In Civilization 7, a groundbreaking feature known as the Ages mechanic revolutionizes gameplay, allowing you to transition your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. While you'll swap civilizations as you progress, your chosen leader remains constant throughout your journey, bringing unique abilities that can significantly impact your strategy and success.
Leaders in Civilization 7 may not offer as many traits and units as civilizations do, but their powerful abilities can lead to exceptional synergies. To aid you in selecting the perfect leader for your empire, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each leader. This guide focuses on standard, single-player gameplay, excluding multiplayer and DLC leaders like Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.
Best Civ 7 Leaders
Civilization 7 Leader Tier List
S-Tier - Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus
A-Tier - Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko High Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid
B-Tier - Amina, Catherine The Great, Friedrich Oblique, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Napoleon Emperor, Napoleon Revolution, Tecumseh, Himiko Queen of Wa
C-Tier - Friedrich Baroque, Pachacuti
S-Tier Leaders
S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer
Ashoka, World Conquerer, excels at maintaining high levels of Happiness within your cities while exerting dominance over other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can rapidly build up military strength. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting your units a +5 Combat Strength against districts, making Ashoka a formidable force in combat. Managing unrest in newly acquired settlements is crucial, but with effective happiness management, Ashoka remains one of the game's most powerful leaders.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expanding your empire through settlements, leveraging them to boost your capital's productivity. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount, Augustus can efficiently build a culturally and economically robust empire. His strategy involves maintaining many towns without upgrading them to cities, which saves gold and maximizes his bonuses. Augustus's straightforward playstyle offers significant advantages in both production and culture.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is your go-to leader for rapid city expansion, boasting a +25% Growth Rate in Cities that facilitates early land acquisition. Additionally, his +2 Science from Specialists makes him a top contender for scientific advancement, particularly in the later stages of the game. While Confucius may require support in defense, his ability to expand and advance technologically without engaging in warfare is unparalleled, making him a strategic choice for those focused on growth and science.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings, is tailored for players aiming for a Military Victory. With +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, Xerxes excels at offensive warfare. Capturing settlements not only advances your Military Legacy Path but also grants 100 Culture and Gold per Age, fueling further conquests. His increased settlement limit per Age allows for extensive territorial expansion, making Xerxes a straightforward yet highly effective leader for aggressive playstyles.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer, shifts the focus from military prowess to population growth, converting excess Happiness into food production. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a 10% Food increase during Celebrations, this leader is ideal for those who excel at managing large populations and urban development. While not as aggressive as the World Conquerer variant, the World Renouncer offers a strong alternative for players interested in a more peaceful expansion strategy.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader perfect for those pursuing a Science-focused game. With bonuses to Science from Production Buildings and the ability to have multiple active Endeavors, Franklin can create a powerful feedback loop of technological advancement. His traits encourage strong diplomatic relations, further boosting Science through collaborative efforts, making him an excellent choice for players looking to dominate through innovation.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines Military and Science, offering bonuses to Cavalry Units during Celebrations and free Cavalry Units upon entering them. His strategy revolves around maintaining high Happiness to trigger frequent Celebrations, which in turn bolsters his military strength. While Charlemagne may face challenges in the Modern Age, his early and mid-game dominance makes him a strong pick for players who enjoy a cavalry-centric approach.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in stealth and espionage, with a 100% Influence boost towards initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support when wars are declared against you. Her units can ignore movement penalties from vegetation, enhancing their mobility. Tubman's playstyle suits players who prefer to undermine opponents through covert operations while maintaining a strong defensive position.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut leverages trade for cultural dominance, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. Her strategy requires establishing strong trade relationships, making her an ideal choice for those aiming to excel in the Culture Legacy Paths and capitalize on the game's economic dynamics.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman, is a cultural powerhouse, with significant bonuses to Happiness Buildings and a 20% Culture increase, which doubles during Celebrations. However, her -10% Science penalty, also doubled during Celebrations, requires careful management. Himiko suits players who can balance her cultural strengths with strategic Science investments, aiming for a Cultural Victory.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella can gain a substantial early advantage by discovering Natural Wonders, receiving 300 Gold and doubled yields if they're in Distant Lands. Her naval focus, with reduced costs for Naval Units, makes her an excellent choice for players who can secure these strategic locations and leverage them for economic and military gains.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal excels at prolonging and maximizing the benefits of Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and Happiness towards them. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, making him a great fit for players aiming for a Culture-focused strategy with a strong emphasis on maintaining high morale.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli is ideal for players who enjoy diplomatic manipulation and strategic warfare. With increased Influence per Age and the ability to gain Gold from Diplomatic Actions, Machiavelli can quickly amass resources. His ability to declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him a master of political intrigue and military opportunism.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac specializes in leveraging Army Commanders, starting them with three free levels and a 20% Commander experience boost. Her Science bonus in Tropical Spaces, particularly during wars she declares, makes her a strong choice for players aiming to dominate with a powerful, experienced military force. Her effectiveness is map-dependent, requiring access to Tropical tiles.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth through Trade Routes and Roads, gaining significant Culture and Gold per Age. His increased Trade Route limit and bonuses to Unique Buildings and Improvements make him an excellent choice for players aiming for an Economic Victory through robust trade networks and strategic infrastructure development.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina's focus on Resources makes her a solid choice for players who can secure and utilize them effectively. With increased Resource Capacity and Gold generation from assigned Resources, Amina can build a strong economic foundation. Her situational combat bonus in Plains or Desert can be advantageous in specific map scenarios.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great is a cultural specialist, gaining Culture from Great Works and additional slots for them. Her Science bonus in Tundra can be powerful but depends heavily on map placement. Catherine is best suited for players who can leverage her cultural strengths in favorable environments.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique, provides a strong start with Army Commanders due to the Merit Commendation and additional Infantry Units from Science Buildings. While lacking direct Science or Culture boosts, Friedrich is a good choice for players who prioritize early military strength and strategic positioning.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta offers versatility through Wildcard Attribute Points and increased map visibility. His unique Trade Maps Endeavor can provide strategic advantages, but his effectiveness depends on how well players can utilize his flexibility and information-gathering capabilities.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette's traits, including the Reform Endeavor for additional Social Policy Slots and bonuses from Traditions, provide steady but unspectacular benefits. His unconditional Culture and Happiness boosts are helpful, making him a reliable choice for players seeking balanced growth.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on antagonizing other leaders, gaining Gold from being Unfriendly or Hostile. His Continental System Sanction can disrupt trade, but managing the resulting diplomatic fallout requires a strong military. Napoleon suits players who enjoy a confrontational style and can handle the consequences.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary, offers increased movement for land units and Culture from defending enemy units. His playstyle requires frequent defensive engagements, which can be challenging but rewarding for players who can provoke and withstand attacks effectively.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming the Suzerain of City-States, gaining Food, Production, and Combat Strength bonuses. However, this requires significant Influence and time, making him a strategic choice for players who can build the necessary infrastructure and invest in long-term alliances.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on friendly relations, gaining Science bonuses from alliances and the Friend of Wei Endeavor. Her strategy requires maintaining positive relationships, making her a good fit for players who prefer diplomacy and technological advancement over direct confrontation.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque, offers modest benefits with a Great Work from capturing settlements and Infantry Units from Culture Buildings. While these traits are useful, they lack the impact needed to compete with stronger leaders, making Friedrich a less compelling choice in most scenarios.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, offering Food adjacency bonuses and no Happiness cost for Specialists near them. While potentially powerful in the right map setup, Pachacuti's reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players without control over map generation.
