Civilization 7 introduces a dynamic Ages mechanic, allowing players to transition their civilization through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. While civilizations change, the leader you choose remains constant throughout the game, offering unique abilities that can significantly influence your gameplay strategy. To help you navigate this new feature, we've crafted a comprehensive tier list of Civilization 7 leaders, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses in a standard, single-player setting. This guide will assist you in selecting the ideal leader to lead your empire into the Modern Age.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Note: This tier list evaluates leaders based on their performance in a standard, single-player game of Civilization 7. It does not consider synergies with civilizations or account for multiplayer dynamics. DLC leaders Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar are not included.

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 converting happiness into military prowess. With a bonus of +1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities and +10% Production in Settlements not founded by you, Ashoka can swiftly build up a formidable military. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration, boosting your units with +5 Combat Strength against Districts. This leader's ability to manage happiness and leverage it into military strength makes Ashoka a top choice for aggressive players.

S-Tier: Augustus

Augustus thrives on expansion, benefiting from +2 Production in the Capital for every Town and the ability to purchase Culture Buildings in Towns at a 50% discount. His strategy revolves around establishing numerous Towns, whether through settlement or conquest, without upgrading them to Cities, thereby saving Gold and maximizing Production and Culture gains. Augustus is ideal for players who prefer a wide-spread empire with strong central control.

S-Tier: Confucius

Confucius is the master of city expansion with a +25% Growth Rate in Cities and +2 Science from Specialists. This leader allows for rapid territorial expansion and technological advancement, making him perfect for players focusing on a peaceful, science-driven victory. However, Confucius may require additional military support to defend his lands.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

Xerxes, King of Kings, is a straightforward military leader, gaining +3 Combat Strength for units attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Upon capturing a Settlement for the first time, he earns 100 Culture and Gold per Age, along with a +10% Gold boost in all Settlements. His increased Settlement limit per Age further supports aggressive expansion, making him a strong contender for military victories.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

While less aggressive than his World Conquerer counterpart, 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. His focus on peaceful expansion and city development makes him a solid choice for players aiming for a cultural or domination victory without heavy military engagement.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is a science-focused leader, gaining +1 Science per Age on Production Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. Additionally, he earns +1 Science per Age for active Endeavors and can have two Endeavors of the same type active at once. Franklin's synergy between Science and Production makes him a versatile choice for tech-focused strategies.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Charlemagne combines military and science, gaining Happiness adjacency bonuses for Military and Science Buildings in Quarters. Upon entering a Celebration, he receives 2 free Cavalry Units and a +5 Combat Strength boost for Cavalry Units during Celebrations. This leader is perfect for players who want to leverage early military advantages into a technological lead.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is a master of espionage and defense, gaining +100% Influence towards initiating Espionage Actions and 5 War Support on all wars declared against her. Her units also ignore movement penalties from Vegetation, making her a stealthy and resilient choice for players looking to disrupt their opponents while maintaining a strong defense.

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 pick for players aiming for a cultural victory.

A-Tier: Himiko, High Shaman

Himiko, High Shaman, is a powerhouse of culture and happiness, gaining +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings and +50% Production towards constructing them. With a +20% Culture boost (doubled during Celebrations) and a -10% Science penalty (also doubled during Celebrations), she is ideal for players focused on cultural victories but must manage the science drawback carefully.

A-Tier: Isabella

Isabella's strength lies in her ability to leverage Natural Wonders, gaining 300 Gold upon discovery (doubled in Distant Lands) and +100% additional tile yields from them. Her naval focus is enhanced with a 50% discount on purchasing Naval Units and a -1 Gold maintenance cost for them. Isabella is perfect for players who can find and utilize Natural Wonders early in the game.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

Jose Rizal excels at prolonging and benefiting from Celebrations, gaining +50% Celebration duration and +50% Happiness towards Celebrations. He also earns additional Culture and Gold from Narrative Events, which occur more frequently for him. Rizal is an excellent choice for players looking to maximize the benefits of Celebrations.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

Machiavelli is a master of diplomacy and subterfuge, gaining +3 Influence per Age and 50 Gold per Age for accepted Diplomatic Action proposals (or 100 Gold for rejected ones). He can ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars and levy Military Units from non-Suzerain City-States. Machiavelli is perfect for players who enjoy manipulating diplomatic relations to their advantage.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

Trung Trac focuses on Army Commanders, granting them 3 free Levels upon creation and a +20% Commander experience boost. Her cities in Tropical Spaces gain +10% Science, doubling during Formal Wars she declares. Trung Trac is ideal for players looking to build a powerful military led by experienced Commanders.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

Xerxes, The Achaemenid, benefits from trade and unique structures, gaining +1 Trade Route limit with all leaders and +50 Culture and 100 Gold per Age when creating a Trade Route or Road. He also earns +1 Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Improvements, making him a strong choice for players aiming for an economic victory.

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 receive +5 Combat Strength in Plains or Desert, making her a decent choice for players who can effectively manage resources and utilize specific terrain.

B-Tier: Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great is a cultural leader, gaining +2 Culture per Age on displayed Great Works and an additional slot for Great Works in Buildings. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science based on their Culture output. She is a solid choice for players aiming for a cultural victory, especially on maps with Tundra.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Oblique

Friedrich, Oblique, enhances Army Commanders with the Merit Commendation, increasing Command Radius, and gains an Infantry Unit upon constructing a Science Building. While not the strongest, he can be a good choice for players focusing on a scientific military strategy.

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 Endeavor called Trade Maps that reveals other Leaders' explored areas. He is a versatile choice for experienced players who can leverage his unique abilities effectively.

B-Tier: Lafayette

Lafayette gains an additional Social Policy slot through the Reform Endeavor, +1 Combat Strength for every Tradition, and +1 Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements (doubled in Distant Lands). He is a good choice for players looking to balance military and cultural strategies.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

Napoleon, Emperor, benefits from being Unfriendly or Hostile with other Leaders, gaining +8 Gold per Age for each. He can also use the Continental System Sanction to reduce other Leaders' Trade Route limits. Napoleon, Emperor, is suitable for players who enjoy a challenging diplomatic strategy.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

Napoleon, Revolutionary, enhances land unit mobility with +1 Movement and gains Culture equal to 50% of enemy Combat Strength when defending. He is a unique choice for players who can effectively utilize defensive strategies to boost Culture.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

Tecumseh gains +1 Food and Production per Age in Settlements and +1 Combat Strength for all Units for every City-State he is Suzerain of. He is a solid choice for players who can establish strong relationships with City-States and leverage these bonuses effectively.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

Himiko, Queen of Wa, focuses on alliances, gaining +4 Science per Age for every Leader she is Friendly or Helpful with and a unique Endeavor called Friend of Wei that boosts Science for both allies. She is ideal for players who prefer a cooperative and science-focused strategy.

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 upon constructing a Culture Building. While these traits are decent, they lack the impact of other leaders, making him a less compelling choice.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

Pachacuti's effectiveness is highly dependent on map generation, gaining +1 Food adjacency bonus for Mountains and no Happiness maintenance cost for Specialists adjacent to Mountains. He is a situational choice, excelling only when settled near Mountains.

This comprehensive tier list should guide you in selecting the best leader for your Civilization 7 gameplay, ensuring you can build a thriving empire from Antiquity to the Modern Age.