Civilization 7 brings significant changes to the series, introducing the Ages mechanic that allows players to transition through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages, each time swapping out their civilization. However, the choice of leader remains constant throughout the game, and their unique abilities can significantly influence gameplay. To assist you in choosing the best leader for your empire, we've compiled a detailed tier list, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. This list does not account for synergies with Civilizations or include multiplayer dynamics and excludes 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 leveraging happiness to fuel military might. With +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can maintain a robust war machine. Declaring a Formal War triggers a Celebration, granting a +5 Combat Strength boost against Districts for all Units. This leader thrives on keeping citizens content while dominating rivals, making Ashoka a top choice for those aiming to conquer and expand efficiently.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus shines with a strategy focused on expanding through numerous Towns. Each Town grants +2 Production in the Capital, and Augustus can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount on Gold costs. This leader's strength lies in establishing a vast network of Towns, either through settlement or conquest, without upgrading them to Cities, thereby maximizing Production and Culture while conserving resources.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is ideal for players aiming for rapid city expansion and technological advancement. A +25% Growth Rate in Cities accelerates border expansion and resource acquisition. Additionally, +2 Science from Specialists makes Confucius one of the game's top Science producers, particularly in the later stages. While defense might require external support, Confucius's growth and technological advantages make him a formidable leader.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings is perfect for those seeking a straightforward military victory. With +3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory, Xerxes encourages aggressive expansion. Capturing a Settlement for the first time in each Age yields 100 Culture and Gold, and a +10% Gold boost in all Settlements, particularly those not founded by you, fuels further conquests. Xerxes also benefits from an increased Settlement limit per Age, making him a relentless force on the battlefield.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

Ashoka, World Renouncer focuses on population growth and city development rather than military conquest. With +1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness and +10% Food in all Settlements during Celebration, Ashoka can rapidly expand populations and establish Districts. All buildings gain +1 Happiness adjacency for Improvements, making this leader a strong choice for those who excel at managing large populations and city planning.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a versatile leader for players pursuing a Science victory. His abilities create a feedback loop with +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities and +50% Production towards constructing Production Buildings. Franklin can further boost Science through active Endeavors, making him a powerhouse in technological advancement.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines Military and Science for a powerful early and mid-game strategy. Military and Science Buildings receive a Happiness adjacency for Quarters, and entering a Celebration grants 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry during the Celebration. This leader excels at leveraging Happiness for military gains, particularly with Cavalry units.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is a master of Espionage and defensive warfare. With +100% Influence towards Initiating Espionage Actions and +5 War Support on all wars declared against you, Tubman can disrupt rivals and maintain a strong defense. Units ignoring movement penalties from Vegetation enhance her tactical flexibility, making her a challenging opponent.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut is a cultural powerhouse, gaining +1 Culture for every imported Resource and +15% Production towards constructing Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers. Her strength lies in establishing strong Trade Routes and leveraging river-adjacent cities for Culture and Production boosts.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman is exceptional at generating Culture, with +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. A +20% Culture boost, doubled during Celebrations, makes her a top choice for cultural victories, though she must manage a -10% Science penalty, which also doubles during Celebrations.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella can gain significant advantages from Natural Wonders, earning 300 Gold upon discovery, doubled in Distant Lands. With +100% additional tile yields from Natural Wonders and reduced costs for Naval Units, Isabella excels in early game boosts and naval dominance, 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. Additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for Rizal, enhance his cultural strategy, making him a strong contender for cultural victories.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is ideal for players who enjoy diplomatic intrigue and surprise attacks. With +3 Influence per Age and the ability to gain Gold from Diplomatic Actions, Machiavelli can quickly build a strong military. Ignoring Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levying units from non-Suzerain City-States makes him a versatile and unpredictable leader.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac excels at utilizing Army Commanders, gaining 3 free Levels on the first Commander and a +20% Commander experience boost. A +10% Science bonus in Cities on Tropical Spaces, doubled during Formal Wars, makes her a strong choice for players focusing on military and technological advancement in tropical regions.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid offers a variety of benefits through Trade Routes and Roads, gaining +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age for each new route. An additional Trade Route limit with all Leaders and +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements make him a strong economic and cultural leader.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

Amina focuses on resource management, with +1 Resource Capacity in Cities and +1 Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. A +5 Combat Strength bonus on Units in Plains or Desert can be situational but valuable in the right context, making her a decent choice for players focusing on resource utilization.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a solid cultural leader, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for Great Works. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn, making her strong in specific terrains but situational overall.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation and gains an Infantry Unit when constructing a Science Building. While these traits are useful, they lack the yield bonuses needed to compete with higher-tier leaders, making him a decent but not standout choice.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta offers flexibility with 2 Wildcard Attribute Points after the first Civic in every Age and increased visibility through a unique Trade Maps Endeavor. His versatility is valuable but requires experienced players to maximize his potential, making him a strong choice for those who can leverage his adaptability.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette provides additional Social Policy slots through a unique Reform Endeavor and +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition slotted into Government. While his traits are solid, they lack the standout impact of higher-tier leaders, making him a good but not exceptional choice.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor thrives on antagonizing other Leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for every Leader he is Unfriendly or Hostile with. His Continental System Sanction can disrupt Trade Routes, but managing relationships and defending against potential retaliation are crucial for his success.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary offers +1 Movement for all Land Units and Culture from defending enemy units. This unique playstyle can generate significant Culture but requires frequent defensive engagements, making him a situational but potentially powerful leader.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh's strength lies in becoming Suzerain of City-States, gaining +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for each Suzerain. While his potential is high, achieving this status requires significant Influence and time, making him a strong choice for patient players.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa benefits from friendly relationships, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Friendly or Helpful Leader and a unique Friend of Wei Endeavor for additional Science. Her success depends on maintaining positive relationships, making her a strong choice for diplomatic players.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

Friedrich, Baroque offers 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 impact needed to compete with 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 potentially powerful in the right terrain, his effectiveness is heavily dependent on map placement, making him a risky choice without favorable conditions.