Civilization 7 revolutionizes the franchise with groundbreaking innovations, including an innovative Ages system that lets you transition between civilizations as you progress through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern eras. Notably, your selected leader remains constant throughout your entire campaign.
Though leaders offer fewer distinct traits and units compared to full civilizations, their powerful abilities enable remarkable strategic combinations when paired thoughtfully. To guide your selection, we've compiled this comprehensive tier list showcasing each leader's strengths and weaknesses – equipping you to make informed choices as you build your empire toward Modern Age supremacy.
Top Civilization 7 Leaders Ranked
Premier Civilization 7 Leaders
Important Note: This evaluation focuses solely on standard Civilization 7 single-player gameplay without considering civilization synergies, multiplayer dynamics, or DLC leaders Ada Lovelace and Simón Bolívar.
Civilization 7 Leader Rankings
Elite Tier - Confucius, Xerxes the Great, Ashoka the Conqueror, Augustus Caesar
Excellent Tier - Ashoka the Peaceful, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, High Priestess Himiko, Isabella I, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes the Achaemenid
Competitive Tier - Queen Amina, Catherine the Great, Frederick the Strategist, Ibn Battuta, Lafayette, Emperor Napoleon, Revolutionary Napoleon, Chief Tecumseh, Queen Himiko
Standard Tier - Frederick the Artist, Pachacuti
Elite Tier Leaders
Elite Performer: Ashoka the Conqueror
+1 Production per 5 Happiness surplus in cities. +10% Production boost in conquered settlements. Formal War declarations trigger Celebrations. All units gain +5 Combat Strength against Districts during Celebrations.
Ashoka excels at cultivating domestic happiness while overwhelming rivals. His Happiness-to-Production conversion creates tremendous military potential. Conquered settlements amplify your industrial base for sustained warfare. Formal Wars immediately initiate Celebrations, providing decisive battlefield advantages against urban centers.
Master military strategy with our Civ 7 unit breakdown!
Strategic Happiness management can extend Celebration benefits throughout conflicts, though conquered populations require careful governance. When optimized, Ashoka stands among the game's most formidable leaders.
Elite Performer: Augustus Caesar
+2 Capital Production per Town. Enables Culture Building purchases in Towns. 50% discount on Town building purchases.
Augustus thrives through extensive territorial expansion. His specialist Town economy delivers exceptional Capital-focused growth without requiring urban upgrades. This streamlined approach generates substantial Production and Culture while conserving resources.
The synergy between Town-focused Production bonuses and discounted construction creates unparalleled infrastructure growth. Whether through settlement or conquest, widespread Town establishment forms Augustus's core strength.
Elite Performer: Confucius
25% accelerated city growth. Specialists yield +2 Science.
Confucius dominates territorial expansion through unparalleled urban growth rates. Early-game border expansion secures vital resources effortlessly. His scientifically inclined specialists create technological dominance, particularly in late-game scenarios where specialized populations multiply benefits.
Prepare for victory with our Civ 7 map configuration guide.
Elite Performer: Xerxes the Great
+3 Combat Strength in foreign territory. Settlement captures yield Age-scaled Culture/Gold rewards. +10% economic boost empire-wide (+20% in conquered cities). Additional Settlement capacity per Age.
Xerxes specializes in relentless conquest. His territorial aggression bonuses require no activation, delivering consistent battlefield advantages. Capturing settlements accelerates cultural and economic dominance while expanding territorial limits beyond normal constraints.
Excellent Tier Leaders
Cultural Specialist: Ashoka the Peaceful
+1 Food per 5 Happiness surplus. Celebration Food yields increased by 10%. All improvements generate Happiness adjacency.
Ashoka's pacifist variant transforms happiness into demographic growth rather than military production. District-focused players benefit most from his settlement specialization potential. Unlike his martial counterpart, this version avoids occupation-related instability issues.
Scientific Visionary: Benjamin Franklin
Age-tiered Science from Production Buildings. 50% accelerated production structures construction. Additional Science from supported Endeavors. Enables duplicate Endeavor types.
Franklin creates powerful scientific-industrial synergies. His rapid infrastructure development fuels technological advancement, while Endeavor engagement reinforces research dominance. The dual Endeavor capacity provides unmatched flexibility in cooperative agreements.
Battlefield Tactician: Charlemagne
Cavalry bonuses from Science/Military Quarters. Celebration Cavalry rewards. Celebration Cavalry combat enhancements.
Charlemagne merges scientific advancement with mounted warfare dominance. Proper quarter placement creates happiness-driven Celebration cycles, reinforcing cavalry advantages. While facing challenges against advanced weaponry, early-game cavalry superiority establishes strong foundations.
Master governance with our Civ 7 Celebrations and Governments guide.
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