Civilization 7 Leaders Tier List

Civilization 7 introduces a number of huge modifications to the collection, most notably the Ages mechanic that has you swap out your civilization for a brand new one as the sport progresses by Antiquity, Exploration, and Fashionable Ages. Your selection of chief, although, sticks with you all through your complete sport.

Whereas they don’t present as many traits and items as Civilizations, Leaders nonetheless have highly effective talents that may create some glorious combos when blended and matched. That can assist you out, we’ve created this tier checklist of each Chief and highlighted their strengths and weaknesses. This could show you how to select who you need to be the face of your empire as you construct your future all the best way into the Fashionable Age.

Civilization 7 Chief Tier Record

S-Tier – Confucius, Xerxes King of Kings, Ashoka World Conquerer, Augustus

A-Tier – Ashoka World Renouncer, Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Harriet Tubman, Hatshepsut, Himiko Excessive Shaman, Isabella, Jose Rizal, Machiavelli, Trung Trac, Xerxes The Achaemenid

B-Tier – Amina, Catherine The Nice, Friedrich Indirect, 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

• +1 Manufacturing for each 5 extra Happiness in Cities.
• +10% Manufacturing in Settlements not based by you.
• Declaring a Formal Struggle grants a Celebration. +5 Fight Power towards Districts for all Items throughout a Celebration.

Ashoka, World Conquerer is all about holding your personal residents completely happy whereas terrorizing different civilizations. Happiness is a really robust yield, and so long as you may maintain a powerful move of extra Happiness, you’re going to get continuous advantages. Settlements not based by you and extra Happiness lead to further Manufacturing which means you may make numerous Items and preserve a powerful base to gasoline your warfare efforts. Additionally, declaring a Formal Struggle grants you an automated Celebration. This offers you an on the spot +5 Fight Power towards Districts and All Items. This makes you glorious at placing your enemy on the again foot instantly as soon as a warfare is said.

With all the surplus Happiness, you may probably get one or two further Celebrations throughout a warfare, so that you undergo durations of utmost army energy. The one factor to handle is, as you are taking over Settlements out of your fellow civs, coping with the unrest they bring about. Nevertheless, when you can handle that and maintain everybody completely happy, Ashoka, World Conquerer is likely one of the strongest leaders within the sport.

S-Tier: Augustus

• +2 Manufacturing within the Capital for each City. Can buy Tradition Buildings in Cities.
• +50% Gold in the direction of buying Buildings in Cities.

Augustus will get numerous advantages from a comparatively simple type of play. He’s all about going large along with his Settlements and establishing as many Cities as attainable, be that by settling or conquest. Curiously although, his worth is available in not upgrading Cities to Metropolis. That saves him Gold, however he will get a pleasant bonus to Gold and Manufacturing for sustaining as many Cities as attainable.

He can flip his Capital right into a powerhouse, with all of his cities feeding his central base. On high of he should buy buildings cheaper in Cities, and has entry to purchasing Tradition buildings. This may actually add up, each giving him immense quantities of Manufacturing and Tradition, but in addition saving him cash alongside the best way. It’s a properly rounded type of play with nice advantages and an easy-to-understand objective. Simply get on the market and settle plenty of Cities – or take them by pressure.

S-Tier: Confucius

• +25% Progress Charge in Cities.
• +2 Science from Specialists.

Confucius is a grasp in the case of increasing his Cities. The pure +25% Progress Charge in Cities is simply highly effective, particularly early on when land-grabbing is vital. You’ll be able to broaden your borders a lot sooner than your opponents, absorbing key Sources earlier than they’ll. And you are able to do it with out the ache of going to warfare.

He additionally has ease turning into among the finest producers of Science within the sport because of getting +2 Science from Specialists. This may make him significantly potent, particularly ultimately sport the place his Specilasits stack up, and he has entry to way more superior Know-how than different civilizations. He might have somewhat assist defending his lands, so a powerful Civilization pairing, or making a strong ally can go far. Outdoors of that although, there’s not loads that’s going to cease Confucius from gobbling up all of the land he can, all whereas being one of the crucial technologically superior.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

• +3 Fight Power for Items which are attacking in impartial or enemy territory.
• Acquire 100 Tradition and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the primary time. +10% Gold in all Settlements, elevated even additional in Settlements not based by you.
• +1 Settlement restrict per Age.

