"Top Tier Leaders in Civilization 7 Revealed"

Civilization 7 introduces a groundbreaking feature with the Ages mechanic, allowing you to transition your civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. While you'll switch civilizations as you progress, your chosen leader remains constant, providing a unique continuity to your gameplay. Leaders in Civilization 7, though not as diverse as civilizations, offer powerful abilities that can significantly impact your strategy. To help you navigate through the game, we've compiled a detailed tier list of all leaders, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses to aid in selecting the perfect leader for your empire as it evolves into the Modern Age.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list does not consider synergies with civilizations and is tailored for standard, single-player games of Civilization 7. Multiplayer scenarios and DLC leaders like Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are not included.

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 while dominating other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, you'll have the resources to build a formidable army. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, boosting all units with +5 Combat Strength against Districts, making Ashoka a force to be reckoned with in warfare. The key is managing unrest in newly acquired Settlements to keep your empire stable and prosperous.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus is perfect for players who prefer a wide expansion strategy. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount, Augustus thrives by establishing numerous Towns. Maintaining these as Towns rather than Cities saves Gold and maximizes Production and Culture benefits, creating a robust economic engine that fuels your growth and development throughout the game.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the go-to leader for rapid City growth and technological advancement. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities, you can expand quickly and secure vital Resources early on. Additionally, +2 Science from Specialists positions Confucius as a top Science producer, especially in the late game. While you may need to bolster your military or forge strong alliances, Confucius's ability to grow and innovate makes him a formidable leader.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is designed for aggressive expansion and military dominance. With +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, he's ideal for pursuing a Military Victory. Capturing a Settlement for the first time grants 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and an increased Settlement limit per Age encourages you to conquer as much territory as possible. Xerxes is straightforward and effective, making him a prime choice for those who enjoy direct confrontation.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

The World Renouncer version of Ashoka focuses on population growth rather than military might. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a +10% Food boost during Celebrations, you can rapidly expand your population and establish new Districts. While not as aggressive as the World Conquerer, this version of Ashoka offers a powerful alternative for those who prefer a more peaceful expansion.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for Science-focused players. His +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and +50% Production towards constructing them create a potent feedback loop. Additionally, active Endeavors can further boost his Science output, making Franklin an excellent choice for those aiming to advance technologically and produce quickly.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science, providing a strong early-game advantage. Military and Science Buildings gain a Happiness adjacency bonus, and entering a Celebration grants two free Cavalry Units with +5 Combat Strength. This strategy allows you to dominate early and mid-game conflicts, although you'll need to adapt as the game progresses into the Modern Age.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman offers a unique espionage-focused strategy. With +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and +5 War Support when wars are declared against you, she can disrupt other civilizations and endure retaliations. Her Units also ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, making her highly mobile and difficult to pin down.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is excellent for Culture growth, especially through trade. With +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers, she can quickly advance through Culture Legacy Paths. Her effectiveness relies on establishing strong trade relationships and utilizing river-adjacent Cities.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko is a top Culture producer, benefiting from +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards them. A +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, makes her ideal for cultural victories, though her -10% Science penalty, which also doubles during Celebrations, requires careful management.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold upon discovery and double that if the Wonder is in Distant Lands. With +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and a strong Naval focus, Isabella can catapult her early game progress, although her success depends on the map's layout.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in prolonging and maximizing Celebrations. With +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations, he can maintain long periods of enhanced effects. Additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events further enhance his cultural strategy, making him a strong choice for those aiming for cultural victories.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is perfect for players who enjoy diplomatic manipulation. With +3 Influence per Age and the ability to gain Gold from Diplomatic Action proposals, he can swiftly build a military force. His ability to ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Units from City-States adds to his deceptive playstyle.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is ideal for leveraging Army Commanders, starting with three free Levels and +20% Commander experience. Her +10% Science in Tropical Spaces, doubled during wars she declares, makes her a strong contender in both military and technological races, though her effectiveness is map-dependent.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, offers a balanced approach with +1 Trade Route limit and significant Culture and Gold boosts from creating Trade Routes and Roads. His +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements provides substantial economic advantages, making him a versatile choice for economic victories.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina's focus on Resources is beneficial, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each assigned Resource. Her +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert can be situational but valuable in the right circumstances, making her a solid choice for Resource-rich maps.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in Culture production, with +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for them. Her ability to gain Science from Tundra Cities adds a unique twist, though her effectiveness can be limited by the map's terrain.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation, increasing their Command Radius. Gaining an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building adds to his military potential, though he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture boosts.

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 visibility of other Leaders' Explored areas, making him a versatile choice for players who can utilize this information effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, grants additional Social Policy slots, and his +1 Combat Strength per Tradition adds to his military prowess. With +1 Culture and Happiness per Age, doubled in Distant Lands, he offers a steady but not overwhelming set of benefits.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on being Unfriendly or Hostile, gaining +8 Gold per Age for each such Leader. His Continental System Sanction can disrupt other civilizations' trade, though managing the resulting diplomatic fallout requires a strong military.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, provides +1 Movement for all Land Units, enhancing mobility. Defending against enemy units grants Culture, making him ideal for players who can provoke and withstand attacks, though it requires careful management.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units per City-State. However, this requires significant Influence and time, making his effectiveness dependent on your ability to build and maintain these relationships.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, encourages friendly relations, granting +4 Science per Age for every Leader you're Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, further boosts Science in Alliances. However, maintaining these relationships while ensuring a strong defense is crucial.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque, offers modest benefits with a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Culture Building. These traits are not particularly strong, making him a less compelling choice compared to others.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on the presence of Mountains, with +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to them. While potentially powerful, his reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice without favorable map conditions.