Why the Maya Are Perfect for a Science Victory in Civilization 7’s Age of Antiquity

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One significant alteration in the longstanding formula of Civilization 7 lies in its revamped Age system, where each game is divided into three distinct phases. Each phase in Civilization 7’s three Ages comes with a unique set of Legacy Path objectives and a distinct roster of Civilizations, each equipped with Age-specific units and buildings that offer a unique touch. The Age of Antiquity stands as the initial and arguably most crucial Age in Civilization 7.

The initial phases in a game of Civilization significantly shape its ultimate outcome, implying that players must carefully capitalize on these early stages. The correct placement of settlements is crucial, followed by the strategic selection of research, civics, units, and buildings to steer the player towards one of the four victory paths in Civilization VI. However, even before the game begins, a vital choice presents itself: deciding which civilization to start with. For those aiming for a Science Victory, the Maya civilization might be an ideal pick.

In a Civilization match, the initial stages can set the tone for the entire game, so players should strive to maximize their opportunities during this time. Settlement placement is vital, and then the subsequent turns revolve around selecting the optimal research, civics, units, and buildings that will guide the player towards eventually achieving one of Civilization VI’s four victory conditions. But even before the game starts, a crucial choice must be made: selecting the starting civilization. If a Science Victory is the goal, then the Maya civilization could be an advantageous pick.

Civilization 7’s Maya Is The Perfect Choice for a Science-Focused Early Game

The Maya’s Abilities Give Players an Early Lead to a Science Victory

Similar to other civilizations during the Ancient Age, the Mayans possess distinctive units, structures, civics, and a potent Civil Ability primarily focused on enhancing Science production. To initiate, the Mayan’s Civil Ability offers 0.5 additional Science for every Palace tile adjacent to vegetation. This vegetated terrain encompasses rainforests, forests, Savannah woodlands, Taiga, and Sagebrush Steppe.

The distinctive K’uh Nah structure built by the Mayans incorporates vegetated rooftops. At its fundamental level, the K’uh Nah offers +3 Science, but when placed on a vegetated tile, it generates an extra +2 Science. If it’s near a Wonder, it boosts the Science yield by +1. If the K’uh Nah is connected to the Jalaw unique building, it forms the exclusive Uwaybil K’uh quarter. This unique Mayan quarter enables the settlement to acquire production equivalent to 5% of the research cost for completed technologies.

In this setup, scientific capabilities and structures are complemented by useful civics. The Chaac Rain civic boosts the science production of constructed Altars by +1 for each nearby vegetated tile it has, while the Calendar Round civic allows players to earn science that amounts to 10% of a civic’s total cost when it is fully constructed, and culture equal to 10% of a technology’s research cost upon completion.

Under a touch of good fortune, players can establish their camps amidst greenery, enjoying rewards as they pour in. With a bit more luck and strategic foresight, they can build structures and explore civics that propel them towards an early Science triumph in Civilization 7.

The Best Leaders for Maya’s Science-Focused Approach

It’s commonly acknowledged that the character representing Benjamin Franklin in Civilization 7 is exceptional when aiming for a Science victory, sharing this top spot with Confucius. The unique trait of Ben Franklin allows him to accrue Science from construction projects and additional Science for each active project he supports or initiates himself. These advantages make it easy for players to accumulate a significant amount of Science with minimal effort.

In contrast, Confucius exhibits a 25% growth rate expansion across all cities and adds +2 Science yield when Specialists are present. These traits make both Confucius and this leader ideal for the Mayan civilization during the Antiquity Age.

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2025-04-08 04:34