"Top Leaders in Civilization 7 Ranked"

In *Civilization 7*, the introduction of the Ages mechanic marks a significant shift in the series, allowing players to transition their civilization through distinct phases—Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. While you'll switch civilizations as the game progresses, your chosen leader remains constant, bringing their unique abilities to bear throughout your journey into the Modern Age. Leaders in *Civilization 7* don't offer as many traits and units as civilizations, but their potent abilities can create powerful synergies when paired correctly. To aid you in selecting the perfect leader for your empire, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list, detailing their strengths and weaknesses, tailored for a standard, single-player experience.

***Note:** This tier list focuses exclusively on standard, single-player games of *Civilization 7*. It does not account for multiplayer dynamics or include the DLC leaders Ada Lovelace and 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 at balancing internal happiness with external conquest. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in cities and +10% Production in settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can fuel a robust war machine. Declaring a formal war initiates a Celebration, granting all units +5 Combat Strength against districts, making Ashoka a formidable adversary. The key to success lies in managing the unrest of conquered settlements while maintaining high happiness levels, ensuring sustained military power and growth.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding his empire through numerous towns, whether settled or conquered. His +2 Production in the capital for every town and ability to purchase Culture Buildings in towns, coupled with a 50% discount on purchasing buildings, allows Augustus to create a production and culture powerhouse. This leader's strategy focuses on maintaining towns without upgrading them to cities, saving gold while boosting production and culture, making him ideal for players who aim to expand widely and efficiently.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is unparalleled in city growth, boasting a +25% growth rate in cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This makes him a prime choice for players focused on expanding their empire's borders quickly and advancing technologically. While Confucius may require additional military support, his ability to dominate in land and technology positions him as a top-tier leader for those who prioritize growth and science.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is the epitome of military prowess, with +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Capturing settlements grants 100 Culture and Gold per Age, and an increased settlement limit per Age makes Xerxes ideal for players seeking a Military Victory. His straightforward strategy of conquest and expansion is highly effective, especially for those who enjoy aggressive gameplay.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer, shifts focus from military conquest to population growth, converting excess Happiness into +1 Food per 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food during Celebrations. This version of Ashoka excels in managing large populations and expanding through districts, offering a different but equally powerful strategy for players who prefer peaceful expansion.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for science-focused players, with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. His ability to have two active Endeavors of the same type further boosts his science output, making him ideal for players who want to accelerate technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military and science, gaining happiness from Military and Science Buildings and receiving free Cavalry Units during Celebrations. With +5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during Celebrations, Charlemagne is perfect for early and mid-game dominance, especially for players who enjoy a cavalry-centric strategy.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman specializes in espionage and defense, with +100% Influence towards initiating Espionage Actions and +5 War Support when wars are declared against her. Her units ignore movement penalties from vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient choice for players who prefer a more covert approach to victory.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut excels in culture, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. Her focus on trade and cultural development makes her a strong choice for players aiming to dominate the cultural legacy path.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is the top producer of culture, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. While she suffers a -10% Science penalty, her culture boosts during Celebrations make her an excellent choice for cultural victories.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from Natural Wonders, receiving 300 Gold upon discovery and doubled if in Distant Lands. With +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and reduced naval maintenance costs, Isabella is ideal for players who can capitalize on map placement and naval power.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in managing Celebrations, with +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. Additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events further enhance his cultural focus, making him a strong choice for players who aim to leverage celebrations for victory.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is a master of influence and gold, gaining +3 Influence per Age and significant gold from diplomatic actions. His ability to declare formal wars without relationship requirements and levy military units from City-States makes him a devious choice for players who enjoy manipulating the political landscape.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is exceptional at utilizing Army Commanders, starting with three free levels and +20% Commander experience. Her +10% Science in Tropical Spaces, doubled during formal wars, makes her a strong choice for players who want to leverage military commanders for victory.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, benefits from trade, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and significant Culture and Gold from creating Trade Routes and Roads. His focus on unique buildings and improvements makes him a versatile choice for players who aim to leverage economic advantages.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina's focus on resource management provides +1 Resource Capacity in cities and +1 Gold per Age for each resource assigned. Her +5 Combat Strength on units in Plains or Desert can be situational but valuable in the right circumstances, making her a decent choice for players who prioritize resource management.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in culture, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and additional slots for Great Works. Her science boost in Tundra cities makes her a situational but powerful choice for players who can leverage her cultural and scientific strengths.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, benefits from Army Commanders starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While lacking in direct yield bonuses, his focus on military commanders can be effective for players who enjoy a science and military strategy.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta's flexibility comes from gaining 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and increased unit sight. His unique Endeavor, Trade Maps, can provide strategic advantages, making him a versatile choice for experienced players who can leverage his adaptability.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette's unique Endeavor, Reform, grants additional Social Policy slots, and he gains +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted. His unconditional Culture and Happiness boosts make him a solid choice for players who want a balanced approach to their strategy.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, thrives on being disliked, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction can disrupt other leaders' trade routes, making him a choice for players who enjoy a more aggressive diplomatic approach.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, offers +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture when defending enemy units. This unique playstyle requires players to provoke enemies while holding their ground, making him a choice for those who enjoy a more defensive strategy.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's focus on City-States provides +1 Food and Production per Age in settlements for every City-State he is Suzerain of, along with +1 Combat Strength for all units. While requiring setup and time, Tecumseh can be a strong choice for players who can effectively manage City-States.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, benefits from being friendly, gaining +4 Science per Age for every leader she is Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, further boosts science, making her a choice for players who prioritize diplomacy and technological advancement.

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 his traits are decent, they lack the distinctiveness and strength of higher-tier leaders, making him a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness hinges on proximity to Mountains, gaining +1 Food adjacency for buildings and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists near Mountains. While potentially strong with the right map placement, his reliance on specific terrain makes him a risky choice for players who prefer a more neutral starting position.