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Achieving a swift Culture victory in Civilization 6 is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Both Culture and Science are pivotal elements in the game, making them highly contested among civilizations. However, with the right strategies and a bit of luck, securing a rapid Culture victory is within reach.
Certain civilizations might excel in generating Tourism more consistently or adapt to various scenarios better than others. Yet, under optimal conditions, the following civilizations can lead to one of the quickest Culture victories, spreading your cultural influence faster than others.
Jayavarman VII - Khmer
Khmer Relic Rush Is A Strong, But Specific, Strategy
Jayavarman VII's Monasteries of the King ability enhances Holy Sites, providing Food equal to their Adjacency Bonus, +2 Adjacency from Rivers, +2 Housing if built next to a River, and a Culture Bomb. The Grand Barays civilization ability boosts Aqueducts with +1 Amenity and +1 Faith per Citizen, while Farms adjacent to Aqueducts gain +2 Food and +1 Faith next to Holy Sites.
Unique Units include the Domrey (a Medieval Siege unit) and the Prasat, which offers +6 Faith, a Relic slot, additional Housing, Culture, and Food with certain beliefs, plus +0.5 Culture per Citizen.
The Khmer are typically seen as a Religious-focused civilization, but by focusing on generating Culture through Relics and maximizing city growth, you can secure one of the fastest Culture victories. The Prasat's Relic slot and population-based Culture generation are key. Enhance this strategy by quickly acquiring the Great Bath to mitigate flood risks and the Hanging Gardens for further city growth. Later, prioritize St. Basil's Cathedral to boost religious Tourism from Relics, and Mont St. Michael to generate Relics from fallen Missionaries and Apostles.
Kristina - Sweden
Focus On Wonders & Great Work Slots For High Tourism
Kristina's Minerva of the North ability automatically themes Buildings with 3x Great Work slots and Wonders with 2x Great Work slots, doubling their Tourism and Culture output. This also unlocks the Queen's Bibliotheque, a Government Plaza building with multiple Great Work slots. The Nobel Prize civilization ability grants +50 Diplomatic Favor upon receiving a Great Person, +1 Engineer or Scientist point for every Factory or University, and three unique World Congress competitions in the Industrial Era.
Unique Units are 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 the city.
Kristina, once considered overpowered, remains a top-tier civilization for Culture victories. Her automatic theming ability significantly boosts Tourism and Culture. The Queen's Bibliotheque and Open-Air Museum further enhance these yields. Focus on constructing Wonders with at least 2x Great Work slots and Buildings with at least 3x Great Work slots. Rush the Theater District to quickly accumulate Great Person Points and gather Great Works of Art, Music, and Writing, leading to a rapid increase in Tourism over subsequent ages.
Peter - Russia
Absorb Culture & Build Wide For Massive Tourism
Peter's The Grand Embassy ability grants +1 Science and +1 Culture for every 3 Technologies or Civics other Civilizations are ahead of Russia via Trade Routes. The Mother Russia civilization ability provides 5 extra tiles when founding a city, +1 Faith and +1 Production from Tundra tiles, immunity to Blizzards, and double penalties for enemies within Russian territory.
Unique Units include the Cossack (Industrial Era) and the Lavra, which replaces the Holy District and expands by 2 tiles in the nearest city whenever a Great Person is spent there.
Peter is often regarded as one of the best leaders in Civilization 6 due to his versatile abilities. For a quick Culture victory, prioritize Faith early to adopt the Dance of the Aurora pantheon, then focus on city expansion. The additional tiles from founding cities and the Lavra's expansion upon spending Great People accelerate growth. Rush St. Basil's Cathedral in your highest Faith-generating city to double Tourism from Relics, and acquire Mont St. Michael to generate Relics from fallen religious units. Maintain Trade Routes with other civilizations to keep up with Science, ensuring a swift Culture victory.
Catherine de Medici - Magnificence
Hoard Luxury Resources & Wonders For Enormous Tourism
Catherine de Medici's Catherine's Magnificences ability provides +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. The Grand Tour civilization ability grants +20% Production towards Medieval, Renaissance, and Industrial Era Wonders, and doubles the Tourism from Wonders in every era.
Unique Units are the Garde Imperiale (an Industrial Melee unit) and the Château, which enhances Culture, Gold, Appeal, and provides extra Culture when placed next to a Wonder.
The Magnificence version of Catherine de Medici is particularly potent for Culture victories. The French civilization's bonus in building Wonders and doubling their Tourism output complements Catherine's ability to boost Culture from Luxury Resources. Focus on establishing your Culture infrastructure early, then shift to maximizing Wonder production and Luxury Resource accumulation. The Court Festival project, when utilized in cities with excess Luxury Resources, significantly amplifies Culture and Tourism.
While this strategy requires careful management, optimal city placement near Luxury Resources and successful Wonder construction can lead to a significant lead by the Modern era. Continue expanding your Theater Squares, collecting Great Works, and running Court Festivals to secure one of the fastest Culture victories possible in Civilization 6.
