Civilization VI Secret Societies: Owls of Minerva guide

Civilization VI Secret Societies is a game mode that came out with the Ethiopia Pack. It introduced the concept of Secret Societies in the form of governors whose promotions give us powerful bonuses, access to new buildings, units and improvements. We will focus on The owls of minerva strategies and perks.

Owls of Minerva Civ 6

The Owls of Minerva are a secret group of powerful and wealthy individuals. They focus on government, trade and espionage; which in Civilization terms translates to having more Civ6Gold Gold, Policy slots and Spies.

 

The Owls of Minerva governor promotions

Promotion title

Unlocked by

Effect

Initiation Send an Envoy6 Envoy to a City-State (80% chance) +1 Economic Policy Card small (Civ6) Economic Policy slot. Each TradeRoute6 Trade Route sent to a City-State grants 1 Envoy6 Envoy there.
Ritual

Reach the Medieval Era

Allows you to construct the Gilded Vault building, a powerful replacement of the Bank.

Indoctrination

Reach the Industrial Era

+1 Wildcard slot (Civ6) Wildcard Policy slot. +2 Spy capacity. Your cities gain +4 Loyalty per turn and +1 Amenity when your Spy is in their territory.

Master Plan

Reach the Atomic Era

Whenever an offensive spy mission is successful, you also gain half of the Civ6Gold Gold,Civ6Faith Faith,Civ6Culture Culture, andCiv6Science Science that the targeted city earned that turn. Earn 3% of yourCiv6Gold Gold treasury asCiv6Gold Gold per turn (up to 1000Civ6Gold Gold per turn).

 

 

The Owls of Minerva exclusive building: Gilded Vault

Effects:

  • +5 Civ6Gold Gold (boosted by Free market policy card)
  • +1 Citizen6 Citizen slot
  • +1 Merchant6 Great Merchant point per turn
  • Grants Civ6Culture Culture equal to the adjacency bonus of the district.
  • Having a Harbor in this city provides +1 TradeRoute6 Trade Route capacity

 

Strategy:

Having 1 extra Trade route capacity when the city has a Harbor is a powerful bonus that should not be overlooked. Civilizations with unique Commercial Hubs and Harbors such as Netherlands, Egypt, Cree, Mali, England and Phoenicia benefit a lot from this, but also Civilizations with general district bonuses such as Japan or Germany.

Extra Culture from adjacency bonus is relevant too, although this should be thought of as a culture replacement only, as having both Harbors and Commercial Hub districts in your cities will mean there is not going to be room for Theater Square districts. In this way the heavy focus in gold won't harm the advancement in the Civics tree.

 

The Owls of Minerva: Strategy

The Owls of Minerva works well with Civilizations centered in spionage or that receive benefits from having Commercial hub districts. Any type of victory is achievable thanks to the powerful bonuses when it comes to spies and covert operations.

 

Early game

As with any other Secret Society the first Owls of Minerva promotion is a powerful one. You receive +1 Economy Policy slot, which is great for rapid expansion because it gives space for the Colonization policy (+50% production towards Settlers) and any other at the same time.

 

Medieval Era

Once the Medieval Era is reached the owls of Minerva allow you to construct the Gilded Vault, which is a building that replaces the bank. To benefit from this the sooner, research should be pointed towards Banking. Make as many Commercial Hub districts and Harbors (in the same city) as you can, Gilded Vault provides 1 extra Trade Route capacity when the city has a Harbor. Sell all your Diplomatic Favor, buy Traders with it. 

 

Industrial Era

Make lots of spies, reach full capacity. Receiving 1 extra Wildcard policy slot and +2 Spy capacity makes it so covert operations will run smoothly. Also later in the Atomic Era you will gain Gold, Faith, Science and Culture yields when a mission is completed successfully.

 

Atomic Era

Use your spies to wreak havoc around the world! Also remember that you will earn 3% (up to 1000) of your treasury as gold per turn, this means if you manage to save 33k gold you will receive 1k for free every turn. 33k while having an army of spies is easily achievable. 

 

The Owls of Minerva: Best Civilization synergies

France (Catherine de Medici - Black Queen)

The French led by Catherine de Medici (Black Queen) receive bonuses when it comes to covert operations. Catherine's Flying Squadron grants 1 extra Spy when Castles is researched and also all Spies start as Agents with a free promotion.

This might not seem like much, since the Owls of minerva spy bonuses hit later in the game, but having them started with 1 level of promotion will make it so you have spies fully promoted sooner than usual. The sheer amount of covert operations are going to be enough to grant you gold, science and securing the victory.

 

England

English

The english people led by either Victoria or Eleanor of Aquitaine will have excellent synergy with the Owls of Minerva. The Royal Navy Dockyard has a much lower production cost than what it replaces, the Harbor. Having this district and Commercial Hubs together is easier for the english, and therefore you will make better use of the Gilded Vault, which provides 1 extra Trading route capacity when the city has a Harbor (or equivalent).

 

The Cree

 

The Cree benefit from extra trading routes thanks to Poundmaker's leader ability, Favorable Terms: Trade routes grant 1 extra food in the sending city and 1 extra gold in the destination city per camp or pasture at the destination city. Having extra trade route capacity works really well for the Cree.

 

Phoenicia

Phoenicia Harbors are replaced by Cothon, which has a lower production cost and boosts the productions of Settlers and Naval units.

 

Japan

Japan districts receive extra adjacency bonuses, this means having Commercial hubs and harbor is already beneficial without the Owls of minerva, but then also having the Gilded Vault culture bonus (that depends on Commercial hub adjacency bonus) and having extra trading routes will make it so Japan has very good synergy with the secret society.

 

Mali

Mali is one of the civilizations that synergices best with the Owls of Minerva. Having the Suguba (Commercial hub replacement, cheaper), extra gold yields from international trade routes and the ability to purchase Commercial Hub buildings with Faith make it so the Malian people are simply too good when working with the Owls of Minerva.