Xerxes, King of Kings is as simple because it will get. He has one specialty – attacking different gamers and taking their Settlements. It’s not sophisticated or highbrowed, however it’s undoubtedly efficient, particularly in case you are on the lookout for a Army Victory.

He advantages from being the aggressor in each scenario, getting free fight power, that doesn’t require something to activate previous initiating fights in international territory. He’s additionally incentivized to take over as many Settlements as his limits will enable, although he even will get the next Settlement restrict. For doing so, not solely is he advancing the Army Legacy Path, he beneficial properties Tradition and Gold additional fueling his army goals.

A-Tier Leaders

A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

• +1 Meals in Cities for each 5 extra Happiness.
• +10% Meals in all Settlements throughout Celebration.
• All buildings achieve a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Enhancements.

Whereas not as militarily spooky because the World Conquerer model of Ashoka, the World Renouncer is definitely nothing to smell at. Whereas the opposite model is about turning Happiness into army may, this model of Ashoka is all about turning Happiness into inhabitants.

This modifications the play from attempting to take over as many Settlements along with your items, into going for a land seize and establishing Districts. This may be glorious in the suitable fingers, particularly those that know the right way to handle large populations and metropolis building. You too can bypass the unrest of taking on Settlements, so there may be an argument the World Renouncer is as robust and even stronger. That mentioned, it requires somewhat extra finesse and doesn’t obtain the highly effective manufacturing bonuses. Both method although, so long as your inhabitants is completely happy, your borders needs to be increasing when you select to go the World Renouncer route.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

• +1 Science per Age on Manufacturing Buildings in CIties.
• +50% Manufacturing in the direction of setting up Manufacturing Buildings.
• +1 Science per Age energetic Endeavors you began or supported.
• Can have two Endeavors of the identical sort energetic at a time.

Benjamin Franklin is an distinctive and versatile Chief when you intend to go down the Science route in your sport. What’s good is his specialties are in Science and Manufacturing, which means not solely are you able to analysis numerous Know-how rapidly, however you may then make the product of your labor quickly after too.

His traits create a pleasant suggestions loop round Manufacturing Buildings the place setting up Manufacturing Buildings may be completed quick, and he then will get further Science for each. He additionally advantages from having good relations with these round him, and might additional his Science technology by coming into into Endeavors.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

• Army and Science Buildings obtain a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. Acquire 2 free Cavalry Items, as soon as unlocked, when coming into a Celebration.
• +5 Fight Power for Cavalry Items throughout a Celebration.

Army and Science are all the time a strong mixture, permitting you to be on the leading edge of latest warfare Applied sciences, after which urgent that benefit. Charlemagne is inspired to push for Army and Science buildings to assist prop up some highly effective Happiness traits.

So long as he can maintain his inhabitants completely happy, he can frequently enter Celebrations, which in flip provides him free Cavalry Items. Whereas that’s happening too, these already robust early and mid-game items achieve much more power. It’s a really horse-centric technique, however stampeding over your fellow Civilizations is a really robust tactic within the early components of the sport. Whereas he could wrestle extra within the Fashionable Age as soon as the likes of Tanks and Planes are launched, he needs to be established with a really robust empire by then.

A-Tier: Harriet Tubman

• +100% Affect in the direction of Initiating Espionage Actions.
• Acquire 5 Struggle Help on all wars declared towards you.
• Items ignore motion penalties from Vegetation.

Harriet Tubman is undoubtedly one of many stealthiest selections in Civilization 7. Affect is usually a highly effective yield, and Harriet can wield it maybe most powerfully of all. She will trigger some actual bother for different Civilizations by messing with them by technique of Espionage, permitting you to disrupt or steal benefits from others.

