Civilization 6 is a massive game with dozens upon dozens of unique factions the player can control. And with our Tier List, we’re going to divide each of the game’s 53 different civilizations into five tiers. As much as this article is about the Civilizations themselves we will also discuss leader rankings.
Key Highlights
- Unlike its former sibling Civ 5, Civ 6 features more than 50 (some 53) different Civilisations, a.k.a; action-packed storylines for you to explore.
- Each Civilization also offers at least one leader, which plays an essential role in defining the entire Civilization.
- Besides, in-civilization elements, how easily the Civilization itself propels players to a match victory remained our key factor while ranking each option in Civ 6.
- With that said, Civilizations that are absolutely best include Persia, Australia, Germany, Russia, Maya, Rome, Korea, and Japan.
- These picks have a fantastic overall mechanism that helps you dominate the gameplay quickly.
- The weakest Civilizations are Georgia, Phoenicia, France, and Scotland.
All Nations In Civ 6 And Comparison Between Them
Comparison table of all nations in Civ 6:
| Tier | Civilization | Leader | UniqueUnit(s) | UniqueAbility | UniqueBuilding/Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Japan | Hojo Tokimune | Samurai | Meiji Restoration | Electronics Factory |
| S | Russia | Peter Alexeyevich | Cossack | Mother Russia | Lavra |
| S | Germany | Frederick Barbarossa | U-Boat | Free Imperial Cities | Hansa |
| S | Australia | John Curtin | Digger | Down Under Legen | Outback Station |
| S | Persia | Nader Shah | Immortal | Satrapies | Pairidaeza |
| S | Korea | Seondeok | Hwacha | Three Kingdoms | Seowon |
| S | Rome | Trajan | Legion | All Roads Lead to Rome | Bath |
| S | Maya | Lady Six Sky | Hul’che | Mayab | Observatory |
| A | Gran Colombia | Simón Bolívar | Llanero | Ejército Patriota | Hacienda |
| A | Sumerian | Gilgamesh | War-Cart | Epic Quest | Ziggurat |
| A | Hungary | Matthias Corvinus | Huszár | Pearl of the Danube | Thermal Bath |
| A | Macedon | Alexander the Great | Hypaspist | Hellenistic Fusion | Basilikoi Paides |
| A | Byzantium | Basil II | Dromon | Taxis | Hippodrome |
| A | Greece | Pericles | Hoplite | Plato’s Republic | Acropolis |
| A | Dutch | Wilhelmina | De Zeven Provinciën | Grote Rivieren | Polder |
| A | Ethiopia | Menelik II | Oromo Cavalry | Aksumite Legacy | Rock-Hewn Church |
| A | Maori | Kupe | Toa | Mana | Marae |
| A | Inca | Pachacuti | Warak’aq | Mit’a | Terrace Farm |
| A | Arabia | Saladin | Mamluk | The Last Prophet | Madrasa |
| A | Mali | Mansa Musa | Mandekalu Cavalry | Songs of the Jeli | Suguba |
| A | Spain | Philip II | Conquistador | Treasure Fleet | Mission |
| A | Indonesia | Gitarja | Jong | Great Nusantara | Kampung |
| A | Aztec | Montezuma | Eagle Warrior | Legend of the Five Suns | Tlachtli |
| A | China | QinShiHuang | Crouching Tiger | Dynastic Cycle | Great Wall |
| A | Ottoman | Suleiman | Barbary Corsair | Great Turkish Bombard | Grand Bazaar |
| A | Egypt | Cleopatra | Maryannu Chariot Archer | Iteru | Sphinx |
| A | Nubia | Amanitore | Pítati Archer | Ta-Seti | Nubian Pyramid |
| A | Khmer | JayavarmanVII | Domrey | Grand Barays | Prasat |
| B | America | Teddy Roosevelt | P-51 Mustang | Founding Fathers | Film Studio |
