The Great Prophet is a civilian unit in Civilization VI, a Great Person Great Person specialized in Religion. It appears once enough Great Prophet points are earned (and can be rushed with Gold or Faith through Patronage).
All Great Prophets have only one Ability: to Found a Religion. It can be used in a Holy Site district or in Stonehenge wonder. Only one Great Prophet is allowed per civilization.
Great Prophets
Name | Era |
---|---|
Confucius | Classical |
John the Baptist | Classical |
Laozi | Classical |
Siddhartha Gautama | Classical |
Simon Peter | Classical |
Zoroaster | Classical |
Adi Shankara | Medieval |
Bodhidharma | Medieval |
Irenaeus | Medieval |
O No Yasumaro | Medieval |
Songtsan Gampo | Medieval |
Haji Huud | Renaissance |
Madhva Acharya | Renaissance |
Martin Luther | Renaissance |
Thomas Aquinas | Renaissance |
Francis of Assisi | Renaissance |
Strategy
Great Prophets are the men and women whose lives inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The religions that they found can speed a civilization on its way to victory, or at least afford it some useful bonuses. Players who want to attract a Great Prophet early on should research Astrology first, then build either a Holy Site or Stonehenge near their Capital Capital so they can activate the Great Prophet's ability when it appears. They can further expedite the process by discovering Mysticism and adding the Revelation Policy Card to their government. Players using Arabia, however, can simply build a Holy Site and wait, since they are guaranteed to receive a Great Prophet once all of the other possible religions have been founded.
The number of available Great Prophets for the entire game depends on the maximum number of religions that can be founded, which in turn depends on the size of the map (and will always be equal to half the default number of players plus one). Once this number has been reached, Great Prophets can no longer be recruited by anyone.
Finally, Great Prophets cannot be recruited from the Industrial Era onward (though this is not usually relevant unless the game is started in a later era).
Civilopedia entry
Holy men are common; “great” prophets somewhat less so. Some prophets have “visions”; others just have insights into life, the way it should be lived and how we might be better. Some wander and teach, while others build temples and churches. And some just have good public relations. Whatever the foundation, these are the ones who create religions, spread the faith, or challenge the beliefs of others … sometimes all three. They warn mankind about his hubris in thinking he can know everything or control anything. Every great religion has its great prophets, no matter how or what they worship, those who have been touched by the divine … and each one has altered the course of civilization as profoundly as any general, scientist, artist, or leader.