The leader you select has a huge impact on your game in Civilization 7, especially as a beginner. Some leaders have very complicated bonuses that require optimizing your cities in a particular way. Others have more straightforward and potent bonuses, which can simplify a beginner’s learning curve. These simpler leaders are better when you’re just trying to figure out the game mechanics.
![a walled songhai city in civilization 7.](https://esportvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1738824057_Guide-To-Policy-And-Crisis-Cards-In-Civilization-7.jpg)
Related
Civilization 7: 8 Best Leaders For An Economic Victory
These are the best leaders to help you win an economic victory in Civ 7.
Simple doesn’t mean bad, though. Many of the most straightforward leaders are also the best leaders in Civilization 7, where complexity doesn’t necessarily equal better. In this guide, we will highlight eight leaders that are particularly suited for beginners.
8
Himiko, Queen of Wa
Himiko is focused on diplomatic and scientific pursuits. Her unique ability improves her diplomatic influence and has a special diplomatic endeavor that grants you extra science. These abilities make her a go-to for scientific victories, and her straightforward nature makes it easy for new players to pick her up.
She also receives free science for each leader you have a positive relationship with, which increases with each age. Staying on other leaders’ good sides can help you progress towards a science victory faster, and beginners won’t have to dive into warfare right away.
7
Machiavelli
Machiavelli is labeled as a diplomatic and economic leader. He gets additional influence, which can help beginners figure out the diplomatic system. His unique ability also grants increased gold generation from trade routes and enhances espionage activities. This combination allows for strategic manipulation of both allies and adversaries.
When selecting a leader, choose one that aligns with your desired victory path. Just because a leader is good for beginners doesn’t mean they’re good for every victory path.
However, some know-how is required to leverage these advantages. Beginners should focus on figuring out the game’s diplomatic and economic systems to use Machiavelli successfully. Still, he can be a decent character to learn the game with, especially if you want to focus on a more peaceful playstyle.
6
Ashoka, World Conqueror
Ashoka’s World Conquerer persona has a strong emphasis on the military. H provides extra combat bonuses for military units and reduces war weariness, which encourages players to expand aggressively. This is a rather straightforward approach, especially for players who want to go after a domination victory.
![Split images of Himiko, Hatshepsut, and Augustus in Civilization 7.](https://esportvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1739377406_Best-Leaders-For-A-Cultural-Victory-In-Civ-7.jpg)
Related
Civilization 7: 8 Best Leaders For A Cultural Victory
These leaders will ensure you achieve a cultural victory in Civ 7.
However, warfare can be challenging for beginners to balance, especially when they’re trying to figure out how to manage the economy and culture simultaneously. Ashoka is best for beginner players who want a more aggressive playstyle, but he isn’t our absolute favorite.
5
Isabella
Isabella excels in economic development. She gets bonuses to trade route yields and gets extra resources. She functions best with an extensive trade system, especially for players who want to expand their empire overseas.
Her economic advantage can be huge, but it does require some careful planning and management of trade routes. Colonial expansion is one of the harder aspects of the game and one that requires quick timing. Therefore, Isabella may not be best for completely new civilization players. She also has no military bonuses, which can reduce her effectiveness in wartime.
4
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin’s leadership centers on scientific advancement. He is the best leader for a scientific victory, and many of his bonuses are very easy to take advantage of. For instance, he gets increased science output from production buildings and gets additional science for each active diplomatic endeavor. This makes him able to pile on the science very quickly.
Managing all your resources is very important for your civilization’s success. Happiness might not seem like a huge deal until it goes into the negative!
The emphasis on building infrastructure and engaging in scientific projects provides a clear gameplay route. For beginners, Franklin offers an accessible introduction to the science-focused elements of the game, allowing you to steadily advance through the technological tree and gain an edge over the competition.
3
Xerxes, King of Kings
Xerxes is a very powerful leader in Civilization 7, with a focus on both the economy and expansion. He automatically increases gold generation in all settlements, and that bonus is even higher in settlements not originally founded by you. He also has an increased settlement limit in every age, allowing you to control more settlements at a time without a happiness debuff.
![Civilization 7 Amina gesturing with her sword.](https://esportvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1738818766_403_Leader-Tier-List-In-Civilization-7.jpg)
Related
Civilization 7: 8 Best Leaders For A Domination Victory
Take over the world with these Civilization 7 leaders.
These advantages are easy for beginners to take advantage of, as they mitigate some of the harder-to-manage aspects of the game like happiness. Plus, he’s a rather straightforward leader who focuses on expansion and economic gain, making him suitable for several different victory types.
2
Augustus
Augustus is one of the best leaders in the game, and he’s also a good option for beginners. He has very clear bonuses that promote expansion and economic development. He boosts production in the capital for each town in the empire and lets you purchase cultural buildings in towns. This allows you to expand your territory with towns and improve cultural development.
Civilization 7 can be a lot to take in at first. Don’t hesitate to use the in-game advisors to guide your decisions during your first few games.
Augustus provides a balanced gameplay experience and allows you to focus on both expansion and culture. You can play a mostly peaceful game or wage several wars against your opponents. These factors make him an easy leader for new players.
1
Hatshepsut
Hatshepsut is a top-tier leader, and her benefits are straightforward enough for even those new to the franchise to take advantage of. She gets increased production for buildings and wonders in cities next to navigable rivers, which are already very powerful tiles in the game. When you find near rivers, you can develop very rapidly, and Hatshepsut often spawns near these rivers as a bonus.
With Hatshepsut, you can focus on building a strong economy with the use of your rivers and trade routes. You can also build wonders faster, which makes a cultural victory in antiquity much easier.
Leave a Reply