Civilization 7 introduces a groundbreaking mechanic called the Ages, which allows you to transition your civilization through different historical periods: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. However, your choice of leader remains constant throughout the game, making your selection crucial for success. Leaders in Civilization 7, while not offering as many traits and units as civilizations, possess powerful abilities that can significantly impact gameplay when strategically paired. To assist you in choosing the right leader for your empire, we've compiled a detailed tier list, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses for standard, single-player games. Note that this list does not account for synergies with civilizations, multiplayer dynamics, or the DLC leaders, Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.
### Best Civ 7 LeadersCivilization 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 leveraging happiness to fuel military dominance. With a +1 Production boost for every 5 excess Happiness in cities, and a +10% Production increase in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka enables rapid unit production and infrastructure growth. Declaring a formal war triggers a Celebration, granting an instant +5 Combat Strength against districts for all units. This leader is perfect for those who aim to keep their citizens happy while aggressively expanding their empire. Managing the unrest from conquered settlements is crucial, but with effective happiness management, Ashoka, World Conquerer can become one of the most formidable leaders in the game.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives by expanding his empire widely through settlements and towns, rather than upgrading them to cities. He gains +2 Production in the capital for every town and can purchase Culture Buildings in towns at a 50% discount in Gold. This strategy allows Augustus to turn his capital into a powerhouse, leveraging the productivity and cultural output of numerous towns. His straightforward approach to expansion and resource management makes him an excellent choice for players looking to dominate through sheer breadth of territory and efficient resource allocation.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is unparalleled in city expansion, boasting a +25% Growth Rate in cities that accelerates border expansion and resource acquisition. Additionally, his +2 Science from Specialists positions him as a leader in technological advancement. While he may need support in military defense, Confucius's ability to grow and advance technologically without resorting to war makes him an ideal choice for players who prefer a peaceful, expansive approach to victory.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is the epitome of military aggression, gaining +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing a settlement for the first time in each Age rewards 100 Culture and Gold, and his +10% Gold bonus in all settlements, especially those not founded by him, further fuels his war machine. With an increased settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is tailored for players aiming for a swift Military Victory through relentless conquest.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on converting happiness into population growth, gaining +1 Food in cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a +10% Food increase in all settlements during Celebrations. All buildings also gain a +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for improvements. This leader is ideal for players who prioritize population management and city development over military conquest, offering a strong alternative to the World Conquerer version.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is the go-to leader for players pursuing a Science Victory, with traits that enhance both Science and Production. He earns +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in cities, and benefits from a +50% Production boost towards constructing these buildings. Additionally, his ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time further accelerates his technological progress, making him a versatile and powerful choice.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines military and scientific prowess, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. Entering a Celebration provides 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry Units, making Charlemagne a strong early-game leader. His strategy focuses on leveraging happiness to maintain a strong military advantage, particularly effective in the early and mid-game stages.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defensive warfare, with a +100% Influence boost towards initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her units also ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient leader. Harriet is perfect for players who enjoy disrupting their opponents through covert operations and defensive tactics.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut is a cultural powerhouse, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a +15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. Her ability to leverage trade routes for cultural gains makes her an excellent choice for players aiming to progress through the Cultural Legacy Paths quickly.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is the ultimate Culture producer, with traits that accelerate the construction of Happiness Buildings and provide significant Culture boosts. Her +20% Culture bonus, doubled during Celebrations, is offset by a -10% Science penalty, requiring strategic compensation. Himiko is ideal for players focused on the Cultural Legacy Path and willing to manage their Science output carefully.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella's fortunes are tied to Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold upon discovery, doubled if in Distant Lands, and +100% additional tile yields from these wonders. Her naval prowess is enhanced by a 50% Gold discount on purchasing Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs. Isabella is a strong choice for players who can capitalize on map exploration and naval dominance.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal excels at maximizing the duration and impact of Celebrations, gaining a +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. He also benefits from additional Narrative Events, providing extra Culture and Gold. Jose Rizal is perfect for players who want to leverage Celebrations to boost their cultural and economic growth.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli is the master of diplomacy and subterfuge, gaining +3 Influence per Age and significant Gold from Diplomatic Actions. He can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy military units from City-States he is not Suzerain of. Machiavelli is ideal for players who enjoy a cunning, diplomatic approach to gameplay.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac specializes in Army Commanders, starting with 3 free levels on the first Commander and a +20% Commander experience boost. Her cities in Tropical Spaces gain a +10% Science bonus, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac is perfect for players who want to leverage powerful military units and focus on Science during tropical campaigns.
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 and Roads. His +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and bonuses to Unique Buildings and Improvements make him a strong choice for players pursuing an Economic Victory through trade and infrastructure development.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina benefits from resource management, gaining +1 Resource Capacity in cities and +1 Gold per Age for each resource assigned. Her units gain +5 Combat Strength on Plains or Desert, making her a situational but effective leader for players who can leverage these environments.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great excels in Culture production, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for these works. Her cities on Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output, making her a strong choice for players who can settle in these regions.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing Science Buildings. While he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs, his focus on military strength makes him a viable choice for players interested in a strong early military.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta offers flexibility through Wildcard Attribute Points and increased unit sight, along with a unique Endeavor to see other leaders' explored areas. His versatility makes him suitable for players who enjoy adapting to various gameplay scenarios.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette provides additional Social Policy slots through a unique Endeavor and gains +1 Combat Strength per Tradition. His +1 Culture and Happiness per Age, doubled in Distant Lands, make him a solid choice for players looking for steady, if unspectacular, growth.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor thrives on being disliked, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every unfriendly or hostile leader. His Continental System Sanction disrupts other leaders' trade routes, making him ideal for players who enjoy a confrontational style of play.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary enhances land unit mobility and gains Culture when defending against enemy units. His unique playstyle requires provoking and holding against enemies, making him suitable for players who enjoy a defensive strategy with cultural benefits.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh gains significant bonuses to Food, Production, and Combat Strength for every City-State he is Suzerain of. His potential is high, but requires time and infrastructure to become effective, making him a choice for patient players who can build strong alliances.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every friendly or helpful leader and a unique Endeavor that boosts Science for both allies. Her strategy requires careful diplomacy, making her ideal for players who prefer a peaceful, cooperative approach.
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 are useful, they lack the strength and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders, making him a less competitive choice.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists near them. His potential is high in favorable map conditions but negligible otherwise, making him a risky choice for players who cannot guarantee mountain access.
