Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

*Civilization 7* introduces a groundbreaking mechanic called Ages, which allows players to transition their civilization through different eras, from Antiquity to the Modern Age. However, the choice of leader remains constant throughout the game, making the selection of a leader crucial for your strategy. While leaders don't provide as many traits and units as civilizations, their unique abilities can lead to powerful synergies when paired correctly. To assist you in choosing the right leader, we've compiled a detailed tier list that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each leader, focusing on standard, single-player gameplay. Note that this list does not account for synergies with civilizations or include DLC leaders like Ada Lovelace or 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 thrives on maintaining high levels of happiness within your cities, which directly translates to increased production. For every 5 excess Happiness in Cities, you gain +1 Production, and an additional +10% Production in settlements not founded by you. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, boosting all units' Combat Strength by +5 against districts. This leader excels at leveraging happiness to fuel aggressive expansion and military campaigns, making them a formidable choice for players aiming for domination.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus is ideal for players who prefer a wide expansion strategy. He gains +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount on Gold. By focusing on establishing numerous Towns without upgrading them to Cities, Augustus can turn his Capital into a production and culture powerhouse, benefiting from both the increased yields and cost savings.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is perfect for those who want to expand their cities rapidly and advance technologically. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities, you can quickly absorb key resources and expand your borders. Additionally, Confucius gains +2 Science from Specialists, making him one of the best at accelerating technological progress. His strength lies in peaceful expansion and technological superiority, although he may require a strong ally for defense.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is the go-to leader for those seeking a military victory. He gains +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, and upon capturing a settlement for the first time, he earns 100 Culture and Gold per Age. His +10% Gold in all settlements, especially those not founded by him, along with an increased settlement limit per Age, makes him a relentless conqueror.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on population growth and city development rather than military might. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a +10% Food boost during Celebrations, this leader is excellent for players who excel at managing large populations and constructing districts. While not as aggressive as the World Conquerer version, the World Renouncer can still be very effective with the right strategy.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for science-focused players. He gains +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities, a 50% Production boost towards constructing them, and additional Science from active Endeavors. Franklin's ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at once allows for a powerful feedback loop, making him a top choice for those aiming for a science victory.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military and science for a potent strategy. Military and Science Buildings gain Happiness adjacency from Quarters, and entering a Celebration provides two free Cavalry Units with an additional +5 Combat Strength. This leader excels in the early and mid-game, leveraging cavalry to dominate opponents before transitioning to a strong empire in the Modern Age.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is a stealthy leader with a focus on espionage and defense. With a 100% Influence boost towards initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support when wars are declared against you, she can disrupt opponents while maintaining a strong defensive posture. Her units also ignore movement penalties from vegetation, adding to her tactical flexibility.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in culture generation through trade and construction. She gains +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% Production boost towards building Wonders and Buildings adjacent to Navigable Rivers. This makes her a strong choice for players aiming for cultural victories, especially in the early stages of the game.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is a top producer of Culture, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. She also gains a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though this comes at the cost of -10% Science. This leader is ideal for cultural victories but requires careful management of the Science penalty.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from discovering Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold (doubled in Distant Lands) and a 100% boost to tile yields from them. She also benefits from cheaper Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs. While map-dependent, Isabella can catapult herself ahead early on if she secures Natural Wonders.

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. This leader is excellent for players looking to leverage long-lasting Celebrations for cultural victories.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli thrives on diplomatic manipulation and surprise attacks. He gains +3 Influence per Age, 50 Gold when Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted (or 100 Gold if rejected), and can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements. Additionally, he can levy military units from City-States he's not Suzerain of, making him a formidable choice for players who enjoy a devious playstyle.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac excels in utilizing Army Commanders, starting with three free levels and a 20% Commander experience boost. She also gains a 10% Science boost in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. This leader is perfect for players who want to leverage powerful military units and benefit from a strong Science and Military combination.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic growth and trade. He gains +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders, 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age from creating Trade Routes or Roads, and +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. This leader is ideal for players aiming for 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 to Cities. Her units also gain +5 Combat Strength on Plains or Desert tiles, making her a decent choice for players who can leverage these situational bonuses.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great focuses on culture through Great Works, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for them. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn, making her a good choice for players who can utilize Tundra tiles effectively.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique benefits from Army Commanders starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing Science Buildings. While not the strongest in terms of yields, he can provide early military advantages if used correctly.

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 also gains a unique Endeavor called Trade Maps, which allows visibility of other leaders' explored areas. This leader is suitable for players who can utilize his versatile traits effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette gains a unique Endeavor called Reform, which grants 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 not the most specialized, he offers consistent bonuses that can be beneficial in the right hands.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on being disliked, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction reduces other leaders' Trade Route limits, though it comes with significant relationship penalties. This leader is for players who enjoy a challenging, aggressive playstyle.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary provides +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. This leader is ideal for players who can provoke enemies while holding their ground, using the resulting Culture spikes to their advantage.

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, making him a good choice for players who can set up the necessary infrastructure.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on diplomacy and science, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. She can also perform a unique Endeavor called Friend of Wei with allies to gain +25% Science. This leader is suitable for players who can maintain positive relationships with others.

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 decent, they lack the impact needed to compete with stronger leaders in the game.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti benefits from being near Mountains, with all Buildings gaining a +1 Food adjacency bonus and Specialists adjacent to Mountains not costing Happiness maintenance. However, his effectiveness is highly dependent on the map, making him a risky choice for players who cannot guarantee favorable terrain.