Civilization 7 takes the culture mechanics of the previous game and expands upon them so much so that they become almost unrecognizable. There isn’t a religious win condition in the seventh iteration of the Civilization franchise anymore, it’s all a part of the culture victory condition instead.
During the exploration age, the culture legacy path, Toshakhana, asks the player to collect relics and display them in their empire. Getting relics as soon as possible through religious activity is key to completing this legacy path.
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What Are Relics in Civ 7?
Relics are great works that players can obtain in the exploration age. They are an essential part of the culture legacy path but become mostly irrelevant after the exploration age is over except for some carry-on bonuses from completing the legacy path.
During this age, they grant +2 Culture and +2 Happiness to the settlement they are placed inside. This isn’t a massive boost, but it is a welcome one nonetheless. Relics can only be housed within temples, buildings which can be built in both cities and towns. They can also be placed inside certain world wonders.
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How to Obtain Relics in Civ 7
Maximizing the relics that you obtain in Civ 7 is a complex process in some ways, but quite simple in others. The culture legacy path requires the player to obtain and display 9 relics in their empire. Here are all the ways to obtain relics in the game:
- Reliquary Belief: When you first establish your religion, you’ll need to choose a reliquary belief that becomes the basis of your relic-obtaining methodology. There are different reliquary beliefs that you can choose, each granting the player relics based on different things. Choose the one that fits your needs the best. But be careful, there isn’t any method of choosing a new belief after you’ve already locked it in.
- Suzerain Bonus: City states with a culture lean can grant the player a bonus which gives them a relic when they become their Suzerain.
- Narrative Events: Some narrative events and objectives will give the player rewards in the form of relics when completed.
- House of Wisdom: The house of wisdom world wonder grants the player three relic slots and three relics when completed.
-
Civic Research Reward: There are five relics available for the player to obtain through civics and a civic unique to the Hawaiian civilization that grants two relics.
- Society Mastery
- Imperialism Mastery
- Sovereignty Mastery
- Social Class Mastery
- Theology
- Unique Hawaiian Civic: He’e nalu
Best Reliquary Belief in Civ 7
There are eight Reliquary Beliefs that players can choose from when they establish a religion. If someone else in the lobby establishes a religion before you, you’ll lose one of the beliefs to them. Of the eight beliefs available, players should choose the one most suited to their current situation as this belief will be their main method of obtaining relics.
|
Reliquary Belief |
Tier |
Effect |
Best Situation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Icons |
D |
+2 Relic for first-time conversion of a City-State. |
Only pick if there are a lot of city states already on the map. |
|
Brahmanism |
S |
+2 Relics for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s Capital city. |
Great no matter the situation. |
|
Reliquaries |
A |
+1 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement with a Temple or Altar. |
Good pick if other civilizations have started spreading religion. |
|
Apostolism |
B |
+2 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement with a Wonder from any age. |
Only take if other civilizations have a lot of progress in the antiquity age civic legacy path. |
|
Evangelism |
A |
+1 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement in Distant Lands that is not a City-State. |
Good choice if two or more civilizations are located in distant lands. |
|
Charoen |
C |
+2 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement producing Treasure Fleets. |
Highly situational pick. Only pick if you’re sure that other civilizations will focus on the economic legacy path. |
|
Lay Followers |
C |
+1 Relic for +1 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement with at least 10 Rural Population. |
Okay pick if none of the great ones are available. |
|
Ecclesiasticism |
C |
+1 Relic for +1 Relic for first-time conversion of another Civilization’s settlement with at least 10 Urban Population. |
Okay pick if none of the great ones are available. |
How to Increase Relic Slots in Civ 7
Your cities and towns will have one or no slots for relics when you first start the exploration age. However, there’s no need to worry as the method for obtaining relic slots within Civ 7 is quite easy. The game gives the player one slot for each temple that they build, and one slot for the palace.
If you make a temple in each of your settlements, you will be able to house the nine required relics quite easily. If you want to go further than just nine for the extra bonus, you can go above the settlement limit and make more temples, or build certain world wonders that grant extra relic slots:
- El Escorial: +3 relic slots
- Hale o Keawe: +3 relic slots
- House of Wisdom: +3 relic slots
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Released
-
February 11, 2025