Civilization VI · Mechanics

How Great People Work

Great People are historical figures who join your civilization once you generate enough of the right kind of points — and unlike earlier games, each individual Great Person is unique and can only be recruited by one civilization per game.

The Basics

Each of the nine Great Person classes accumulates its own point total empire-wide (not per city). Once you have enough points, you can recruit the next available individual in that class — each one belongs to a specific era, and the cost to recruit rises as the game progresses through eras, even if earlier-era individuals are still unclaimed. Every distinct Great Person can only be recruited once per game, across every civilization at the table, so rival civilizations are genuinely competing with you for specific historical figures, not just a generic point total.

Beyond generating points naturally through buildings, you can also recruit a Great Person outright through Patronage — spending a lump sum of Gold or Faith (Faith is typically the cheaper option) to acquire whoever is next in that class's queue immediately.

The Nine Classes

Great Scientist

Earned from: Campus district buildings

One-time bonuses to Science, free Technologies, or bonus Great Engineer/Great Scientist points depending on the individual.

Great Engineer

Earned from: Industrial Zone district buildings

Instantly completes a percentage of a Wonder, Project, or district under construction, or grants a permanent Production bonus.

Great General

Earned from: Encampment district buildings and combat

One-time healing or combat strength boost for nearby units, or a permanent bonus to a specific unit class.

Great Admiral

Earned from: Harbor district buildings and naval combat

Similar to Great Generals but for naval units — healing, combat bonuses, or free naval unit upgrades.

Great Merchant

Earned from: Commercial Hub district buildings

One-time Gold windfalls, free Trade Routes, or Diplomatic Favor, depending on the individual.

Great Prophet

Earned from: Holy Site district buildings and Faith generation

The only class tied to a limited pool — once every religion available on the current map has been founded, no further Great Prophets appear. Recruiting one lets you found or enhance a religion.

Great Writer

Earned from: Amphitheater (Theater Square) buildings

Creates a Great Work of Writing, which generates Culture (and later Tourism) when placed in a building with a matching slot.

Great Artist

Earned from: Amphitheater and Art Museum buildings

Creates a Great Work of Art, functioning like Great Writers but for painting- and sculpture-type slots.

Great Musician

Earned from: Amphitheater and Broadcast Center buildings

Generates ongoing Culture and Tourism through Concert Tours rather than a single static Great Work.

Strategy Notes

Great Prophets are the one class with a hard limit — the pool empties once every religion slot on the map is founded, so if you're going for a Religious game, don't wait too long to commit.
Great Merchants and Great Engineers tend to be the most broadly useful outside of a dedicated strategy, since Gold and instant Production apply to almost any game plan.
If you're racing a rival for a specific Great Person, Faith-based Patronage is usually the fastest way to guarantee you get them before the AI does.

Want the bigger picture first?

See how Great People fit into the districts that generate their points.

Districts & Adjacency Guide