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Steam trading card large Catherine de Medici (Civ6)

Catherine de Medici

Leaders are symbolic representatives of the playable civilizations in Civilization VI. They are based on historical figures who accomplished great things or successfully led their people through periods of adversity.

Each leader has both a unique ability (which gives him or her special bonuses and gameplay advantages) and an agenda (which affects how he or she plays the game and interacts with other players when controlled by the AI). Some leaders' unique abilities allow them to unlock unique units, buildings or tile improvements after researching specific technologies or civics.

In vanilla Civilization VI, there is one leader for each civilization (except the Greeks). The Rise and Fall expansion adds Chandragupta as an Indian leader, and the Gathering Storm expansion adds Eleanor of Aquitaine as an English and French leader. As of Gathering Storm, the total number of leaders in the game is 45.

List of Leaders

Leader Civilization Leader Ability Leader Agenda
Alexander Alexander[1] Macedonian Macedonian[1] To the World's End

Macedonian cities never incur war weariness. All military units heal completely when a city with a Wonder is captured. Gain the Hetairoi unique unit with Horseback Riding.

Short Life of Glory

Likes civilizations at war with powers other than Macedon. Dislikes civilizations at peace. GS-Only Grievances Grievances Grievances against this leader decay at twice the usual rate.

Amanitore Amanitore[2] Nubian Nubian[2] Kandake of Meroë

+20% Production Production towards districts, increasing to +40% Production Production if there's a Nubian Pyramid adjacent to the City Center.

City Planner

Tries to keep the maximum number of districts in each city, and likes those that do the same. Dislikes civilizations that don't build as many districts as possible in their cities.

Catherine de Medici Catherine de Medici French French Catherine's Flying Squadron

Has an extra level of Visibility Diplomatic Visibility with every civilization she's met. Receives a free Spy (and extra Spy capacity) with Castles. All Spies start with a free promotion.

Black Queen

Gains as many Spies and as much Visibility Diplomatic Visibility as possible, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations that ignore these espionage activities.

Chandragupta Chandragupta R&F-Only Indian Indian Arthashastra

Can declare a War of Territorial Expansion with Military Training, instead of Mobilization. +2 Movement Movement Movement and +5 Strength Combat Strength for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a War of Territorial Expansion.

Maurya Empire

Dislikes civilizations that have cities close to his borders, and will try to conquer them. Likes civilizations that are not his neighbors.

Cleopatra Cleopatra Egyptian Egyptian Mediterranean's Bride

International Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes grant +4 Gold Gold. Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes sent to Egypt from other civilizations provide +2 Food Food for them and +2 Gold Gold for Egypt. R&F-Only International Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes grant +4 Gold Gold. Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes sent to Egypt from other civilizations provide +2 Food Food for them and +2 Gold Gold for Egypt. +100% Alliance Points from trading with allies.

Queen of the Nile

Likes civilizations with powerful militaries, and will try to ally with them to avoid conflict. Dislikes civilizations with weak militaries.

Cyrus Cyrus[1] Persian Persian[1] Fall of Babylon

+2 Movement Movement Movement for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a Surprise War. Surprise Wars count as Formal Wars for the purposes of warmongering penalties and war weariness. Occupied cities have no penalties to their yields.

R&F-Only +2 Movement Movement Movement for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a Surprise War. Surprise Wars count as Formal Wars for the purposes of warmongering penalties and war weariness. Occupied cities have no penalties to their yields. +5 Loyalty per turn in occupied cities with a garrisoned unit.

GS-Only +2 Movement Movement Movement for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a Surprise War. Occupied cities have no penalties to their yields. +5 Loyalty per turn in occupied cities with a garrisoned unit. Declaring a Surprise War only counts as a Formal War for the purpose of warmongering and Grievances Grievances Grievances.

Opportunist

Will often declare Surprise Wars, and likes civilizations that do the same. Dislikes civilizations that don't declare Surprise Wars.

Dido Dido GS-Only Phoenician Phoenician GS-Only Founder of Carthage

Cities with a Cothon gain the unique Move Capital project, which moves the Phoenician Capital Capital capital to that city. Gains +1 Trade Route Trade Route Trade Route capacity after building the Government Plaza or any Government Plaza building. +50% Production Production towards districts in the city with the Government Plaza.

Sicilian Wars

Wants to settle coastal cities, and likes civilizations that settle inland. Dislikes civilizations with many coastal cities.

Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine GS-Only English English

French French

Court of Love

Each Great Work in her cities causes foreign cities within 9 tiles to lose 1 Loyalty per turn. Any foreign city that leaves its civilization due to loss of Loyalty and is receiving the most Loyalty pressure from Eleanor instantly joins her empire, instead of becoming a Free City.

Angevin Empire

Builds up the Citizen Population of her cities, and likes those whose nearby cities also have a high Citizen Population. Dislikes civilizations whose nearby cities have low Citizen Population.

Frederick Barbarossa Frederick Barbarossa German German Holy Roman Emperor

Gain an additional Military policy slot in all Governments. All units gain +7 Strength Combat Strength when attacking city-states.

Iron Crown

Will try to conquer as many city-states as possible, and likes those who do not associate with them. Dislikes Suzerains of city-states, or civilizations that have conquered city-states.

Gandhi Gandhi Indian Indian Satyagraha

+5 Faith Faith for each met civilization (including India) that has founded a Religion and is not at war. Enemies receive double war weariness from fighting against Gandhi.

Peacekeeper

Never declares wars for which he can be branded a warmonger, and likes peaceful civilizations. Heavily dislikes warmongers.

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan R&F-Only Mongolian Mongolian R&F-Only Mongol Horde

All cavalry class units gain +3 Strength Combat Strength and have a chance to capture defeated cavalry class enemy units.

Horse Lord

Builds a strong cavalry force, and likes civilizations that don't compete in cavalry. Dislikes those who rival him in cavalry strength.

Gilgamesh Gilgamesh Sumerian Sumerian Adventures of Enkidu

May declare war on anyone at war with his allies without incurring warmonger penalties. When at war with a common foe, Sumerian and allied units share pillage rewards and combat experience if within 5 tiles of each other.

R&F-Only May declare war on anyone at war with his allies without incurring warmonger penalties. When at war with a common foe, Sumerian and allied units share pillage rewards and combat experience if within 5 tiles of each other. Earn Alliance Points per-turn for being at war with a common foe.

Ally of Enkidu

Is easy to befriend, and likes civilizations who are his Declared Friends. Dislikes anyone denouncing or attacking his friends.

Gitarja Gitarja[3] Indonesian Indonesian[3] Exalted Goddess of the Three Worlds

May purchase naval units with Faith Faith. Religious units pay no movement cost to embark or disembark. City Centers adjacent to Coast or Lake tiles gain +2 Faith Faith.

Archipelagic State

Likes civilizations that avoid having cities on small landmasses. Dislikes those who have numerous cities on such islands.

Gorgo Gorgo Greek Greek Thermopylae

Killing a unit provides Culture Culture equal to 50% of its Strength Combat Strength.

With Your Shield Or On It

Never gives up anything in a peace deal, and likes warmongers that match this approach. Dislikes those who have capitulated in a peace treaty or that have never gone to war. GS-Only Grievances Grievances Grievances against this leader decay at twice the usual rate.

Harald Hardrada Harald Hardrada Norwegian Norwegian Thunderbolt of the North

+50% Production Production toward naval melee units. All naval melee units gain the ability to perform Coastal Raids. Gain the Viking Longship unique unit with Sailing.

GS-Only +50% Production Production toward naval melee units. All naval melee units gain the ability to perform Coastal Raids. Gain the Viking Longship unique unit with Sailing. Receive Science Science in addition to Gold Gold when pillaging and coastal raiding Mines and Culture Culture in addition to Faith Faith when pillaging and coastal raiding Quarries, Pastures, Plantations, and Camps.

Last Viking King

Builds a strong navy, and likes civilizations that do the same. Dislikes civilizations that neglect their navies.

Hojo Tokimune Hojo Tokimune Japanese Japanese Divine Wind

Land units in Coastal tiles and naval units in Coast tiles receive +5 Strength Combat Strength. Build Encampment, Holy Site and Theater Square districts in half the time.

GS-Only Land units in Coastal tiles and naval units in Coast tiles receive +5 Strength Combat Strength. Build Encampment, Holy Site and Theater Square districts in half the time. Districts, improvements and units are immune to damage from Hurricanes. +100% damage from Hurricanes in Japanese territory to civilizations at war with Japan.

Bushido

Likes civilizations that have both a strong military and strong Faith Faith or Culture Culture outputs. Dislikes civilizations that are strong in military but weak in Faith Faith or Culture Culture.