| B | England | Victoria | Sea Dog | British Museum and Workshop of the World | Royal Navy Dockyard |
| B | Babylon | Hammurabi | Sabum Kibittum | Enuma Anu Enlil | Palgum |
| B | Brazil | PedroII | Minas Geraes | Amazon | Street Carnival, Copacabana |
| B | Zulu | Shaka | Impi | Isibongo | Ikanda |
| B | Mongolia | Genghis Khan | Keshig | Örtöö | Ordu |
| B | Canada | Wilfrid Laurier | Mountie | Four Faces of Peace | Ice Hockey Rink |
| B | Kongo | Mvemba a Nzinga | Ngao Mbeba | Nkisi | Mbanza |
| C | Norway | Harald Hardrada | Berserker | Knarr | Stave Church |
| C | France | Catherine de Medici | Garde Impériale | Grand Tour | Château |
| C | Poland | Jadwiga | Winged Hussar | Golden Liberty | Sukiennice |
| C | Scythia | Tomyris | Saka Horse Archer | People of the Steppe | Kurgan |
| C | India | Gandhi | Varu | Dharma | Stepwell |
| C | Greece | Gorgo | Hoplite | Plato’s Republic | Acropolis |
| C | Vietnam | Bà Triệu | Voi Chiến | Nine Dragon River Delta | Thành |
| C | Mongolia | Kublai Khan | Keshig | Örtöö | Ordu |
| C | Portugal | João III | Nau | Casa da Índia | Navigation School |
| C | Cree | Poundmaker | Okihtcitaw | Nîhithaw | Mekewap |
| C | India | Chandragupta | Varu | Dharma | Stepwell |
| C | Gaul | Ambiorix | Gaesatae | Hallstatt Culture | Oppidum |
| C | Mapuche | Lautaro | Malón Raider | Toqui | Chemamull |
| D | Scotland | Robert the Bruce | Highlander | Scottish Enlightenment | Golf Course |
| D | France | Eleanor of Aquitaine | Garde Impériale | Grand Tour | Château |
| D | Phoenicia | Dido | Bireme | Mediterranean Colonies | Cothon |
| D | Georgia | Tamar | Khevsur | Strength in Unity | Tsikhe |
Our Tier List Picks
Summary of Civ 6’s Tier List Ranking Leaders and Civilizations:
| Civ 6 Tier List Leaders And Civilizations Ranking Table | |
| Tiers | Leaders And Civilizations |
| S-Tier | Persia (Cyrus II), Australia (John Curtin), Germany (Frederick Barbarossa), Russia (Peter Alexeyevich), Maya (Lady Six Sky), Rome (Trajan), Korea (Seondeok), Japan (Hojo Tokimune) |
| A-Tier | Byzantium (Basil II), Macedon (Alexander the Great), Hungary (Matthias Corvinus), Sumerian (Gilgamesh), Gran Colombia (Simón Bolívar), Inca (Pachacuti), Maori (Kupe), Ethiopia (Menelik II), Dutch (Wilhelmina), Greece (Pericles), Aztec (Montezuma), Indonesia (Gitarja), Spain (Philip II), Mali (Mansa Musa), Arabia (Saladin), Khmer (Jayavarman VII), Nubia (Amanitore), Ottoman (Suleiman), Egypt (Cleopatra), China (Qin Shi Huang) |
| B-Tier | Zulu (Shaka), Brazil (Pedro II), Babylon (Hammurabi), America (Teddy Roosevelt), England (Victoria), Kongo (Mvemba a Nzinga), Canada (Wilfrid Laurier), Mongolia (Genghis Khan) |
| C-Tier | India (Gandhi), Scythia (Tomyris), Poland (Jadwiga), France (Catherine de Medici), Norway (Harald Hardrad), Cree (Poundmaker), Portugal (João III), Vietnam (Bà Triệu), Mongolia (Kublai Khan), Greece (Gorgo), Mapuche (Lautaro), Gaul (Ambiorix), India (Chandragupta) |
| D-Tier | Georgia (Tamar), Phoenicia (Dido), France (Eleanor of Aquitaine), Scotland (Robert the Bruce) |
We will also mention that we will divide the civilizations according to how easy it is for them to achieve victory in a match. So entries in S-Tier will absolutely decimate the competition, while D-Tier will struggle even to survive.
