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 excels in leveraging happiness to fuel military prowess. With a +1 Production boost for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, you can quickly ramp up your unit production. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, which provides an immediate +5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units. This leader is ideal for players who enjoy aggressive expansion and maintaining high levels of happiness to sustain their war machine.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expanding his empire through numerous towns, leveraging their benefits to boost his Capital's production. With +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns, Augustus can rapidly grow his empire's cultural and economic power. The 50% discount on purchasing Buildings in Towns further enhances his ability to develop his empire efficiently. This leader is perfect for players who prefer a wide settlement strategy and value economic and cultural growth.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the ultimate choice for those focused on rapid city growth and scientific advancement. With a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists, Confucius enables you to quickly expand your borders and stay ahead in technological development. This leader is best for players who aim to dominate through science and territorial expansion without engaging in frequent conflicts.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is tailored for players who relish in military conquests. With a +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, and bonuses for capturing Settlements, Xerxes encourages aggressive expansion. The leader gains 100 Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time, along with a higher Settlement limit per Age. This makes Xerxes an excellent choice 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, offering +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 prioritize peaceful expansion and managing large populations, as all buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Improvements.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is the go-to leader for a science-focused strategy. With +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and a 50% Production boost towards constructing Production Buildings, Franklin accelerates technological advancement. His ability to have two Endeavors of the same type active at a time further enhances his scientific output, making him a versatile choice for players aiming for a Science Victory.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military and scientific prowess, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. During Celebrations, Charlemagne receives 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry Units. This leader is suited for players who enjoy leveraging early and mid-game military advantages while advancing technologically.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman excels in espionage and defensive strategies, with +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against you. Units ignoring movement penalties from Vegetation makes Harriet a tricky and elusive leader. This choice is perfect for players who enjoy subterfuge and maintaining strong defensive positions.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut capitalizes on trade and culture, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and a +15% Production boost towards constructing Buildings and Wonders near Navigable Rivers. This leader is ideal for players focused on cultural dominance through trade and wonder construction.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is the top choice for cultural dominance, offering +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and a +50% Production boost towards constructing them. With a +20% Culture boost (doubled during Celebrations) and a -10% Science penalty (also doubled during Celebrations), Himiko requires careful balancing but can lead to significant cultural gains. This leader is perfect for players pursuing the Cultural Legacy Path.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain substantial early-game advantages by discovering Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold (doubled in Distant Lands) and +100% additional tile yields from them. Her naval focus is enhanced by a 50% discount on purchasing Naval Units and -1 Gold maintenance cost for them. This leader suits players who prioritize early economic boosts and naval power.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels in maximizing Celebrations, with a 50% increase in Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. Additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events further enhance his cultural strategy. This leader is ideal for players who aim to leverage long and frequent Celebrations to boost their cultural output.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is the master of diplomacy and deceit, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age when Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted (or 100 Gold if rejected). The ability to ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from non-Suzerain City-States makes Machiavelli a formidable choice for players who enjoy manipulating the political landscape.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac is designed for players who want to leverage Army Commanders effectively. With 3 free Levels on the first Army Commander and a +20% Commander experience boost, Trung Trac can quickly develop powerful military units. The +10% Science bonus in Tropical Spaces (doubled during Formal Wars) makes her a strong choice for players focused on both military and scientific strategies in suitable map conditions.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid focuses on economic and cultural growth through trade, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and 50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when creating Trade Routes or Roads. The +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Unique Improvements further boosts his economic potential. This leader is ideal for players aiming for an Economic Victory through trade and unique improvements.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina is a solid choice for players focused on resource management, offering +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Her +5 Combat Strength on all Units in Plains or Desert can be situational but valuable in the right circumstances. This leader suits players who prioritize resource utilization and situational combat advantages.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great excels in cultural production, with +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for buildings with Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn, making her suitable for players who can leverage Tundra locations and aim for cultural dominance.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique enhances military strategy with Army Commanders starting with the Merit Commendation and gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While lacking direct yield boosts, his focus on early military power and science can be valuable for players who want to bolster their army's effectiveness.

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, gradually reveals other Leaders’ explored areas. This leader is suited for players who enjoy strategic adaptability and gathering intelligence on opponents.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides steady growth with +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements (doubled in Distant Lands) and a unique Endeavor, Reform, that grants an additional Social Policy slot. His +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into Government adds a military edge. This leader is ideal for players who value consistent growth and policy flexibility.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on antagonizing other leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader you are Unfriendly or Hostile with. His unique Sanction, Continental System, reduces the Trade Route limit of targeted leaders. This leader suits players who enjoy a confrontational playstyle and can manage the resulting diplomatic tensions.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary enhances land unit mobility with +1 Movement for all Land Units. Defending against enemy units provides Culture equal to 50% of their Combat Strength, making this leader suitable for players who can provoke and hold their ground effectively to gain cultural benefits.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh focuses on leveraging City-State relationships, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for every City-State you are Suzerain of. This leader is ideal for players who can invest time in building strong City-State alliances to boost their empire's growth and military power.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa excels in fostering alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader you are Friendly or Helpful with. Her unique Endeavor, Friend of Wei, grants a +25% Science boost to both her and her ally. This leader is perfect for players who prioritize diplomacy and scientific advancement through friendly relations.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque offers situational benefits, gaining a Great Work when capturing a Settlement for the first time and an Infantry Unit when constructing a Culture Building. These traits are decent but not particularly strong or game-changing, making Friedrich a choice for players who appreciate modest military and cultural boosts.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti is highly dependent on map conditions, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to Mountains. This leader can be exceptional in the right circumstances but provides little benefit without access to mountainous terrain, making him a risky choice for players who prefer a more predictable gameplay experience.