Jadwiga Jadwiga[4] Polish Polish[4] Lithuanian Union

Taking territory from a foreign city with a Culture Bomb converts it to Poland's religion. Relic Relics provide +4 Gold Gold, +2 Culture Culture and +2 Faith Faith. Holy Sites receive a +1 adjacency bonus from districts, instead of +0.5.

Saint

Tries to build up Faith Faith, and likes those that also focus on Faith Faith. Dislikes civilizations with a weak Faith Faith output.Faith Faith.

Jayavarman VII Jayavarman VII[3] Khmer Khmer[3] Monasteries of the King

Holy Sites provide +2 Food Food and +1 Housing Housing Housing if adjacent to a river. Building a Holy Site triggers a Culture Bomb, claiming surrounding tiles.

An End to Suffering

Likes civilizations with many Holy Sites and a high average city Citizen Population. Dislikes civilizations lacking in either of these areas.

John Curtin John Curtin[5] Australian Australian[5] Citadel of Civilization

+100% Production Production if they have either received a declaration of war in the past 10 turns or liberated a city in the past 20 turns.

GS-Only +100% Production Production if they have either received a declaration of war or liberated a city in the past 10 turns.

Perpetually on Guard

Forms Defensive Pacts with friends and likes civilizations that liberate cities. Dislikes civilizations that are occupying enemy cities.

Kristina Kristina GS-Only Swedish Swedish GS-Only Minerva of the North

Buildings with at least three Great Work slots and wonders with at least two Great Work slots are automatically themed when all slots are filled. Gains the Queen's Bibliotheque unique building in the Government Plaza.

Bibliophile

Tries to collect as many Great Works as possible, and likes those who leave them to her. Dislikes civilizations with many Great Works.

Kupe Kupe GS-Only Māori Māori GS-Only Kupe's Voyage

Starts the game in the Ocean. +2 Science Science and +2 Culture Culture per turn before the first city is settled. Their first settled city receives a free Builder and +1 Citizen Population. The Palace grants +3 Housing Housing Housing and +1 Amenities Amenities Amenity.

Kaitiakitanga

Tries to avoid contributing to climate change by not removing features, planting Woods, and founding National Parks, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations that show little concern for the environment.

Lautaro Lautaro R&F-Only Mapuche Mapuche R&F-Only Swift Hawk

Defeating an enemy unit within the borders of an enemy city causes that city to lose 20 Loyalty. Pillaging a tile within the borders of an enemy city causes that city to lose 5 Loyalty.

Spirit of Tucapel

Tries to mantain his cities loyal, and likes civilizations who do the same. Dislikes those that fail to mantain the loyalty of their people.

Mansa Musa Mansa Musa GS-Only Mali Mali GS-Only Sahel Merchants

International Trade Routes Trade Routes gain +1 Gold Gold for every flat Desert tile in the sending city. Entering a Golden Age permanently grants +1 Trade Routes Trade Route capacity.

Lord of the Mines

Tries to build up Gold Gold, and likes those that also focus on Gold Gold. Dislikes civilizations with a weak Gold Gold output.

Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus GS-Only Hungarian Hungarian GS-Only Raven King

Levied city-state units receive +2 Movement Movement Movement and +5 Strength Combat Strength, and can be upgraded at a 75% discount in Gold Gold or resources. Levying troops from a city-state grants 2 Envoy Envoy Envoys with that city-state. Gain the Black Army unique unit with Castles.

Raven Banner

Will often levy troops from city-states, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations that shun use of these mercenaries.

Montezuma Montezuma Aztec Aztec Gifts for the Tlatoani

Improved Luxury resources provide an Amenities Amenities Amenity to 2 extra cities. Military units receive +1 Strength Combat Strength for each different improved Luxury resource in Aztec territory.

Tlatoani

Likes civilizations who have the same Luxury resources as he does, and will try to collect every Luxury resource available. Dislikes those with Luxury resources he doesn't have.

Mvemba a Nzinga Mvemba a Nzinga Kongolese Kongolese Religious Convert

Can't build Holy Sites or found a religion, but receives all the beliefs of any religion that has established itself as Kongo's majority religion, not just the Follower beliefs. Building a Mbanza or Theater Square grants a free Apostle of the city's majority religion.

