Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic revolutionizes gameplay, allowing players to transition their civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, while retaining their chosen leader throughout. This dynamic shift adds a new layer of strategy, as leaders, though not providing as many traits and units as civilizations, come with powerful abilities that can significantly impact gameplay. To aid in your journey from ancient times to the modern era, we've crafted a comprehensive tier list of leaders, detailing their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide who should lead your empire.

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Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list focuses on standard, single-player games of *Civilization 7* and does not account for synergies with civilizations or include 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 within your cities, converting this into significant production boosts. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka fuels a robust war machine. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, providing a +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units. This leader is perfect for those who aim to dominate through military might while keeping their citizens content.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives by expanding wide through settlements, turning his Capital into a powerhouse. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount, Augustus offers a straightforward yet effective strategy. Focus on settling or conquering as many Towns as possible without upgrading them to Cities to maximize his bonuses in Production, Culture, and Gold savings.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is ideal for players aiming for rapid city expansion and technological advancement. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists, Confucius enables swift territorial expansion and access to advanced technologies. While he may need support in defense, his ability to outpace rivals in growth and tech makes him a formidable leader.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is the epitome of military aggression, gaining +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing settlements rewards you with 100 Culture and Gold per Age, alongside a +10% Gold increase in all Settlements, further incentivizing conquest. With an additional Settlement limit per Age, Xerxes is the go-to leader for players pursuing a Military Victory.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

The World Renouncer version of Ashoka focuses on converting Happiness into population growth. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and a +10% Food increase in Settlements during Celebrations, this leader excels in managing large populations and expanding through land grabs and district development.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for those focusing on Science. His bonuses to Science from Production Buildings and active Endeavors create a powerful feedback loop, allowing for rapid technological advancement and production efficiency.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings. Celebrations grant free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost, making him ideal for early and mid-game dominance with a cavalry-focused strategy.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is the master of Espionage, with a 100% Influence boost for initiating Espionage Actions. Her units ignore vegetation movement penalties, and she gains War Support when wars are declared against her, making her a stealthy and resilient choice.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut leverages Trade Routes for Culture gains, with +1 Culture for every imported Resource. Her +15% Production towards Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers makes her a strong contender for early Culture Legacy Paths.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is the top Culture producer, with bonuses to Happiness Buildings and a +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations. While she suffers a -10% Science penalty, her cultural prowess makes her a strong choice for the Cultural Legacy Path.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella's strategy hinges on discovering Natural Wonders, gaining significant Gold and tile yield boosts. Her focus on Naval Units with reduced maintenance costs makes her a powerful player if she can secure these strategic locations early on.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in prolonging and benefiting from Celebrations, with increased duration and Happiness towards them. His additional Narrative Events and Culture/Gold rewards enhance his cultural strategy, making him a solid choice for extended cultural dominance.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the master of diplomacy and deception, gaining Influence and Gold from Diplomatic Actions. His ability to declare Formal Wars without Relationship requirements and levy Military Units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him a formidable and unpredictable leader.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac specializes in Army Commanders, granting them free levels and increased experience. Her Science boost in Tropical Spaces during Formal Wars creates a powerful Science and Military synergy, ideal for map-dependent strategies.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic growth through Trade Routes and Roads, gaining substantial Culture and Gold. His bonuses to Unique Buildings and Improvements further enhance his economic strategy, making him a strong choice for players aiming for an Economic Victory.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina's strengths lie in Resource management, with increased Resource Capacity and Gold generation from assigned Resources. Her Units gain a situational +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a decent choice for resource-focused strategies.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in Culture production through Great Works, gaining additional slots and a Culture boost. Her Science bonus in Tundra cities makes her situational but powerful if the right terrain is available.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains Infantry Units from Science Buildings. While lacking direct yield boosts, his focus on military power through Commanders can be effective in the right hands.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility through Wildcard Attribute Points and increased Unit sight. His unique Trade Maps Endeavor provides strategic visibility, making him a versatile leader for experienced players.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette's traits include additional Social Policy slots through the Reform Endeavor and Combat Strength boosts from Traditions. His unconditional Culture and Happiness bonuses in Settlements make him a solid, if not spectacular, choice.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on antagonizing other leaders, gaining Gold from being Unfriendly or Hostile. His Continental System Sanction disrupts enemy Trade Routes, though managing relationships can be challenging without military support.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary offers increased Movement for Land Units and Culture gains from defending. His unique playstyle requires frequent defensive engagements to maximize Culture, making him a niche but potentially powerful leader.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming Suzerain of City-States, gaining Food, Production, and Combat Strength bonuses. While requiring setup and time, his potential rewards are significant for players willing to invest in City-State relations.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa excels in alliances, gaining Science from being Friendly or Helpful with other leaders. Her Friend of Wei Endeavor further boosts Science, though players must balance diplomacy with military readiness.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque offers a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement and an Infantry Unit from Culture Buildings. While useful, his traits lack the potency and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining Food adjacency bonuses and no Happiness maintenance for Specialists. His potential is high in the right map, but he can be underwhelming without it.