Civilization VI Best Civilization Tier List 2024

What’s the best civilization to play in Civilization VI? We’ve got you with our tier list covering the full depth of what each S Tier civilization can do and why you’d want them along with our runner-up picks if you’re looking for more of a challenge.

The civilizations in this tier list rank from the best for new players and overall, to the worst overall. If you’re looking for the best civ to play to play with your friends then any S Tier civilization below will serve you well. Anything above a B tier could be considered competitive.

Try one of these civilizations the next time you’re going at PvP or even in PvE, they’re universally ranked best to worst.

S Tier

Australia

You get bonus production in war cities, rough terrain early game units, coastal tiles and pastures and then massive economy improvements all together. You’ll be a powerhouse.

John Curtin: Leader ability that grants bonus production to cities that have been targeted by a declaration of war.
Digger: Unique unit that replaces the Infantry. It has higher combat strength and can move through rough terrain with ease.
Land Down Under: Civilization ability that provides bonus yields to coastal tiles and pastures.
Outback Station: Unique improvement that provides food, production, and gold to adjacent tiles.

Germany

Germany can gain a lot of additional cities quick by taking city states, giving them a massive edge.

Frederick Barbarossa: Leader ability that grants bonus combat strength to units fighting city-states and allows for faster city-state influence gain.
U-Boat: Unique naval unit that replaces the Submarine. It has higher combat strength and can remain underwater for longer periods of time.
Free Imperial Cities: Civilization ability that provides additional envoys when a city-state is conquered by another civilization.
Hansa: Unique district that replaces the Industrial Zone. It provides bonus production to adjacent commercial hubs and resources.

Japan

Massive production boost and Samurai are very strong mid-game.

Hojo Tokimune: Leader ability that provides bonus culture to districts built on hills and allows for the construction of the Electronics Factory building earlier.
Samurai: Unique unit that replaces the Musketman. It has higher combat strength and can perform a pre-emptive attack.
Meiji Restoration: Civilization ability that provides bonus production to districts built next to each other and allows for the construction of the Electronics Factory building earlier.
Electronics Factory: Unique building that replaces the Factory. It provides bonus production and culture.

Maya

Hul’che are just absolutely strong. If you start near water or have cities near water then you can push a lot more into other things than working on industry.

Lady Six Sky: Leader ability that provides bonus science, culture, and faith to cities built next to a holy site.
Hul’che: Unique unit that replaces the Archer. It has higher combat strength and can move after attacking.
Mayab: Civilization ability that provides bonus food and housing to cities built next to fresh water sources.
Observatory: Unique district that replaces the Campus. It provides bonus science based on adjacent farms.

Persia

Immortals are very strong early game. The improvement is really strong. Satrapies can pay off big when another popular Civilization like Germany is on the map.

Nader Shah: Leader ability that provides bonus movement to units during a surprise war and allows for faster movement of units in Persian territory.
Immortal: Unique unit that replaces the Swordsman. It has higher combat strength and can heal at a faster rate.
Satrapies: Civilization ability that provides bonus gold and additional envoys when a city-state is conquered by another civilization.
Pairidaeza: Unique improvement that provides culture, gold, and appeal to adjacent tiles.

Rome

Legion makes road building really super easy. Gold is also basically free for Rome.

Trajan: Leader ability that grants bonus culture and allows for faster city growth when constructing buildings in newly conquered cities.
Legion: Unique unit that replaces the Swordsman. It has higher combat strength and can build roads and forts.
All Roads Lead to Rome: Civilization ability that provides bonus gold for trade routes passing through Roman roads and allows for faster movement of units on Roman roads.
Bath: Unique improvement that provides amenities, housing, and loyalty to adjacent tiles.

Russia

Really defendable and if played in snow/tundra, unstoppable even.

Peter Alexeyevich: Leader ability that grants bonus science and culture when founding a city on a foreign continent or in tundra/snow terrain.
Cossack: Unique cavalry unit that has higher combat strength when fighting in or adjacent to Russian territory.
Mother Russia: Civilization ability that provides bonus production to tundra tiles and allows for faster border expansion in tundra/snow terrain.
Lavra: Unique district that replaces the Holy Site. It provides bonus faith based on adjacent resources.

Korea

Massive construction boost civilization. Three Kingdoms is also really powerful when Germany is on the map.

Seondeok: Leader ability that grants bonus science when constructing specialty districts and allows for faster construction of specialty districts in cities with governors.
Hwacha: Unique ranged unit that replaces the Crossbowman. It has lower combat strength but can attack multiple units at once.
Three Kingdoms: Civilization ability that provides additional envoys when a city-state is conquered by another civilization.
Seowon: Unique district that replaces the Campus. It provides additional science based on adjacent mines.

A Tier

Arabia: Saladin, Mamluk, The Last Prophet, Madrasa
Byzantium: Basil II, Dromon, Taxis, Hippodrome
Dutch: Wilhelmina, De Zeven Provinciën, Grote Rivieren, Polder
Ethiopia: Menelik II, Oromo Cavalry, Aksumite Legacy, Rock-Hewn Church
Greece: Pericles, Hoplite, Plato’s Republic, Acropolis
Gran Colombia: Simón Bolívar, Llanero, Ejército Patriota, Hacienda
Hungary: Matthias Corvinus, Huszár, Pearl of the Danube, Thermal Bath
Inca: Pachacuti, Warak’aq, Mit’a, Terrace Farm
Indonesia: Gitarja, Jong, Great Nusantara, Kampung
Macedon: Alexander the Great, Hypaspist, Hellenistic Fusion, Basilikoi Paides
Maori: Kupe, Toa, Mana, Marae
Sumerian: Gilgamesh, War-Cart, Epic Quest, Ziggurat

B Tier

America: Teddy Roosevelt, P-51 Mustang, Founding Fathers, Film Studio
Babylon: Hammurabi, Sabum Kibittum, Enuma Anu Enlil, Palgum
Brazil: Pedro II, Minas Geraes, Amazon, Street Carnival, Copacabana
England: Victoria, Sea Dog, British Museum and Workshop of the World, Royal Navy Dockyard
Kongo: Mvemba a Nzinga, Ngao Mbeba, Nkisi, Mbanza
Mali: Mansa Musa, Mandekalu Cavalry, Songs of the Jeli, Suguba
Mongolia: Genghis Khan, Keshig, Örtöö, Ordu
Zulu: Shaka, Impi, Isibongo, Ikanda