Best Leaders To Get A Science Victory In Civ 7

Summary

Choosing leaders with science perks speeds up science research for a victory.
Not all science-focused leaders are obvious choices – some may surprise you.
Focus on building science-boosting structures, balancing resources, and aligning leader abilities for a science victory in Civ 7.

Pursuing a science victory in Civilization 7 means choosing a leader with research perks. Selecting the right leader can help you accelerate your civilization towards a science victory, typically by speeding up science research in one way or another. However, there are several other factors that go into science, like production. In the modern age, much of your focus will be on building, not just researching.

Hatshepsut looks oaver her empire in Civilization 7

Civilization 7: The Best Mementos For Every Leader

We’re building a list and checking it twice for the best Mementos every Civilization 7 leader can acquire.

There are some leaders that just make sense for this victory type, while others may surprise you. After all, achieving a science victory isn’t always straightforward in Civ 7 since it isn’t just about reaching the end of the tech tree. Sometimes, the best leaders aren’t those that focus solely on science.

8

Trung Trac

Trung Trac with her sword drawn in her reveal trailer for Civilization 7.

Trung Trac combines science and military leadership. Typically, she works best for a military victory since she lets your troop advancement stay ahead of the competition. However, you can also synergize her to achieve a science victory, albeit an aggressive science victory.

Her science output increases whenever she is in a formal war. Therefore, your best bet is to stay in a formal war as much as possible, preferably with less-powerful civilizations that you can easily defend against.

Focus on building and upgrading structures that boost science output, like campuses, libraries, and universities.

7

Catherine The Great

Catherine posing on her home screen in Civilization 7.

Catherine’s Star of the North ability provides science bonuses in tundra-based cities, and you’ll likely spawn somewhere near tundra when you select her. The extra science is based on your cultural output, though, so you’ll need to research and build plenty of cultural buildings to make the most of this ability.

You probably won’t want to spread too far and wide with Catherine the Great, as her bonuses drop dramatically out of the tundra. Therefore, she makes the best choice for those who want to play tall instead of wide.

6

Friedrich (Oblique)

Friedrich in his Oblique persona posing in Civilization 7.

Friedrich is a good option for players who want to go after a more aggressive science victory. Each time he builds a science building, he gets a free infantry unit. This allows you to build your army by producing science buildings instead of the units themselves. This can snowball very quickly, especially since your high science output will let you continue to research more science buildings.

Civilization 7: Legend Unlocks, Explained

Confused about those locked attribute nodes – and a few related mechanics – in Civilization 7? So were we.

Friedrich may seem like a pretty militarized leader, but he can also play toward science. He’s a good option for those who don’t really know what direction they want to go and to keep their options open. He can also adapt depending on what civilization you pair with him.

5

Charlemagne

Charlemagne smiling in his reveal video for Civilization 7.

Charlemagne is best known for his military abilities, but he also gains extra happiness for science buildings, which you’ll be building a lot of if you’re aiming for a science victory.

That said, he mostly has abilities for military victories. For instance, he gets extra cavalry units and enjoys increased combat strength for cavalry units during a celebration. For those with an aggressive playstyle who want to go after a science victory, though, his happiness bonus can be a nice bonus to something you’re already building.

Balancing resource allocation is important for a science victory. Ensure that your cities have adequate food supplies to support population growth, which in turn increases the number of specialists contributing to science.

4

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta is described as a wildcard in Civ 7. His unique ability is to gain multiple attribute points after you research the first civic in any age. You can use these points for any area you want, allowing you to buff your science abilities if you choose. You can really use Ibn Battuta for just about any victory type, so the civilization you choose will matter even more with this leader.

Three Antiquity Age Wonders in Civilization 7

Civilization 7: Wonders Tier List

Stand tall and shake the heavens with our in-progress guide to every Wonder in Civilization 7.

He does have a bias towards flat terrain, which can provide you with plenty of room to build science-focused buildings and wonders. However, once again, the civilization you pick will matter a lot when it comes to the exact terrain you can expect.

3

Himiko (Queen Of Wa)

Himiko Of Wa holding her arm out in Civilization 7.

Himiko has a unique ability that provides you and your allies with increased science. You have to perform the special endeavor called Friend of Wei on the diplomatic screen with an ally. It can take a bit of time to get an ally, especially in the ancient age when you have to spend several turns finding other civilizations.

However, the extra science can stack quickly if you have several allies and keep this endeavor going at all times. Consider allying with civilizations that aren’t particularly strong in science, as your ally will also receive extra science during the endeavor.

2

Confucius

Confucius posing in his reveal video for Civilization 7.

Confucius is an obvious choice for a science victory. His unique ability is pretty straightforward. He receives increased science from specialists and an increased growth rate in cities. All of this means that he can grow cities quickly and gains extra benefits from placing down population as workers, not in rural districts. You can stack this further with civics that improves specialists.

Confucius works well for players who want to play wide instead of tall. He leans heavily towards cities, too. Towns will not benefit from the increased growth rate.

Each age is a little different when it comes to a science victory. Be sure to adjust your strategy based on what each age calls for.

1

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin holding a book in Civilization 7.

Benjamin Franklin was made for a science victory. He gets science for production buildings, which increases as you progress through the ages. He also gets increased production towards making production buildings, allowing you to benefit from the increased science even faster.

Production is very helpful in a science victory, too. Most of the progress towards a science victory in the modern age involves building things. Having a high production in your cities can make all the difference in a tight race.