Civilization Six DLC Guide: Which DLCs Include Which Civilizations?

Introduction

Civilization Six, the latest installment in the legendary turn-based strategy series, continues to captivate players worldwide with its engaging gameplay, deep strategic layers, and the compelling ability to build empires that stand the test of time. A significant factor contributing to the game’s longevity and replayability is the wealth of downloadable content, or DLC, that has been released since its initial launch. These DLC packs not only introduce new gameplay mechanics and scenarios but, most importantly for many players, add a diverse roster of new civilizations to command.

Understanding which DLC contains which civilization is crucial for players looking to expand their Civ Six experience. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran seeking to master new strategies or a newcomer eager to explore different playstyles, knowing the civilization lineup of each DLC pack is essential for making informed purchasing decisions. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the civilizations included in each major Civilization Six DLC, allowing you to tailor your game to your preferred style of empire building and choose the expansions that will most enhance your Civ Six journey. From conquering the world through military might to achieving cultural dominance or scientific breakthroughs, the right civilization can make all the difference, and the right DLC unlocks those possibilities.

Civilizations from the Base Game

Before diving into the world of DLC, it’s important to acknowledge the civilizations available in the base version of Civilization Six. These initial offerings provided a strong foundation for the game, featuring iconic leaders and unique abilities that set the stage for the expansions to come. While we won’t be focusing on them, here are some of the default civilizations and leaders you might already be familiar with: America led by Theodore Roosevelt, England led by Queen Victoria, China led by Qin Shi Huang, Egypt led by Cleopatra, France led by Catherine de Medici, Germany led by Frederick Barbarossa, Greece led by Pericles, India led by Gandhi, Japan led by Hojo Tokimune, Rome led by Trajan, and Scythia led by Tomyris. This article, however, is all about the exciting civilizations that came with the Civilization Six DLCs.

Gathering Storm Expansion Civilizations

The Gathering Storm expansion is a significant addition to Civilization Six, introducing dynamic environmental effects like climate change and natural disasters that add a new layer of challenge and realism to the game. Beyond these sweeping gameplay changes, Gathering Storm also introduces a diverse set of civilizations, each with unique strengths and playstyles:

• Canada (Wilfrid Laurier): Canada excels in cold environments and can build farms on tundra tiles. Laurier’s ability further boosts production in cities with high appeal, making Canada a strong choice for peacefully developing a large and prosperous empire even in harsh landscapes.
• Hungary (Matthias Corvinus): Hungary focuses on city-states and military strength. Matthias Corvinus gains combat bonuses when fighting alongside levied city-state units, and his unique unit, the Huszar, provides excellent mobility and combat power. Hungary is a formidable choice for players who enjoy dominating through strategic alliances and military prowess.
• The Inca (Pachacuti): The Inca thrive in mountainous terrain, allowing them to build farms on hills and gain bonuses from mountain adjacency. Pachacuti’s ability further enhances the Inca’s production and food output, making them a strong choice for building a tall and prosperous empire nestled in the Andes.
• Mali (Mansa Musa): Mali excels in economic development, particularly through trade and faith generation. Mansa Musa gains gold for international trade routes and can build unique Suguba districts that provide significant bonuses to gold and faith. Mali is a great civilization for players who enjoy generating vast wealth and spreading their religion across the world.
• The Maori (Kupe): The Maori begin the game at sea and receive bonuses to sailing and naval exploration. Kupe’s ability allows the Maori to gain culture and science from settling new cities, encouraging them to explore and expand rapidly. The Maori are ideal for players who enjoy a unique start and a strong focus on naval power and cultural development.
• Sweden (Kristina): Sweden focuses on cultural and diplomatic victories. Kristina’s ability grants bonus Great People points, and Sweden’s unique building, the Open-Air Museum, generates culture and tourism. Sweden is a powerful choice for players who aim to achieve cultural dominance and influence the world through diplomacy.
• Phoenicia (Dido): Phoenicia is a naval and trade power that can move its capital to any city on the coast. Dido’s ability boosts production in coastal cities and grants bonuses to naval units, making Phoenicia a strong choice for players who enjoy dominating the seas and establishing a vast trading network.

In short, the Gathering Storm civilizations focus on adapting to and leveraging the environment, whether that’s cold climates, mountains, or the open sea. This DLC introduces a blend of economic, cultural, and military powers, providing players with diverse strategic options.