S Tier
All of the following entries on our Civilization 6 Tier List are among the absolute best in the entire game. If you choose to play as them, you will be able to effortlessly dominate your enemies.
| Civilization | WHY S TIER? |
|---|---|
| Japan (Hojo Tokimune) | Adaptable civilization with unique Divine Wind ability, granting bonuses to district construction and combat strength on coastal tiles. Suited for various victory conditions. |
| Russia (Peter Alexeyevich) | Rapid expansion civilization gaining additional tiles for each city, bonuses from Tundra tiles, and immunity to damage from Blizzards. Versatile for most victory types. |
| Germany (Frederick Barbarossa) | Suited for Domination or Science victory with Free Imperial Cities ability, strong production bonuses from Hansa District, and combat strength bonus against city-states. |
| Australia (John Curtin) | Thrives in defensive wars with Production bonuses, gains Housing from coastal cities, and triggers Culture Bomb with Pastures. Versatile for different victory paths. |
| Persia (Cyrus II) | Favors cultural victory with Trade Route bonuses and advanced roads, excels in warfare with Surprise War bonuses. |
| Korea (Seondeok) | Strong focus on Science victory with Seowon district bonuses and Governor promotion benefits. Starting bias towards Hills ensures suitable spawn areas. |
| Rome (Trajan) | Expands rapidly with free buildings and Trading Posts in newly founded cities, gains extra Gold from Trade Routes, and benefits from the Legion unique unit. |
| Maya (Lady Six Sky) | Incentivizes compact empire building with yield bonuses and combat strength for cities near the capital, focusing on defense and Science Victory. |
A Tier
The A Rank entries on our tier list are not the greatest civilizations in the entire game, but they are the next best thing. There are quite a few unique characters in this Civ 6 Leader Tier List, and playing as any of them is enough to easily carry you to the finish line.
| Civilization | WHY A TIER? |
|---|---|
| Gran Colombia (Simón Bolívar) | Specializes in domination victories, with unique units that boost combat strength and movement. |
| Sumerian (Gilgamesh) | Offers strong early game units and benefits for allying with other civilizations, with bonuses in combat when fighting a common enemy. |
| Hungary (Matthias Corvinus) | Focused on domination, can leverage city-state units with enhanced movement and combat strength, alongside cost-effective unit upgrades. |
| Macedon (Alexander the Great) | Tailored for domination, with perks for capturing cities, immunity to war weariness, and full healing when capturing wonders. |
| Byzantium (Basil II) | Combines religion with combat, spreading religion through victories and benefiting from religiously uniform cities. |
| Greece (Pericles) | Excels in culture, with bonuses for city-state suzerainty and a unique district that boosts cultural output. |
| Dutch (Wilhelmina) | Aimed at diplomatic victories, enhances trade routes, and district production, especially on river tiles and through harbors. |
| Ethiopia (Menelik II) | Strong in generating faith, which also boosts culture and science, especially in cities on hills. |
| Maori (Kupe) | Begins at sea with early bonuses to science and culture, and has advantages in naval exploration and expansion. |
| Inca (Pachacuti) | Utilizes mountain tiles for production and food, benefiting from internal trade routes. |
| Arabia (Saladin) | Combines religion with science, with bonuses for spreading their religion and unique science buildings. |
| Mali (Mansa Musa) | Rich in funds with a unique economy, trading production for gold, and enhancing international trade. |
| Spain (Philip II) | Boosts trade and expansion benefits, especially between continents, with production bonuses for overseas cities. |
| Indonesia (Gitarja) | Versatile, with a focus on naval and religious strengths, and benefits for coastal and lake tiles. |
| Aztec (Montezuma) | Geared towards domination, using luxury resources to boost combat strength and employing builders for rapid district construction. |
| China (Qin Shi Huang) | Focused on production and wonders for a cultural victory, with bonuses for builders and ancient/classical wonders. |
| Ottoman (Suleiman) | Specializes in siege warfare and city conquest, maintaining city population and loyalty upon conquest. |
| Egypt (Cleopatra) | Favors diplomacy, with trade route bonuses, flood immunity, and production bonuses for riverside constructions. |
| Nubia (Amanitore) | Focuses on ranged units and district construction, with production and experience bonuses for ranged units, and enhanced district production near their unique improvement. |
| Khmer (Jayavarman VII) | Excels in land and population growth, with bonuses for holy sites and aqueducts, boosting food, housing, and amenities. |
B Tier
Each of the B Rank factions on this tier list are decent civilizations, but your skill with the game will determine how well you do. A moderately skilled player can do tremendously well with these, while an inexperienced one can fail badly.
