Civilization VII Leader Tier List: Ashoka, Augustus, and the Best Leaders to Pick Right Now
Civilization VII has settled into a deep enough patch cycle that a real leader tier list can finally hold up. With Firaxis now looking ahead to the Earthrise expansion and the free Arc of Tomorrow update (see our full breakdown of what’s coming in 2027), here’s how every leader stacks up in the game as it plays today — S-tier generalists down to the B-tier specialists who need the right map to shine.
S-Tier Leaders
Ashoka (World Conqueror), Augustus, Catherine the Great, Confucius, and Himiko (Queen of Wa) all excel across multiple victory conditions, which is what earns S-tier in a game this flexible.
Ashoka’s World Conqueror persona is production-focused, gaining extra production per five points of excess happiness and bonus combat strength during celebrations — territorial expansion and building construction both move fast under him. Augustus is the generalist’s generalist, offering culture discounts on town purchases and production bonuses in the capital that support almost any strategy. Catherine the Great pairs culture and science, with bonuses for Great Works and tundra cities that enable a cultural victory without sacrificing research. Confucius is a growth specialist — his science-per-specialist bonus and 25% city growth rate accelerate population expansion, which feeds every other victory path. Himiko leans into diplomacy, granting bonus science for every leader you hold a positive relationship with, making alliance-heavy games her strongest setting.
Ashoka’s World Conqueror persona is production-focused, gaining extra production per five points of excess happiness and bonus combat strength during celebrations — territorial expansion and building construction both move fast under him. Augustus is the generalist’s generalist, offering culture discounts on town purchases and production bonuses in the capital that support almost any strategy. Catherine the Great pairs culture and science, with bonuses for Great Works and tundra cities that enable a cultural victory without sacrificing research. Confucius is a growth specialist — his science-per-specialist bonus and 25% city growth rate accelerate population expansion, which feeds every other victory path. Himiko leans into diplomacy, granting bonus science for every leader you hold a positive relationship with, making alliance-heavy games her strongest setting.
A-Tier Leaders
Ashoka (World Renouncer), Benjamin Franklin, Charlemagne, Hatshepsut, Isabella, José Rizal, Napoleon (Revolutionary), and Machiavelli round out A-tier.
Ashoka’s World Renouncer persona trades conquest for food and happiness through improved adjacencies. Franklin is a science multiplier who adds bonus science per age to production buildings and can trigger dual endeavor agreements, making him a strong pick for research races. Charlemagne hands out free cavalry during celebrations alongside combat bonuses, favoring a domination lean. Hatshepsut gets a 15% production bonus on river-adjacent tiles plus trade-route culture, which suits wonder-heavy, trade-focused games. Isabella is higher variance — her natural-wonder bonuses can dominate a game if she spawns favorably, but there’s no guarantee. Rizal accumulates culture and gold through narrative events, Napoleon’s extra movement speeds up early exploration, and Machiavelli leans into diplomatic manipulation with influence generation and city-state levies.
Ashoka’s World Renouncer persona trades conquest for food and happiness through improved adjacencies. Franklin is a science multiplier who adds bonus science per age to production buildings and can trigger dual endeavor agreements, making him a strong pick for research races. Charlemagne hands out free cavalry during celebrations alongside combat bonuses, favoring a domination lean. Hatshepsut gets a 15% production bonus on river-adjacent tiles plus trade-route culture, which suits wonder-heavy, trade-focused games. Isabella is higher variance — her natural-wonder bonuses can dominate a game if she spawns favorably, but there’s no guarantee. Rizal accumulates culture and gold through narrative events, Napoleon’s extra movement speeds up early exploration, and Machiavelli leans into diplomatic manipulation with influence generation and city-state levies.
B-Tier Leaders
Amina, Friedrich (Oblique), Harriet Tubman, Lafayette, Pachacuti, Trung Trac, Xerxes (King of Kings), and Ibn Battuta are all solid in the right niche, but none of them are game-breaking.
Amina leans on gold generation through resource management. Friedrich’s Oblique persona is military-focused, granting commander bonuses and free infantry from science buildings. Tubman specializes in espionage with a large influence bonus toward spy actions, though the mechanic’s late-game timing limits her ceiling. Lafayette scales with slotted tradition cards and can be powerful late, but needs a focused build to get there. Pachacuti wants mountainous terrain for food and specialist-maintenance bonuses, Trung Trac rewards aggressive, war-focused play with commander promotions, Xerxes gains culture and gold from settlement captures but struggles outside of domination games, and Ibn Battuta’s vision and exploration bonuses are useful without being decisive.
Amina leans on gold generation through resource management. Friedrich’s Oblique persona is military-focused, granting commander bonuses and free infantry from science buildings. Tubman specializes in espionage with a large influence bonus toward spy actions, though the mechanic’s late-game timing limits her ceiling. Lafayette scales with slotted tradition cards and can be powerful late, but needs a focused build to get there. Pachacuti wants mountainous terrain for food and specialist-maintenance bonuses, Trung Trac rewards aggressive, war-focused play with commander promotions, Xerxes gains culture and gold from settlement captures but struggles outside of domination games, and Ibn Battuta’s vision and exploration bonuses are useful without being decisive.
How to Pick a Leader for Your Playstyle
If you’re not sure where to start, match the leader to the victory type you actually want to play. Builders chasing a science or culture win should default to Confucius, Catherine the Great, or Himiko. Players who want to fight should look at Charlemagne, Trung Trac, or Xerxes instead of forcing a peaceful leader into a war game. And if you just want a leader that’s strong no matter what map or ruleset you roll, Augustus remains the safest pick in the game — he’s the generalist this tier list keeps coming back to.
Where to Get Civilization VII
Pick up Sid Meier’s Civilization VII PC or the content-packed Civilization VII Deluxe Edition PC, and keep a Steam Wallet Code (US) topped up for when Earthrise and Arc of Tomorrow land. Full leader data and patch notes live on the Pocket Tactics Civilization VII tier list.
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