Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic brings a fresh twist to the series, allowing players to transition their civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout the game, providing a stable anchor amidst the changing eras. Leaders in *Civ 7* may not offer as many traits and units as civilizations, but their powerful abilities can lead to exciting strategic combinations. To help you navigate your choices, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of every leader, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses for a standard, single-player game. This guide should assist you in selecting the perfect leader to guide your empire into the Modern Age.

***Note:** This tier list does not consider synergies with Civilizations, focusing solely on a standard, single-player game of *Civilization 7*. Multiplayer and DLC Leaders Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are not included in this assessment.

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 leveraging happiness to fuel military dominance. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka thrives on maintaining high happiness levels. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, boosting your units' combat strength by +5 against Districts. This combination of happiness-driven production and combat boosts makes Ashoka a formidable leader for those aiming to conquer and expand aggressively. Managing unrest in newly acquired Settlements is key to maintaining Ashoka's strength throughout the game.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus focuses on expanding through a wide network of Towns, rather than Cities, to maximize his bonuses. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount, Augustus can create a powerful economic engine. His strategy is straightforward: establish numerous Towns, either through settlement or conquest, and use them to bolster your Capital's production and cultural growth. This approach not only saves Gold but also accelerates your progress through the game.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the ultimate leader for those looking to expand their empire through peaceful growth and technological advancement. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists, Confucius allows for rapid expansion and technological superiority. Early game land-grabbing becomes effortless, enabling you to secure vital Resources without resorting to war. As the game progresses, Confucius's Science advantage becomes even more pronounced, making him an excellent choice for players aiming for a science-focused victory.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is tailored for players who enjoy a direct military approach. With +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, Xerxes encourages aggressive expansion. Capturing a Settlement for the first time grants 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and an increased Settlement limit per Age means you can continue expanding your empire. Xerxes's straightforward strategy of conquest is highly effective, particularly for those pursuing a Military Victory.

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 a Celebration, this version of Ashoka excels at expanding through peaceful means. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for Improvements, making it easier to keep your population content. This leader is ideal for players who prefer a land-grab strategy focused on population and city development.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for players aiming for a Science victory. With +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a +50% Production bonus towards constructing them, Franklin creates a powerful feedback loop. He also gains +1 Science per Age for active Endeavors and can have two Endeavors of the same type active simultaneously. This combination of Science and Production makes Franklin a strong choice for those looking to advance quickly through the tech tree.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science for a potent strategy. Military and Science Buildings gain a Happiness adjacency for Quarters, and entering a Celebration grants two free Cavalry Units. During a Celebration, Cavalry Units gain +5 Combat Strength, making them formidable on the battlefield. Charlemagne's strategy is best suited for players who want to leverage early and mid-game military advantages to build a strong empire.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is perfect for players who enjoy espionage and stealth. With +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and the ability to ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, Tubman can disrupt other civilizations effectively. Gaining 5 War Support on all wars declared against you provides a significant advantage in defensive scenarios. Tubman's unique abilities make her a tricky and challenging opponent.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in Culture generation through trade. With +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders adjacent to Navigable Rivers, Hatshepsut thrives on establishing strong trade routes. This leader is ideal for players aiming for early Cultural victories, leveraging trade and river-adjacent construction to accelerate their progress.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is the top choice for players focusing on Culture. With +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a +50% Production bonus towards constructing them, Himiko can maintain high Happiness levels. She also gains a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though this comes at the cost of -10% Science. Himiko is perfect for players aiming for a Cultural victory, provided they manage the Science drawback effectively.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella's strategy hinges on discovering Natural Wonders. Gaining 300 Gold for each discovery, doubled in Distant Lands, and +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders, Isabella can catapult herself ahead early in the game. She also benefits from a +50% Gold discount on Naval Units and reduced maintenance costs. Isabella is a strong choice for players who can secure Natural Wonders early and leverage them for economic and naval advantages.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels at maximizing Celebrations. With +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations, Rizal can enjoy prolonged and frequent 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 leverage Celebrations to boost their empire's growth and cultural achievements.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the leader for players who enjoy a devious and diplomatic approach. With +3 Influence per Age and the ability to gain Gold from Diplomatic Action proposals, Machiavelli can quickly amass resources. 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 want to manipulate the game's political landscape to their advantage.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is the master of Army Commanders, gaining 3 free Levels on your first Army Commander and a +20% Commander experience bonus. 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 Army Commanders to dominate the battlefield, especially in tropical environments.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic and cultural growth through trade. With +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for creating Trade Routes or Roads, Xerxes can quickly amass resources. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements. Xerxes is a strong choice for players aiming for an Economic or Cultural victory through trade and unique structures.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina focuses on maximizing Resource utilization. With +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned, Amina can generate significant Gold. Her Units gain +5 Combat Strength on Plains or Desert, making her a situational choice for players who can leverage these terrains. Amina is ideal for players who want to build a strong economic base through Resource management.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a strong cultural leader, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for buildings with Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn. Catherine is ideal for players who want to focus on Culture and can settle in Tundra regions for added Science benefits.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique specializes in Army Commanders, starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While his focus on Army Commanders is strong, he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs, making him a niche choice for players who want to leverage early military advantages.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility 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. Ibn Battuta is ideal for players who want to adapt to changing circumstances and leverage map visibility strategically.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides a unique Endeavor called Reform, granting an additional Social Policy slot. He gains +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into Government and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. Lafayette is a solid choice for players looking for a balanced approach with a focus on Social Policies and distant expansion.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on antagonizing other Leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction reduces Trade Route limits of targeted Leaders. Napoleon is ideal for players who enjoy a confrontational style and can manage the diplomatic fallout effectively.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary provides +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. This leader is suited for players who want to provoke enemies while maintaining a strong defensive stance, leveraging movement and defensive combat for cultural gains.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh focuses on becoming the Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for every City-State he is Suzerain of. Tecumseh is ideal for players who can invest time and resources into becoming a dominant influence over City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa emphasizes diplomacy, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, grants +25% Science to both herself and her ally. Himiko is perfect for players who want to leverage friendly relations for technological advancement.

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 distinctiveness and strength of higher-tier leaders, making Friedrich a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly dependent on settling near Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to Mountains. While potentially powerful in the right circumstances, Pachacuti's reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players who prefer flexibility.