Summary
Civilization 6is home to well over 60 distinct world leaders, and over 80 if their alternate personas are included. Though some civilizations share leaders, each and every figurehead has their own unique set of leader bonuses and their own leader agenda which dictates how they act when controlled by an AI player. With over 60 leaders,Civilization 6’s rostercan feel a little crowded, but Firaxis has done a pretty consistent job of making each playable character stand out, though, of course, some aren’t as equal as others.
Civilization 6’s roster certainly has its favorites. From Abraham Lincoln’s unmatched melee attack strategies to Yongle’s ability to suddenly produce more food or faith at will,Civilization 6is home to plenty of overpowered leaders, just as it’s home to some unfortunately weak characters that are rarely picked nowadays. Though she isn’t as obviously overpowered, Eleanor of Aquitaine definitely belongs in the former camp, offering up a strategy unlike any other leader inCivilization 6.
Eleanor of Aquitaine Is One of Civilization 6’s Most Unique Leaders
Added to the game back in February 2019, Eleanor of Aquitaine was the firstCivilization 6leader who could lead two nations, those being England and France. Currently, Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of just two leaders that can be used with more than one nation, withChina and Mongolia’s Kublai Kahnbeing the only other. One of the wealthiest women of the 12th century, Eleanor of Aquitaine had a long and illustrious life, being the Duchess of Aquitaine, the Queen of France, and the Queen of England before dying at the impressive age of 82.
Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine at 15 years old andCivilization 6actually makes some subtle nods to this. When ruling France as Eleanor of Aquitaine, her character model is noticeably younger than when she rules for England, as her real-life counterpart didn’t becomeQueen Consort of Englanduntil she was 30. Though Eleanor’s garments stay the same no matter which Civilization she’s batting for, her headwear does change, with her English iteration wearing a crown of roses, while her French version wears a golden crown.
Another subtle touch on Firaxis' part is that each version of Eleanor has their own diplomacy screen background, with the French one standing in front of Poitiers Palace, while the English one stands in front of Fontevraud Abbey.
Eleanor of Aquitaine Thrives on Pacifist Tactics
But while her visual design and ability to control two different Civilizations are great, they aren’t Eleanor of Aquitaine’s most standout feature. Though players can technically go for any type of victory with Eleanor, she absolutely thrives in the hands of a complete pacifist. Eleanor was originally added toCivilization 6about a year after it received its2018 Rise and Fall DLC expansion, an expansion that added a new loyalty mechanic.
If players' populations become too unhappy, or certain decisions cause them to revolt, the players' cities will decrease their loyalty. If a city’s loyalty gets drastically low, the population can overthrow the government, ousting the player and resulting in a free city that anyone can claim.
What makes Eleanor of Aquitaine such a dangerous leader is her ability to manipulate this loyalty mechanic.Eleanor’s Leader Bonus, Court of Love, allows the player to decrease any nearby enemy-controlled cities' loyalty by one per turn. This affects any city within nine tiles, and this point value increases by one for every Great Work in Eleanor’s own cities.
Any other player-controlled city that loses all of its loyalty, and is within nine tiles of Eleanor, doesn’t become a free city but instead transfers rule directly over to Eleanor. Using this Leader Bonus efficiently can lead to some satisfyingly peaceful domination victories.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
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Civilization VIoffers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.Expansive empiresSee the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each district, wonder, and improvement is built on its own hex, allowing you to customize your city to your heart’s content. From the Commercial Hub to the Spaceport, every district provides unique and powerful bonuses. Pick and choose which districts to build to fit your needs! Build better than your opponents, place yourself strategically for your allies, and become the best civilization on Earth.Active ResearchBoost your civilization’s progress through history to unlock powerful bonuses before anyone else! To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures. Research isn’t just limited to science. Explore the Civics tree to unlock powerful new governments and cultural policies Cultivate the civilization that fits your playstyle, or switch it up every time you play!Dynamic diplomacyAs the game progresses, so do your diplomatic relationships. From primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations. Carry influence with nearby city states to gain its diplomatic allegiance and earn game-changing city-state bonuses. Enlist spies to gather crucial intel on rival civilizations, steal precious resources, and even topple governments.
