The Civilization VI tier list has shifted dramatically in 2025, with several balance patches and DLC content reshaping which civilizations dominate different victory paths. Whether you're chasing Science victories or crushing enemies through military might, picking the right civilization can make or break your campaign. Some civs excel at specific strategies while others remain versatile powerhouses across multiple victory types.
Table of Contents
- S-Tier Civilizations: The Absolute Best
- A-Tier: Strong and Reliable Picks
- B-Tier: Solid but Situational
- C-Tier: Underwhelming but Playable
- D-Tier: Avoid These
- Victory Condition Specialists
- Next Steps for Your Strategy
S-Tier Civilizations: The Absolute Best
| Civilization | Leader | Why S-Tier | Best Victory Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | Seondeok | +4 Science from Seowon districts, incredible campus adjacency bonuses | Science |
| Germany | Frederick Barbarossa | Extra district per city, Hansa production bonuses crush competition | Any |
| Russia | Peter | Massive territory with Lavra faith generation, extra Great Prophet points | Religious/Cultural |
| Australia | John Curtin | Combat bonuses when declaring war, +100% housing in coastal cities | Domination/Science |
Korea sits at the top because their Seowon replaces the Campus and provides ridiculous Science output. You'll finish the tech tree 20-30 turns before other civilizations. The Civilization 6 best civilizations 2025 meta heavily favors Science victories, making Korea nearly unbeatable.
Germany dominates through sheer versatility. Frederick's ability to build one extra district per city means you're always ahead in infrastructure. The Hansa district provides +2 Production for every adjacent Commercial Hub and Aqueduct, creating industrial powerhouses that fuel any victory condition.
A-Tier: Strong and Reliable Picks
These civilizations excel in specific areas while maintaining good overall performance:
Rome (Trajan) brings incredible early expansion through free roads and monuments in every city. Trajan's Column provides +1 Culture in all cities, accelerating your civic tree progression significantly. Roman Legions can build forts, giving you defensive advantages other civs can't match.
Japan (Hojo Tokimune) offers amazing district adjacency bonuses through perfect city planning. Electronics Factories provide +4 Production and +4 Culture, making Japan excellent for late-game pushes. Samurai units are devastating in the Medieval era.
Netherlands (Wilhelmina) controls rivers and coasts like no other civilization. River adjacency bonuses for Campuses, Theater Squares, and Industrial Zones create powerhouse cities. The Polder improvement provides +3 Food and +1 Production on marsh tiles.
B-Tier: Solid but Situational
| Civilization | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| England | Royal Navy Dockyard, Sea Dog units | Requires coastal maps |
| Brazil | Rainforest bonuses, Street Carnival | Map dependent |
| Greece | Acropolis culture bombs, Hoplite rush | Early game focused |
England under Victoria becomes unstoppable on archipelago maps but struggles on Pangaea. The Royal Navy Dockyard provides +2 Gold and +1 Great Admiral point, plus extra movement for naval units built there.
Brazil needs specific terrain to shine. Rainforest tiles provide +1 Appeal for Pedro's ability, while the Street Carnival district replaces Entertainment Complex with +2 Amenities and Great Person points.
C-Tier: Underwhelming but Playable
These civilizations have decent abilities but lack the power spike needed for higher difficulties:
France (Catherine de Medici) gets extra Diplomatic Visibility and Spy capacity, but espionage remains a secondary mechanic. The Chateau improvement provides decent Culture and Gold but requires specific terrain placement.
Egypt (Cleopatra) builds wonders faster but wonder building often slows down more important development. The Sphinx provides +2 Faith and +1 Culture, plus bonuses adjacent to wonders.
India (Gandhi) suffers from the happiness penalty early game. While the Stepwell improvement provides +1 Food and +1 Housing, it can't compete with stronger unique improvements.
D-Tier: Avoid These
Georgia (Tamar) has abilities that barely impact gameplay. The Khevsureti unit replaces Swordsman but comes too late to matter. Faith bonuses from dedications are negligible compared to other faith-generating civs.
Mapuche (Lautaro) gets combat bonuses against civilizations with higher Era Score, but this situational benefit rarely activates when you need it. The Chemamull improvement provides minimal Culture output.
Victory Condition Specialists
Different civilizations excel at specific Civ 6 victory conditions guide paths:
Science Victory Champions: Korea, Germany, Australia, Netherlands
Religious Victory: Russia, Spain, Arabia, Mali
Cultural Victory: Greece, France, Brazil, Egypt
Domination Victory: Australia, Rome, Zulu, Mongolia
For optimal Civ 6 strategy guide execution, match your civilization choice to your intended victory path. Korea's Science bonuses won't help much if you're planning Religious conquest, while Russia's Lavra faith generation becomes wasted on Science victories.
Next Steps for Your Strategy
Pick one S-tier or A-tier civilization from this Civilization VI tier list and focus on mastering their unique mechanics. Start with Germany or Korea for versatility, then branch out to more specialized civilizations once you understand the core gameplay loop. Check out our detailed civilization builds guide for specific city planning strategies and district placement optimization for each tier.