Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

Civilization 7 brings a fresh twist to the series with its Ages mechanic, allowing you to transition your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Throughout this journey, your chosen leader remains constant, providing a consistent strategic backbone to your empire. While leaders may not offer as many traits and units as civilizations, their unique abilities can significantly enhance your gameplay when strategically matched. To assist you in selecting the best leader for your journey into the Modern Age, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of each leader. This guide is tailored for a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7, excluding multiplayer dynamics and DLC leaders such as Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.

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 at maintaining high levels of citizen happiness while simultaneously exerting military pressure on other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, this leader can quickly build up a strong military force. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, boosting all Units' Combat Strength by +5 against Districts. This makes Ashoka particularly effective at initiating and sustaining aggressive campaigns, though managing unrest in newly conquered territories remains a challenge.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus focuses on expanding wide through Settlements, which can be established either peacefully or through conquest. His ability to gain +2 Production in the Capital for every Town, coupled with the capability to purchase Culture Buildings and enjoy a 50% discount on purchasing Buildings in Towns, makes him ideal for players who prefer a broad territorial strategy. By maintaining Towns rather than upgrading them to Cities, Augustus maximizes his Gold and Production, enabling a robust economic and cultural growth trajectory.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is renowned for his city growth capabilities, with a +25% Growth Rate in Cities that facilitates rapid expansion and resource acquisition. Additionally, his +2 Science from Specialists makes him a powerhouse in technological advancement, particularly in the later stages of the game. While Confucius may require support in military defense, his focus on growth and science provides a strong foundation for long-term success.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is tailored for players aiming for a Military Victory. His +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, combined with bonuses for capturing Settlements, such as 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and a +10% Gold increase in all Settlements, makes him a formidable aggressor. Xerxes also benefits from an increased Settlement limit per Age, allowing for more expansive conquests.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer, shifts the focus from military might to 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 bonus for Improvements, making Ashoka a strong choice for those interested in expanding their empire through peaceful means and efficient city management.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is ideal for players pursuing a Science-focused strategy. His traits, including +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them, create a powerful feedback loop. Additionally, Franklin's ability to engage in multiple Endeavors simultaneously enhances his Science generation, making him a versatile leader.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne's strategy revolves around Military and Science, with bonuses for buildings in Quarters and free Cavalry Units during Celebrations. His +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during Celebrations makes him particularly strong in the early and mid-game, although he may face challenges in the Modern Age.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defensive strategies, with +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support when wars are declared against her. Her Units' ability to ignore movement penalties from Vegetation makes her a nimble and elusive leader on the battlefield.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut leverages Trade Routes for strong Culture growth, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource. Her +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers positions her as a leader who can quickly advance through early Culture Legacy Paths.

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. Her +20% Culture boost, which doubles during Celebrations, comes at the cost of a -10% Science penalty, requiring strategic planning to mitigate this drawback.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from discovering Natural Wonders, receiving 300 Gold and doubled tile yields. Her +50% Gold towards purchasing Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs make her a strong naval power, though her effectiveness depends on the map's Natural Wonder distribution.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal's focus on Celebrations, with extended durations and increased Happiness towards them, makes him a master of utilizing Celebration effects. His additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him, provide consistent bonuses throughout the game.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli's deceptive playstyle is supported by +3 Influence per Age and Gold gains from Diplomatic Actions. His ability to ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from City-States not under his control makes him a versatile and potentially disruptive force.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac excels in utilizing Army Commanders, starting with 3 free Levels and a +20% Commander experience boost. Her +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces, which doubles during wars she declares, positions her as a strong contender in both military and scientific pursuits, though her effectiveness is map-dependent.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, offers a balanced approach with +1 Trade Route limit, significant Culture and Gold from creating Trade Routes and Roads, and bonuses on Unique Buildings and Improvements. His versatility makes him suitable for players aiming for an Economic Victory.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina's focus on Resources, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned, makes her a decent choice for players who prioritize economic growth. Her +5 Combat Strength on Units in Plains or Desert adds situational military value.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great's Culture generation from Great Works and additional slots for them support a strong cultural strategy. Her Science boost in Tundra Cities adds a unique twist, though her effectiveness can be hampered by resource scarcity in such environments.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, benefits from Army Commanders starting with Merit Commendations and gaining Infantry Units from Science Buildings. However, his lack of direct Science, Influence, or Culture boosts may limit his overall impact compared to more specialized leaders.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta's flexibility with Wildcard Attribute Points and unique Endeavors like Trade Maps offers strategic versatility. However, his complex playstyle may not be suitable for all players, requiring a good understanding of how to leverage his abilities effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, and bonuses to Combat Strength from Traditions provide a solid foundation. His unconditional buffs to Culture and Happiness in Settlements make him a reliable, if not exceptional, choice.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on being disliked, gaining Gold from Leaders he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction disrupts trade, but his lack of military buffs and potential for attracting aggression require careful management.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, benefits from increased Movement for Land Units and Culture gains from defending. His unique playstyle of provoking and defending can yield significant Culture, though it requires a robust military to sustain.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's bonuses to Food, Production, and Combat Strength for every City-State he is Suzerain of offer potential for strong growth and military power. However, achieving this status requires significant Influence, making his effectiveness dependent on strategic setup and time.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on Science gains from friendly relations and the Friend of Wei Endeavor. Her peaceful approach can yield substantial benefits, but she must balance this with sufficient military defense to protect her technological advances.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque, offers modest benefits with Great Works from capturing Settlements and Infantry Units from Culture Buildings. His traits are not particularly impactful compared to other leaders, making him a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, providing Food adjacency bonuses and no Happiness maintenance for Specialists. While potentially powerful in the right setting, his dependence on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players who prefer a more neutral starting position.