In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic revolutionizes the series by allowing you to transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, swapping your civilization for a new one as the game progresses. However, your chosen leader remains a constant companion throughout your journey, influencing your strategy with their unique abilities. These leaders, though not as versatile as civilizations, still offer powerful traits that can lead to compelling strategies when paired effectively. To help you navigate this new dynamic, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of all leaders, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses for a standard, single-player game.
### Best Civ 7 LeadersNote: This tier list does not take into account synergies with Civilizations, and is entirely focused on a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. Multiplayer is not taken into account here, and we haven't included DLC Leaders Ada Lovelace or 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 in maintaining high levels of Happiness among your citizens while simultaneously exerting military pressure on other civilizations. With a bonus of +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka transforms Happiness into a powerful resource for accelerating your expansion and military production. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, boosting your Units' Combat Strength by +5 against Districts. This ability to convert Happiness into military might makes Ashoka one of the most dominant leaders in the game, provided you can manage the unrest from conquered settlements.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on a strategy of widespread settlement, gaining +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount on Gold. His approach encourages establishing as many Towns as possible, whether through settlement or conquest, without upgrading them to Cities to save Gold. This strategy can turn your Capital into a powerhouse, leveraging the Production and Culture from numerous Towns to create a formidable empire.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is the master of city growth, offering a +25% Growth Rate in Cities that can rapidly expand your territory and secure vital Resources. Additionally, his +2 Science from Specialists positions him as a top contender in technological advancement. While he may need support in military defense, Confucius's ability to grow and innovate makes him a strong choice for those aiming to dominate through expansion and technology.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings is built for conquest, offering +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, along with a +10% Gold boost in all Settlements, particularly those not founded by you. His increased Settlement limit per Age further supports his aggressive playstyle, making him ideal for those pursuing a Military Victory.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
While less aggressive than his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on converting Happiness into population growth, providing +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during a Celebration. His strategy shifts from military conquest to land expansion and city development, offering a different but equally effective approach to empire-building.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin's strengths lie in Science and Production, with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time further enhances his scientific prowess, making him an excellent choice for those aiming for a Science Victory.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines military might with scientific advancement, gaining Happiness from Military and Science Buildings and receiving 2 free Cavalry Units during a Celebration. His +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during Celebrations makes him a formidable force in the early and mid-game, perfect for those looking to establish a strong military foundation.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in Espionage, with a 100% boost to Influence for Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her Units' ability to ignore movement penalties from Vegetation adds to her strategic flexibility, making her a stealthy and resilient choice.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut's strength lies in Culture, 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 river-adjacent development makes her a strong contender for the Cultural Legacy Path.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman is a powerhouse of Culture, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards them. Her +20% Culture, doubled during Celebrations, comes at the cost of -10% Science, but her ability to leverage Happiness into cultural dominance makes her a top choice for cultural victories.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella's fortunes rise with the discovery of Natural Wonders, granting her 300 Gold and doubled if in Distant Lands. With 100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and a strong Navy, she can leverage these natural features for significant early-game advantages.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal thrives on Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and Happiness towards Celebrations. His additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which he encounters more frequently, make him a master of leveraging these events for cultural and economic gains.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli's devious nature is reflected in his ability to gain Influence and Gold from Diplomatic Actions, ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars, and levy Military Units from City-States he's not Suzerain of. His flexibility and strategic deceit make him a formidable opponent.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac's strength lies in her Army Commanders, who start with three free Levels and gain 20% more experience. Her +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during declared Formal Wars, makes her a strong choice for those looking to combine military and scientific strategies.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic and cultural growth, gaining Culture and Gold from creating Trade Routes and Roads, and additional yields from Unique Buildings and Improvements. His ability to increase Trade Route limits with other leaders supports a robust economic strategy.
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 solid choice for resource-based strategies. Her +5 Combat Strength on Units in Plains or Desert can be situational but impactful.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great's cultural focus, with +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for them, makes her a strong contender for the Culture Legacy Path. Her Science boost in Tundra Cities adds to her versatility, though it is map-dependent.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique's Army Commanders start with the Merit Commendation, and he gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While his traits are solid, they lack the specialization needed to compete with top-tier leaders.
B-Tier: Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta's flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and increased sight for Units can be powerful in experienced hands. His unique Endeavor, Trade Maps, allows for strategic map visibility, though it requires adept use.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, grants additional Social Policy slots, and his +1 Combat Strength from Traditions and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age, doubled in Distant Lands, provide a well-rounded but not exceptionally powerful set of traits.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor's ability to gain Gold from being Unfriendly or Hostile with other leaders and his Continental System Sanction can disrupt trade routes. However, his lack of military buffs makes him a risky choice without strong defensive capabilities.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary's +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture gain from defending enemy units can lead to unique strategies, though it requires constant engagement with enemies to maximize benefits.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh's potential hinges on becoming Suzerain of multiple City-States, offering +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units. His effectiveness is highly dependent on achieving this status, which requires significant Influence and time.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa's focus on alliances and Science, with +4 Science per Age for every Friendly or Helpful Leader and the Friend of Wei Endeavor, makes her a strong choice for those prioritizing diplomacy and technological advancement. However, she must balance this with adequate military defense.
C-Tier Leaders
C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque
Friedrich, Baroque's traits, such as gaining a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement and an Infantry Unit from constructing a Culture Building, are decent but lack the impact needed to compete with higher-tier leaders.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly map-dependent, requiring proximity to Mountains to gain +1 Food adjacency bonus for Buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists. While he can be exceptional in the right conditions, his reliance on specific terrain limits his overall utility.
