"Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked"

In Civilization 7, a groundbreaking feature known as the Ages mechanic transforms your gameplay experience by allowing you to switch civilizations as you progress through the Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout your journey, significantly influencing your strategy and success.

Leaders in Civilization 7, while not offering as many traits and units as civilizations, possess powerful abilities that can lead to dynamic and effective combinations when paired correctly. To assist in navigating this new dynamic, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of all leaders, detailing their strengths and weaknesses. This guide will aid you in selecting the ideal leader to lead your empire through the ages, ensuring a robust path to the Modern Age.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list focuses solely on standard, single-player games of Civilization 7 and does not account for leader synergies with civilizations or multiplayer scenarios. DLC Leaders Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are excluded from this list.

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 happiness within your cities while simultaneously exerting military pressure on rival civilizations. For every 5 units of excess Happiness, 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 potent combination allows you to keep your citizens content while launching devastating military campaigns, making Ashoka a top choice for players aiming for dominance through happiness and warfare.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding your empire through numerous towns, whether settled or conquered. For each town, your capital gains +2 Production, and you can purchase Culture Buildings in towns at a 50% discount on Gold. This leader's strength lies in maintaining towns rather than upgrading them to cities, which not only saves Gold but also boosts your empire's overall production and culture. Augustus is ideal for players who enjoy wide-spread expansion and resource management.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the go-to leader for those focused on city expansion and technological advancement. His +25% Growth Rate in cities accelerates your land-grabbing efforts, allowing you to secure valuable resources early on. Additionally, +2 Science from Specialists positions him as one of the game's top Science producers, particularly in the endgame. While Confucius may need support in military defense, his ability to expand and advance technologically makes him a powerhouse in the right hands.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is the epitome of military aggression, designed for players seeking a Military Victory. His units gain +3 Combat Strength when attacking in neutral or enemy territory, and capturing settlements grants you 100 Culture and Gold per Age. With an increased settlement limit per Age and a +10% Gold boost in all settlements (further increased in those not founded by you), Xerxes is unmatched in his ability to conquer and expand swiftly.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

While less militaristic than his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer, focuses on turning happiness into population growth. For every 5 units of excess Happiness, you gain +1 Food, and during a Celebration, all settlements receive a +10% Food boost. Additionally, all buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for improvements, making him ideal for players who prioritize peaceful expansion and population management.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for those aiming to excel in Science. His traits create a synergy between Science and Production, granting +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a +50% Production boost towards constructing them. He can also maintain two Endeavors of the same type simultaneously, further enhancing his Science output. Franklin's balanced approach makes him a strong choice for players interested in technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military prowess with scientific advancement. Military and Science Buildings receive a Happiness adjacency bonus from Quarters, and entering a Celebration grants two free Cavalry Units with a +5 Combat Strength boost. His strategy revolves around maintaining high happiness levels to leverage these powerful bonuses, making him an excellent choice for early and mid-game dominance.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is the master of subterfuge, with a +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support when wars are declared against her. Her units can ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her a challenging opponent to pin down. Tubman is perfect for players who enjoy manipulating the political landscape and engaging in stealthy tactics.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in cultural development, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a +15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near navigable rivers. Her focus on trade and strategic city placement makes her a top choice for players aiming to progress quickly through the Culture Legacy Paths.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is the game's premier culture producer, with a +20% Culture boost (doubled during Celebrations) and significant bonuses to Happiness Buildings. While she suffers a -10% Science penalty (doubled during Celebrations), her cultural output and happiness synergy make her a strong contender for players focused on cultural victories.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from discovering Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold (doubled if distant) and a +100% boost to tile yields from these wonders. Her naval focus, with a 50% discount on purchasing Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs, makes her a powerful choice for players who can secure early natural wonders and control the seas.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal is a Celebration specialist, with a +50% increase in Celebration duration and Happiness towards Celebrations. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Rizal is ideal for players who want to maximize the benefits of Celebrations and cultural events.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the ultimate diplomat and schemer, gaining +3 Influence per Age and significant Gold from accepted or rejected Diplomatic Action proposals. His ability to declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him a formidable player on the diplomatic stage.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is a military powerhouse, with a focus on Army Commanders. Her Commanders start with three free levels and a +20% experience boost, making them exceptionally strong in battle. Additionally, her cities in Tropical Spaces receive a +10% Science boost (doubled during Formal Wars), making her a great choice for players looking to dominate in tropical environments.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth through Trade Routes and Roads, gaining 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for each. His +1 Trade Route limit with other leaders and boosts to Culture and Gold on Unique Buildings and Improvements make him an excellent choice for players aiming for an Economic Victory.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina is a solid choice for resource-focused players, with +1 Resource Capacity in cities and +1 Gold per Age for each assigned resource. Her units receive a +5 Combat Strength boost in Plains or Desert, making her a versatile leader for players who can leverage these traits effectively.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in cultural production, with +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for these works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output, 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, increasing their Command Radius, and grants an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While lacking direct Science, Influence, or Culture boosts, he can be a good choice for players focused on early military advantages.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in each Age, +1 Sight for all units, and a unique Trade Maps Endeavor to see other leaders' explored areas. His versatility makes him a strong choice for experienced players who can leverage his traits effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides a unique Reform Endeavor for additional Social Policy slots and +1 Combat Strength per Tradition. His unconditional +1 Culture and Happiness per Age (doubled in Distant Lands) make him a solid choice for players looking for consistent, if not spectacular, benefits.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on being disliked, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Unfriendly or Hostile leader and a unique Continental System Sanction to disrupt trade. His ability to reject endeavors for free can be useful, but players must be prepared to handle the diplomatic fallout.

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 can provoke and withstand attacks, turning defense into a source of cultural growth.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming 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 time and setup, he can be a powerful choice for players who can dominate City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on building alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Friendly or Helpful leader and a unique Friend of Wei Endeavor for a +25% Science boost with allies. Her approach requires careful diplomacy but can yield significant technological advantages.

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 when 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 hinges on settling near Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for buildings and no Happiness maintenance for adjacent Specialists. His potential is high in favorable map conditions but limited otherwise, making him a situational choice.