Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

Civilization 7 introduces a groundbreaking Ages mechanic, allowing you to transition your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Despite changing civilizations, your chosen leader remains constant throughout the game, providing unique abilities that can significantly influence your strategy. To help you navigate the game's leadership options, we've compiled a detailed tier list of all leaders, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in a standard, single-player setting. This guide will assist you in selecting the ideal leader to lead your empire into the Modern Age.

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 exerting military dominance. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, you can swiftly produce units and maintain a robust economy. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units, making Ashoka a formidable opponent during conflicts. This leader thrives on managing Happiness to fuel both production and military power, though you must carefully handle the unrest that comes with conquering new settlements.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus focuses on expanding through settlements and leveraging Towns for growth. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns, Augustus is perfect for players aiming to spread wide across the map. Additionally, a 50% discount on purchasing Buildings in Towns maximizes efficiency and growth. Augustus's strategy revolves around establishing numerous Towns without upgrading them to Cities, which saves Gold while boosting Production and Culture.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is a powerhouse for city expansion, offering a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This leader is ideal for early land grabs and securing key Resources. Confucius's ability to quickly expand borders and advance technologically makes him a top choice, though you may need to strengthen your defenses to protect your expanding empire.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is designed for aggressive military play, gaining +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, alongside a +10% Gold increase in all Settlements. With an additional Settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is geared towards relentless expansion and military conquest, making him a prime choice for those aiming for a Military Victory.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Unlike the World Conquerer, Ashoka, World Renouncer turns Happiness into population growth, with +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during Celebrations. All buildings also gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Improvements. This leader is suited for players who prefer a peaceful expansion and city management, though it requires finesse to maximize the benefits without the military bonuses of the World Conquerer.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is perfect for a Science-focused strategy, with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and +50% Production towards constructing them. Franklin also benefits from active Endeavors, gaining +1 Science per Age for each one. This leader's versatility in Science and Production makes him a strong choice for rapid technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science, with buildings in these categories receiving a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. During Celebrations, Charlemagne gains 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for them. This leader is excellent for early and mid-game dominance, though you'll need to adapt to the Modern Age's advanced warfare.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in Espionage, with +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and +5 War Support on all wars declared against you. Units also ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, making Tubman ideal for players who enjoy a stealthy and disruptive strategy.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut boosts Culture through trade, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. This leader is perfect for players aiming to progress through the Culture Legacy Paths, especially if they can establish strong Trade Routes.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is a Culture powerhouse, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. She also gains +20% Culture, doubled during Celebrations, though at the cost of -10% Science. Himiko is ideal for a Cultural Victory, provided you can manage the Science deficit.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella thrives on discovering Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold upon discovery, doubled if in Distant Lands, and +100% additional tile yields from them. She also benefits from a strong Navy, with +50% Gold towards purchasing Naval Units and -1 Gold maintenance cost for them. Isabella's success hinges on finding and utilizing Natural Wonders early in the game.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal maximizes the benefits of Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards them. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, making him ideal for players who enjoy leveraging these unique events to boost their empire's progress.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the master of deception and diplomacy, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 or 100 Gold from Diplomatic Action proposals. He can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy units from City-States he isn't Suzerain of. Machiavelli is perfect for players who enjoy a strategic and manipulative approach to the game.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac excels in utilizing Army Commanders, starting with three free Levels on the first Commander and +20% Commander experience. She also gains +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac is ideal for players who want to dominate with powerful military units.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic growth, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age from creating Trade Routes or Roads. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements, making him a strong choice for an Economic Victory.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina benefits from 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 on Plains or Desert, making her a solid choice for players focused on resource utilization and situational military advantages.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in Culture production, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for them. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn, making her a strong choice for players who can utilize Tundra effectively.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While not the strongest, he provides a solid foundation for players focusing on military strategy and scientific advancement.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers versatility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and +1 Sight for all Units. His unique Endeavor, Trade Maps, allows gradual visibility of other Leaders' explored areas, making him suitable for players who enjoy strategic exploration and adaptability.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides additional Social Policy slots through the Reform Endeavor 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. Lafayette is a good choice for players who enjoy a balanced approach to governance and expansion.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on negative relationships, 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 diplomatic costs. This leader is suitable for players who enjoy a challenging, confrontational strategy.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary offers +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. This leader is ideal for players who enjoy a dynamic, defensive strategy, though it requires frequent engagement to maximize Culture gains.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State he is Suzerain of, alongside +1 Combat Strength for all Units. While powerful with multiple City-States, Tecumseh requires time and Influence to establish these relationships effectively.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on diplomacy, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. The Friend of Wei Endeavor grants +25% Science in an Alliance. While beneficial, players must balance this with adequate military defense to protect their technological advances.

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 offer some benefits, they lack the potency and focus needed to compete with higher-tier leaders.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists near them. While potentially powerful in the right setting, Pachacuti's reliance on specific terrain makes him less reliable in varied map scenarios.