Of the many Victory types in Civilization 6, the Scientific Victory is one of the more challenging to achieve. Winning it requires investment in Science and Technologies, and there are multiple steps required to fully complete the Space Race project that ultimately completes the Scientific Victory. If players want to properly set themselves up for a Scientific Victory, they will need to choose the best leader for the task.

In Civ 6, there are multiple leaders that can achieve a Scientific Victory, but a select few are specially equipped for the task. Here's a look at 10 of the best leaders for players looking to achieve a Scientific Victory in Civilization 6, and a few general tips for utilizing their unique attributes.

10 Frederick Barbarossa Of

While most other leaders on this list have abilities or features that boost Science in some way, , led by Frederick Barbarossa, is one of the best Civ 6 civilizations for achieving a Science Victory if players utilize its Production capabilities strategically. Production is essential for a Scientific Victory once players begin the research projects required to launch into space and beyond. However, this can only be done with a solid city-building strategy that centers around one unique German building, the Hansa.

Players will need to take advantage of the Hansa, 's version of the Industrial Zone, which is cheaper to build, provides a +2 Production bonus for certain adjacent districts, and further Production bonuses based on district or resource placement. The Hansa is essential for maximizing Production output and eventually pursuing the required Science research projects for a victory.

9 Hammurabi Of Babylon

This won't be the traditional approach to a Scientific Victory, but Hammurabi is capable of taking the lead in researching technology through Babylon's Enuma Anu Elil ability. This feature completes an entire technology after triggering a Eureka, as opposed to just a portion of it, at the high cost of –50% Science output per turn, forcing players to focus on completing Eureka tasks instead of maximizing Science yields.

Players can overcome the penalty to Science output by completing as many Eurekas as possible, as quickly as possible, especially in the early game with the Sabum Kibittum, a unique Ancient Era unit. Focusing on exploration, tribal villages can provide Eureka's as rewards, while Hammurabi can simultaneously build each type of district wherever possible. His unique Ninu Ilu Sirum ability awards a free building in each district type once constructed.

8 John Curtin Of Australia

To achieve a Scientific Victory with John Curtin, players will want to focus on building districts on Breathtaking tiles to take advantage of the +3 to yields as part of Australia's unique Land Down Under feature. By increasing population as much as possible using the Outback Station building, players can maximize Science and Production output and finish projects quickly. Becoming Suzerain of the Science-based city-states will also help.

Campuses gain excellent adjacency bonuses for Australia, so Science output will not be a problem if players place these districts near Reefs, Mountains, or both - these are the optimal places for Australia and John Curtin to settle near anyway. Taking advantage of the Digger unit during the Modern Era will be essential for defensive strategy while players pursue the Science and Production needed for the Scientific Victory.

7 Wu Zetian Of China

Wu Zetian utilizes espionage as her core ability, Manual Of Entrapment, which strengthens Spies and rewards players with Faith, Culture, and Science from successful spy missions. This ability also allows players to buy Spies with Faith and awards a free spy plus additional spy capacity after discovering Defensive Tactics. The Dynastic Cycle feature of China allows Eurekas and Inspirations to fill up 50% of the cost instead of the usual 40%, and awards a random Eureka or Inspiration after constructing a wonder.

In total, these abilities and features can be used strategically for a Scientific Victory if players focus on espionage and the Steal Tech Boosts missions, as well as completing Eurekas wherever possible. Using Faith to purchase spies will mitigate their cost, and strategizing around Eurekas will put Wu Zetian ahead in the pursuit of Science.

6 Alexander Of Macedonia

If players want to avoid the militaristic route with Alexander, Macedonia is a great candidate for a Scientific Victory as well, given its boosts to Eurekas from conquests as well as a Science bonus from the Basilikoi Paides building. Alexander will require military tactics regardless of which victory players pursue, but it's possible to establish early dominance without completely wiping out all other civilizations, focusing on advancing Production and researching Technologies in pursuit of a Scientific Victory.