Even when you get caught and anger a strong pressure, the 5 Struggle Help you get when a warfare is said towards you is a gigantic drain on them, that ought to permit you to grind out a victory. On high of that, her armies are nimble, and capable of ignore vegetation, making her onerous to pin down, tricksy, and a ache to cope with when she’s defending.

A-Tier: Hatshepsut

• +1 Tradition for each imported Useful resource.
• +15% Manufacturing in the direction of the development of Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjoining to Navigable Rivers.

Hatshepsut can get entry to essentially robust spikes in Tradition. It advantages her to have good relationships and set up Commerce Routes for imported Sources. She will get +1 Tradition for each, so each time she enters right into a commerce with one other civilization, it provides her a pleasant increase of Tradition.

She’s additionally one of many perfect at producing Wonders, but in addition, Buildings typically. This makes her very robust within the early Tradition Legacy Paths. Whereas she must be using a Navigable River, most cities needs to be on one anyway, so this isn’t a tough requirement to fulfill.

A-Tier: Himiko, Excessive Shaman

• +2 Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings.
• +50% Manufacturing in the direction of setting up Happiness Buildings.
• +20% Tradition however -10% Science, and these results are doubled whereas in a Celebration.

Himiko is probably the very best producer of Tradition in Civilization 7. Her traits are very highly effective, and the combination it has with Happiness is a potent one. Developing Happiness Buildings is quick because of the manufacturing bonus, and the Happiness Buildings solely get stronger with age. She additionally will get a ridiculous +20% passive increase to Tradition, which doubles throughout Celebrations, additional feeding into Happiness.

Nevertheless, it comes with drawbacks. She additionally has a -10% passive to Science, which additionally doubles throughout a celebration. This may require you to concentrate on your handicap and work round it. That mentioned, so long as you both make the most of Endeavors or compensate for the Science loss with Buildings and assets, these potential peaks of Tradition boosts far outweigh the unfavorable Science nerf.

A-Tier: Isabella

• Acquire 300 Gold each time you uncover a Pure Surprise, doubled if the Pure Surprise is in Distant Lands.
• +100% extra tile yields from Pure Wonders.
• +50% Gold in the direction of buying Naval Items, and -1 Gold upkeep price for Naval Items.

Isabella can completely catapult herself early on if she will be able to discover a Pure Surprise. Particularly within the Antiquity Age, if discovered early sufficient, 300 Gold is a large boon. This enables her to purchase items or buildings that ought to put her fairly a bit forward if completed on the proper time. If she is ready to incorporate the Pure Surprise into her borders too, she’s going to get huge tile Yields, making it once more, very highly effective the sooner you are able to do it.

That mentioned, this after all depends in your discovering and securing the Pure Wonders. She will fall sufferer to unfortunate map placement. If there’s no close by Pure Surprise early on, then she’s not going to be getting many advantages. That mentioned, it doesn’t matter what, she ought to have a powerful Navy, by shopping for water-based Items and sustaining them with no drawback.

A-Tier: Jose Rizal

• When gaining rewards from Narrative Occasions, achieve a further 20 Tradition and Gold per Age.
• Has extra Narrative Occasions.
• +50% Celebration period.
• +50% Happiness in the direction of Celebrations.

Jose Rizal is a grasp of Celebrations. The 50% Celebration Period and +50% Happiness in the direction of Celebrations tandem could be very robust. This can assist him make huge beneficial properties with highly effective Celebration results, particularly if he strikes within the route of Tradition. He can have Celebrations typically and have them energetic for longer. That’s glorious.

He additionally will get good boosts of Tradition and Gold for the Narrative Occasions he participates in and fortunately they occur extra steadily to him than over civs. Whereas these probably gained’t sway a sport on their very own, they’re a pleasant garnish on the Celebration synergy out there to him.

A-Tier: Machiavelli

• +3 affect per Age.
• Features 50 Gold per Age when your Diplomatic Motion proposals are accepted or 100 Gold when they’re rejected.
• Ignore Relationship necessities for declaring Formal Wars.
• Can Levy Army Items from Metropolis-States you aren’t Suzerin of.

