

Because this is prince, I would argue that Nubia specifically, although they are premier deity level warmongers, slip behind a civ like Alexander, Shaka, or Montezuma. Instead of having to pull off an archer rush and then win off the back of an expanded power base, you get very direct, game long boosts out of Alexander and Montezuma. Shaka doesn't have anything turn 1 but he's also extremely strong once you can use his ability.

Oh, I didn't actually read about it being Prince. But I'd argue Nubia even more strongly, since you don't need game long boosts.... Nubian Archers will probably destroy all prince AI anyways; Crossbow/Field Cannons at latest.

 

[AsparustheSaiyan]

I actually find Russia extremely versatile. Especially on prince. I've achieved science and culture with and am trying to decide whether to go up to king for religion, domination and diplomatic or keep it at prince until I've achieved these victories.

 

[Weraptor]

these are some of the "easiest" civs (not relying on "tricker" mechanics with their preferred victory type) for the types coupled with no starting bonuses for the AI)
Domination: Nubia, Zulu, Aztecs
Culture: both Greeces, Sweden; America (if you don't eclipse your rivals in tech/science)
Science: Korea, Arabia, Inca
Religion: Russia, Poland, Spain
Diplomacy: Canada (almost Culture victory approach), America, Georgia (almost Religious victory approach)

 

[LikeMike]

I am currently playing a domination game with Alexander - my first real try at domination. I conquered three civs on my continent with my UUs. Now the rest is on another continent - any good tips on how and when to conquer them as well? Never liked using ships too much so I am kinda lost right now.

 

[Kmart_Elvis]

Easiest civs:
Domination: Macedon. Build 2 cities. Build Encampment/Basiloikoi in both cities. Build Heteroi. Start conquering.
Religious: Russia. Spam cities in tundra with Lavras. Take Dance of Aurora. Holy Order, Choral Music and Mosques for beliefs. Spam apostles.
Culture: Greece Pericles. Divine Spark Pantheon. Spam Acropolis. Build amphitheatre and art museums.
Science: Korea. Spam seowons.
Diplomatic: don't torture yourself.

 

[Onii-chan]

Domination: Probably Macedon, so many different layers of synergy with their abilities and they become one big wrecking ball that never stops going
Religion: Russia with spamming Lavras, getting Dance of the Aurora, or basically any civ that manages to somehow get Earth Goddess as a pantheon
Science: Korea (self-explanatory)
Culture: There are many that could be mentioned here. Greece or Sweden for their general culture bonuses, or Russia again for the stupid amount of great works you get
Diplomatic: Either Canada or Sweden for their Diplomatic favor bonuses, or as I found out in my last game, actually Hungary since they're the only civ that can effectively buy city state envoys for gold like you could in Civ 5
Score: I've literally never aimed for a score victory and I don't see why anyone should

 

[Disgustipated]

Many people discount the Mongols for conquest, they probably aren't the best though. But fairly fun with high move units

Domination: Alexander, Shaka (much slower, but quite effective), Genghis, Hungary, Persia, Scythia, Ottomans

Science: Scotland, I always do better with Scotland than Korea. Korea is a close second.

Culture: so many, my fastest is Pericles. Russia is a close second. America is slower, but virtually unstoppable. Canada, yes Canada,but only if you really understand the appeal mechanic and National parks. Speaking of appeal, don't forget Persia with their UI. Sweden deserves a mention as well, and speed wise they are fast.

Religion: yawn. Russia is #1 by far. Mali maybe. Indonesia is strong.

Score: does anyone do this? Though I still want to play a 750 turn score victory to light up that icon on my hall of fame. Most of the domination civs will do well here. Civs that can grow big like Inca and Rome will do well.

 

[Weraptor]

Mongols are tons of fun, but probably not-the-most-obvious-to-figure-out-all-their-components civ

 

[Sagax]

Many people discount the Mongols for conquest, they probably aren't the best though. But fairly fun with high move units

They’re good, but I always get bummed when Scythia is not in the game. +6 per Diplo Vision is no joke, though.

 

[Troy Bruckner]

Domination: Mattias is the strongest by far on a non-island hopper map. Can conquer a huge Pangea map before the Ancient Era is over on marathon setting.
Honorable mention: Montezuma and Mali

Diplomacy : Mattias. The 2 bonus envoys you get when levying a city's units is crazy.
Honorable mentions : Canada and Sweden

Religion: Russia and Mali if they get enough Tundra/Desert area. Russia sometimes has an issue getting Dance of the Aurora, but Mali always gets their first choice of pantheons from my experience.
Honorable mention: Montezuma

Science: Russia and Montezuma
Honorable mention Mali and Korea

Cultural : Russia, Mali and Montezuma
Honorable mention: Pericles

Strongest overall Montezuma (or Russia if on a tundra heavy map)
Honorable mention: Mali, Mattias

28 base attack on their starting unit and the ability to capture units as slaves (workers) combined with workers able to build districts for 5 charges. Build early Holy Sites go with Monumentality race to feudalism and spam settlers/workers. Workers can even build space ports with 5 charges.