The Basilikoi Paides is a building unique to Macedonia that produces Science equal to 25% of any non-civilian units created in that city. Players will need to advance technologies with Alexander either way in order to stay up to date with the most modern military weaponry. Alexander can advance Science during his conquests while simultaneously limiting other civilizations' ability to pursue a Scientific Victory.

5 Saladin (Vizier) Of Arabia

Saladin is a strong contender for a Scientific Victory due to his ability to leverage Faith and Religion into Science yields through The Last Prophet, Arabia's unique feature that incentives other civilizations to take on Arabia's religion, and the Righteousness of the Faith leader ability. These allow Saladin to establish a religious foothold in all other civilizations and milk them for a +1 Science yield per turn and 10% boost to Science, Faith, and Culture output of Arabian cities.

A Religious Victory might seem like the more obvious choice for Saladin, but Arabia is a strong contender for the Scientific Victory due to the many Science bonuses provided by Faith. Faith and Science work cohesively together for Arabia, with the Madrasa building providing a bonus to Faith equal to the adjacency bonus of the Campus district.

4 Pachacuti Of The Incan Empire

Because of Pachacuti's emphasis on Mountain tiles and the Incan abilities focusing on Mountainous areas as well, players will naturally find their Campus districts receiving the +1 adjacency bonuses to Science from Mountain tiles. The Inca are a prosperous civilization utilizing high population growth and Production boosts, so completing projects later for the Science Victory becomes very achievable.

Production bonuses for the Incan Empire include the Mit'a ability, allowing citizens to work Mountain tiles and increasing Mountain tile production by up to +3 by the Industrial Era. The Terrace Farm building will also boost Food yields and Housing, as well as Production if placed next to an Aqueduct or Fresh Water. The Inca can also teleport with the Qhapaq Ñan Builder ability, which won't necessarily help with a Science Victory but is still a lot of fun to use.

3 Lady Six Sky Of Maya

Lady Six Sky of the Mayan civilization will give players a serious advantage early on in pursuit of the Scientific Victory. Lady Six Sky's Ix Mutual Ajaw ability boosts all yields to cities within six tiles of the capital. This allows for consolidated and focused gameplay, where players can build the Observatory early on and begin boosting Science yields from early in the Ancient Era.

The Observatory is cheaper to build than Campus buildings and provides a +2 Science bonus for all adjacent plantations, as well as a +1 Science bonus for every two adjacent Farm or District tiles. Crucially, Plantations, Farms, and Districts need to be strategically considered within each city in the cluster to maximize Science yields, and the unique Hul'che units will be excellent to guard against Civ 6's underwhelming barbarian raiders or opponent Civs.

2 Seondeok Of Korea

Seondeok of the Korean Empire relies on strategizing around Governor placement, as her Hwarang ability enables Governors established in a city to provide a +3% Culture and Science boost for each of their Promotions, including the first one. Further, the Korean Seowon district replaces the Campus and provides a +4 to Science, but will give a -1 to Science for each adjacent District, making placement important. Instead of building the Seowon district near cities, isolate it away from other buildings and construct Farms and Mines to maximize its adjacency bonuses.

Utilizing Governors is crucial to the Science Victory for Seondeok because the boosts from Promotions will really start to add up, especially after all Governors are acquired. It also requires advancing Culture because Governor Promotions and placements will only occur with Culture yields.

1 Robert The Bruce Of Scotland

Because of Robert the Bruce and Scotland's focus on Production and Science, achieving a Scientific Victory with Scotland is much easier than almost any other civilization in the game. Building Golf Courses next to every City Center will maximize Scotland's efficacy, and it's wise to take advantage when a neighboring Civ needs help so players can utilize Rober the Bruce's Bannockburn ability, giving a 100% Production boost and a movement boost after declaring a War of Liberation.

Importantly, the Scottish Enlightenment feature of Scotland gives a +5% boost to both Science and Production in Happy cities, while Happy cities also produce additional Great Scientist and Great Engineer points from Campuses and Industrial Zones, respectively. If players want to maximize Science output and achieve a Scientific Victory in Civilization 6, Robert the Bruce of Scotland might be their best bet as leader.