In the latest installment, *Civilization 7*, a groundbreaking Ages mechanic transforms your gameplay as you progress through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, switching civilizations along the way. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout, providing unique abilities that can significantly influence your strategy. To help you navigate this new dynamic, we've crafted a detailed tier list of every leader, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in a standard, single-player game. This guide aims to assist you in selecting the ideal leader to lead your empire into the Modern Age.
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Best Civ 7 Leaders
Note: This tier list does not consider synergies with Civilizations and is tailored for a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. Multiplayer and DLC leaders such as Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are excluded.
Civilization 7 Leader Tier List
S-Tier Leaders
Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus
S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer
Ashoka, World Conquerer excels in maintaining high happiness levels while exerting military dominance. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can rapidly expand and maintain a strong military base. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units, making Ashoka a formidable force in warfare. This leader is ideal for those who enjoy a balanced approach of prosperity and conquest, though managing unrest in newly acquired settlements is crucial.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expanding widely by establishing numerous Towns, whether through settling or conquest. His strategy involves boosting the Capital's Production by +2 for every Town and enabling the purchase of Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount. Augustus's straightforward playstyle focuses on maintaining Towns rather than upgrading them to Cities, which saves Gold and maximizes benefits, making him an excellent choice for players who prefer a wide, resource-efficient empire.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius stands out for his ability to rapidly grow Cities with a +25% Growth Rate, enabling swift territorial expansion and resource acquisition. Additionally, his +2 Science from Specialists makes him a top contender in technological advancement, especially in the game's later stages. While Confucius may require support in military defense, his focus on growth and science positions him as a leader for those aiming for a peaceful, tech-driven victory.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is all about military aggression, offering +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 an increased Settlement limit per Age further fuels his expansionist tendencies. Xerxes is the go-to leader for players aiming for a swift Military Victory through conquest and territorial domination.
A-Tier Leaders
Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko High Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Unlike his conquering counterpart, 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 Celebrations. His approach encourages land grabbing and establishing Districts, offering a different but equally potent strategy for those who excel in managing large populations and urban development.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is the choice for science enthusiasts, offering +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and +50% Production towards constructing them. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at once, combined with extra Science from active Endeavors, creates a powerful feedback loop for technological advancement.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne's strategy revolves around military and scientific prowess, gaining Happiness adjacency for Military and Science Buildings. Entering a Celebration provides 2 free Cavalry Units and +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units, making him a strong choice for early to mid-game dominance through cavalry-based warfare.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defensive warfare, 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 leader for players who enjoy a tactical, subterfuge-filled game.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut benefits from strong cultural growth, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards the construction of Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. She's perfect for players looking to dominate the early Culture Legacy Paths through trade and wonder construction.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is a top-tier cultural leader, offering +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. While her -10% Science penalty requires careful management, her +20% Culture, which doubles during Celebrations, makes her an excellent choice for players aiming for a Cultural Victory.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella's fortunes rise with the discovery of Natural Wonders, granting 300 Gold and doubled if in Distant Lands. With +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and a strong focus on naval units, she's a great leader for those who can capitalize on map exploration and naval dominance.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal's strength lies in prolonging and benefiting from Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. His additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events make him a solid choice for players who can leverage these events for cultural and economic gains.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli is the master of influence and diplomacy, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age from Diplomatic Actions. His ability to ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him ideal for players who enjoy a cunning, diplomatic strategy.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac excels in commanding armies, granting 3 free Levels on the first Army Commander and +20% Commander experience. With a +10% Science bonus in Tropical Spaces that doubles during Formal Wars, she's perfect for players who can harness the power of Army Commanders and thrive in tropical environments.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid offers a versatile set of economic and cultural benefits, including +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and significant Culture and Gold gains from creating Trade Routes and Roads. His focus on Unique Buildings and Improvements provides substantial yields, making him a strong choice for players aiming for an Economic Victory.
B-Tier Leaders
Amina, Catherine The Great, Friedrich Oblique, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Napoleon Emperor, Napoleon Revolution, Tecumseh, Himiko Queen of Wa
B-Tier: Amina
Amina's strengths lie in resource management, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her +5 Combat Strength on Units in Plains or Desert can be situational but valuable in the right circumstances, making her suitable for players who can maximize resource utilization.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great focuses on cultural production, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for them. Her Science boost in Tundra cities adds versatility, though her effectiveness can be map-dependent, making her a good choice for players with access to Tundra.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique enhances army commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs, his military enhancements can be beneficial for players focusing on a strong army.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta's versatility comes from gaining Wildcard Attribute Points and increased unit sight. His Trade Maps Endeavor can provide strategic advantages, making him suitable for experienced players who can utilize his flexibility and map visibility effectively.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette's unique Reform Endeavor grants additional Social Policy slots, and his Combat Strength boost from Traditions adds military strength. His unconditional Culture and Happiness boosts in Settlements make him a solid, if not standout, choice for players seeking balanced growth.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor thrives on antagonizing other leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction can disrupt trade, but managing the resulting hostility requires a strong military, making him ideal for players who enjoy a challenging, confrontational strategy.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary's +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture gain from defending enemy units offer a unique playstyle. Players who can provoke enemies while holding their ground can benefit from significant Culture spikes, though maintaining a robust army is essential.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming the Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for each City-State. While becoming a Suzerain requires time and Influence, the rewards can be substantial for players who can manage this effectively.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on fostering alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Friendly or Helpful Leader and a significant Science boost from the Friend of Wei Endeavor. Players who can maintain good relations can leverage her abilities for technological advancement, though they must balance this with military preparedness.
C-Tier Leaders
Friedrich Baroque, Pachacuti
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque offers a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are decent, they lack the impact needed to compete with higher-tier leaders, making him a choice for players who value modest military and cultural gains.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for Buildings and no Happiness maintenance for Specialists near them. His potential is high in the right environment, but without Mountains, he offers little, making him a risky choice dependent on map generation.
