In *Civilization 7*, a groundbreaking feature is the Ages mechanic, allowing you to transition your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each time switching to a new civilization. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout your journey, providing a unique strategic element as you build your empire from the dawn of history to the modern era.
Leaders in *Civilization 7* might not offer as many traits and units as civilizations do, but their abilities are potent and can significantly enhance gameplay when paired strategically. To assist you in selecting the perfect leader for your empire, we've compiled a detailed tier list of every leader, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. This guide focuses on standard, single-player gameplay, excluding multiplayer scenarios 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 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 within your cities while intimidating rival civilizations. With a +1 Production bonus for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and a 10% Production boost in settlements you didn't found, Ashoka transforms happiness into tangible advantages. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting all your units a +5 Combat Strength against districts. This strategy allows you to maintain a powerful military and a happy populace, making Ashoka a top-tier choice for aggressive expansion.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expanding widely by establishing numerous towns, whether through settling or conquest. His strategy focuses on not upgrading these towns to cities, saving gold while reaping benefits. Augustus gains +2 Production in the Capital for every town and can purchase Culture Buildings in towns at a 50% discount. This approach turns his capital into a production and cultural powerhouse, ideal for players aiming for a broad territorial strategy.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is your go-to leader for rapid city growth and scientific advancement. A +25% Growth Rate in Cities allows for quick expansion and resource acquisition, while +2 Science from Specialists accelerates your technological progress. Although Confucius may require a strong ally or civilization pairing for defense, his ability to expand and advance scientifically makes him an S-tier leader.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is designed for players seeking a military victory. His +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, combined with bonuses of 100 Culture and Gold per Age for capturing a settlement, makes him a formidable force. An additional settlement limit per Age further supports his aggressive expansion strategy, making Xerxes an excellent choice for those aiming to conquer.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer transforms happiness into population growth, offering +1 Food for every 5 excess Happiness and a 10% Food boost during Celebrations. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for improvements, encouraging a focus on land development and population management. While less aggressive than his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer is a strong choice for those aiming to expand peacefully.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is perfect for players pursuing a scientific victory. His bonuses to Science and Production, particularly around Production Buildings, create a powerful feedback loop that accelerates technological progress. Additionally, his ability to engage in multiple Endeavors at once enhances his versatility, making him a top A-tier leader for science-focused strategies.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne blends military might with scientific advancement. His bonuses to Military and Science Buildings, combined with free Cavalry Units and combat strength boosts during Celebrations, make him an excellent choice for early and mid-game dominance. Although his effectiveness may wane in the Modern Age, his early-game advantages can set a strong foundation for victory.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is ideal for players who enjoy espionage and guerrilla tactics. With a 100% Influence boost towards Espionage Actions and the ability to ignore movement penalties from vegetation, she can disrupt rival civilizations effectively. Additionally, gaining War Support when targeted by other civilizations makes her a resilient choice in the face of aggression.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut excels in cultural development, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% Production boost for constructing Buildings and Wonders near navigable rivers. Her focus on trade and cultural landmarks makes her a strong contender for cultural victories, especially when utilizing river-adjacent cities.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is the ultimate cultural leader, with significant boosts to Culture and Happiness. Her ability to quickly construct Happiness Buildings and gain a massive Culture increase during Celebrations makes her a top choice for cultural dominance. However, her -10% Science penalty requires careful management to balance cultural and scientific progress.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella's strength lies in her ability to capitalize on Natural Wonders, gaining substantial Gold and tile yield bonuses. Her focus on naval units, with reduced maintenance costs, makes her an excellent choice for players who can secure early Natural Wonders, especially in the Antiquity Age.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal is a master of Celebrations, with extended Celebration durations and increased Happiness towards them. His additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events further enhance his cultural strategy, making him a strong A-tier leader for players focusing on cultural victories.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli's deceptive tactics make him a formidable leader. With increased Influence and Gold from Diplomatic Actions, as well as the ability to levy units from City-States and ignore relationship requirements for war declarations, Machiavelli excels in manipulation and opportunistic strikes.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac is the leader for those who want to leverage Army Commanders effectively. Her bonuses to Commander experience and free levels on your first Army Commander make her units exceptionally powerful. Additionally, her Science boost in Tropical Spaces during formal wars complements her military focus, making her a versatile A-tier leader.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid thrives on trade and unique structures, gaining significant Culture and Gold from Trade Routes and Roads. His additional Trade Route limit and bonuses to Unique Buildings and Improvements make him an excellent choice for economic and cultural strategies.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina's focus on Resources and Gold generation makes her a solid B-tier leader. Her +1 Resource Capacity and Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities provide a steady economic boost. Additionally, her situational combat strength boost in Plains or Desert can be advantageous in certain scenarios.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great excels in cultural production, particularly through Great Works. Her additional slots for Great Works and Culture boost in Tundra cities make her a viable choice for cultural victories, though her effectiveness is map-dependent.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and provides Infantry Units upon constructing Science Buildings. While not the strongest in terms of direct yields, his focus on military strength through Commanders makes him a decent B-tier leader.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta's flexibility with Wildcard Attribute Points and enhanced visibility through Trade Maps makes him a versatile leader. However, his effectiveness depends heavily on the player's ability to utilize these attributes strategically.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette offers a mix of combat and cultural benefits, with additional Social Policy slots and combat strength from Traditions. While not the most specialized, his unconditional Culture and Happiness boosts in Settlements make him a reliable B-tier choice.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor's strategy revolves around antagonizing other leaders, gaining Gold from being unfriendly or hostile. His Continental System Sanction disrupts trade, but his lack of direct military buffs requires careful management of relationships and defense.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary provides movement bonuses to all land units and Culture from defending against enemy units. This unique playstyle can be powerful but requires frequent combat and strategic positioning to maximize benefits.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh's potential lies in becoming Suzerain of City-States, gaining Food, Production, and Combat Strength bonuses. However, his effectiveness depends on successfully influencing these states, requiring time and strategic planning.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on alliances and Science, gaining significant Science bonuses from being friendly with other leaders. Her Friend of Wei Endeavor further enhances this, though maintaining these relationships requires careful diplomacy.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque's traits are less impactful, offering a Great Work upon capturing a settlement and an Infantry Unit when constructing a Culture Building. While these can be useful, they don't provide the same level of strategic advantage as higher-tier leaders.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on settling near Mountains, gaining Food and Happiness bonuses. While potent in the right circumstances, his reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice without map manipulation.