Rise and Fall Expansion Civilizations

The Rise and Fall expansion introduces loyalty mechanics, governors, and dark ages, adding depth to empire management and providing new challenges and opportunities. This expansion brings a new set of civilizations that leverage these features in unique ways:

• Korea (Seondeok): Korea is a powerhouse of science and culture, receiving bonuses to science from mines and farms, and culture from governor promotions. Seondeok’s ability further enhances Korea’s scientific output, making them a formidable contender for a science victory. Korea is ideal for players who want to outpace their opponents in technological advancement and cultural development.
• Scotland (Robert the Bruce): Scotland thrives in peaceful development, receiving bonuses to production and science when at peace. Robert the Bruce’s ability further boosts Scotland’s production and military strength when at war, making them a versatile civilization that can adapt to different situations.
• The Cree (Poundmaker): The Cree focus on trade and diplomacy, gaining bonuses to trade routes and receiving diplomatic favor from alliances. Poundmaker’s ability allows the Cree to claim tiles around trade routes, expanding their territory and influence. The Cree are a strong choice for players who enjoy building strong relationships with other civilizations and generating wealth through trade.
• The Zulu (Shaka): The Zulu are a military powerhouse, receiving combat bonuses for their corps and armies, and gaining culture from military victories. Shaka’s ability allows the Zulu to form corps and armies earlier than other civilizations, giving them a significant military advantage. The Zulu are a dominant force for players who enjoy conquering the world through military might.
• Georgia (Tamar): Georgia focuses on religion and culture, receiving bonuses to faith and culture from city-states and religious buildings. Tamar’s ability further enhances Georgia’s religious output, making them a strong choice for spreading their religion and achieving a cultural victory.
• The Mapuche (Lautaro): The Mapuche focus on military defense and cultural resistance, receiving combat bonuses when fighting in their territory and gaining culture from defeating enemy units. Lautaro’s ability allows the Mapuche to convert enemy units they defeat, adding them to their own army. The Mapuche are a defensive powerhouse, ideal for players who want to protect their territory and resist foreign influence.
• India (Chandragupta): India under Chandragupta focuses on military conquest and internal infrastructure, receiving bonuses to combat strength in border territories and infrastructure buildings in the capital. His unique unit, the Varu, is a powerful elephant unit that can trample enemies. India under Chandragupta is a strong choice for players who want to expand aggressively while maintaining a strong core economy.
• The Netherlands (Wilhelmina): The Netherlands excels in coastal development and economic growth, receiving bonuses to production from rivers and trade routes, and housing from floodplains. Wilhelmina’s ability further enhances the Netherlands’ economic output and diplomatic power, making them a strong choice for building a prosperous empire and influencing international affairs.

Overall, the Rise and Fall civilizations bring a variety of playstyles centered on reacting to world events, maintaining stability, and capitalizing on opportunities. They focus on both internal strength and external interaction, making them dynamic and engaging choices.

New Frontier Pass Civilizations

The New Frontier Pass is a season pass that introduces a series of smaller DLC packs, each containing new civilizations, leaders, and game modes. These packs offer a constant stream of fresh content, keeping the game exciting and diverse.

Maya & Gran Colombia Pack

• Maya (Lady Six Sky): The Maya excel in early-game planning and city placement, receiving bonuses for settling near fresh water and for having well-planned cities. Lady Six Sky’s ability further enhances the Maya’s early-game advantage, making them a strong choice for players who want to establish a dominant presence early on.
• Gran Colombia (Simón Bolívar): Gran Colombia focuses on military expansion and economic development, receiving bonuses to movement for their units and generating great generals from their unique units. Simón Bolívar’s ability further enhances Gran Colombia’s military strength and expansion capabilities, making them a formidable force for domination.

Ethiopia Pack

• Ethiopia (Menelik II): Ethiopia focuses on faith generation and scientific development, receiving bonuses to faith from cities founded on hills and science from faith output. Menelik II’s ability further enhances Ethiopia’s faith and science output, making them a strong choice for achieving a religious or scientific victory.

Byzantium & Gaul Pack

• Byzantium (Basil II): Byzantium focuses on religious warfare and cultural dominance, receiving bonuses to combat strength for religious units and culture from religious conversions. Basil II’s ability further enhances Byzantium’s military and cultural power, making them a formidable force for spreading their religion and conquering the world.
• Gaul (Ambiorix): Gaul focuses on military strength and economic development, receiving bonuses to production from mines and combat strength when fighting in their territory. Ambiorix’s ability further enhances Gaul’s military power and economic output, making them a strong choice for dominating through military might and economic prosperity.

Babylon Pack

• Babylon (Hammurabi): Babylon focuses on scientific development and early-game technological advantages, receiving bonus science but suffering from eurekas. Hammurabi’s ability grants free technologies upon establishing specific districts. This makes Babylon a highly aggressive civ, rushing specific techs to gain advantages.

