If you're eager to dive into Civilization 7, you’ll quickly discover a few groundbreaking changes, particularly the introduction of the Ages mechanic. This innovative system lets you swap out your civilization for a different one as the game progresses through Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern Ages. However, your chosen leader remains constant throughout the entire game, offering strategic consistency.

Leaders in Civilization 7 may not boast as many traits or units as full-fledged civilizations, but their abilities are powerful enough to create dynamic combinations when paired strategically. To assist you in selecting the perfect leader, we’ve compiled a tier list highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. This guide should help you decide which leader best represents your empire as you build toward the Modern Age.

Best Civ 7 Leaders

Active Leaders in Civilization 7

### S-Tier: Ashoka, World Conquerer

+1 Production for every 5 excess Happiness in Cities.
+10% Production in Settlements not founded by you.
Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration.
+5 Combat Strength against Districts for all Units during a Celebration.

Ashoka, World Conquerer thrives on keeping your citizens content while launching military campaigns. Excess Happiness fuels continuous Production, enabling you to produce units and sustain your war efforts. Declaring a Formal War triggers an automatic Celebration, boosting your combat strength against districts and all units. This makes you a formidable opponent right from the start of hostilities.

With ample Happiness, you can enjoy multiple Celebrations during wartime, amplifying your military prowess. The key challenge lies in managing unrest when conquering settlements owned by rival civilizations. However, with proper management, Ashoka, World Conquerer ranks among the strongest leaders in the game.

S-Tier: Augustus

+2 Production in the Capital for every Town.
Can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns.
+50% Gold towards purchasing Buildings in Towns.

Augustus excels in a straightforward playstyle centered around expanding your settlements. By focusing on establishing as many Towns as possible—whether through settlement or conquest—you maximize his benefits. Interestingly, maintaining Towns instead of upgrading them saves you Gold while providing substantial Production and Culture bonuses.

Your Capital transforms into a powerhouse, fueled by your network of Towns. Additionally, purchasing Culture buildings becomes cheaper, and you gain access to cheaper building costs overall. This balanced approach offers immense Production and Culture growth while conserving resources—a solid foundation for any strategy.

S-Tier: Confucius

+25% Growth Rate in Cities.
+2 Science from Specialists.

Confucius dominates expansion with a remarkable +25% Growth Rate in Cities, accelerating your territorial control early on. This advantage allows you to secure key Resources before your rivals. Furthermore, his access to +2 Science from Specialists positions him as one of the top Science generators in the game.

Though defense may require external assistance, Confucius's unmatched growth rate and technological edge ensure dominance. Pair him with a strong Civilization or ally for added protection, and you'll find few obstacles standing in your way.

S-Tier: Xerxes, King of Kings

+3 Combat Strength for Units attacking in neutral or enemy territory.
Gain 100 Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time.
+10% Gold in all Settlements, increased further in Settlements not founded by you.
+1 Settlement limit per Age.

Xerxes, King of Kings specializes in aggressive expansion, rewarding you for capturing enemy Settlements. His combat strength boost during foreign invasions activates automatically, empowering your forces. Capturing Settlements not only advances your Military Legacy Path but also grants Culture and Gold, reinforcing your offensive strategy.

With an increased Settlement limit, Xerxes encourages rapid territorial expansion. However, managing unrest from newly acquired settlements is crucial to sustaining your military momentum.

A-Tier Leaders

### A-Tier: Ashoka, World Renouncer

+1 Food in Cities for every 5 excess Happiness.
+10% Food in all Settlements during Celebration.
All buildings gain a +1 Happiness adjacency for all Improvements.

Unlike the militaristic World Conquerer variant, the World Renouncer focuses on converting Happiness into population growth. This shifts gameplay toward land grabs and District construction rather than direct military confrontations. Managing large populations and efficient city-building becomes paramount.

Avoiding the unrest associated with capturing enemy settlements is a significant advantage, making the World Renouncer potentially stronger or equally competitive. However, this path demands greater finesse and lacks the robust Production bonuses offered by other leaders.

A-Tier: Benjamin Franklin

+1 Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities.
+50% Production towards constructing Production Buildings.
+1 Science per Age active Endeavors you started or supported.

Benjamin Franklin shines as a versatile leader for Science-focused strategies. His dual focus on Science and Production ensures rapid technological advancement followed by immediate implementation of those advancements. The feedback loop created by building Production Buildings efficiently enhances your Science output, making him ideal for players prioritizing innovation.

Additionally, his ability to support Endeavors strengthens alliances and further bolsters Science generation. Franklin’s traits synergize beautifully, creating a seamless progression toward a Science Victory.

A-Tier: Charlemagne

Military and Science Buildings receive a Happiness adjacency for Quarters.
Gain 2 free Cavalry Units, once unlocked, when entering a Celebration.
+5 Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during a Celebration.

Charlemagne combines military prowess with scientific advancement, creating a formidable early-game presence. Encouraged to invest in Military and Science buildings, he benefits from strong Happiness traits that stabilize his population. Entering Celebrations grants free Cavalry Units, amplifying their combat strength during each event.

While his cavalry-heavy strategy excels in the early game, transitioning to modern warfare may prove challenging. Nevertheless, by the Modern Age, Charlemagne should boast a robust empire capable of sustaining his dominance.

The remaining leaders are organized similarly across tiers, each with unique strengths and nuances tailored to specific playstyles. Whether you aim for a peaceful Cultural Victory or a ruthless Military Conquest, Civilization 7 offers a diverse roster of leaders to suit every preference.