Best Science Leaders Tier List

Every leader in Civilization 7 can be played into one of the game’s four Victory Paths, but some Leader Abilities are more suited to some Victory Conditions than others. When it comes to the best Science leaders, Civ 7 has quite a few strong options – but naturally, some are more suited to meet the Science Victory conditions than others.

Related

Civilization 7: Best Antiquity Age Civs, Ranked

The best Antiquity Age Civs in Civ 7 are those that have the easiest time achieving one of the four Antiquity Age Legacy Paths in Civilization 7.

This list of the five best leaders in Civ 7 for a Science Victory is based on how well each Leader can achieve these Legacy Path Victory conditions associated with each Age. Some, like Benjamin Franklin, are incredibly strong for a specific Age, while others, like Confucius, offer abilities that make them the best Science leaders throughout all Ages.

5

Catherine the Great

Leader Attributes: Cultural, Scientific

Catherine the Great is undisputedly the best Culture Leader in Civ 7, but thanks to her Tundra Science bonus, she’s capable of being a Science powerhouse, too. Codexes in the Antiquity Age count as Great Works, which synergistically increase both your Culture and Science and progress the Science Legacy Path.

Catherine the Great’s Tundra start bias ensures that your founding City, and nearby settlements you convert to Cities, will get additional Science bonuses from Culture. To take full advantage of this synergy, make sure the tile you settle new Towns on is a Tundra tile, and try to convert them as soon as possible into Cities. If you can get lots of Great Works throughout the ages, your Cities will pump out nearly as much Science as Culture and grant a huge advantage on the Science Victory path.

4

Augustus

Leader Attributes: Cultural, Expansionist

Like Catherine, most players think of Augustus as a Culture Leader with a bit of a Military and Expansionist twist. However, the Production bonus to the Capital from every Town makes them very well suited to achieve Scientific dominance, too. Though Augustus doesn’t get an inherent bonus to Science, the ability to make Science buildings faster than anyone else – and spend less Gold to purchase them outright – puts him ahead of other Civ 7 Leaders.

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Civilization 7: Best Exploration Age Civs, Ranked

In Civ 7, the best Exploration Age Civs are those that can achieve Exploration Legacy Paths quickly to get you ready for Victory in the Modern Age.

If you are playing as Augustus in the Modern Age, and have enough Towns to meet (or exceed) your Settlement limit, your Capital will be able to produce the necessary Science Victory Projects extremely fast. In the Modern Age, production is really all you need to achieve a Science Victory quickly, which is something Augustus excels at.

3

Benjamin Franklin

Leader Attributes: Diplomatic, Scientific

Benjamin Franklin is one of the best Science and Diplomatic Leaders in Civ 7 thanks to Leader Abilities that are well-suited for the Science Victory requirements of each Age. He gains Science on Production Buildings, and extra Production towards making those buildings, which puts him far ahead of most Leaders when it comes to developing Urban Districts and Science output. In the Modern Age, he can make the Rail Station, Factory, Aerodrome, Launch Pad, and other buildings required for several Victory Paths extremely fast.

Benjamin Franklin’s other abilities grant him Science in each Age from every active Endeavor, and lets him establish two of the same Endeavors with multiple Leaders. If you max out Endeavors, your Science output will increase drastically – especially if you pursue Research Agreements with other opponents.

2

Himiko, Queen of Wa

Leader Attributes: Diplomatic, Scientific

Himiko, Queen of Wa is like Benjamin Franklin in that she has powerful Leader Abilities that are suited for Diplomacy and Scientific Victory paths. Her Friend of Wei endeavor is the single largest boost to Science you can get in the mid to late game, and her ability to Support incoming endeavors increases your Yields significantly across all Ages.

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Civilization 7: Best Modern Age Civs, Ranked

The best Modern Age Civs in Civ 7 are those that can earn a Victory Condition without too much hassle, and some make it easier than others.

Because you will be starting Endeavors with other players as often as possible, your relationships will usually increase to Helpful or Friendly with little effort. This benefits Himiko because she gains +4 Science from each relationship at the Helpful or Friendly level.

If you play with a lot of opponents, this bonus will stack even further – establish good relationships with opponents and have an Alliance to use the Friend of Wei endeavor, and you’ll soar through the Tech tree.

1

Confucius

Leader Attributes: Expansionist, Scientific

Confucius is the best Science Leader in Civ 7 because his Cities grow faster than any other Leader’s, and the extra Science you get from Specialists adds up enormously in the mid to late game when it matters most. With a higher Growth Rate, you’ll be able to work more tiles and place more Specialists, which will add a default 4 Science to the Urban District you slot them in.

This ability makes Confucius race through the Tech tree if he can place Specialists quickly, which tends to happen because of the increased Growth Rate of Cities. You need Specialists to win the Exploration Age Science Victory path, and in the Modern Age, a true Science Victory is made easier with rapid Tech research and plenty of space to make Aerodrome and Launch Pad Districts.

Just be sure to slot Production bonus Social Policies, like Fascism which adds Production on Specialists, to finish Space Race Projects faster. Fascism reduces Food in Towns, but this is offset by the Growth Rate bonus of this leader.

Grand Strategy

Turn-Based Strategy

4X

Franchise

Sid Meier’s Civilization

Released

February 11, 2025