Enthusiastic Disciple

Likes civilizations that bring religion to the Kongo. Dislikes those who have founded a religion but not spread it to a Kongolese city.

Pachacuti Pachacuti GS-Only Incan Incan GS-Only Qhapaq Nañ

Domestic Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes gain +1 Food Food for every Mountain tile in the origin city. Gain the Qhapaq Ñan unique improvement with Foreign Trade.

Sapa Inca

Tries to settle near Mountains, and likes those who leave those areas to him. Dislikes civilizations that also settle near Mountains.

Pedro II Pedro II Brazilian Brazilian Magnanimous

Recruiting or patronizing a Great Person Great Person Great Person refunds 20% of their point cost.

Patron of the Arts

Will recruit as many Great Person Great Person Great People as possible, and likes civilizations that do not compete for Great Person Great Person Great People. Dislikes civilizations who take Great Person Great Person Great People from him.

Pericles Pericles Greek Greek Surrounded by Glory

+5% Culture Culture per city-state Greece has Suzerainty over.

Delian League

Likes civilizations that don't compete for city-state allegiance. Dislikes civilizations that are directly competing for city-state allegiance.

Peter Peter Russian Russian The Grand Embassy

Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes to more advanced civilizations grant Russia +1 Science Science for every three technologies that civilization is ahead of them, and +1 Culture Culture for every three civics.

Westernizer

Likes those that are ahead in civics and technologies. Dislikes backwards civilizations that are behind in civics and technologies.

Philip II Philip II Spanish Spanish El Escorial

All units receive +4 Strength Combat Strength against civilizations following a different Religion. Inquisitors have one extra use of their Remove Heresy ability.

GS-Only All units receive +4 Strength Combat Strength against civilizations following a different Religion. Inquisitors have one extra use of their Remove Heresy ability. Inquisitors eliminate 100% of the presence of other Religions.

Counter Reformer

Likes civilizations who follow the same Religion as him, and wants his cities to all follow the same Religion. Dislikes those who spread their Religion into his empire.

Poundmaker Poundmaker R&F-Only Cree Cree R&F-Only Favorable Terms

All Alliance types provide Shared Visibility. Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes grant +1 Food Food in the sending city and +1 Gold Gold in the receiving city per Camp or Pasture in the receiving city.

Iron Confederacy

Establishes as many Alliances as possible, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations that don't establish Alliances.

Qin Shi Huang Qin Shi Huang Chinese Chinese The First Emperor

Builders receive an additional build charge. Can spend Builder charges to complete 15% of the Production Production cost for Ancient and Classical wonders.

GS-Only Builders receive an additional build charge. Can spend Builder charges to complete 15% of the Production Production cost for Ancient and Classical wonders. Canals are unlocked with Masonry technology.

Wall of 10,000 Li

Builds wonders whenever possible, and likes civilizations that leave the wonders to him. Dislikes those with more wonders than him.

Robert the Bruce Robert the Bruce R&F-Only Scottish Scottish R&F-Only Bannockburn

Can declare a War of Liberation with Defensive Tactics, instead of Diplomatic Service. +100% Production Production and +2 Movement Movement Movement for all units for the next 10 turns after declaring a War of Liberation.

Flower of Scotland

Will never attack his neighboring civilizations unless they break a promise to him, and dislikes anyone waging war on them. Likes civilizations not at war with his neighbors.

Saladin Saladin Arabian Arabian Righteousness of the Faith

The Worship building for Arabia's Religion can be purchased at 10% of the usual Faith Faith cost, and grants Arabian cities with it +10% Science Science, Faith Faith, and Culture Culture.

Ayyubid Dynasty

Wants his Worship building in as many cities as possible, and likes civilizations with it. Dislikes civilizations following other Religions or waging war on followers of his Religion.

Seondeok Seondeok R&F-Only Korean Korean R&F-Only Hwarang

Cities with an established Governor receive +3% Culture Culture and +3% Science Science for each promotion that Governor has.

Cheomseongdae

Tries to build up Science Science, and likes those that also focus on Science Science. Dislikes civilizations with a weak Science Science output.

Shaka Shaka R&F-Only Zulu Zulu R&F-Only Amabutho

May form Corps with Mercenaries, instead of Nationalism, and Armies with Nationalism, instead of Mobilization. Corps and Armies gain an additional +5 Strength Combat Strength.

Horn, Chest, Loins

Forms as many Corps and Armies as possible, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations with few Corps and Armies.

