Every Civilization 6 leader, their unique stuff, and strategies for playing

FRANCE / EGYPT / GERMANY • INDIA / SUMERIA / NORWAY • JAPAN / AZTECS / KONGO • BRAZIL / GREECE / SPAIN • CHINA / ARABIA / AMERICA • SCYTHIA / ROME / ENGLAND / RUSSIA

PEDRO II (BRAZIL)

Bonuses

Gets an instant rebate (not a flat discount) of 20 percent of the Great Person points he spends on recruiting a new Great Person
Bonuses to output of most districts if they are built near a rainforest
Minas Geraes: A late-game ranged battleship with increased defense and attack
Street Carnival district: Allows you to use a city’s production output to generate amenities and Great Person points

Who was he?
Nobody voted for Pedro. Between 1822 and 1889, Brazil was actually an independent monarchy. Pedro II was the last emperor, ruling for 58 of those 67 years (starting at the age of five!) before it was reorganized as the First Brazilian Republic upon his deposition in a military coup. His reign is partially credited for turning Brazil into a major power on the continent, as he abolished slavery, fostered a strong economy, and created a friendlier climate for civil rights than the neighboring, Spanish-speaking nations had at the time. Unlike other monarchs undone by revolution, Pedro was still highly popular with the Brazilian people at the time he was overthrown, and the governments that followed him can be seen in many ways as a step backwards.

Strategy
Pedro is all about the Great People. And since each Great Person is unique in Civ 6, every playthrough is going to look a little different. Even though you’ll be beating other civs to their patronage left and right, don’t hesitate to skip over a particular Great Person whose bonuses don’t support your strategy well. Those points will still be there when the next one comes along. The focus on Great People also gives you a lot of flexibility to pursue any victory condition. Great Admirals will represent a strong synergy in the late game if you decide you want to try to control the waves with the Minas Geraes.

PERICLES (GREECE)

Gains bonus Culture for every city-state he is the Suzerain of (meaning he’s invested more into it than anyone else)
Extra wildcard policy slot regardless of government type
Hoplite: A Classical era spearman that fights better with each friendly hoplite adjacent to it
Acropolis district: Must be placed on a hill, generates bonus culture for being next to a city center or a wonder

Bonuses

Who was he?
Pericles was a prominent statesman during the Athenian Golden Age. The city had just gotten done kicking the Persians out of Europe (with the help of Leonidas and 299 of his now very famous friends), and hadn’t yet gotten embroiled with their former Spartan allies in the pan-Hellenic Peloponnesian Wars. In short, it was a good time to be Athenian, and Pericles was the Athenianest Athenian of the most Athenian era in history. Called 'The First Citizen of Athens,' he strengthened ties with the allied cities of the Delian League and cemented Athens’ reputation as the political and cultural center of the Hellenic world.

Strategies
Like Civ 5’s infamous Alexander before him, Pericles is wont to bring as many city-states as possible under his umbrella. Doing so will set you up nicely for a cultural victory. Hoplites function as a very powerful offensive or defensive military core in the early game, and in combination with Greece’s extra policy slot, can allow for some sweeping early conquests—especially against enemies like Scythia who really like cavalry. Overall, Greece is probably the most culture-focused civ in the game, and if you choose to go for any other victory type, be sure to levy your cultural advantages toward it.

PHILIP II (SPAIN)

Bonuses

Military units gain combat bonuses against units owned by civs following a different religion
Inquisitors get an extra charge for removing heresy
Bonus gold from trade routes between continents
Gains the ability to combine individual ships into a stronger unit called a Fleet earlier in the tech tree
Conquistador: Renaissance infantry which gets a bonus for being accompanied by a religious non-combat unit like a missionary, and converts conquered cities to Spain’s religion instantly
Mission district: +10 to tastiness of burritos… wait, that’s the wrong Mission
Mission district (for real): A replacement for the Holy Site that generates extra faith when built on other continents

Who was he?
Phil (Can I call you Phil?) might take the prize for the Civ 6 leader who was king of the most stuff in his lifetime. In addition to Spain, he ruled as King of Portugal, Naples, Sicily, the Netherlands, and, through his marriage to Mary I, was king consort of England and Ireland. Spain reached the height of its power while he sat atop his many thrones, but the government also went bankrupt five times, which was one of the factors that caused various elements of the Spanish Empire to start to break away. He also launched the ill-fated Spanish Armada invasion of England, the failure of which led to Britain becoming the world’s pre-eminent naval power. His was a hit-or-miss monarchy.

Strategies
Spain is the undisputed religious powerhouse of Civ 6. No one is better set up for a religious victory, or a domination victory using religion as an accessory. Bonuses to all combat units when fighting foes of other religions is a huge, huge advantage—especially when paired with the Conquistador’s bonuses for bringing along his preacher friend. Each overseas empire or city-state you meet can either be crushed underfoot, or converted to become a valuable trading partner.