Every Civilization game gives players a tough choice: picking a leader to guide their civ to victory. Luckily, with Civilization 7, players don’t have to stick to just one playstyle. The highly customizable strategy gameplay Civilization 7 offers means that no two playthroughs are ever alike. Victory in Civ 7 isn’t solely about rapid territorial expansion; with a diverse roster of leaders, players have endless opportunities to shape their paths to success. With so many options to choose from, picking the right leader can make all the difference.
Selecting a leader involves strategic thinking to reshape history and achieve potential Culture, Military, Science, and Economic Victories. And like most Victories, a correctly chosen leader can make a Cultural Victory a breeze. Therefore, players looking to dominate their maps through culture, diplomacy, and the arts should not overlook Catherine the Great. Known for championing the arts, Catherine’s real-life endeavors seeped into her avatar in Civ 7. With ideal buffs and empire-building potential, Catherine the Great makes a great choice for players hoping to score a Cultural Victory.
Civilization 7: The Unwritten Rules of Achieving a Cultural Victory Explained
Civilization 7’s victory types have gone through a bit of a rework, and that means there are a whole new set of guidelines for players to follow.
Why Catherine the Great Excels at Achieving a Cultural Victory
For Catherine the Great, culture isn’t simply a path to victory but rather a statement of influence. In Civilization 7, Catherine the Great stands out from other leaders by offering a unique approach to the Cultural Victory. She achieves this by blending the power of her abilities with ideal settlements.
Catherine the Great’s Culture-Producing Ability Explained
Catherine the Great possesses a Star of the North ability that makes her one of the most efficient culture-generating leaders in the game. With the Star of the North, players get +2 culture per Age with every displayed Great Work. Buildings with Great Work slots receive an extra slot, maximizing the number of masterpieces that players can house. Additionally, since Catherine’s starting bias is Tundra areas, players who settle their Catherine-led cities in those icy tiles gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn. Players looking to maximize Catherine’s abilities should focus on gathering Great Works, Theater Districts, and relics for a Cultural Victory in Civilization 7.
Catherine the Great: A Flexible Leader in Civilization 7
Civilization 7’s leadership system caused a lot of buzz when it was first announced. Breaking away from Civilization’s long-time fixed leader-nation system, players can customize which leader will guide their chosen civ toward Victory. Civ 7 Ages have been streamlined to three per playthrough to enhance accessibility for new players. Although a controversial choice, this freedom allows players seeking a Cultural Victory to carefully construct a strategy to win with Catherine the Great as their leader.
With Civilization 7’s new leadership system, Catherine the Great can lead different civilizations other than Russia. While it may be tempting to match her up with one of the many new options, there are some civilizations that make the most out of Culture like Catherine. Some civilizations, although not culturally inclined, might even be a good idea to round out Catherine’s early-game military weaknesses.
|
Civilization |
Age |
Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Rome |
Antiquity |
Playing as Rome in the Antiquity Age grants the Twelve Tables ability. This provides +1 Culture for Districts located in the Capital. This also applies to City Centers in Towns. Playing as Rome early on can unlock Legions, a military unit that gains +2 Combat Strength for each tradition in a government. This can shield Catherine the Great early on from militaristic vulnerabilities against more hostile leaders. |
|
Norman |
Exploration |
Playing as Rome in the Antiquity Age unlocks the Norman civ. Going for such a strong military presence early in the game lets players focus on building Norman infrastructure during this phase, such as Baileys, which yield +4 culture. |
|
Russia |
Modern |
Players who bring Catherine the Great home are in for a sure-fire Cultural Victory. The Russian civilization has a unique ability called Prosveshchenie, which brings increased Cultural gain to Urban Districts in Cities. Additionally, it helps yield extra Science on Tundra tiles. |
Many leaders in Civ 7 balance out different challenges throughout the game with different buffs and abilities. But for players aiming to increase their chances at a Cultural Victory, Catherine the Great is their best bet. Unlike other culture-focused leaders, she gains both cultural and scientific advantages, allowing her to stay competitive in technology while securing a dominant cultural lead. Players aiming for a Cultural Victory can definitely find a rewarding gameplay experience with Catherine at the helm.
Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Released
-
February 11, 2025