Civilization 6saw the debut of several new civilizations and leaders to the series, and many of them are prime candidates forCivilization 7as well. In addition to the several gameplay changes that the sixth game in the series made,Civilization 6saw a lot of leaders, both old and new, trying to make their empire the greatest in the world. Thankfully, such a wide array of leaders means thatCivilization 7will have an excellent slate of potential returnees.
Thanks to how manyexpansionsCivilization 6has received, its solid starting roster has grown to an impressive size since release. Not only have brand-new civilizations been unveiled, but in a series first, a couple of leaders have the option to lead multiple countries. The games have been delving deeper into the history books to find interesting and notable leaders for future games, andCivilization 6offered one of the best selections thus far, and certainly one of the biggest.
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Civilization 6’s Kupe is a Natural Leader in More Ways Than One
MostCivilizationgameplay revolves around what happens on solid ground.Seafaring gameplay inCivilizationgamesis often deprioritized for many players, since it’s harder to handle than simply staying on dry land. As a result, there have not been a lot of island-based civilizations who specialize in using the ocean to their advantage. Kupe, the Maori leader ofCivilization 6, fills this niche while putting a unique spin on it.
When it comes to strategy as one ofCivilization 6’s collection of leaders, Kupe is anything but conventional. He has a significant penalty in being unable to generate Great Writers or harvest bonus resources, but makes up for it with significant unique bonuses. He gains culture and science bonuses every turn before settling a capital, and derives extra bonuses from fishing boats and unworked wooded tiles. Kupe works in sync with nature, and his AI follows that, making friends or foes depending on how they treat nature.
Kupe is a thoroughly unique leader, and even though hispath to victory inCivilization 6is complicated without Great Writers, he can still pull it off with his other bonuses. Players who like the idea of creating an idyllic island paradise in tune with the Earth will find a lot to like about Kupe and the Maori. When it comes to island leaders, Kupe may be the best of the bunch thanks to his thoroughly unique play style.
Tomyris Brought Respect to Scythia in Civilization 6
Out of all thecivilizations to appear inCivilization 6, Scythia may be the most obscure. An Iranian tribe who settled in the Pontic Steppe around the 8th century B.C., the Scythians aren’t as widely known as mostCivilizationparticipants. However, what they lack in notoriety, they made up for with an excellent showing in their series debut. Under Tomyris, Scythia proved itself a worthy addition toCivilization 6.
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Tomyris' main power comes from horses, one ofCivilization 6’s strategic resources. Using her ability, People of the Steppe, she will automatically gain an extra unit of any calvary that she trains, including her unique Saka Horse Archers. With this trait, she can create a blanket of units as effectively as otherCivilizationwar specialists such as Atilla and Shaka. However, Tomyris also has a sense of honor that sets her apart. She will virtually never break an alliance, and prioritizes attacking those who betray their allies.
Civilization 6was Scythia’s debut in the series, but it hopefully won’t be their only appearance. Tomyris has the potential to be a strong recurring leader alongsideCivilization’s most iconic leaders, standing toe-to-toe with other combat specialists. Her horse-related abilities could even potentially be on par with those of Genghis Khan and Atilla the Hun. It would be a shame for Tomyris and Scythia to be one-and-done forCivilization, because the series is more interesting with more unique civs available.
Bà Triệu is One of Civilization 6’s Best Defensive Leaders
When it comes tochoosing a leader inCivilization, the civs that have unique powers or abilities are the ones that stick out the most. That’s one reason why Vietnam inCivilization 6was such a solid addition, being a civilization with a heavy emphasis on defense when it came to military might. Although this sounds potentially limiting, Bà Triệu’s array of abilities turns that defensive nature into just one of many powerful tools in Vietnam’s arsenal.
Added to the game throughCivilization 6’s New Frontier Pass,Bà Triệu is somewhat similar to Kupe in that she benefits from unworked tiles. However, she takes that affinity to the next level. Bà Triệu’s units get speed and strength bonuses on tiles such as forests and rainforests, and can plant more trees much earlier than most civilizations to increase this advantage. An ideal setup for a Vietnam player is a home territory blanketed with trees that obstruct opponents, while Bà Triệu’s own army uses the terrain to their advantage.
Bà Triệu has a lot of versatility, and much of that is thanks to her immense defensive ability. IfVietnam is well set-up inCivilization 6, then it’s hard to break their defenses, giving them time to focus on more important matters. Being a defensive specialist is an interesting niche inCivilization, and Bà Triệu pulls it off better than most. A return inCivilization 7could give players more time to experiment with Vietnam’s memorably unusual mechanics.
WhenCivilization 7comes out, there is probably going to be a lot of content for players to take in, from mechanics to the playable civilizations themselves. When it comes time tochoose the playable civs forCivilization 7, hopefully the developers don’t leave out any of the most recent newcomers who deserve a second run.Civilization 6has a lot of leaders that would benefit heavily from a second chance next game, and they deserve that chance.
Civilization 6is available now for Android, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
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