In *Civilization 7*, a groundbreaking feature called the Ages mechanic allows players to transition through different historical periods—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages—each requiring a strategic shift in civilization management. However, your chosen leader remains a constant throughout these transformations, making the selection of a leader critical for your empire's success.
While leaders don't offer as many traits and units as civilizations do, their unique abilities can significantly influence gameplay, particularly when paired effectively with your chosen civilization. To aid in your leader selection, we've compiled a detailed tier list, analyzing each leader's strengths and weaknesses. This guide is designed to help you decide who should lead your empire from the dawn of civilization to the Modern Age.
***Note:** This tier list focuses solely on standard, single-player games of Civilization 7. It does not consider leader synergies with civilizations, nor does it include multiplayer dynamics or DLC leaders such as 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 at maintaining high levels of citizen happiness while simultaneously intimidating rival civilizations. With an additional +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in cities and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can rapidly produce units and bolster his war efforts. Declaring a formal war grants a Celebration, which boosts all units by +5 Combat Strength against districts. This ability to leverage happiness into military power makes Ashoka a formidable leader, though managing unrest in conquered settlements is crucial to maintaining this advantage.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expansion, gaining +2 Production in the capital for every town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in towns at a 50% discount on gold costs. His strategy revolves around establishing numerous towns, either through settlement or conquest, without upgrading them to cities. This approach not only saves gold but also maximizes production and culture, making Augustus a leader well-suited for those who prefer a wide-ranging empire.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is renowned for accelerating city growth with a +25% Growth Rate in cities, which is particularly beneficial in the early game for rapid expansion. Additionally, he gains +2 Science from Specialists, positioning him as a leader who can outpace rivals technologically. While Confucius may require assistance in defending his territory, his ability to expand and advance technologically makes him a top-tier choice for players aiming for a Science victory.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings, is all about conquest, gaining +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing a settlement for the first time yields 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and a +10% Gold boost in all settlements, further increased in those not founded by you. With an additional settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is ideally suited for players seeking a Military Victory, as his strengths lie in aggressive expansion and combat.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
While Ashoka, World Renouncer, may not be as aggressive as his conquering counterpart, he converts excess Happiness into +1 Food in cities and a +10% Food boost in all settlements during a Celebration. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for all improvements, making him a leader focused on population growth and land expansion without the unrest of conquest.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin is the go-to leader for those pursuing a Science victory. With +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in cities and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them, Franklin can quickly research and implement new technologies. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time further enhances his Science output, making him a versatile and potent leader.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne leverages military and science synergies, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. Entering a Celebration provides two free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry Units, making him a strong choice for early and mid-game dominance. While his effectiveness may wane in the Modern Age, his early game strength can lay the foundation for a powerful empire.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman excels in espionage, doubling Influence towards initiating Espionage Actions and gaining 5 War Support when wars are declared against her. Her units ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient leader ideal for players who enjoy disrupting opponents through covert means.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut is a cultural powerhouse, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a +15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. Her strengths lie in establishing strong trade relationships and excelling in the early Culture Legacy Paths, making her a top pick for those aiming for a Cultural Victory.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman, is the ultimate Culture producer, with a +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. She gains a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though this comes at the cost of -10% Science. Her focus on Happiness and Culture makes her an excellent choice for players pursuing a Cultural Victory, provided they manage the Science deficit effectively.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella can catapult her empire forward by discovering Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold (doubled in Distant Lands) and 100% additional tile yields from them. Her ability to purchase Naval Units at a 50% discount and reduce their maintenance cost makes her a strong contender for players who can capitalize on the map's natural features.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal is a master of Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and a 50% boost to Happiness towards Celebrations. He gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. His focus on prolonging and maximizing the benefits of Celebrations makes him a solid choice for players interested in leveraging these events for strategic gains.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli excels in diplomacy and subterfuge, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold when his Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when rejected. He can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy Military Units from City-States he isn't Suzerain of, making him a versatile leader for players who enjoy manipulating the political landscape.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac is a military commander specialist, starting her first Army Commander with three free levels and a +20% Commander experience boost. She gains a +10% Science boost in Tropical Spaces, doubled during wars she declares, making her a powerful leader for players who can leverage her Commander abilities and tropical terrain for a Science and Military victory.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid, focuses on economic and cultural growth, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when creating Trade Routes or Roads. He also benefits from +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements, making him an excellent choice for players aiming for an Economic or Cultural Victory through trade and infrastructure development.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina is a decent leader for managing resources, gaining +1 Resource Capacity in cities and +1 Gold per Age for each resource assigned to cities. Her units gain +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, which can be situational but valuable in the right circumstances. Amina's focus on resource management makes her a viable choice for players who can maximize their resource utilization.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great is a cultural leader, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output, making her a situational leader who excels when paired with the right terrain and cultural strategy.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique, is a military-focused leader whose Army Commanders start with the Merit Commendation, increasing their Command Radius. He gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building, making him a decent choice for players looking to bolster their military through scientific advancement, though he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs.
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. His versatility is valuable, though it may be challenging for new players to leverage his traits effectively.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette provides a unique Endeavor, Reform, granting an additional Social Policy slot and +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into the government. He gains +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. While his traits are solid, they may not be as compelling as those of more specialized leaders.
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 the Trade Route limit of targeted leaders, though it comes at a significant Relationship penalty. Players who can manage the consequences of such actions may find Napoleon's traits useful for economic gains.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary, provides +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of an enemy unit's Combat Strength when defending. His unique playstyle requires frequent defensive engagements to maximize Culture gains, making him an interesting but challenging choice for players who enjoy a defensive strategy.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State he is Suzerain of, along with +1 Combat Strength for all units. While his potential is high, becoming Suzerain of City-States requires significant Influence and time, making him a leader suited for players with the right setup and patience.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on fostering alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, boosts Science for both her and her ally. While her traits are beneficial, players must balance diplomacy with military preparedness to avoid being exploited by rivals.
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 are decent, they lack the distinctiveness and strength to compete with higher-tier leaders, making Friedrich a less compelling choice.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly dependent on the presence of Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonus for all buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to them. While he can be exceptional with the right map, his reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players who prefer a more neutral starting position.
