Civilization 7 introduces a dynamic Ages mechanic, where you transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each requiring you to adapt your civilization accordingly. However, your chosen leader remains a constant throughout your journey, influencing your strategy with their unique abilities. To help you navigate these changes and choose the best leader for your empire, we've crafted a comprehensive tier list that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each leader in Civilization 7.
This tier list focuses on standard, single-player gameplay and does not account for synergies with civilizations or include DLC leaders like Ada Lovelace or Simón Bolívar. Below, you'll find a detailed breakdown of each tier and the leaders within them.
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, is a powerhouse when it comes to managing happiness and military strength. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka excels in maintaining a robust economy and military. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, which boosts all Units with +5 Combat Strength against Districts. This combination makes Ashoka a formidable opponent, capable of turning excess Happiness into military dominance. The key is managing the unrest from captured Settlements to keep your empire happy and thriving.
S-Tier: Augustus
Augustus thrives on expansion, with +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns. His focus on establishing numerous Towns, whether through settlement or conquest, fuels his Capital's growth. With +50% Gold towards purchasing Buildings in Towns, Augustus can rapidly develop his empire while saving resources. His straightforward strategy of spreading wide and leveraging his Towns makes him a top choice for those seeking a balanced and powerful empire.
S-Tier: Confucius
Confucius is a master of growth and science, boasting a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This makes him ideal for early expansion and technological advancement. By rapidly growing his Cities, Confucius can claim key Resources and advance his technological edge, particularly in the endgame. While he may need support in defense, his ability to dominate through growth and science is unparalleled.
S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes, King of Kings, is the ultimate military aggressor, with +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, and +10% Gold in all Settlements, further increased in those not founded by you. With an additional Settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is designed to conquer and expand rapidly, making him a top pick for those aiming for a Military Victory.
A-Tier Leaders
A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer
Ashoka, World Renouncer, focuses on converting Happiness into population growth, with +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during a Celebration. All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Improvements, making Ashoka a strong choice for those who prefer a peaceful expansion strategy. While less aggressive than the World Conquerer version, the World Renouncer can be equally potent with the right management.
A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin excels in science and production, with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and +50% Production towards constructing Production Buildings. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time further boosts his Science output. Franklin's synergy between Science and Production makes him a versatile leader for those aiming to advance technologically.
A-Tier: Charlemagne
Charlemagne combines military and science, with Military and Science Buildings receiving a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. Entering a Celebration grants 2 free Cavalry Units and +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units. This makes Charlemagne a strong early and mid-game leader, particularly for those who can maintain high Happiness levels and leverage Cavalry Units effectively.
A-Tier: Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman is a master of espionage and defense, with +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against you. Her Units ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient leader. Tubman's ability to disrupt other civilizations and defend her own makes her a strategic choice for those who enjoy a more cunning approach.
A-Tier: Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut leverages trade and culture, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards the construction of Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers. Her focus on trade routes and river-adjacent cities makes her a strong contender for those pursuing a cultural victory.
A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman
Himiko, High Shaman, is a powerhouse of culture and happiness, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing Happiness Buildings. She also gains +20% Culture, though at the cost of -10% Science, which doubles during Celebrations. Himiko's ability to generate massive Culture boosts makes her a top choice for cultural victory seekers.
A-Tier: Isabella
Isabella can gain significant early-game advantages by discovering Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold and +100% additional tile yields from them. Her focus on Naval Units, with +50% Gold towards purchasing them and -1 Gold maintenance cost, makes her a strong naval leader. Isabella's strategy hinges on securing Natural Wonders early for a powerful start.
A-Tier: Jose Rizal
Jose Rizal excels in Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. He also gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Rizal's ability to prolong and benefit from Celebrations makes him a solid choice for those focusing on cultural or diplomatic strategies.
A-Tier: Machiavelli
Machiavelli is a master of diplomacy and deception, with +3 Influence per Age and the ability to gain Gold from accepted or rejected Diplomatic Action proposals. He can declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy Military Units from City-States he is not Suzerain of. Machiavelli's versatility and ability to manipulate other civilizations make him a strategic choice for those who enjoy a more devious gameplay style.
A-Tier: Trung Trac
Trung Trac focuses on Army Commanders, granting 3 free Levels on the first Army Commander and +20% Commander experience. She also gains +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac's ability to quickly strengthen her Commanders makes her a strong military leader, particularly in tropical environments.
A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid
Xerxes, The Achaemenid, benefits from trade and unique buildings, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all other leaders and +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when creating Trade Routes or Roads. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Unique Improvements. Xerxes' ability to leverage trade and unique structures makes him a versatile leader for economic and cultural strategies.
B-Tier Leaders
B-Tier: Amina
Amina focuses on resource management, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her Units gain +5 Combat Strength on Plains or Desert, making her a situational military leader. Amina's strength lies in maximizing resource utilization and gaining Gold from them.
B-Tier: Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great excels in culture and science, with +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional Great Works slot in buildings with them. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn. Catherine's focus on Great Works and Tundra settlements makes her a strong cultural and scientific leader, though somewhat situational.
B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique
Friedrich, Oblique, enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While his focus on Commanders is strong, his lack of direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs can hinder his overall viability compared to other leaders.
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's versatility makes him a good choice for players who enjoy adapting to different situations.
B-Tier: Lafayette
Lafayette gains a unique Endeavor called Reform, which grants an additional Social Policy slot, and +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into Government. He also gains +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands. Lafayette's focus on Social Policies and Traditions makes him a solid choice for those who enjoy a more nuanced gameplay style.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor
Napoleon, Emperor, benefits from being Unfriendly or Hostile with other leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for each. His unique Sanction, Continental System, reduces the Trade Route limit of targeted leaders. While his strategy can be effective, it requires careful management of relationships and a strong military to handle potential backlash.
B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary
Napoleon, Revolutionary, grants +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. His focus on movement and defensive culture gains makes him a unique leader, though his effectiveness depends on frequent defensive engagements.
B-Tier: Tecumseh
Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State he is Suzerain of, and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for each. His potential is high, but becoming Suzerain of multiple City-States requires significant Influence and time, making him a strategic choice for long-term planning.
B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on alliances and science, with a unique Endeavor called Friend of Wei that grants +25% Science to both allies. She gains +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and can support Endeavors for free. Himiko's strategy revolves around maintaining positive relationships for science gains.
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 strength and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders, making him a less competitive choice.
C-Tier: Pachacuti
Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on settling near Mountains, with all Buildings gaining a +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and Specialists adjacent to Mountains not costing Happiness maintenance. While he can be exceptional in the right circumstances, his reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players unsure of map conditions.
By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each leader, you can strategically choose the best fit for your playstyle and guide your civilization through the ages to victory.
