Catherine the Great is one of the best leaders inCivilization 7for a Cultural Victory due to her Star of the North ability, which boosts Culture from Great Works and allows her to advance Technology research alongside Cultural growth. This will be a highlight of Catherine the Great’s campaign strategy, as a Cultural Victory hinges on strong Production (especially during the Antiquity Age), as well as Science to ensure access to the best Food, Production, and Culture buildings. To achieve the Cultural Victory,Catherine the Great’s best options are Greece in Antiquity, Norman in Exploration, and Russia in the Modern Age.
Each of these civilizations complements Catherine the Great’s ability and will allow her to take full advantage of both Culture and Science yields during each Age. TheCultural Victory inCiv 7includes the Wonders of the Ancient World, Toshakhana, and Geographic Society Legacy Paths, which Catherine will have no trouble completing in a timely fashion. With these civilizations,she will also be capable of developing a powerful defensive Army, and will have sufficient Influence to build alliances and become Suzerain of City-States. Overall, Catherine the Great is a well-roundedleader inCivilization 7who can easily achieve a Cultural Victory.
Catherine The Great Antiquity Age Civ: Greece
Leverage Greece’s Influence For City-State Bonuses
Catherine the Great can set up for the Wonders of the Ancient World Legacy Path with high Production output in the capital city and by leveraging Cultural City-States and other Wonder-boosting options to crank out Wonders quickly. To take full advantage of her unique ability,aim to acquire Codices (Antiquity Age Great Works) by befriending Science City-States, mastering Technologies, building the Nalanda Wonder, etc. Science will not be in short supply, assuming Greece’s capital is placed in Tundra. Consider strategic Settlements placed in Tundra throughout the entire campaign, as Russia will benefit greatly from these in the Modern Age.
The Eagle Banner Memento synergizes really well with Catherine the Great’s leader ability, increasing Science output based on the number of Great Works placed in buildings within a city’s limits.
The Greek empire has a ton of influence-boosting features, such as the Demokratia ability (+3 on the Palace), the Parthenon building, and the Logios Great People. These can only be acquired after building the Parthenon and Odeon in the same district to make the Acropolis.
Influence can be used in a variety of ways to increase Wonder production, such asleveraging Cultural City-States to acquire the Wonder Production bonusor proposing the Wonder Construction Endeavor to an ally who is not pursuing the Cultural Legacy Path or competing for the same Wonders. Take advantage of the Acropolis by building as many Wonders around it as possible.
Wonders
Oracle, Colosseum, Nalanda
In terms of Wonders,the Oracle is a must for Greece,while the Colosseum, Great Stele, Nalanda, Hanging Gardens, and Sanchi Stupa are all reasonable choices. Wonders can be constructed in multiple cities or focused all in one high-Production city like the capital. In pursuing the Cultural Legacy Path, Catherine’s settlement limit will be high, allowing her to build multiple Settlements and balance Towns vs. Cities based on specific needs. Building a defensive military presence is a good idea, and the Hoplite units are formidable in large numbers. Further, Greek Traditions will be useful in the coming Age.
Catherine The Great Exploration Age Civ: Norman
Norman’s Sokemon Unit & Donjon District Help Acquire Relics In Distant Lands
With the Wonders of the Ancient World Golden Age active, Amphitheaters will give Catherine the Great a boost to Culture output for the start of the Exploration Age.Researching the Piety Civic and establishing a Religion should be a priority, as the plan for this Age is to convert and/or establish Settlements inCiv 7’s Distant Landsand acquire Relics. There are multiple approaches that can be taken to spread Religion, with Evangelism awarding one Relic for every Settlement in the Distant Lands converted that isn’t a City-State. Catherine will have plenty of Relic slots available, each increasing Culture, and should aim to collect as many as possible.
White Tower, House of Wisdom
To do so, the Millenarianism belief can be utilized alongside Norman’s powerful Cavalry units (the Chevaler) to conquer opponent Settlements in the Distant Lands, while the Evangelism belief will help boost Culture even further. Settlement limit will be high as Catherine progresses through the Civic tree quickly; she should considersending out the Sokemon units, starting out Settlements with Medieval Walls, and constructing Donjon districts to take advantage of their Culture and Happiness yields.
Great Works can be lost without the proper space to display them, destroyed by natural disasters, or pillaged by invading Civs.
Catherine should also take advantage of Traditions, using the Familia Regis Tradition and previous Greek Traditions to fill Social Policies, receiving +2 Culture a piece. Utilize the Greek Traditions to befriend Culture City-States first and receive a free Relic, andbuild the House of Wisdom Wonder for three Relics. Be sure to fill all three Founder Beliefs if possible, as the Toshakhana Golden Age bonus will maintain their effects in the Modern Age.
Catherine The Great Modern Age Civ: Russia
Russia’s Unique Ability Boosts Culture & Science In City Districts
As Catherine starts the Modern Age, be sure to upgrade any Towns located in Tundra to Cities, as Russia’s Prosveshchenie ability benefits Tundra terrain. With sufficient Culture bonuses in place, Natural History should be quick to unlock, allowing Explorer creation early.The Russian Obschina improvementwill help bolster early Culture and Population growth as Catherine constructs Museums and the Hermitage Wonder to store her 15 Artifacts. Research Hegemony as soon as possible to unlock Antiquity Age ruins, and spend Gold on Explorer units if possible to allocate Production for Museum creation.
Hermitage
Constructing the Hermitage should be on the agenda for its Artifact slots, and Catherine should have ample area to build it in the original capital founded with Greece. It’s likely relationships with Civs in the Distant Lands are not great, so if wars break out,the Cossack units and Katyusha Rocket Launchersare powerful in combat and can take Settlements by storm with the proper planning. Be mindful of opponents' progress along the various Legacy Paths, and ensure that they don’t get ahold of precious Artifacts before she can. Also be mindful of espionage efforts to sabotage Catherine’s Artifact yields.
How Civ 7 Legacy Paths Work And Why They Will Change Gameplay Entirely
Civilization 7’s new Ages system includes Legacy Paths for a Culture, Science, Economic, and Military victory, and will change gameplay entirely.
Overall, Catherine the Great can achieve a Cultural Victory inCivilization 7by settling and developing on Tundra, utilizing Great Work yields through the effects of her special Star of the North ability, and by using the unique features of Greece, Norman, and Russia to achieve milestones along the Cultural Legacy path in each Age. Her Cultural strengths are bolstered throughout a campaign by Scientific progress, Military might, and her ability to leverage City-States early on. Catherine the Great thrives with Russia and can maximize Culture in the Modern Age with Tundra-based bonuses.