Machiavelli is a superb possibility for individuals who wish to get positively devious. He has a strong synergy of Affect and Gold that makes him a risk always. Whereas he is probably not on the offensive each second, his potential to disregard Relationship Necessities to declare wars means even allies aren’t protected from a stab within the again.

Even his obvious energy stage may be misleading, as because of his potential to realize numerous Gold from Diplomatic Actions made along with his Affect, he should buy significant army pressure rapidly. On high of that, he has the very highly effective potential to levy items from Metropolis-States he isn’t Suzerain of. He’s not finest at taking over robust armies and needs to be thought-about in his actions, however he excels at a smash-and-grab playstyle, even on the expense of his pals.

A-Tier: Trung Trac

• Acquire 3 free Ranges in your first Military Commander.
• +20% Commander expertise.
• +10% Science in Cities in Tropical Areas. This bonus is doubled whereas in a Formal Struggle you declare.

Trung Trac is the grasp of using the highly effective new Military Commander items. These items allow you to command a number of items directly whereas offering them with highly effective bonuses. Whereas they aren’t essentially the strongest to start with, the extra ranges they get, the extra of a deciding issue they develop into. Trung Trac not solely will get 20% Commander Expertise, however her Commanders spawn with three free ranges. This may make for some fairly sizeable spikes in army energy that may affect wars. If her Commanders get actually highly effective and get a number of Commendations too, her armies will likely be a few of the strongest on the map.

She additionally will get a pleasant increase to Science on Tropical Areas, a whopping 20% boostwhen at warfare, supercharging the formidable Science and Army combo. That mentioned, it’s map-dependent, as she’s going to want entry to these Tropical tiles.

A-Tier: Xerxes, The Achaemenid

• +1 Commerce Route restrict with all different leaders.
• +50 Tradition and 100 Gold per Age while you create a Commerce Route or Highway.
• +1 Tradition and Gold per Age on Distinctive Buildings and Distinctive Enhancements.

Xerxes, The Achaemenid has entry to a pleasant number of yields and advantages. The 100 Gold and 50 Tradition he will get from creating Commerce Routes and Roads are glorious and might offer you huge spikes of each when you arrange a number of across the similar time. Contemplating he will get entry to 1 further Commerce Route too for every Chief, there’s a good synergy right here.

That’s solely helped by his buff to Tradition and Gold on Distinctive Buildings and Enhancements. Make no mistake, it is a huge quantity of each, and when utilized correctly, it’s very, very robust.

B-Tier Leaders

B-Tier: Amina

• +1 Useful resource Capability in Cities.
• +1 Gold per Age for every Useful resource assigned to Cities.
• +5 Fight Power on all Items in Plains or Desert.

Amina is unquestionably an honest Chief who does properly with Sources. Sources are highly effective in Civilization 7, so gaining access to extra is just not a foul factor. Whereas the +1 capability is good to have, the +1 Gold per Age for every Useful resource assigned to Cities is a superb Gold generator.

In fact, you will have to get entry to as many Sources as attainable whereas housing them too, so that’s the place your sport plan needs to be centered. Her Items getting a +5 Fight Power on all Items in Plains or Desert is a bit situational, but it surely might are available clutch in the suitable circumstances.

B-Tier: Catherine the Nice

• +2 Tradition per Age on displayed Nice Works. Constructing with Nice Works slot achieve 1 extra slot.
• Cities settled in Tundra achieve Science equal to a share of their Tradition per flip.

Catherine the Nice is mostly a fantastic producer of Tradition. Displaying Nice Works is part of the Tradition Legacy Path, so her gaining access to further slots to show them may be helpful when attempting to run by that as quick as attainable. The Tradition increase for doing so may even feed extra Nice Works, making a pleasant suggestions loop.

That mentioned, she is usually a little situational. Her cities being on Tundra do make for glorious Science output in tandem along with her Tradition technology. That mentioned, when you can’t choose Tundras or their barrenness finally ends up hurting you when it comes to assets, she is usually a little trickier to make the most of.

B-Tier: Friedrich, Indirect

• Military Commanders begin with the Benefit Commendation, granting them extra Command Radius.
• Acquire an Infantry Unit while you assemble a Science Constructing.

