Science is one of the many avenues your nation can pursue and increase to win in Sid Meier's Civilization 7. Alongside Cultural, Diplomatic, Military, and Economic victories, a Science victory can be relatively difficult depending on your leader's abilities and how your nation functions. You have to build specific structures and invest in different research early to increase your Science fast enough for it to contribute towards victory.

Any Science victory is almost the complete opposite of a Domination or Military victory in Civ 7, as Science-driven nations are usually played ively. You have to stay focused on defending your territories rather than conquering while fostering healthy relationships. Collaboration with others is often how Science is advanced, both in the game and throughout real history.

How Science Works In Civ 7

Progress Technology For Your Nation

Technology Tree unlocks are gained through your nation's Science progress, giving you new breakthroughs over multiple ages. Different milestones achieved through your Tech Tree can contribute to a Science Victory, so it's something you want to build fast compared to your opponents. New Technology also makes your nation harder to attack as you research new units, equipment, or other advancements in your military.

Researching Science reduces the number of turns it takes to learn a new Technology. Ultimately, Science is a resource you get yields of based on the structures, units, wonders, or other buffs you contribute. Based on your nation's total Science yield, you can invest in certain Technologies as long as you meet other prerequisites within the Age you and your opponents are in.

Those looking to achieve a Science victory should always be trying to reach the ultimate Technology, the Staffed Space Project. This is the final tech needed to achieve a Science Victory, and it is what every Tech you get is working toward.

Science is also tied to different Legacy Paths in Civ 7, which all connect to higher Science yields at the end of an Age. For example, displayed multiple Codices in your nation reaches a Legacy milestone for some factions, earning you rewards that can take you steps closer to a Science victory. The buffs and bonuses you get from pursuing scientific objectives will help meet your overall win conditions.

How To Increase Science In Civ 7

Use Different Strategies Throughout Every Age

Science yields can be increased in various ways, from taking advantage of certain leader abilities to building specific structures within your empire. Ultimately, Science increases differently throughout every Age, so you need to have strategies for every era to improve Science faster than your opponent(s).

The Age your empire is in determines many choices you'll make to increase Science. The resources available during the Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages are all unique, so you have to study which materials in which eras contribute to Science the most.

Some resources generated from Cities and Towns will also generate Science when slotted into various settlements. Areas that can produce Science yields are marked by a blue flask on a set of tile spaces as you play. Incense during the Antiquity Age and Tea during the Modern Age are prime examples of resources you can have particular areas of your empire produce to accumulate more Science yields.

Best Units & Leaders For Increasing Science

Asg Specialist units to different tiles can be a great way to increase Science, but these units can only be placed in Districts and Quarters of a space. These units grant better Science yields to the tile they're on and surrounding spaces, giving you great Science generation over time. However, these units demand higher Food and Happiness than most units, so you have to accommodate them.

Some leaders are somewhat geared toward Science victories in Civ 7 over others. While the exact Civ you choose could have unique benefits toward Science yields and other bonuses, the leader you pick is the most important starting point for gaining early Science boosts. Some of the best scientific leaders to pick include:

• Confucius - 25% extra Growth in Cities, gains +2 Science for every Specialist.
• Ben Franklin - Gains +1 Science per Age for every Endeavor you start or yields. Extra Science yields on Production buildings in Cities.
• Himiko, Queen of Wa - Friend of Wei ability performed with an ally gives both players +25% Science. Gets +4 Science per Age for every Leader you have been Friendly or Helpful with.

The Ming, Maya, or Meiji civilizations are the best geared toward Science, as each have different benefits for that victory path. For example, the Ming Civ in the Exploration Age had +50% Science in their Capital but -15 Science per turn for every Social Policy slotted. Studying which Civs and Leaders work well together is crucial for creating a successful plan for a Science victory.

Best Buildings For Increasing Science

One of the easiest ways to increase Science is through the buildings you construct in different Ages. Some of the best to improve your Science yields include:

• Antiquity Age - Library, Academy
• Exploration Age - Observatory, University
• Modern Age - Aerodrome, Launch Pad, Schoolhouse, Laboratory

Libraries are extremely important to build early, as the Codices displayed in them help raise your Science a lot during the beginning stages of a match. Through the Academy, you can research Writing and Mathematics Masteries in the Tech tree to also improve your Science yields rapidly. It takes high Production to create many of these buildings, but doing so will help you enter a Golden Age during this time period.

Building Wonders in Civ 7 will also increase your Science yield drastically. For example, the Serpent Mound gives you +3 Science and +2 Production for all unique improvements in its settlement during the Exploration Age. Other fascinating Wonder structures like Mundo Perdido and Oxford University are among the greatest to build but try to focus on spending resources to create Wonders that have versatile bonuses for your nation's needs.

Best Policies For Increasing Science

Despite the many civilizations in the game, the policies you forge with any of them will determine your progress toward a scientific victory. One of the best policies for Science is to always pick Science options during narrative events that take place throughout various Ages. This typically results in a one-time boost to your nation's Science yields, which may help align with your other goals.

Some narrative events will help you determine your policy, but there are others you can initiate to improve Science yields. One of the best events to start is a Scientific Festival, which generates Science equal to 25% of a City's Production value.

Many different Social Policies also improve your Science, such as Tool Making during the early stages of a game. Here are some other policies you can pursue to prioritize Science growth over time:

• Literature - Bonus 50% Production toward Science buildings
• Scholars - +1 Science on Specialists
• Social Science - +2 Science on Specialists, +50% Specialist Food cost
• Preservation Societies - +3 Science from Great Works

Many different policies from the Civic tree may have Science increases attached to it, so focus on that angle for a Science playthrough. Some players who pursue greater Science yields may accidentally make strides toward a Cultural victory in Civ 7, giving them some flexibility to pivot to another victory type if they need to.

Best Technologies For Increasing Science

Science has a direct impact on the Tech you get from the Technology Tree, but the specific advancements work toward a victory more. Among the many Technology options available in the Tree, go with some of these in different Ages to generate the most Science yield:

• Antiquity Age - Writing, Mathematics, Writing 2
• Exploration Age - Education
• Modern Age - Flight, Aerodynamics, Rocketry

In every Age, you have opportunities to commit to Research Collaborations with other nations to start developing Technologies faster. Both parties involved with a collaboration gain 50% more Science, with those being offered the deal having to spend less resources than the initiator. While you should be careful not to allow a rival Science-driven nation to get too close to victory, this can help you just as much.

Some early-game religious endeavors, such as the "God of Wisdom" Patheon, will also give you a head start on Science. The better the foundation you create to learn new Technologies, the more your Science yield will increase over every Age in Sid Meier's Civilization 7.