"Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked"

Civilization 7 introduces a few massive changes to the series, most notably the Ages mechanic that has you swap out your civilization for a new one as the game progresses through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. Your choice of leader, though, sticks with you throughout the entire game.

While they don’t provide as many traits and units as Civilizations, Leaders still have powerful abilities that can create some excellent combinations when mixed and matched. To help you out, we’ve created this tier list of every Leader and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. This should help you choose who you want to be the face of your empire as you build your future all the way into the Modern Age.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list does not take into account synergies with Civilizations, and is entirely focused on a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. Multiplayer is not taken into account here, and we haven't included 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 focuses on maintaining high happiness levels while dominating other civilizations. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, you can boost your unit production significantly. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units. This leader excels at leveraging happiness into military might, ensuring your empire remains powerful and your enemies on the defensive.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding through Towns, gaining +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% Gold discount. His strategy involves spreading out without upgrading Towns to Cities, saving Gold while maximizing Production and Culture gains. Augustus's straightforward approach of establishing numerous Towns, either through settlement or conquest, makes him a formidable leader for those who prefer a wide expansion strategy.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius excels at rapid city growth with a +25% Growth Rate in Cities, allowing you to quickly expand your borders and claim key Resources. Additionally, +2 Science from Specialists makes him one of the best at advancing technologically. While Confucius may need support in defense, his ability to grow and advance quickly makes him a top-tier leader for players focused on peaceful expansion and technological dominance.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is designed for aggressive players aiming for a Military Victory. With +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory and the ability to gain 100 Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement, he incentivizes constant expansion and conquest. His +1 Settlement limit per Age further supports his aggressive playstyle, making him a powerhouse on the battlefield.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer turns 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 Improvements, making him excellent for players who focus on expanding their population and city development. While not as militaristic as the World Conquerer version, his focus on growth can be equally powerful.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for those pursuing a Science Victory. With +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings, +50% Production towards constructing them, and additional Science from active Endeavors, Franklin creates a strong feedback loop for technological advancement. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at once further enhances his science production.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science, gaining Happiness from Military and Science Buildings and free Cavalry Units during Celebrations. His Cavalry Units receive a +5 Combat Strength boost during these periods, making him ideal for early and mid-game dominance. While he may struggle in the Modern Age, his early game strength can lay a solid foundation for your empire.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels at Espionage 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 elusive leader. Tubman's abilities make her perfect for players who enjoy disrupting their opponents and maintaining a strong defensive position.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut leverages Trade Routes for +1 Culture per imported Resource and excels at constructing Buildings and Wonders with +15% Production in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers. Her focus on Culture makes her a strong choice for early Cultural Legacy Paths, especially when utilizing river-adjacent cities for maximum benefit.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is a top Culture producer with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings, +50% Production towards constructing them, and a +20% Culture boost that doubles during Celebrations. While she suffers a -10% Science penalty that also doubles during Celebrations, her Culture output can be managed effectively with the right strategy, making her ideal for Cultural victories.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold upon discovery (doubled in Distant Lands) and +100% additional tile yields from them. Her focus on Naval Units with reduced maintenance costs and purchasing discounts makes her a strong contender for early game boosts, though her success depends on map placement.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal is a master of Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. He 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 an excellent choice for players focused on cultural achievements.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli excels at diplomacy and deception, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age from accepted Diplomatic Action proposals (or 100 Gold if rejected). He can ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from City-States he is not Suzerain of. Machiavelli's versatility makes him a great choice for players who enjoy a strategic, manipulative approach.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is perfect for leveraging Army Commanders, starting with 3 free Levels and gaining +20% Commander experience. She also benefits from a +10% Science boost in Tropical Spaces, doubled during a Formal War she declares. Trung Trac's focus on powerful Commanders makes her ideal for players who want to dominate the battlefield with well-trained units.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid benefits from Trade Routes, 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 Improvements. His focus on economic and cultural growth makes him a strong choice for players aiming for a balanced approach.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina focuses on Resource management, gaining +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 solid choice for players who prioritize resource utilization and situational combat advantages.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a Culture powerhouse, 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 but potent choice for players who can utilize Tundra effectively.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique benefits Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While he lacks direct Science, Influence, or Culture buffs, his focus on military strength through Commanders can be useful for players who prioritize early game military advantages.

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 Trade Maps Endeavor. His versatility and map awareness can be powerful in experienced hands, making him suitable for players who enjoy complex strategies.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette gains a unique Reform Endeavor for additional Social Policy slots, +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition, and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements (doubled in Distant Lands). While his traits are not the most compelling individually, they offer consistent, unconditional benefits for players looking for a balanced approach.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on being disliked, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with and a unique Continental System Sanction to limit other Leaders' Trade Routes. While this can make him a target, it's perfect for players who enjoy a challenging, aggressive playstyle.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary provides +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. His unique playstyle requires provoking enemies while holding ground, making him suitable for players who enjoy a defensive yet culturally focused strategy.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for every City-State he is Suzerain of. While becoming a Suzerain requires time and Influence, the rewards can be substantial, making him a good choice for players who plan long-term strategies around City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa focuses on diplomacy, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and a unique Friend of Wei Endeavor for Science boosts in Alliances. Her friendly approach can yield significant Science benefits, but players must balance this with defensive strategies.

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 when constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the strength and distinctiveness of higher-tier leaders, making him a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti gains +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to Mountains. While he can be exceptional on maps with Mountains, his effectiveness is heavily map-dependent, making him a risky choice for players who prefer a more neutral starting position.