The Indirect model of Friedrich is probably going his higher possibility, although he’s nonetheless removed from the very best within the sport. That isn’t to say he isn’t with out benefit although. Military Commanders are robust Items and the Benefit Commendations present probably the most highly effective results amongst them. Beginning with a type of is an efficient technique to increase your military’s energy early on. The extra Command Radius is as highly effective as any buffs and debuffs, permitting you to have an effect on extra Items.

He can also get an Infantry Unit when setting up a Science Constructing, which is a pleasant incentive to place your Gold and Manufacturing into these. That mentioned, he has no entry to Science, Affect, or Tradition buffs. Even for a scientific-focused Civilization, he can find yourself hurting his viability a bit as he’ll probably lag behind different specialists.

B-Tier: Ibn Battuta

• Acquire 2 Wildcard Attribute Factors after the primary Civic in each Age.
• +1 Sight for all Items.
• Acquire a singular Endeavor known as Commerce Maps that permits you to progressively see different Leaders’ Explored space.

Ibn Battuta might develop into a strong Civilization if performed accurately, although he’s so versatile, his strengths is probably not obvious to these unsure the right way to make the most of Attribute Factors. Getting 2 of those after the primary Civic in every Age means that he’s versatile, and might spec himself into the scenario he finds himself in. That mentioned, with that flexibility comes extra selection and complexity that is perhaps somewhat unwieldy for brand new gamers.

Likewise, his visibility of the map granted from stealing different Explored areas and the additional sight from items is one thing that may be highly effective in skilled fingers. Nevertheless that worth won’t be obvious to these much less versed in the right way to make use of that data. He brings loads to the desk and could be very versatile. Simply ensure you understand how to make the most of that.

B-Tier: Lafayette

• Acquire a singular Endeavor known as Reform, which grants a further Social Coverage slot. Supporting this Endeavor additionally grants the opposite chief a further Social Coverage Slot.
• +1 Fight Power for each Custom, however not Coverage, slotted into Authorities.
• +1 Tradition and Happiness per Age in Settlements, doubled in Distant Lands.

Lafayette has entry to some good traits, although they aren’t probably the most eye-catching in isolation. Him having the ability to use Reform to get extra Social Coverage Slots is good, and can assist present yield boosts. The +1 Fight Power he will get from Traditions too is nothing to smell at. That mentioned, even with yield-focused insurance policies, he could wrestle to maintain up with extra specialised Leaders.

The +1 to Tradition and Happiness per Age, which is doubled in Distant Lands, is a very unconditional buff although. That’s good to have. This all comes collectively to make him an excellent Civilization, with a pleasant collection of good traits, although nothing right here is fully compelling right here by itself.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Emperor

• Acquire a singular Sanction known as Continental System that reduces the Commerce Route restrict of the focused Chief to all different Leaders. Causes huge Relationship penalty, and prices extra to reject.
• +8 Gold per Age for each Chief you might be Unfriendly or Hostile with.
• Can reject endeavors for Free.

Napoleon, Emperor is for individuals who like being a little bit of a brat. He will get advantages from being a troll, gaining an excellent +8 Gold for each Chief he’s Unfriendly or Hostile with. That may be loads if he’s annoying everybody. His Continental System Sanction messes with different civilizations’ potential to commerce, making it a superb choice to tick off his neighbors.

The issue is available in managing that hate. This implies it will likely be very onerous to enter into Endeavors, and even maintain Open Borders with these round you. In fact, it would additionally paint an unlimited goal in your again. Since he supplies no buffs to his Items militarily, that’s a harmful sport. So, when you’re going to be a jerk to everybody, be sure to have the military to again it up simply in case the implications of your actions catch as much as you.

B-Tier: Napoleon, Revolutionary

• +1 Motion for all Land Items.
• Defending an enemy unit supplies Tradition equal to 50% p.c of its Fight Power.

Napoleon, Revolutionary is an fascinating Chief. All of his land items get +1 motion which is useful when attempting to each traverse giant areas, in addition to being nimble when maneuvering round enemy items.

