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In Civilization 6, achieving victory can be approached through various paths, with Religious Victories often being the quickest to secure, while Culture victories typically demand a longer-term strategy. Science victories strike a balance between the two, and with the right Leader, they can offer a straightforward route to success.
While many civilizations in Civ 6 are adept at navigating the Technology tree, certain Leaders can achieve Science victories at a pace that leaves other civilizations behind by several ages. To maximize these Science bonuses, focus on meeting the specific requirements and expanding your empire expansively to secure rapid Science victories with the following Leaders in Civ 6.
Seondeok - Korea
Build Seowons & Promote Governors For Fast Science
Seondeok Leader Ability: Hwarang
Every promotion a Governor has grants +3% Culture and Science to their assigned city.
Korea Civ Ability: Three Kingdoms
Farms get +1 Food and Mines get +1 Science for every adjacent Seowon.
Unique Units
Hwacha (Renaissance Ranged unit), Seowon (Campus replacement, +4 Science, -2 Science for adjacent Districts)
Seondeok, one of the Leaders of the Korean civilization, excels at achieving fast Science victories by leveraging the Seowon and her unique Leader ability.
To maximize your early game expansion, utilize Magnus' promotion that prevents Population loss when creating Settlers in his assigned city. This allows you to quickly establish multiple cities, boosting your overall Science production. Focus on unlocking Civics that grant Governor Titles to rapidly promote Governors, earning a +3% increase in Science and Culture for each promotion.
The Seowon, a unique District for Korea, loses Science output if placed adjacent to other districts. Allow your cities some time to develop before positioning your Seowons at least two tiles away from the city center, ideally next to future Mine locations. Mines adjacent to a Seowon provide extra Science, so use them as a buffer to optimize Seowon output.
With multiple cities and optimally placed Seowons, you'll outpace other civilizations in Technological advancement.
Lady Six Sky - Maya
Observatories Have Some Of The Best Science Output
Lady Six Sky Leader Ability: Ix Mutal Ajaw
Cities within 6 tiles of your Capital get +10% to all Yields and a Builder when founded, but Cities further away than 6 tiles suffer -15% Yields.
Maya Civ Ability: Mayab
No Housing from Fresh Water or Coast cities, instead gain +1 Amenity for every Luxury Resource next to the city center. Farms gain +1 Housing and +1 Production if next to an Observatory.
Unique Units
Hul'che (Ancient Ranged unit), Observatory (+2 Science from Plantation adjacency bonus, +1 from Farms)
Lady Six Sky's unique Leader ability significantly boosts Yields and provides a free Builder for cities within 6 tiles of your Capital. While this offers a substantial advantage, it also means that optimal growth and production require closely clustered cities.
After Magnus gains the promotion to prevent Population loss, aim to settle at least five or six additional cities within this 6-tile radius throughout the age. Position Observatories next to resources that require either a Plantation or Farm, as these provide adjacency bonuses that enhance the Observatory's Science output.
By optimally placing Observatories in all your cities and keeping them within the 6-tile radius, you can achieve a swift Science victory as the Maya.
Peter - Russia
Absorb Science From Other Civs With Trade Routes
Peter Leader Ability: The Grand Embassy
Trade Routes with other Civilizations grant +1 Science and +1 Culture for every 3 Technologies or Civics they are ahead of Russia.
Russia Civ Ability: Mother Russia
Gain 5 extra tiles on founding a city, Tundra tiles grant +1 Faith and +1 Production. Units are immune to Blizzard, but civilizations at war with Russia suffer double penalties inside Russian territory.
Unique Units
Cossack (Industrial Era), Lavra (Replaces Holy District, expand by 2 tiles in the nearest city whenever you spend a Great Person there)
Peter is renowned as one of the most versatile Leaders in Civilization 6. His ability to generate Science and Culture through Trade Routes ensures he remains competitive, while the powerful Lavra, additional founding Tiles, and the ability for Great People to expand city borders make him highly effective across various victory types.
Although Peter is typically geared towards Culture and Religious victories, he can also secure fast Science victories with strategic expansion and a bit of luck.
Select the Dance of the Aurora policy to gain extra yields from Tundra tiles, which aligns with Russia's natural starting bias. Russia's larger initial city footprint enables effective forward settling, so spread out early in the game. Build Campuses near mountains and enhance your trading capabilities with Currency Exchange and Harbor Districts to maximize the Science and Culture gains from your Trade Routes.
Hammurabi - Babylon
A Wide Empire Can Overcome -50% Science Easily
Hammurabi Leader Ability: Ninu Ilu Sirum
When building any District (except Government Plaza), get the lowest-cost building for that district for free. Get a free Envoy when building any other district, too.
Babylon Civ Ability: Enuma Anu Enlil
Eurekas instantly unlock respective Technologies, but suffer -50% Science across your entire empire.
Unique Units
Sabum Kibittum (Ancient Melee unit), Palgum (+2 Production and +1 Housing, +1 Food for all Fresh Water adjacent tiles in this city)
The key to a swift Science victory in Civ 6 with Babylon is rapid expansion to establish numerous Science-producing cities, which mitigates the civilization's inherent Science penalty.
Babylon's ability allows you to instantly unlock Technologies upon triggering their Eurekas, although your overall Science output is halved. As you expand and settle more cities, this reduction becomes less impactful.
In the early game, focus on achieving Eurekas for each Technology by diversifying your efforts. Initially, prioritize Currency, Production, and city growth over direct Science production. Place Spies in technologically advanced civilizations to gain more Eureka opportunities.
By the end of the Classical era, aim to have established around six cities, each with its first Campus. As you enter the Middle Ages, leverage the Gold you've accumulated from trade and Currency Exchange to purchase secondary Campus buildings.
Hammurabi's ability grants you the lowest-tier building for free, so delay constructing Campuses until later to automatically receive the Library, then use Gold to buy the second building for a significant Science boost.
By this point, you should be on par with other civilizations in Science output, but your Technology boosts will have propelled you significantly ahead. Continue building Science over time while focusing on triggering Eurekas, positioning you several ages ahead of your competitors by the start of the Space Race, ensuring you complete all five steps before anyone else catches up.
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