Build Wonders To Win With Cultural Diplomacy

In the Civilization game series, there are several strategies and wonders to build that can help you achieve a cultural diplomacy victory. While the specific wonders you should build depend on the version of the game, some general tips include focusing on culture and religion, building a respectable army, and being helpful to other civilizations. In Civ 5, you can achieve a diplomatic victory by winning a World Leader vote in the United Nations, which requires gathering the minimum support from other players and city-states. In Civ 6, you can earn diplomatic victory points by building wonders such as the Statue of Liberty, Mahabodi Temple, and Potala Palace. Additionally, building the Oracle, Stonehenge, and the Pyramids can provide advantages throughout the game.

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Wonders, Great Works, and tile improvements

Wonders

Wonders are unique structures that provide significant bonuses and can be pivotal in achieving a Cultural or Diplomatic victory. The choice of which wonders to build depends on your specific strategy and the current game state. Here are some wonders to consider for a Cultural or Diplomatic victory:

• Statue of Liberty: Building the Statue of Liberty grants +4 Diplomatic Victory Points and can be a game-changer, especially towards the end of the game.
• Potala Palace: This wonder provides +1 Diplomatic Victory Point and should be built as soon as possible to take advantage of its bonuses.
• Mahabodi Temple: Constructing the Mahabodi Temple grants +2 Diplomatic Victory Points, contributing to your overall diplomatic standing.
• Oracle: The Oracle is a versatile wonder that can be beneficial in any game. It is often sought after for its free policy and illiteracy reduction bonuses.
• Stonehenge: Rushing Stonehenge is an effective strategy to guarantee religion without being a religious civilization. However, it increases the cost of all future wonders, so plan accordingly.
• Pyramids: The Pyramids are advantageous if you are not pursuing a Progress-oriented strategy. They offer a bonus to worker speed, aiding in the growth of your capital.
• Big Ben: Big Ben is an excellent choice if you are aiming for a diplomatic victory, as it provides bonuses that support that goal.

Great Works

Great Works are essential for a Cultural victory, as they provide substantial Tourism bonuses. Here are some tips for maximizing your Great Works:

• Cristo Redentor: This wonder provides a Tourism bonus when placing a Builder on a tile adjacent to a Coast to create a Seaside Resort.
• Mont St. Michel: Building Mont St. Michel provides a Relic slot, which can be beneficial when an Apostle with the Martyr Promotion dies in theological combat.
• Uffizi, Louvre, Sistine, Broadway: These wonders offer multiple Great Work slots, increasing your capacity for cultural production.
• Archaeological Museum: Constructing an Archaeological Museum and researching Natural History allows you to train Archaeologists who can uncover Antiquity Sites and Shipwrecks for Artifacts, boosting your Tourism output.

Tile Improvements

Tile improvements are crucial for optimizing your civilization's performance. Here are some tips for effective tile improvements:

• Seaside Resort: After researching Flight, improvements that provide Culture, such as the Kampung and the Rock-Hewn Church, also yield Tourism. Seaside Resorts are a prime example, as they provide bonus Tourism based on the tile's Appeal.
• Ski Resort: Once you have researched Professional Sports, Builders can create Ski Resorts on Mountain tiles, generating Tourism equal to the tile's Appeal.
• City Walls: City Walls produce Tourism after researching Conservation, with bonuses for different types of walls (Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance).
• Theater Square: Building a Theater Square with an Archaeological Museum can be a great way to boost your Tourism output, especially when combined with researching Natural History.
• Constabularies and Police Stations: Constructing these buildings in all your cities is necessary to unlock the National Intelligence Agency wonder, which grants you an extra Spy who can be turned into a Diplomat.

Diplomacy points and victory conditions

One way to earn diplomatic victory points (DVP) is to build certain wonders. The Statue of Liberty grants 4 DVP, the Mahabodi Temple grants 2 DVP, and the Potala Palace grants 1 DVP. Building the Statue of Liberty should be left until the end of the game to guarantee victory. The Potala Palace should be built as soon as possible for the bonuses, and then you can declare war on the civilization with the highest diplomacy points. This does incur a slight penalty.

Another way to earn DVP is to win World Congress votes in the pre-modern age. You can also gain influence by settling cities near resources and making extra efforts to strike deals for resources with other nations. You can also boost culture or faith by making the relevant city-state your ally. It's also a good idea to concentrate on gold production so you can bribe city-states.

If you've chosen the Freedom Ideology, you can activate the Arsenal of Democracy tenet and start building military units to gift to city-states. You can also propose resolutions at every session of the World Congress, which can be used to hinder other nations.

