Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic revolutionizes gameplay, allowing you to transition your civilization through different eras—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages—while your chosen leader remains constant throughout your journey. Leaders, although less versatile than civilizations, wield significant abilities that can be strategically combined to enhance your gameplay experience. To aid you in selecting the ideal leader for your empire, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list that evaluates each leader's strengths and weaknesses, focusing on their performance in a standard, single-player setting. This guide excludes multiplayer considerations and does not account for the DLC leaders 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 while asserting dominance over other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka ensures robust growth and military strength. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting all Units +5 Combat Strength against Districts. This leader's ability to leverage Happiness into production and military might makes them a top choice for players aiming for aggressive expansion and conquest.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expansion, with +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns. Additionally, Augustus enjoys a 50% discount on Gold when purchasing Buildings in Towns. This leader's strategy revolves around establishing numerous Towns, either through settlement or conquest, without upgrading them to Cities, thereby saving resources while boosting production and culture. Augustus is ideal for players who prefer a wide, resource-efficient empire.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the go-to leader for rapid city expansion, offering a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This combination allows for swift territorial expansion and technological advancement. Confucius's ability to grow quickly without resorting to war makes him a perfect choice for players focused on peaceful expansion and technological supremacy.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is a straightforward military leader, gaining +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Upon capturing a Settlement for the first time, Xerxes earns 100 Culture and Gold per Age, along with a +10% Gold boost in all Settlements, which is further increased in those not founded by you. With an additional Settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is designed for players who aim to conquer and expand aggressively.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer, focuses on population growth, offering +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, making this version of Ashoka ideal for players who prefer a peaceful, population-focused strategy.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a science and production powerhouse, with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and a 50% boost to Production towards constructing Production Buildings. He also gains +1 Science per Age for active Endeavors and can have two Endeavors of the same type active simultaneously. Franklin is perfect for players aiming for a scientific victory.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military prowess with scientific advancement, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings. During Celebrations, he receives two free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry Units. Charlemagne is ideal for players who want to leverage military strength and technological progress early in the game.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defense, with a 100% increase in Influence 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 formidable choice for players who enjoy stealthy and defensive strategies.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is a cultural leader, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% boost to Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. This leader is perfect for players who want to focus on cultural dominance and wonder-building.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is a culture and happiness specialist, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% boost to Production towards constructing them. She gains a 20% Culture boost, which doubles during Celebrations, but suffers a 10% Science penalty that also doubles. Himiko is ideal for players aiming for a cultural victory, despite the science trade-off.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella thrives on discovering Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold upon discovery, doubled if the Wonder is in Distant Lands. She also receives 100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and a 50% discount on Gold towards purchasing Naval Units. Isabella is perfect for players who want to capitalize on natural resources and naval power.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in extending Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and a 50% boost to Happiness towards Celebrations. He gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events and experiences these events more frequently. Rizal is ideal for players who want to leverage Celebrations for prolonged advantages.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is a master of influence and diplomacy, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 or 100 Gold per Age when Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted or rejected, respectively. He can ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from City-States he is not Suzerain of. Machiavelli is perfect for players who enjoy manipulating diplomacy and politics.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is a military commander specialist, with her first Army Commander gaining three free Levels and a 20% boost to Commander experience. She also gains a 10% Science boost in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac is ideal for players who want to leverage powerful military commanders and science in tropical environments.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for creating Trade Routes or Roads. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. This leader is perfect for players aiming for an economic victory through trade and unique improvements.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina is a resource-focused leader, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her Units gain +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a good choice for players who want to maximize resource utilization and situational military advantages.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a culture specialist, 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 ideal for players who want to focus on cultural production, particularly in Tundra environments.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, enhances military strategy with Army Commanders starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While he lacks direct yield boosts, his focus on military command can be advantageous for players who prioritize army strength.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers versatility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age, +1 Sight for all Units, and a unique Endeavor to see other Leaders' explored areas. He is suited for players who enjoy flexibility and strategic exploration.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides steady bonuses with a unique Endeavor for additional Social Policy slots, +1 Combat Strength per Tradition, and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. He is a good choice for players seeking a balanced approach with steady growth.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on hostility, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction reduces other Leaders' Trade Route limits, making him ideal for players who enjoy disrupting opponents' economies.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, offers +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture gains when defending against enemy units. This leader suits players who prefer a mobile, defensive strategy with potential for cultural gains.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh focuses on City-State relations, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for every City-State he is Suzerain of. He is ideal for players who want to build a strong empire through City-State alliances.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, excels in alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and a unique Endeavor for additional Science. She is perfect for players who prefer a diplomatic and science-focused 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 upon constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the impact of higher-tier leaders, making him a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly dependent on Mountain adjacency, with +1 Food for Buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists near Mountains. This leader is suitable for players who can ensure a favorable map layout but may struggle otherwise.