Civilization 6: 7 Best Civilizations To Counter Science Civs

Highlights

To counter a Science Victory in Civilization 6, choose a Civ with abilities that favor aggressive playstyles, subterfuge, or rapid invasion.
The Byzantine Civ, led by Basil II, can exploit the neglect of developing a religion by Science-oriented Civs to achieve a Religious Victory.
Use spies and espionage actions to steal tech boosts and sabotage the progress of Science-oriented opponents, especially when playing as Wu Zetian of China.

During a game of Civilization 6, players will encounter other Civs with varying strengths and abilities. Some of these will provide that Civ with a preferred victory type, with the options consisting of Religious Victory, Domination Victory, Culture Victory, Diplomacy Victory, Score Victory, and lastly, perhaps the hardest to achieve: Science Victory. Series mechanics may change in the future, but these victory types should be the things you focus your tactics around here.

Civilization 6: 7 Best Civilizations To Counter Warmongers, Ranked

The following factions in Civilization 6 are well-suited to counter warmongers who encroach on players’ territory.

To stop another civilization from claiming a Science Victory, players can choose to pick a Civ with abilities that favor a particular type of gameplay, ranging from an aggressive playstyle to one that utilizes subterfuge to gain an advantage against a technology-focused civilization. Science-oriented Civs can be a threat throughout the game, accumulating resources and completing the necessary objectives at a frightening rate (not to mention potentially building up an advanced military). If you act quickly as certain Civs, though, you can prevent them from doing so. Here are some of the best Leaders and Civs to select to do just that, providing a range of helpful tactics and approaches to try in this challenging turn-based strategy game.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6

Released: October 21, 2016

7 Byzantine (Basil II)

Aggressively Convert Cities And Use The Advantage Of Religion

An image of Civilization 6: Basil II on the loading screen

Civ Ability: Taxis. Increase Combat and Religious Strength by +3 for each Holy City converted to Byzantium’s Religion.
Leader Ability: Porphyrogénnētos. Cavalry units deal full damage versus walls when attacking cities with the same Religion as Byzantium.

Due to the strain of focusing on technological gain, civilizations that are oriented toward a Science Victory will sometimes find themselves neglecting to develop a religion. Byzantium can easily exploit this tendency while under the leadership of Basil II. Potentially, they can also use this advantage to catapult into a Religious Victory.

Civilization 6: 7 Best Civilizations For A Religion Victory

Religion Victories are some of the hardest win conditions to pull off in Civilization 6, but these nations help make it a little easier.

The unique Taxis ability allows them to grow stronger after converting a Holy City to their own religion. Moreover, Basil II’s unique ability will make it easier for them to conquer cities both by religion and military units as well. Cavalry units are usually severely weakened when attacking cities, and the ability to do so unhindered after converting a city to your religion is incredibly convenient. You’ll soon devastate the opposing Civ’s Science output, and will be well positioned to remove them from the game with momentum on your side.

6 Mapuche (Lautaro)

Use Science Civs In A Golden Age To Your Advantage

An image of Civilization 6's leader Lautaro in front of a waterfall

Civ Ability: Toqui. Cities with an established Governor have increased Production, Culture, and Combat Experience for produced units. The boost is 5% (10% for the latter), and is three times as large if the Mapuche didn’t found the city in question. They also offer +4 Mapuche Loyalty each turn for cities within a nine-tile radius.
Leader Ability: Swift Hawk. Gain +10 Combat Strength for all units when fighting Civilizations in a Golden Age or Free Cities.

A civilization that tends to focus on technological development will often find itself thriving in a period of peace, gaining multiple advantages such as increased population growth and the benefits of a Golden Age. Lautaro can exploit other Civilizations’ Golden Ages to the Mapuche’s advantage, as all combat units will gain +10 Combat Strength when fighting such Civilizations.

Civilization 6: 7 Best Civilizations For A Culture Victory

Achieving a Culture Victory in Civilization 6 isn’t easy due to its requirements, but the following civilizations will make the challenge much easier.

Moreover, the Mapuche’s unique Toqui ability will allow their cities to prosper in terms of production and culture, making it possible for them to go for a Culture Victory as well. The best way to prevent a rival’s victory, after all, is to achieve your own faster.

5 Mongolian (Genghis Khan)

Use The Horde Of Keshig For A Rapid Invasion

An image of Civilization 6: Genghis Khan

Civ Ability: Örtöö. Sending a Trade Route immediately creates a Trading Post, and Mongolian Trading Posts grant one extra level of Diplomatic Visibility. Units gain +6 Combat Strength for each level of Diplomatic Visibility Mongolia has over the targeted Civilization.
Leader Ability: Mongol Horde. Cavalry units gain +3 Combat Strength and a chance to capture defeated cavalry units from enemies.

Typically, Science-oriented civilizations will prefer peace, as their military output will be weakened since they are pouring production into building Campus districts and buildings (not to mention the production-heavy space projects themselves). Playing as the offensively-inclined Genghis Khan will be beneficial against militarily weaker Civs concentrating on Science.