Nevertheless, the way you make the most of his different trait is probably going going to be what decides when you do properly with him or not. Tradition equal to 50% of enemy Fight Power when defending may be very spikey, providing you with numerous Tradition if you end up defending a number of occasions per flip. Nevertheless, to make the very best of this, it’s worthwhile to end up on this place comparatively typically. Which means you’re going to need to be frightening enemies, however holding your floor. It’s a fairly distinctive playstyle and could also be a bit awkward for some. But when used properly, it could possibly be an enormous supply of Tradition. Simply count on to be placing different assets into sustaining your military as you frequently take hits.

B-Tier: Tecumseh

• +1 Meals and Manufacturing per Age in Settlements for each Metropolis-State you might be Suzerain of.
• +1 Fight Power for all of your Items for each Metropolis-State you might be Suzerin of.

Tecumseh has the potential to be excellent, however it would want time and setup. He’s all about turning into the Suzerain of Metropolis-States. In the event you can rack up three or 4 of those, that’s a big bonus to Meals and Manufacturing, in addition to Fight Power.

The problem is that turning into a Suzerain takes numerous Affect and he doesn’t have an inherent trait that helps. So he’ll want an excellent pairing with a Civilization, Coverage, and Buildings/Districts to facilitate this. On high of that, it would simply take time so that you can get the Affect you want and persuade these states they need to come beneath your wing. Nevertheless, when you’ve got the infrastructure for it, the rewards may be pure and constant worth.

B-Tier: Himiko, Queen of Wa

• Acquire a singular Endeavor known as Good friend of Wei that may be carried out in an Alliance to grant you and your ally +25% Science.
• +4 Science per Age for each Chief you might be Pleasant or Useful with.
• Can assist Endeavors totally free.

Himiko, Queen of Wa is the other of Napoleon, Emperor. She is all about being everybody’s finest good friend, and when you can preserve that, you’ll reap huge advantages. The +4 Science per Age for each Chief you’re Pleasant or Useful with is barely helped by the Good friend of Wei Endeavor. Multiply that by a number of allies, and that’s critical Science manufacturing.

Nevertheless, you do need to be somewhat cautious with it too. Be certain that being good to everybody doesn’t come at the price of your defensive army. Your Technological advances and sunny demeanor could make others jealous, so don’t get caught out considering everyone seems to be your good friend. That may exit the window rapidly when they need what you could have.

C-Tier Leaders

C-Tier: Friedrich, Baroque

• Acquire a Nice Work while you seize a Settlement for the primary time.
• Acquire an Infantry Unit while you assemble a Tradition Constructing.

Friedrich, Baroque has two traits and neither is especially robust or distinct. Gaining a Nice Work for capturing a Settlement for the primary time is respectable, however is unlikely to outright show you how to win video games. In a discipline of very robust Chief traits, this feels merely ‘high quality’.

Gaining an Infantry Unit when constructing a Tradition Constructing can be helpful, and can assist gasoline your army ambitions, but it surely’s not precisely going to make up for having no yield bonuses right here. There are simply many stronger choices in the case of Tradition and your Army.

C-Tier: Pachacuti

• All Buildings achieve a +1 Meals adjacency bonus for Mountains.
• Specialists adjoining to Mountains don’t price Happiness upkeep

Pachacuti is just not a foul Chief. In truth, in some video games, he may be distinctive. The issue is, he can even do subsequent to nothing if the map hasn’t favored you. To excel, you want Mountains. If he can settle close to them, then he’ll get good entry to an excellent quantity of Meals and have little disadvantage from Specialists. That may be actually good, particularly when paired with Civilizations that make the most of Mountains too.

The issue is, that’s a strict requirement. With out Mountains, he supplies little else, so when you spawn on a map with none round you, you’re out of luck. In fact, you can begin over, or transfer the map sliders in your favor earlier than selecting him, however if you need a impartial expertise the place you begin and play on a traditional map, know you’re rolling the cube while you begin.

Patrick is a a contract journalist with over 13 years of expertise who loves going deep on video games and stepping into their techniques. His four-figure hours into each Overwatch 2 and Future 2 are a testomony to that.