Vietnam & Kublai Khan Pack

• Vietnam (Lady Trieu): Vietnam thrives in forested and marshy terrain, receiving combat bonuses when fighting in these environments and gaining culture from districts built in these tiles. Lady Trieu’s ability further enhances Vietnam’s defensive capabilities and cultural output, making them a strong choice for building a resilient empire in challenging environments.
• Kublai Khan (Alternate Leader – China or Mongolia): Kublai Khan is a unique alternate leader who can lead either China or Mongolia. He focuses on economic and diplomatic strength, receiving bonuses to trade routes and diplomatic favor from trade agreements. This offers unique strategic possibilities depending on which civilization he leads, highlighting the versatility and adaptability of this character. Kublai Khan provides a very different playstyle than the default leaders.

Portugal Pack

• Portugal (João III): Portugal focuses on naval trade and exploration, receiving bonuses to naval units and trade routes, and gaining gold from international trade. João III’s ability further enhances Portugal’s economic power and naval dominance, making them a strong choice for players who enjoy exploring the world and building a vast trading empire.

Leader Pass Civilizations

The Leader Pass introduces new leaders to existing civilizations, offering players the opportunity to experience familiar civilizations in entirely new ways. These new leaders often bring unique abilities and playstyles, revitalizing the Civilization Six experience and providing fresh strategic challenges.

Great Negotiators Pack

• USA (Abraham Lincoln): Lincoln is a skilled politician known for his diplomatic prowess.
• England (Queen Elizabeth I): This version of England excels at building cities and controlling the seas.
• Congo (Nzinga Mbande): Nzinga Mbande can build cities anywhere near freshwater.

Great Commanders Pack

• China (Qin Shi Huang the Unifier): This leader focuses on military conquest.
• Mongolia (Genghis Khan): This leader focuses on aggressive expansion.
• Japan (Oda Nobunaga): This leader is known for their expertise in military strategy.

Rulers of China Pack

• China (Yongle): Known for trade and building wonders.
• China (Wu Zetian): Known for espionage and manipulating the world.
• China (Qin Shi Huang): A different Qin Shi Huang more focused on science

Rulers of the Sahara Pack

• Egypt (Ramesses II): Focused on building districts and wonders.
• Mali (Sundiata Keita): Generating gold and building cities around rivers.
• Nubia (Queen Amanitore): Focues on expanding Nubia rapidly

Great Builders Pack

• Rome (Trajan): Boosts the infrastructure of Rome.
• Korea (Sejong): Build cities and districts efficiently.
• Peru (Pachacuti): A powerful resource and money leader.

Rulers of England Pack

• England (Eleanor of Aquitaine): Can take control of different civilizations in the world.
• England (Victoria): Strong military unit.
• Norway (Harald Hardrada): Harald is a conquerer looking to take control of cities.

Standalone Civilization Packs

In addition to the larger expansions and season passes, some civilizations have been released as individual packs.

• Poland (Jadwiga): Poland focuses on religion and culture, receiving bonuses to faith and culture from relics and holy sites. Jadwiga’s ability further enhances Poland’s religious and cultural output, making them a strong choice for achieving a religious or cultural victory.
• Australia (John Curtin): Australia thrives in coastal development and resource management, receiving bonuses to production in coastal cities and from appeal. John Curtin’s ability further enhances Australia’s economic output and military strength, making them a strong choice for building a prosperous empire and defending their territory.
• Macedon (Alexander the Great): Macedon is a military powerhouse, receiving combat bonuses for their units and generating great generals from military victories. Alexander the Great’s ability further enhances Macedon’s military strength and expansion capabilities, making them a formidable force for domination.
• Persia (Cyrus): Persia focuses on trade and internal infrastructure, receiving bonuses to trade routes and internal buildings. Cyrus’s ability enhances Persia’s happiness.

Civilization Six DLC and Civilization Chart

Choosing the Right DLC

Selecting the right Civilization Six DLC depends on your preferred playstyle and the types of civilizations you find most appealing. If you enjoy a dynamic and challenging environment with climate change and natural disasters, Gathering Storm is a must-have. For players who like managing loyalty, governors, and dark ages, Rise and Fall offers a compelling experience. The New Frontier Pass provides a constant stream of new content, while standalone civilization packs allow you to pick and choose individual civilizations that pique your interest.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which DLC to purchase is to consider your favorite civilizations and game mechanics. If you prefer peaceful development, consider civilizations like Canada or the Netherlands. For players who enjoy military conquest, the Zulu or Macedon might be ideal choices. And if you’re drawn to cultural or religious victories, civilizations like Sweden or Poland could be a perfect fit. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for sales and bundles, which can often offer significant savings on multiple DLC packs.

Conclusion

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the civilizations included in each major Civilization Six DLC, empowering you to make informed purchasing decisions and tailor your game to your preferred playstyle. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the series, understanding the civilization lineup of each DLC pack is crucial for maximizing your Civ Six experience. As Firaxis continues to release new content, be sure to check back for updates and additions to this guide, ensuring that you always have the latest information on the exciting world of Civilization Six DLC. The world awaits, ready to be shaped by your civilization. Now, go forth and conquer, explore, and build the ultimate empire!