In Civilization 7, the introduction of the Ages mechanic brings a significant shift, allowing players to transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each requiring a change of civilization. However, the choice of leader remains constant throughout your journey, making it crucial to select one that complements your strategy from start to finish. Leaders in Civilization 7 may not offer as many traits and units as civilizations, but their abilities are potent and can lead to strategic advantages when paired correctly. To assist you in navigating the vast array of options, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of every leader, focusing on their unique strengths and potential weaknesses. This guide will help you decide who should lead your empire as you progress through the Ages.

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Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list is crafted for standard, single-player games of Civilization 7, excluding any synergies with civilizations or multiplayer scenarios. DLC leaders such as Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are not included in this analysis.

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 leveraging Happiness into military prowess. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka's empire can quickly expand its military capabilities. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, enhancing all Units' Combat Strength by +5 against Districts. This leader is perfect for players who aim to dominate through strategic warfare and maintain high levels of Happiness to fuel their expansion and conquests.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus is designed for players who prefer a wide settlement strategy. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount on Gold, Augustus transforms his Capital into a powerhouse. His strategy focuses on establishing numerous Towns, whether through settlement or conquest, and maintaining them as Towns rather than Cities to maximize his bonuses. This approach offers a robust and straightforward path to building a strong, culturally rich empire.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the go-to leader for those focused on rapid City growth and technological advancement. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists, Confucius allows for swift territorial expansion and a technological edge. This leader is ideal for players who wish to dominate through scientific and cultural progress, though they may need to bolster their military through alliances or strategic civilization pairings.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is the epitome of military aggression, 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 a +10% Gold boost in all Settlements, particularly those not founded by you. Xerxes also increases the Settlement limit per Age, making him the perfect leader for players pursuing a Military Victory through relentless expansion and conquest.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Unlike his World Conquerer counterpart, Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on turning Happiness into population growth. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during a Celebration, this leader is ideal for players who aim to expand through peaceful means and city development. His strategy requires careful management but can be incredibly rewarding for those who master it.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader focused on Science and Production. With +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them, Franklin creates a cycle of rapid technological advancement and construction. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at once further enhances his Science generation, making him a strong choice for players aiming for a Scientific Victory.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings. Upon entering a Celebration, he receives 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry during Celebrations. This leader is perfect for early and mid-game dominance, focusing on leveraging cavalry units to expand and conquer territories swiftly.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in stealth and espionage, with a 100% Influence boost towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her Units ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, making her a challenging opponent to pin down. Harriet is ideal for players who enjoy a more covert strategy, disrupting and weakening their opponents through espionage and guerilla tactics.

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 strategy hinges on establishing strong trade relationships and leveraging her proximity to rivers to build impressive Wonders and advance culturally. Hatshepsut is perfect for players aiming for a Cultural Victory.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is the ultimate Culture producer, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a 50% Production boost towards constructing them. She also gains a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, though at the cost of -10% Science. Himiko is ideal for players focused on the Cultural Legacy Path, requiring careful management to mitigate the Science penalty.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella thrives on discovering Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold per discovery, doubled if the Wonder is in Distant Lands. She also benefits from a 100% boost to tile yields from Natural Wonders and reduced Gold costs for Naval Units. Isabella is a strong choice for players who can secure Natural Wonders early in the game, providing a significant economic advantage.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in managing Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and Happiness towards Celebrations. He gains additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Jose Rizal is perfect for players who want to leverage Celebrations to gain powerful bonuses and advance through the Cultural Legacy Path.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the master of deception and diplomacy, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age when Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when rejected. He can ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from City-States he's not Suzerain of. Machiavelli is ideal for players who enjoy manipulating the political landscape to their advantage.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac focuses on the new Army Commander units, starting with 3 free Levels on the first Commander and a 20% Commander experience boost. She also gains a 10% Science boost in Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac is perfect for players who want to leverage powerful Army Commanders to dominate militarily, especially in tropical environments.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid benefits from creating Trade Routes and Roads, gaining 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for each. He also gains +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements, and an additional Trade Route limit with all other leaders. Xerxes is ideal for players pursuing an Economic Victory through trade and unique infrastructure.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina excels in 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 in Plains or Desert, making her a solid choice for players who can leverage these terrains. Amina is ideal for those looking to build a strong economy based on resource utilization.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is focused on Culture, 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 choice dependent on map placement. Catherine is perfect for players aiming for a Cultural Victory with a focus on Great Works.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation, increasing their Command Radius. He gains an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building, though he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs. Friedrich is suitable for players who want to bolster their military through Science investment.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age, +1 Sight for all Units, and a unique Endeavor called Trade Maps. His versatility can be powerful in the right hands but may be complex for new players. Ibn Battuta is ideal for those who enjoy adapting to various situations throughout the game.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides a unique Endeavor called Reform, granting 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 is a solid choice for players looking to build a well-rounded empire with a focus on policy management.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on being a disruptive force, 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 with significant Relationship penalties. Napoleon is perfect for players who enjoy antagonizing their opponents and leveraging economic sanctions.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary enhances all Land Units with +1 Movement and provides Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. This leader is ideal for players who want to provoke enemies while holding their ground, using defensive battles to fuel their cultural growth.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh focuses on becoming the Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State he controls, and +1 Combat Strength for all Units. While powerful, this strategy requires significant Influence and time to set up. Tecumseh is suitable for players who can invest in building strong relationships with City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa is all about fostering alliances, 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 her and her ally. Himiko is perfect for players who prefer a diplomatic approach, building strong alliances to advance scientifically.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque gains a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the potency and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders. Friedrich is a choice for players who want minor boosts in Culture and military but may struggle to compete with stronger options.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonus for Buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to Mountains. While potentially powerful, this leader's success is highly dependent on map placement. Pachacuti is suitable for players who can secure favorable map conditions but may underperform otherwise.