In Civilization VI, a nuclear weapon unleashes devastating destruction, immediately eliminating citizens working affected tiles and destroying all units, including Great People, occupying the targeted area.
Understanding Nuclear Warfare in Civ 6
Nuclear weapons in Civilization VI are the most powerful and destructive tools available, designed to deliver a decisive blow to an enemy civilization. Their impact is immediate and catastrophic, affecting the very fabric of an opponent's cities and military strength.
Immediate Catastrophic Impact
When a nuclear weapon detonates, its primary effects are focused on obliterating everything within its blast radius:
- Elimination of Citizens: Any citizens "working" the land tiles within the nuclear blast radius are instantly eliminated. This directly reduces a city's population count, consequently impacting its output in areas like production, science, culture, and food.
- Destruction of Units: All military and civilian units, regardless of their type or strength, that are located on the tiles affected by the nuclear strike are utterly destroyed. This includes powerful combat units, support units like Builders and Traders, and even religious units.
- Annihilation of Great People: Notably, nuclear weapons provide the only means in a normal Civ 6 game to eliminate Great People. This is a crucial strategic implication, as Great People often provide unique and powerful bonuses that are central to a civilization's strategy. Destroying an opponent's key Great Artists, Scientists, Generals, or Prophets can severely cripple their progress and strategic advantages.
Summary of Effects
| Target Type | Effect of Nuclear Strike | Strategic Note |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens (working tiles) | Eliminated | Reduces city population and resource output. |
| Units (on affected tiles) | Destroyed | Clears enemy military and civilian presence. |
| Great People | Destroyed (Unique Elimination) | Only way to eliminate Great People in a normal game. |
Strategic Implications
Using nuclear weapons carries significant strategic weight and consequences:
- Decisive Blow: They can be used as a last resort to break through a formidable defense, cripple a powerful enemy, or achieve an urgent strategic objective.
- Diplomatic Repercussions: The use of nuclear weapons typically incurs massive grievances from all other civilizations, leading to severe diplomatic penalties, widespread condemnation, and potentially immediate declarations of war from multiple parties.
- Area Denial: Beyond the immediate destruction, the affected tiles remain irradiated for a period, making them unsafe and reducing their yields, though the provided reference does not detail this specific effect.