Suleiman Suleiman GS-Only Ottoman Ottoman GS-Only Grand Vizier

Has access to a unique Governor, Ibrahim, the Grand Vizier. Gain the Janissary unique unit with Gunpowder.

Lawgiver

Tries to keep his cities happy and loyal, and likes those who do the same, especially if they have taken cities from other civilizations. Dislikes those who struggle with happiness and loyalty, or that own few conquered cities.

Tamar Tamar R&F-Only Georgian Georgian R&F-Only Glory of the World, Kingdom and Faith

+100% Faith Faith for the next 10 turns after declaring a Protectorate War. Each Envoy Envoy Envoy sent to a city-state of Georgia's majority Religion counts as two Envoy Envoy Envoys.

Narikala Fortress

Builds high-level walls around her cities and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations that don't fortify their cities.

Teddy Roosevelt Teddy Roosevelt American American Roosevelt Corollary

Units receive +5 Strength Combat Strength on their home continent. +1 Appeal to all tiles in a city with a National Park. Gain the Rough Rider unique unit with Rifling.

Big Stick Policy

Likes peaceful civilizations that have a city on his home continent. Dislikes civilizations starting wars on his continent.

Tomyris Tomyris Scythian Scythian Killer of Cyrus

All units receive +5 Strength Combat Strength when attacking wounded units, and heal up to 30 hit points after killing a unit.

Backstab Averse

Likes civilizations who are her Declared Friends. Dislikes civilizations who backstab their former allies and declare Surprise Wars.

Trajan Trajan Roman Roman Trajan's Column

All founded cities start with a free building in the City Center. (A Monument if the game is started in the Ancient Era)

Optimus Princeps

Tries to include as much territory as possible in his empire, and likes those who do the same. Dislikes civilizations with little territory.

Victoria Victoria English English Pax Britannica

Founding a city or building a Royal Navy Dockyard outside of their home continent grants a free melee unit in that city. Gain the Redcoat unique unit with Military Science.

GS-Only The first city founded on each continent other than their home continent grants a free melee unit in that city and +1 Trade Route Trade Route Trade Route capacity. Building a Royal Navy Dockyard grants a free naval unit in that city. Gain the Redcoat unique unit with Military Science.

Sun Never Sets

Likes civilizations who have a city on her home continent, and will try to expand to all continents. Dislikes civilizations on continents where she has no cities.

Wilfrid Laurier Wilfrid Laurier GS-Only Canadian Canadian GS-Only The Last Best West

Can build Farms on Tundra tiles, and on Tundra Hills tiles with Civil Engineering. Purchasing Snow, Snow Hills, Tundra Hills, and Tundra tiles is 50% cheaper. On Snow, Snow Hills, Tundra Hills, and Tundra tiles, +100% extraction rate of accumulated resources, Mines and Lumber Mills receive +1 extra Production Production and Camps receive +1 extra Food Food.

Canadian Expeditionary Force

Responds to Emergencies whenever possible, and likes civilizations who do the same. Dislikes those that ignore Emergencies.

Wilhelmina Wilhelmina R&F-Only Dutch Dutch R&F-Only Radio Oranje

Domestic Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes provide +1 Loyalty per turn for the starting city. Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes sent to or received from a foreign civilization grant +1 Culture Culture to the Netherlands.

Billionaire

Tries to have as many Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes as possible, and likes civilizations that Trade Route Trade Route trade with her cities. Dislikes those who refrain from sending Trade Route Trade Route Trade Routes to her cities.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Added in Persia and Macedon Civilization & Scenario Pack (28 March 2017).
  2. 2.0 2.1 Added in Nubia Civilization & Scenario Pack (27 July 2017).
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Added in Khmer and Indonesia Civilization & Scenario Pack (19 October 2017).
  4. 4.0 4.1 Added in Poland Civilization & Scenario Pack (20 December 2016).
  5. 5.0 5.1 Added in Australia Civilization & Scenario Pack (23 February 2017).

R&F-Only Added in the Rise and Fall expansion pack.

GS-Only Added in the Gathering Storm expansion pack.

Gallery

Civilization VI [edit]
Rise and FallGathering StormNew Frontier PassLeader Pass
Lists
Concepts
Miscellaneous
R&F-Only Added in the Rise and Fall expansion pack.
GS-Only Added in the Gathering Storm expansion pack.
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