Himiko, Wa’s Queen: A Comprehensive Guide for Civ 7 Players

The Queen of Wa version of Himiko is notably more targeted in her approach within Civilization 7 compared to other leaders. While some civilizations can significantly influence gameplay, it’s often best to enhance her strengths rather than masking any weaknesses.

Himiko shines in the realm of science, boasting exceptional scientific potential. When paired with civilizations that also focus on this area, she can rapidly advance through technology trees, setting her up for a Science victory.

Himiko, Queen of Wa Overview

As previously noted, Queen of Wa Himiko has an impressive ability to generate significant amounts of science each turn. While she can capitalize on this in any scenario, her science output dramatically increases when she effectively fosters friendships with the majority of other civilizations in the game.

Himiko’s inherent bonuses are:

• A unique effort that provides a 25 percent increase in science generation for her and her allies.
• Bonus science per era for each leader she is friendly or allied with.
• Ability to support endeavors at no cost, saving influence points.
• Unlocks the option to utilize Meiji Japan in the Modern Age.

For Himiko, aligning with multiple civilizations is key to her success. Selecting the right partnerships is crucial to avoid getting entangled in unwanted conflicts.

Without allies, you risk not maximizing Himiko’s potential, and if wars arise, you’ll find yourself without any support.

Best Civilizations to Pair with Himiko, Queen of Wa

Given Himiko’s specialized strengths and winning strategy, her optimal civilization choices are limited.

Maya (Antiquity Age)

The Maya civilization will enhance Queen of Wa Himiko’s science capabilities over the long term, making it a superior choice if you’re set on pursuing science victories.

The most valuable bonuses from the Mayans include:

• The Palace earns 0.5 science production for every adjacent vegetated terrain.
• The Hul’Che, a unique combat unit designed for success in vegetated areas.
• The Uwaybil K’uh, a unique quarter that grants a production boost for each technology researched.
• The K’uh Nah, a unique building providing a tremendous amount of additional science, particularly effective when built on vegetation.

The Mayans rely heavily on specific terrain, and lack of vegetation can hinder their performance significantly. However, if played to their strengths, the Mayans enhance Himiko’s core capabilities splendidly.

Abbasid (Exploration Age)

Several formidable options exist in the Exploration Age for a leader focused on science, and the Abbasid is among them. While they have a strong emphasis on science, they also provide some gold bonuses.

Key bonuses from the Abbasids include:

• A gold bonus linked to your rural population whenever you create a specialist.
• Production bonuses for the House of Wisdom.
• The Ulema, a unique quarter that boosts science generation based on the number of specialists in the city.
• The Madrasa, a unique building that offers a substantial boost to science production.

Both the Abbasids and the Mayans can significantly enhance science generation, maximizing your advancements during the Exploration Age.

Ming (Exploration Age)

If you’re looking for a more consolidated strategy, Ming provides a compact approach. They focus on enhancing science production in their capital, though they incur a penalty on any social policy currently active.

Their most significant bonuses include:

• 50 percent additional science generation in the capital.
• -15 science generation for each social policy in effect.
• The Mandarin, a unique merchant capable of setting up a trade route to import resources while generating a gold bonus through road establishment.
• The Ming Great Wall, a unique defensive structure that strengthens defenders’ combat abilities.

While the Ming may have fewer unique structures compared to the Abbasids, their 50 percent increase in capital science generation can be extremely valuable, depending on your city’s development.

Meiji Japan (Modern Age)

In terms of scientific advancements during the Modern Age, few civilizations rival Meiji Japan. Their effective combination of defensive units, production enhancements, and science boosts can help carry you to a scientific victory, especially when building on the strengths of previous civilizations mentioned.

Key bonuses from Meiji Japan include:

• A science boost with each time you overbuild a structure.
• The Mikasa, a unique naval unit that respawns upon its first destruction at the closest settlement.
• The Zero, a unique aircraft unit with enhanced range and strength against enemy air units.
• The Jukogy, a unique building that significantly increases production, particularly when placed near coastlines or wonders.

Meiji Japan presents substantial potential for rapid technological advancement in the Modern Age through consistent overbuilding, while also offering a stronger defense compared to other civilizations with their specialized units.