In *Civilization 7*, a groundbreaking Ages mechanic allows you to evolve your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, swapping out your civilization as the game progresses. However, your choice of leader remains constant throughout your journey, and selecting the right leader can significantly impact your strategy and success. Leaders in *Civ 7* don't offer as many traits and units as civilizations, but their unique abilities can create powerful synergies when paired correctly. To assist you in choosing the best leader for your empire, we've crafted a comprehensive tier list that evaluates each leader's strengths and weaknesses, focusing on standard, single-player gameplay.
Note: This tier list excludes synergies with civilizations, multiplayer scenarios, and DLC leaders Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.
Civilization 7 Leader Tier List
S-Tier Leaders
S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer
Ashoka, World Conquerer excels at maintaining high happiness levels while intimidating other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in cities and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can rapidly build units and maintain a strong base. Declaring a formal war grants a Celebration, boosting all units by +5 Combat Strength against districts. This leader is perfect for those aiming for military dominance, as long as you can manage the unrest from conquered settlements.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expanding widely with settlements, gaining +2 Production in the capital for every town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in towns. Additionally, he enjoys a 50% Gold discount on purchasing buildings in towns. Augustus's strategy revolves around maintaining as many towns as possible, turning his capital into a powerhouse while saving gold and boosting both Production and Culture. It's a straightforward yet highly effective approach to empire building.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is a master of city growth, offering a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This allows for rapid territorial expansion and technological advancement, particularly in the early game. Confucius's strength lies in his ability to quickly outpace opponents in land acquisition and scientific research, making him ideal for players focusing on a peaceful expansion and technological superiority.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is designed for aggressive players, offering +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory and a +10% Gold increase in all settlements, especially those not founded by you. Capturing settlements provides 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and Xerxes gains a higher settlement limit per Age. This leader is perfect for those aiming for a Military Victory through conquest and territorial expansion.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on turning happiness into population growth, with +1 Food in cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all settlements during a Celebration. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for improvements. This version of Ashoka is ideal for players who prefer a more peaceful expansion and population management strategy.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for science-focused players, gaining +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. He also benefits from active Endeavors, gaining +1 Science per Age for each. Franklin's traits create a powerful feedback loop, making him excellent for rapid technological advancement.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines military and science, gaining Happiness from Military and Science Buildings adjacent to Quarters. He receives 2 free Cavalry Units during a Celebration and +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units. Charlemagne's strategy revolves around early and mid-game dominance through cavalry, supported by strong science and happiness management.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is the stealthiest leader, with +100% Influence towards Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her units ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her ideal for players who prefer a more covert, disruptive strategy.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut gains +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders adjacent to Navigable Rivers. She excels at early Culture Legacy Paths, benefiting from trade and strategic city placement.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is the best producer of Culture, gaining +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. She also receives a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though at the cost of -10% Science. Himiko is perfect for a cultural victory but requires careful management of her science deficit.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella can gain significant advantages from Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold upon discovery and double that in Distant Lands. She also receives +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and benefits from a strong Navy. Isabella's success depends on map placement, making her a high-risk, high-reward choice.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal excels at Celebrations, gaining +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Rizal is ideal for players focusing on cultural victories through prolonged Celebrations.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli is the master of deception, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 or 100 Gold per Age from Diplomatic Actions. He can declare Formal Wars without relationship requirements and levy military units from City-States he's not Suzerain of. Machiavelli's strategy involves manipulating diplomacy and sudden military actions.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac focuses on Army Commanders, gaining 3 free levels on her first Army Commander and +20% Commander experience. She also receives +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during a Formal War. Trung Trac is ideal for players who want to leverage powerful Army Commanders for military victories.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid gains a +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age from creating Trade Routes or Roads. He also benefits from Unique Buildings and Improvements, making him a strong choice for players focusing on economic and cultural victories.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina gains +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her units receive +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a solid choice for players who can manage resources effectively and leverage terrain advantages.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great focuses on Culture, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output. Catherine is a good choice for players aiming for a cultural victory, especially on maps with Tundra.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique starts Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While he has some military potential, his lack of Science, Influence, or Culture buffs makes him less competitive compared to other leaders.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta gains 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and +1 Sight for all Units. He also has a unique Endeavor to see other leaders' explored areas. Ibn Battuta's versatility and map visibility make him a strong choice for experienced players who can utilize his traits effectively.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette gains a unique Endeavor called Reform, which grants an additional Social Policy slot. He also gains +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. Lafayette is a good all-around leader, though his traits are less impactful compared to higher-tier leaders.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor gains +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with and can reject endeavors for free. His Continental System Sanction reduces other leaders' Trade Route limits. Napoleon, Emperor is ideal for players who enjoy a challenging, aggressive diplomatic strategy.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary gains +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of an enemy's Combat Strength when defending. This leader is suited for players who can provoke enemies while holding their ground, leveraging the resulting Culture gains.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for every City-State he is Suzerain of. While he has great potential, becoming a Suzerain requires significant Influence and time, making him a slower start but with strong long-term benefits.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa gains +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and can support Endeavors for free. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, grants +25% Science to her and her ally. Himiko, Queen of Wa is perfect for players who can maintain strong alliances and focus on scientific advancement.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque gains a Great Work when 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 higher-tier leaders, making Friedrich, Baroque a less compelling choice.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti gains +1 Food adjacency for Mountains and Specialists adjacent to Mountains do not cost Happiness maintenance. His effectiveness is highly dependent on map placement, making him a risky choice unless you can ensure access to Mountains.