Culture, religion, and tourism

• Oracle: The Oracle is widely considered one of the best wonders in the game. It offers a free policy and illiteracy reduction, giving you a great early-game advantage. The AI takes a long time to build it, so it's a good opportunity to gain an edge.
• Stonehenge: Rushing to build Stonehenge is a great way to guarantee a religion, especially if you're not playing as a religious civilization. However, it can increase the cost of building future wonders, so plan accordingly.
• Pyramids: The Pyramids are beneficial if you're not pursuing a Progress-oriented strategy. They provide a 25% worker speed boost, which can be advantageous for your civilization's growth.
• Statue of Liberty: The Statue of Liberty grants +4 Diplomatic Victory Points (DVP), which can be a game-changer. It's a good idea to prepare for its construction but leave the actual building process until the endgame to secure your victory.
• Potala Palace: Building the Potala Palace grants +1 DVP and provides bonuses. It is recommended to build this wonder early in the game to maximize its benefits.
• Mahabodi Temple: Constructing the Mahabodi Temple grants +2 DVP, contributing to your diplomatic victory.
• Mont St. Michel: This wonder provides benefits related to theological combat and relics, which can be advantageous for your civilization's religious pursuits.
• Cristo Redentor: Cristo Redentor is a must-build wonder for tourism-oriented victories. It doubles the tourism bonus from seaside resorts and helps maintain tourism levels when other civilizations obtain The Enlightenment civic.
• Uffizi, Louvre, Sistine: These wonders offer multiple Great Work slots, boosting your cultural output.
• Broadway, Eiffel Tower: These wonders are excellent choices, especially for tourism victories, as they provide Great Work slots and cultural bonuses.

Remember, while building these wonders can significantly enhance your chances of a diplomatic victory, it's also important to employ strategies such as spreading Envoys, timing your moves, forming alliances, and managing your army effectively to achieve success in Civilization VI.

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Choosing the right leader

• Leader Bonuses and Abilities: Different leaders in Civilization VI possess unique abilities and bonuses that can greatly influence your diplomatic gameplay. For example, Greece's leaders can produce a lot of Culture, helping them research civics that enhance Tourism output. China, under Qin Shi Huang, can earn substantial Tourism from Wonders and the Great Wall. Understanding these leader-specific advantages can help you leverage their diplomatic potential effectively.
• Diplomatic Focus: Select a leader who aligns with your diplomatic strategy. Some leaders are inherently more suited for diplomacy than others. For instance, leaders like Alexander the Great or Cleopatra are known for their diplomatic prowess and can provide advantages when navigating relationships with other civilizations. Consider choosing leaders with strong diplomatic bonuses to increase your chances of success.
• Relationship Management: A key aspect of diplomacy is managing relationships with other civilizations. Choose a leader who can foster alliances and maintain positive relations. For example, leaders with abilities that enhance trade or provide diplomatic bonuses can help you build and sustain strong connections with your allies.
• War Avoidance: While declaring war should be a last resort, it is sometimes necessary. Look for leaders who can provide advantages in both diplomacy and military might. This dual capability can serve as a deterrent to potential aggressors and help you defend your civilization if war becomes unavoidable.
• Cultural and Religious Consideration: Ignoring Culture and Religion can give rival civilizations a significant advantage if they are pursuing those victory conditions. Choose a leader who can also prioritize these aspects while maintaining a diplomatic focus. For example, consider leaders who can generate Culture and Tourism bonuses, such as Ramses, to lay the groundwork for a strong diplomatic position.
• Wonder Construction: Constructing Wonders can provide significant boosts towards a diplomatic victory. Select a leader who can facilitate the efficient construction of Wonders, such as those with production-related bonuses. This will help you unlock key Wonders that offer diplomatic victory points, like the Statue of Liberty.

Remember, the leader you choose should complement your diplomatic strategy and help you navigate the complexities of relationships with other civilizations. Assess their unique abilities and how they can contribute to your overall victory condition.

Trade routes and gold income

• Build the National Intelligence Agency wonder: This wonder allows you to receive an extra Spy, who can be later turned into a Diplomat. To unlock this wonder, you'll need to build Constabularies and Police Stations in all your cities.
• Focus on the Commerce policy tree: Developing the Commerce policy tree will greatly increase your Gold flow and Great Merchant generation. The extra gold can be used to gift City-States, helping you maintain strong alliances.
• Settle cities near valuable resources: Look for opportunities to settle cities close to valuable resources. This will grant you access to those resources and potentially give you an advantage in trade.
• Strike deals with other nations: Make an effort to strike deals and form alliances, even if the terms may not be entirely favourable to you. Gaining allies is crucial in a diplomacy victory.
• Avoid too many armed conflicts: Engaging in frequent wars will harm your relationships with other nations and give you a negative reputation. Instead, focus on maintaining peace and resolving differences through diplomacy.
• Build a strong army: While declaring war should be a last resort, having a strong and respectable army is necessary for earning respect from other civilizations. It also discourages potential aggressors from attacking you.
• Choose the right leader: Selecting the appropriate leader can significantly aid your pursuit of a diplomatic victory. For example, America has a unique building that can facilitate a Cultural Victory, which pairs well with a diplomacy-oriented game.
• Gift military units: If you've chosen the Freedom Ideology, you can activate the Arsenal of Democracy tenet and start building military units. You can then gift these units to City-States you're trying to win over, improving your relationships.
• Utilize the World Congress: The World Congress can be a powerful tool to hinder your rivals. With enough City-State allies, you can gain control over the Congress and propose resolutions that benefit your strategy.
• Focus on gold production: Concentrate on increasing your gold production, as this will allow you to bribe City-States more often and improve your diplomatic standing.

Remember, while these strategies can help with trade routes and gold income, they should be part of a broader diplomatic strategy. Timing is also crucial, so ensure you're making the right moves at the right time to maximize your chances of achieving a diplomacy victory.

Frequently asked questions