How to Enter a Heroic Age
: The Rise and Fall expansion of Civilization 6 revolutionized Firaxis' historical turn-based strategy by introducing the concept of Ages. Depending on the achievements of a player's civilization in each game Age, they will transition to a Dark, Normal, Golden, or the most coveted Heroic Age in the following era. While the Heroic Age offers Civilization 6 players a plethora of formidable bonuses for their civilization, it is also the most challenging to attain.To reach a Heroic Age, players must first be in a Dark Age and then attain a sufficiently high Era Score to qualify for a Golden Age afterward. Consequently, it is not possible for players to start the game in a Heroic Age, and they can only enter a Heroic Age after going through a Dark Age. Civilization 6 offers numerous ways to earn Era Score, but to surpass the Golden Age threshold, players should concentrate on the Dedication they choose when entering the Dark Age initially.
While players generally try to avoid Dark Ages, the Policy Cards they offer and the chance of achieving a Heroic Age afterward can compensate for the Loyalty penalties. In fact, deliberately entering a Dark Age to prepare for a Heroic Age is a viable strategy, although the extensive nature of the Era Score system can make it challenging to reliably plan.
The Heroic Age Dedications
In addition to the robust Loyalty bonus, Heroic Ages offer players the advantage of selecting three Dedications, which is two more than they can choose during a Golden Age. Unlike Dark and Normal Age Dedications that provide opportunities to earn Era Score, Golden and Heroic Age Dedications grant extraordinarily potent bonuses that can swiftly propel a player towards achieving victory in Civilization 6.
The availability of Dedications depends on the current Era of the civilization. However, there are a few specific Dedications that players should prioritize. Exodus of the Evangelists provides a significant early boost to Religion, allowing players to spread their Missionaries or acquire a Great Prophet quickly. Sic Hunt Draconis is an expansion Dedication that adds +3 Population to all Cities founded on a different continent than the capital, which is a remarkable bonus for Population growth. It can save a significant amount of time in the right situation. Lastly, in the late-game, Wish You Were Here and Sky and Stars can provide the final boost required for a Cultural or Scientific Victory respectively.
Civilization 6 is available on various platforms including iOS, Android, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.