Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

Civilization 7 introduces a dynamic new Ages mechanic, where you transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each requiring you to adapt and select a new civilization. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout the game, providing consistent strategic advantages across these eras. Leaders in Civilization 7 may not offer as many traits and units as civilizations, but their powerful abilities can create formidable combinations when strategically paired. To assist you in making the best choice, we’ve compiled a detailed tier list of every leader, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses. This guide aims to help you select the ideal leader to lead your empire into the Modern Age.

Note: This tier list is tailored for standard, single-player games of Civilization 7 and does not account for synergies with civilizations, multiplayer dynamics, or DLC leaders such as Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.

Civilization 7 Leader Tier List

S-Tier Leaders

Ashoka, World Conquerer

Ashoka, World Conquerer excels in maintaining high happiness levels within your empire while intimidating other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka enables rapid unit production and strong infrastructure. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, providing an immediate +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units, making Ashoka exceptionally effective at the onset of conflicts. Although managing unrest from conquered settlements can be challenging, Ashoka's ability to leverage happiness into military power makes him one of the game's strongest leaders.

Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding your empire through numerous Towns, gaining +2 Production in the Capital for each Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in them. With a 50% discount on Gold spent on purchasing Buildings in Towns, Augustus encourages a wide settlement strategy without the need for immediate upgrades to Cities. This approach not only boosts your Production and Culture but also saves you significant resources, making Augustus a versatile and powerful leader for those who prefer a balanced expansion strategy.

Confucius

Confucius is unparalleled in city growth and technological advancement, offering a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This allows for rapid expansion and early resource acquisition, crucial for establishing a strong foundation. As the game progresses, Confucius's ability to generate Science from Specialists becomes increasingly potent, positioning him as a leader capable of maintaining a technological edge. However, his focus on growth and science may necessitate alliances or a robust defense strategy to protect his expansive empire.

Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is tailored for aggressive expansion, providing +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, with an increased Settlement limit per Age. Additionally, a +10% Gold bonus in all Settlements, further enhanced in those not founded by you, fuels Xerxes's military campaigns. This straightforward yet effective strategy makes Xerxes a top choice for players pursuing a Military Victory.

A-Tier Leaders

Ashoka, World Renouncer

While less focused on military dominance than his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer converts happiness into population growth, with +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during Celebrations. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for Improvements, promoting a strategy of land acquisition and district development. Although it requires careful management, this approach can be highly effective for players adept at city planning and population management.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a powerhouse in Science and Production, offering +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and a 50% Production boost towards constructing these buildings. Additionally, he gains +1 Science per Age for active Endeavors started or supported, and can have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time. This synergy makes Franklin an excellent choice for players aiming to advance quickly along the Science path and maintain a robust economy.

Charlemagne

Charlemagne's strategy revolves around Military and Science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. Entering a Celebration grants two free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for these units during the Celebration. This focus on cavalry and technological advancement makes Charlemagne a strong early and mid-game leader, though he may face challenges in the Modern Age against more advanced units.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is a master of stealth and espionage, with +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her Units ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, allowing for swift and elusive maneuvers. Tubman's ability to disrupt other civilizations through espionage and her defensive advantages make her a formidable choice for players who enjoy a more covert approach.

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in Culture generation, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a 15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers. This makes her an excellent choice for players focusing on the early Culture Legacy Paths, leveraging trade and strategic city placement to achieve cultural dominance.

Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is the epitome of Culture production, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. She enjoys a +20% Culture boost, which doubles during Celebrations, though at the cost of a -10% Science penalty, also doubled during Celebrations. This trade-off requires careful management, but the potential for massive Culture gains makes Himiko a top choice for cultural victories.

Isabella

Isabella's strategy hinges on discovering Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold per discovery, doubled in Distant Lands, and 100% additional tile yields from them. She also benefits from a 50% Gold discount on purchasing Naval Units and a -1 Gold maintenance cost for these units. While dependent on map placement, Isabella's ability to capitalize on Natural Wonders can provide a significant early-game advantage, particularly in naval-focused strategies.

Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in leveraging 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, which occur more frequently for him. This synergy makes Rizal an excellent choice for players focusing on cultural strategies and maximizing the benefits of Celebrations.

Machiavelli

Machiavelli's cunning allows him to manipulate Influence and Gold, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age when Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when rejected. He can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy Military Units from City-States he isn't Suzerain of. This makes Machiavelli a versatile and potentially disruptive leader, ideal for players who enjoy a diplomatic and military mix.

Trung Trac

Trung Trac is a specialist in utilizing Army Commanders, starting with three free levels and a 20% Commander experience boost. She gains a 10% Science bonus in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. This combination makes Trung Trac a powerful choice for players who focus on military strategy and technological advancement, particularly in tropical environments.

Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic and cultural growth, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when creating a Trade Route or Road. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. This economic focus, combined with trade and unique structures, makes Xerxes a strong choice for players aiming for an Economic Victory.

B-Tier Leaders

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 Units gain +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, offering situational military advantages. Amina is a solid choice for players who can secure a diverse range of Resources and utilize them effectively.

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a cultural powerhouse, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for these works in Buildings. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn. While situational, Catherine can be highly effective for players who can settle on Tundra and focus on cultural development.

Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique starts Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation, granting additional Command Radius, and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While not offering direct yield bonuses, Friedrich's focus on military and science can be beneficial for players who prioritize these areas and can manage without specialized yield boosts.

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta's versatility comes from gaining 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age, +1 Sight for all Units, and a unique Endeavor called Trade Maps that reveals other Leaders' Explored areas. While complex, Ibn Battuta offers flexibility for experienced players who can leverage his abilities effectively.

Lafayette

Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, grants an additional Social Policy slot and offers +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 compelling individually, these traits can provide a solid foundation for players focusing on policy and settlement growth.

Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on being Unfriendly or Hostile, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader in this state. His Continental System Sanction reduces the Trade Route limit of targeted Leaders, at a high Relationship cost. This strategy requires careful management of diplomatic relations and a strong military to counter potential backlash.

Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary grants +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of an enemy's Combat Strength when defending. This unique playstyle requires frequent defensive engagements to maximize Culture gains, making it suitable for players who enjoy a more defensive strategy.

Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength comes from being the Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for each City-State under his control. While requiring significant Influence and time to set up, Tecumseh can be highly effective for players who can establish and maintain these relationships.

Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on positive diplomatic relations, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, grants a 25% Science boost to both herself and her ally. This approach requires careful diplomacy but can yield significant technological advantages.

C-Tier Leaders

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 useful, they lack the distinctiveness and power of higher-tier leaders, making Friedrich a less competitive choice in the long run.

Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for all Buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to them. While potentially powerful in the right map setup, Pachacuti's reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice without favorable conditions.