| Civilization | WHY B TIER? |
|---|---|
| England (Victoria) | Colonial power with benefits for overseas expansion, bonuses to resource production, and naval unit production. |
| America (Teddy Roosevelt) | Late-game powerhouse with different personas offering bonuses to combat strength, appeal, and culture from units. |
| Babylon (Hammurabi) | Strong in science with a unique mechanic that instantaneously unlocks technologies through Eurekas, at the expense of halved Science per turn. |
| Brazil (Pedro II) | Benefits from Rainforest tiles for adjacency bonuses and can recruit Great Persons frequently. |
| Zulu (Shaka) | Upgrades units to Corps or Army upon city conquest and gains loyalty from garrisoned units. |
| Mongolia (Genghis Khan) | Enhances diplomatic visibility and combat strength through trade, with cavalry units capable of capturing defeated enemy units. |
| Canada (Wilfrid Laurier) | Excels in Tundra with bonuses to food and production, focusing on Diplomacy for additional Favor. |
| Kongo (Mvemba a Nzinga) | Cannot construct Holy Sites or establish a religion but gains benefits from Artifacts, Relics, and Sculptures. |
C Tier
As we enter the lower brackets of our tier list, we’ll look at some of the less-than-great civilizations in the game. If you don’t have a great grasp of the mechanics, we don’t recommend that you play as any of these.
| Civilization | WHY C TIER? |
|---|---|
| Norway (Harald Hardrad) | Updated to be more effective with bonuses for naval melee units and coastal raiding. |
| France (Catherine de Medici) | Suited for Cultural victories with bonuses to Wonder production and Tourism, along with espionage benefits. |
| Poland (Jadwiga) | Combines military power and religion, converting territory with Culture Bombs and gaining adjacency bonuses from Holy Sites. |
| Scythia (Tomyris) | Militaristic, provides free light cavalry units and bonuses for attacking wounded units. |
| India (Gandhi) | Strong at securing Religious victories, benefiting from Follower Beliefs and boosting Trade Route religious pressure. |
| Greece (Gorgo) | Encourages combat-oriented approach, rewarding Culture for unit kills and enhanced by Military Policy cards. |
| Vietnam (Bà Triệu) | Defensive, with bonuses for settling on challenging terrain and advantages for units starting turns on those tiles. |
| Mongolia (Kublai Khan) | Similar to Genghis Khan’s Mongolia with added benefits from Trading Posts and Economic Policy slots. |
| Portugal (João III) | Focuses on Trade with restrictions and bonuses for coastal or Harbor city trades. |
| Cree (Poundmaker) | Benefits from trading, with mid to late game effectiveness issues but early territorial expansion through Traders. |
| India (Chandragupta) | Shares religious benefits with Gandhi’s India but emphasizes territorial expansion and military bonuses. |
| Gaul (Ambiorix) | Valued for experienced players with Culture and adjacency bonuses from Mines, and military strength for nearby units. |
| Mapuche (Lautaro) | Benefits from domination strategies, especially against civilizations in Golden or Heroic Ages. |
D Tier
And finally, we come to the most weakest civilizations in our Tier List. We honestly don’t know why anyone would want to play as any of these.
| Civilization | WHY D TIER? |
|---|---|
| Scotland (Robert the Bruce) | Benefits from city happiness for Science and Production boosts, but limited increases even with Ecstatic cities. Domination victory and War of Liberation benefits are underwhelming. |
| France (Eleanor of Aquitaine) | Focuses on Loyalty mechanics with Great Works causing nearby foreign cities to lose Loyalty. This strategy’s effectiveness is limited as players typically maintain happy cities. |
| Phoenicia (Dido) | Versatile in victory paths but lacks specialization. Features like increased Settler Movement and Sight, and the ability to move the Capital city, are not significantly impactful. |
| Georgia (Tamar) | Struggles with lack of impactful abilities despite the potential to chain Golden Ages. Lacks compelling reasons for play due to no strong abilities or fun gameplay elements. |
Changes Due To Latest Update
Last Update: December 15th, 2022.
- The developer has revamped the “Last Best West” ability of Canada’s leader Wilfrid Laurier which now grants a +2 Production bonus instead of the previous +1. This happens for the faction-special Tundra Hills and Snow Mines also.
Civ 6 Tier List - FAQs
What Is The Strongest Civilization In The Game?
Japan is currently the strongest in the game.
Which Victory Condition Is The Easiest To Attain?
Domination is certainly the most straightforward, but all Victory Conditions require effort either way.
What Is The Weakest Civilization In The Game?
Georgia is the weakest in the game so far.
Can I Win A Game Using A D-Tier Civilization?
If you possess the correct skills and knowledge, you can dominate a game even with the absolute worst civilizations.
This has been eXputer’s Civilization 6’s Tier List.
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