In Civilization 7, the introduction of the Ages mechanic revolutionizes gameplay, allowing players to transition their civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. While your civilization evolves, your chosen leader remains constant throughout the game, providing consistent abilities that can synergize with different civilizations for strategic advantages. To help you navigate the diverse array of leaders, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in a standard, single-player game. This guide will assist you in selecting the ideal leader to lead your empire into the Modern Age.
Best Civ 7 Leaders
Note: This tier list does not take into account synergies with Civilizations, and is entirely focused on a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. Multiplayer is not taken into account here, and we haven't included DLC Leaders Ada Lovelace or Simón Bolívar.
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 in maintaining high levels of Happiness, which translates into significant Production boosts. For every 5 excess Happiness in your Cities, you gain +1 Production, and an additional +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, boosting all your Units with +5 Combat Strength against Districts. This makes Ashoka a formidable force, capable of leveraging Happiness into military dominance. While managing unrest in newly conquered Settlements can be challenging, Ashoka's ability to sustain multiple Celebrations during war can lead to periods of unmatched military power.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expanding your empire through numerous Towns, whether by settling or conquest. He gains +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount. Augustus's strategy is to maintain many Towns without upgrading them to Cities, maximizing his Gold and Production bonuses. This approach makes his Capital a powerhouse, fueled by the resources from his widespread Towns, and allows him to accumulate immense Culture and Production while saving on costs.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is a leader focused on rapid City growth and technological advancement. His +25% Growth Rate in Cities facilitates early expansion, allowing you to claim valuable Resources quickly. Additionally, he gains +2 Science from Specialists, positioning him as one of the top Science producers in the game. While Confucius may require assistance in defending his territory, his ability to expand and advance technologically can lead to a significant edge in the later stages of the game.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is designed for aggressive play, excelling in military conquest. His Units gain +3 Combat Strength when attacking in neutral or enemy territory, and he gains 100 Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time. Additionally, he benefits from a +10% Gold increase in all Settlements, with higher gains in those not founded by him, and an increased Settlement limit per Age. Xerxes's straightforward approach to conquest makes him a prime choice for those pursuing a Military Victory.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on leveraging Happiness for population growth, gaining +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during Celebrations. All Buildings also receive a +1 Happiness adjacency bonus from Improvements. While less aggressive than his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer excels in expanding through Districts and managing population growth, making him a strong choice for players skilled in city planning and resource management.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is ideal for those pursuing a Science-focused strategy. He gains +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and enjoys a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. Additionally, he benefits from +1 Science per Age from active Endeavors and can have two Endeavors of the same type active simultaneously. Franklin's traits create a powerful feedback loop that accelerates technological progress and production efficiency.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines Military and Science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. Upon entering a Celebration, he receives two free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for them. This synergy allows Charlemagne to stay ahead in military technology and dominate early and mid-game conflicts, although he may face challenges in the Modern Age against advanced units.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in stealth and espionage, with a 100% increase in Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions. She also gains 5 War Support in all wars declared against her and her Units ignore movement penalties from Vegetation. Tubman's abilities make her a challenging opponent to pin down and a master at disrupting other civilizations through covert operations.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut leverages Trade Routes for Culture gains, receiving +1 Culture for every imported Resource. She also enjoys a 15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers. Her focus on Culture and Wonders makes her a strong contender in the early Culture Legacy Paths, particularly when situated near rivers.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is a powerhouse in generating Culture, with a +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. She gains a 20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though at the cost of a 10% Science penalty, also doubled during Celebrations. Himiko's strategy revolves around maximizing Culture and Happiness, requiring careful management of her Science deficit.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella's fortunes can skyrocket with the discovery of Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold per discovery, doubled if in Distant Lands, and a 100% increase in tile yields from them. She also benefits from a 50% Gold discount on purchasing Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs. While dependent on map placement, Isabella's potential for early economic boosts and naval dominance is significant.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal is a master of Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and a 50% boost to Happiness towards Celebrations. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Rizal's focus on maximizing Celebration effects makes him a strong choice for players aiming for a Culture victory.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli excels in diplomatic manipulation and surprise warfare, gaining +3 Influence per Age and significant Gold from accepted or rejected Diplomatic Action proposals. He can ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from non-Suzerain City-States. Machiavelli's deceptive playstyle makes him a threat even to allies, perfect for those who enjoy a cunning approach to victory.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac focuses on the powerful Army Commander units, starting with three free Levels on her first Commander and a 20% boost to Commander experience. She also gains a 10% Science boost in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac's ability to quickly enhance her Commanders can lead to decisive military advantages, especially on maps with Tropical terrain.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid benefits from Trade Routes and Roads, gaining 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for creating them, with an additional Trade Route limit per leader. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. Xerxes's versatility in generating Culture and Gold makes him a strong choice for economic and cultural strategies.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina focuses on Resource management, gaining +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her Units receive a +5 Combat Strength boost in Plains or Desert, making her a solid choice for players who can secure and utilize a variety of Resources effectively.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great excels in Culture production, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for Buildings with Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output, making her a strong choice for players with access to Tundra terrain.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation for increased Command Radius and gains an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While he lacks direct boosts to Science, Influence, or Culture, his focus on military enhancement can be beneficial in the right hands.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and +1 Sight for all Units. He can also gradually see other Leaders’ Explored areas through the Trade Maps Endeavor. His versatility makes him suitable for players who can adapt to various game situations.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette provides a unique Reform Endeavor for additional Social Policy slots and +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into Government. He also gains +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. While his traits are solid, they may not be as impactful as those of more specialized Leaders.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor thrives on causing discord, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. He can reduce other Leaders' Trade Route limits with the Continental System Sanction, though this comes with significant relationship penalties. Napoleon, Emperor is ideal for players who enjoy a confrontational playstyle.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary grants +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of an enemy Unit's Combat Strength when defending. His unique playstyle requires frequent defensive engagements to maximize Culture gains, making him a challenging but rewarding choice.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State he is Suzerain of, along with +1 Combat Strength for all Units. While powerful, becoming a Suzerain requires significant Influence and time, making Tecumseh a strong choice for players with a long-term strategy.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and a unique Friend of Wei Endeavor for a 25% Science boost in alliances. While beneficial, players must balance diplomacy with defense to avoid becoming a target.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque gains a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit when constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the impact needed to compete with stronger Leaders in terms of yield bonuses.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti benefits from Mountains, with all Buildings gaining a +1 Food adjacency bonus and Specialists adjacent to Mountains not costing Happiness maintenance. While potent near Mountains, his effectiveness is highly dependent on map placement, making him a risky choice without favorable terrain.