The unique Örtöö ability of the Mongolians will immediately enable them to gain precious intel on civilizations that try to rush the technology tree. On identifying any developing dangers in that regard, Genghis Khan’s powerful Mongol Horde ability (one of many great Leader Abilities) will aid a player in invading any such civilizations with the help of the Keshigs. The cavalry snowball effect can be very dangerous indeed.

4 Zulu (Shaka)

Rush Their Capitals With The Mighty Impi

Civ Ability: Isibongo. A unit capturing a city will be upgraded, as long as the necessary civics are unlocked (Normal unit to Corps or Fleet, Corps or Fleet to Army or Armada).
Leader Ability: Amabutho. Form corps with Mercenaries unlocked instead of Nationalism, and Armies with Nationalism instead of Mobilization. Both Corps and Armies gain +5 Combat Strength.

As an aggressive playstyle is one of the best ways to counter science-focused civilizations, Shaka’s Zulu can be a priority pick for players who wish to stop these techy civilizations at all costs. The Zulu can counter a small peak that the Science civs might have had in the Medieval Era, due to the massively powerful Impi rushes they can unleash during that period of the game.

Civilization 6: 7 Best City-States For Warmongers, Ranked

Warmongers in Civ 6 can become leaders of these city-states to earn buffs that will aid them in their goal for a Domination Victory.

Moreover, the Zulu can quickly develop their forces from a lightly defended city into a full-scale invasion of the rival’s capital. By having Corps as early as Mercenaries civic, they will be able to outpace the science-oriented civilizations after entering the mid-game. The damage bonuses they can accrue, in tandem with their numbers, can make them an unstoppable force. If a Civ focused on a science victory is put on the defensive, they’ll find it far harder to focus their resources on that victory type.

3 Chinese (Wu Zetian)

Steal Tech Boosts To Get Ahead Of Science Civs

Civ Ability: Dynastic Cycle. Eurekas and Inspirations provide 10% larger bonuses, and completing a World Wonder grants a Eureka and Inspiration from that Wonder’s era.
Leader Ability: Manual of Entrapment. Gain a free spy after unlocking Defensive Tactics. Spies can be bought with Faith and operate as though they are 1 level more experienced. Completing a successful offensive Espionage mission will grant the Science, Faith, and Culture that the attacked city produced that turn.

Subterfuge via a spy’s Espionage action is also a viable course to take while trying to counter science-oriented opponents in a game of Civilization 6. This playstyle is particularly effective while playing as the Chinese civilization led by Wu Zetian, as she has the unique Manual of Entrapment ability which supports such sneaky strategies.

With her unique ability, spies can be acquired as early as acquiring Defensive Tactics, and be bought with the easy-to-acquire Faith. These spies will operate as if they were 1 level more experienced, and completing successful offensive missions will allow them to acquire an immediate boost of Science, Faith, and Culture, while denying the target that same amount.

It’s also possible, if your foe has advanced far enough down the tech tree, to steal space-age technologies from them. By so doing, you have a last-ditch chance to prevent those crucial final steps towards a Science Victory.

2 Scythian (Tomyris)

Overwhelm Opponents’ Defenses Early With A Scythian Horse Rush

Civ Ability: People of the Steppe. After building a light cavalry unit or Saka Horse Archer, gain a second copy of that same unit.
Leader Ability: Killer of Cyrus. Units attacking wounded units gain +5 Combat Strength, and heal up to 30 hit points after destroying that target.

Science-oriented civilizations will tend to peak during the mid to late phases of the game, as their technological lead becomes more apparent in the stronger units they have access to (should they be able to spare the resources to field them). By playing as the Scythians under Tomyris’ rule, a player can stop these civilizations as early as the Ancient Era, before their technological advantage really takes off.

Both Scythia’s and Tomyris’ unique abilities allow them to dominate the early game without problems, since they can gain bonus units and go on to lead them in an overwhelming rush. Tomyris’ Killer of Cyrus ability allows them to easily win wars, as wounded units will be a common sight: raging barbarians and small skirmishes tend to dominate the early game in Civilization 6. It can all spiral into a push for a Domination Victory, which can be very long and hard-fought.

1 Macedonian (Alexander)

Wage War All Game To Prevent A Peace Period

Civ Ability: Hellenistic Fusion. After conquering a city, gain a free Eureka for each Encampment and Campus District and a free Inspiration for each Holy Site and Theater Square there.
Leader Ability: To The World’s End. War weariness is a non-factor, and all military units are healed of missing HP after the player captures a city with a World Wonder. Gain Hetairoi after researching Horseback Riding.

A period of peace in a game of Civilization 6 will mostly benefit those Civs that try to pursue a peaceful way of victory, such as a Science Victory. The Macedonians, under Alexander’s lead, will be able to wage war during the entire course of the game, thanks to Alexander’s unique ability that prevents him from gaining war weariness (a potentially devastating factor in the mood of your people).

Removing the concern of limited city growth is an enormously helpful trait. In addition, the bonus Eurekas and Inspirations that can be acquired through conquest can help Alexander keep up with and even outpace Scientific Civs at their own game. This grand strategy classic offers a wealth of different approaches, so vary your tactics and try to outmaneuver other Civs at every turn.