Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic brings a fresh dynamic to the series, allowing players to transition their civilization through different historical epochs: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. However, the leader you choose at the start remains with you throughout the entire game, making your selection crucial. While leaders don't offer as many traits and units as civilizations, their unique abilities can lead to powerful synergies, helping you navigate through the ages effectively. To guide your choice, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of all leaders, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses for a standard, single-player game. This list excludes multiplayer dynamics and DLC leaders such as Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Civilization 7 Leader Tier List

S-Tier - Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conqueror, 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 Conqueror

Ashoka, World Conqueror, excels at balancing internal happiness with aggressive expansion. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in cities and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, you can maintain a robust war machine. Declaring a formal war grants a Celebration, boosting all units with +5 Combat Strength against districts. This makes Ashoka ideal for players aiming to dominate militarily, provided they manage post-conquest unrest effectively.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expansion, gaining +2 Production in the capital for every town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in towns at a 50% Gold discount. His strategy revolves around establishing numerous towns without upgrading them to cities, maximizing his Gold and Production gains. This straightforward approach can lead to a powerful capital and a culturally rich empire.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is a growth and science powerhouse, with a +25% Growth Rate in cities and +2 Science from specialists. His ability to rapidly expand borders and advance technologically makes him a top choice for players focused on a peaceful, science-driven victory. However, he may require additional military support to defend his expanding territory.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is the epitome of military might, gaining +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing a settlement for the first time grants 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and he benefits from increased Gold in all settlements, especially those not founded by him. His higher settlement limit per Age makes him perfect for aggressive players seeking a Military Victory.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer, shifts the focus from military conquest to population growth, gaining +1 Food for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all settlements during a Celebration. His ability to boost Happiness from improvements supports a strategy of rapid land expansion and city development, though it requires careful management.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a science and production specialist, gaining +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. He also benefits from active Endeavors, making him ideal for players aiming for a Science Victory through efficient production and technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military and science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings and free Cavalry Units during Celebrations, which also receive +5 Combat Strength. His strategy centers on leveraging celebrations to maintain a strong military presence, especially in the early and mid-game.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defense, with +100% Influence towards initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her units ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient choice for players looking to disrupt opponents.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut focuses on culture and production, gaining +1 Culture for every imported resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near navigable rivers. Her strategy benefits from strong trade relationships and river-adjacent city placement, making her ideal for early cultural dominance.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is a culture powerhouse, gaining +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. Her +20% Culture boost, which doubles during Celebrations, is offset by a -10% Science penalty. She's perfect for players aiming for a Cultural Victory, provided they manage their science output.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella's strategy hinges on Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold upon discovery and doubled if in Distant Lands, along with +100% additional tile yields from them. Her naval units are also cost-effective, making her a strong choice for players who can secure these valuable map features early.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels at prolonging and benefiting from Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards them. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, making him a solid choice for players focusing on cultural and celebratory strategies.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is a master of influence and diplomacy, gaining +3 Influence per Age and Gold from diplomatic actions. His ability to ignore relationship requirements for declaring wars and levy units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him ideal for players who enjoy a strategic, manipulative gameplay style.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is the go-to leader for utilizing Army Commanders, starting with three free levels and +20% Commander experience. Her +10% Science bonus in tropical spaces, doubled during wars she declares, makes her a strong choice for players aiming for a military and science-focused victory.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth, gaining +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age from creating Trade Routes or Roads, and +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. His strategy revolves around maximizing trade and unique structures for a robust economy.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina specializes in resource management, gaining +1 Resource Capacity in cities and +1 Gold per Age for each resource assigned. Her units also gain +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a solid choice for players who can leverage these resources effectively.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a culture specialist, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for them. Her cities in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output, making her a strong choice for players with access to these biomes.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, focuses on military strength through Army Commanders, starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While not the most versatile, he's a good choice for players focusing on early military advantages.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with +2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and increased unit sight. His unique Endeavor, Trade Maps, allows visibility of other leaders' explored areas, making him a strategic choice for players who can utilize this information effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides additional Social Policy slots through the Reform Endeavor and +1 Combat Strength for each Tradition. His +1 Culture and Happiness per Age, doubled in Distant Lands, makes him a solid, if unspectacular, choice for players looking for steady growth.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on negative relationships, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every unfriendly or hostile leader. His Continental System Sanction disrupts trade routes, making him a choice for players who enjoy a disruptive playstyle, though it requires careful management of diplomatic fallout.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, gains +1 Movement for all land units and Culture from defending against enemy units. His unique playstyle suits players who can provoke and defend against enemies effectively, turning defensive actions into cultural gains.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in settlements for each, and +1 Combat Strength for all units. He's a good choice for players who can invest in building strong relationships with City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on positive relationships, gaining +4 Science per Age for every friendly or helpful leader. Her Friend of Wei Endeavor boosts Science for both her and her ally, making her ideal for players who can maintain strong alliances.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque, offers a Great Work upon capturing a settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit when constructing a Culture Building. While these traits can be useful, they lack the impact and versatility of higher-tier leaders.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonuses for buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for specialists near them. He's a strong choice for players who can secure favorable map conditions, but his potential is limited without them.