Top Civs for Quickest Culture Victory in Civilization VI

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• Jayavarman VII - Khmer

• Kristina - Sweden

• Peter - Russia

• Catherine de Medici - Magnificence

Achieving a swift Culture victory in Civilization 6 can be challenging due to the universal emphasis on Culture and Science among civilizations. However, with the right strategies and a bit of luck, a fast Culture victory is well within reach. Certain civilizations can generate Tourism more effectively and adapt to various situations, making them ideal for quick Culture victories. Under optimal conditions, these civilizations can outpace others in spreading their cultural influence.

Jayavarman VII - Khmer

Khmer Relic Rush Is A Strong, But Specific, Strategy

Jayavarman VII's Leader Ability, Monasteries of the King, enhances Holy Sites by providing Food equal to their Adjacency Bonus, +2 Adjacency from Rivers, +2 Housing if built next to a River, and a Culture Bomb trigger.

The Khmer's Civilization Ability, Grand Barays, boosts Aqueducts with +1 Amenity and +1 Faith per Citizen in the city. Farms adjacent to Aqueducts receive +2 Food, and those next to Holy Sites gain +1 Faith.

Unique Units include the Domrey (a Medieval Siege unit) and the Prasat, which offers +6 Faith, a Relic slot, extra Housing, Culture, and Food with certain beliefs, plus 0.5 Culture per Citizen.

Typically viewed as a Religious civilization, the Khmer can be optimized for a rapid Culture victory by focusing on generating Culture through Relics. The Prasat's Relic slot and its 0.5 Culture per Population bonus, combined with other benefits, can significantly accelerate your progress. Early construction of the Great Bath to mitigate flood damage and the Hanging Gardens to boost city growth is crucial. Later, prioritize St. Basil's Cathedral to amplify religious Tourism from Relics and Mont St. Michael to ensure your Missionaries and Apostles generate Relics upon death, filling your additional slots.

Kristina - Sweden

Focus On Wonders & Great Work Slots For High Tourism

Kristina's Leader Ability, Minerva of the North, automatically Themes Buildings with 3x Great Work slots and Wonders with 2x Great Work slots, significantly boosting Tourism and Culture. It also unlocks the Queen's Bibliotheque, a Government Plaza building with multiple Great Work slots.

Sweden's Civilization Ability, Nobel Prize, grants +50 Diplomatic Favor for each Great Person obtained, +1 Engineer or Scientist point per Factory or University, and three unique World Congress competitions in the Industrial Era.

Unique Units include the Carolean (a Renaissance Anti-Cavalry unit) and the Open-Air Museum, which provides +2 Loyalty and +2 Culture & Tourism for each type of Terrain in your city, though limited to one per city.

Kristina, once considered overpowered, remains a top choice for Culture victories due to her automatic Theming of Great Work slots. The Queen's Bibliotheque and Open-Air Museum greatly enhance Culture and Tourism, especially in diverse terrains. Prioritize constructing Wonders and Buildings with multiple Great Work slots, and expedite your Theater District to accumulate Great Person Points and gather Great Works of Art, Music, and Writing. With this approach, your Tourism will surge ahead of competitors in the coming ages.

Peter - Russia

Absorb Culture & Build Wide For Massive Tourism

Peter's Leader Ability, The Grand Embassy, enhances Trade Routes with other civilizations, granting +1 Science and +1 Culture for every three Technologies or Civics they lead Russia in.

Russia's Civilization Ability, Mother Russia, provides five extra tiles upon founding a city, with Tundra tiles offering +1 Faith and +1 Production. Russian units are immune to Blizzards, and enemies suffer double penalties in Russian territory.

Unique Units include the Cossack (an Industrial Era unit) and the Lavra, which replaces the Holy District and expands the nearest city by two tiles when a Great Person is spent there.

Peter is often considered the best leader in Civilization 6 due to his versatile abilities, excelling particularly in Culture and Religious victories. To secure a fast Culture victory, rush Faith early to leverage the Dance of the Aurora pantheon, which enhances Tundra tile bonuses. Focus on settling cities to utilize the extra tiles gained upon founding and the expansion triggered by Great People. Rapidly expand your cities by generating Great Artists, Musicians, and Writers.

Ensure sufficient Builders to maximize your expansion. Prioritize constructing St. Basil's Cathedral in your highest Faith-producing city to double Tourism from Relics, which are generated by Missionaries and Apostles with the Martyr perk upon death. Also, build the Mont St. Michael Wonder to guarantee this perk for all Religious units. By quickly gathering Great People, filling your Theater and Holy Site Districts with Great Works, and establishing Trade Routes to keep up with Science, Peter can achieve a swift Culture victory.

Catherine de Medici - Magnificence

Hoard Luxury Resources & Wonders For Enormous Tourism

Catherine de Medici's Leader Ability, Catherine's Magnificences, grants +2 Culture for improved Luxury Resources next to Theater Squares or Châteaus and unlocks the Court Festival project, which boosts Culture and Tourism based on excess Luxury Resources.

France's Civilization Ability, Grand Tour, provides a +20% Production bonus towards Medieval, Renaissance, and Industrial Era Wonders, with Wonders generating twice the normal Tourism in every era.

Unique Units include the Garde Imperiale (an Industrial Melee unit) and the Château, a tile improvement that offers Culture, Gold, Appeal, and additional Culture if placed next to a Wonder.

Catherine de Medici (Magnificence) is exceptionally strong for fast Culture victories in Civilization 6. The French civilization's ability to double Wonder Tourism and gain Production bonuses for Wonders from the Medieval to Industrial eras complements Catherine's Leader ability, which boosts Culture from Luxury Resources adjacent to Theater Squares or Châteaus. Châteaus near Wonders further enhance yields, including Appeal.

To strategize effectively, focus on building Culture foundations early, then shift to Industry and Production to secure as many Wonders as possible. Harvest every Luxury Resource and trade for additional copies to maximize the benefits of the Court Festival, which significantly boosts Culture and Tourism.

Although managing these elements can be complex, favorable city placement near Luxury Resources and successfully acquiring key Culture Wonders from the Medieval to Industrial eras can put you far ahead by the Modern era. Continue expanding your Theater Squares, collecting Great Works, and running Court Festivals in cities with excess Luxury Resources to achieve one of the fastest Culture victories possible in Civilization 6.