Civ 6 Holy Site Building When Religion Changes

Caroline Mae

2 min read

·

05-01-2025

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Choosing a religion in Civilization VI is a significant strategic decision, impacting your city's growth, your diplomatic relations, and your overall victory path. A key part of this religious strategy revolves around the Holy Site, a building that unlocks powerful religious units and boosts your faith generation. But what happens to those precious Holy Site improvements if you decide to switch religions later in the game? Let's explore this crucial aspect of Civ VI gameplay.

The Fate of Your Holy Sites

The short answer is: your existing Holy Sites will remain. However, they will no longer provide benefits associated with your previous religion. Think of it like this: the building itself persists, but its religious functionality is deactivated.

What Remains?

While the faith generation and unique religious unit benefits are lost, the Holy Site building itself remains intact. This means you still retain:

• The building's base production capabilities: You'll still receive the standard production bonuses associated with the building itself, regardless of religion.
• Any previously completed upgrades: Upgrades like the Temple or Cathedral will not be removed. However, they won't function in relation to your new faith.
• The building slot: You haven't lost a valuable city building slot. This is crucial, especially in densely populated cities where space is at a premium.

What You Lose

The primary drawbacks of switching religions regarding your Holy Site are:

• Faith generation from the Holy Site: This is the most significant loss. The building ceases to generate faith for your new religion.
• Religious unit production: You can no longer create religious units from this Holy Site.
• Religious bonuses from building upgrades: Any unique bonuses granted by upgraded Holy Sites (such as those provided by the Cathedral) are lost.

Strategic Implications

The implications of a religion change extend beyond simply losing faith generation. Consider these points:

• Planning ahead: Before switching religions, assess the long-term impact on your existing Holy Sites. The loss of faith generation can significantly impact your religious victory chances.
• Timing is key: Switching religions early in the game minimizes the loss as your faith generation from other sources may compensate. Switching later can prove more detrimental.
• Alternative faith sources: If you are concerned about faith generation, rely on other faith-generating buildings, units, or policies to mitigate the loss.

Conclusion

Changing your religion in Civilization VI is a dynamic strategic element. While your existing Holy Sites aren't automatically demolished, understanding the functional implications of such a change is crucial to optimizing your gameplay. Carefully weigh the benefits of switching religions against the potential losses in faith generation and religious unit production. This will allow you to make informed decisions that align with your overall victory strategy.