If you’re looking to pick up Civilization 7, you’ll want to know all about its leaders before starting a campaign or multiplayer game.

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Fortunately, we’re here with a who’s who of the Civ 7 leaders – detailing how many leaders are in the game, who they are and what their unique abilities, attributes, agendas and starting biases are.

There’s a lot to get through, and we’ve linked to the official YouTube video of each leader from the developers so you can get a proper grip of what each one is about before diving into a match.

Keep reading for the full list of Civilization 7 leaders and what each one does.

How many Civ 7 leaders are there?

At launch, in the base game, there are 20 leaders in Civilization 7. Including DLC, meanwhile, there are 26 Civ 7 leaders.

A few of the base game leaders have alternate Persona styles – such as Ashoka’s World Conqueror – which are included in the Founders Content Pack DLC, which comes with the Founders Edition of the game.

Tecumseh, meanwhile, is included in the Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack DLC, which is included in the Deluxe and Founders Editions of the game and was a pre-order bonus for the Standard Edition until 11th February 2025.

You can purchase all DLC separately.

To get Napoleon, you’ll need to link your Civilization 7 game to your 2K Account.

More leaders are sure to be added to the game as parts of future expansions and DLC packs, too.

Full list of Civilization 7 leaders

Here is the full list of Civilization 7 leaders (including DLC) at the time of the game’s launch (all information from the official Civ 7 website) – click on their names to watch their trailers:

Amina

Amina in Civilization 7 drawing a sword
Amina in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

Warrior-Queen of Zazzau: Increased Resource Capacity in Cities. Increased Gold per Age for each Resource assigned to Cities. Increased Combat Strength for all Units on Plains and Desert tiles

Attributes

  • Economic
  • Militaristic

Agendas

  • Desert of the Warrior Queen: If the player has more Settlements on Plains or Desert tiles than Amina, Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount. If the player has no Settlements on Plains or Desert tiles, Increase Relationship by a Small Amount

Starting Biases

  • Plains
  • Desert

Ashoka – World Renouncer (base game)

Ashoka in Civilization 7 in a gold necklace
Ashoka in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Dhammaraja: Adds Food in Cities for excess Happiness beyond a set amount. Increased Food in all Settlements during a Celebration. All Buildings gain a Happiness adjacency for all Improvements

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Expansionist

Agenda

  • Without Sorrow: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount with the player with the highest Happiness yield. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount with the player that has the lowest Happiness yield

No starting bias.

Ashoka – World Conqueror Persona (Founders Content Pack DLC)

Ashoka World Conqueror Persona in Civilization 7 in a purple sash
Ashoka World Conqueror Persona in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Devaraja: Increased Production in Cities for excess Happiness beyond a set amount. Increased Production in Settlements not founded by you. Declaring a Formal War grants a Celebration. Large increase to Combat Strength against Fortified Districts for all Units during a Celebration

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Militaristic

Agenda

  • Without Regret: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount with the Leader whose lands cover the most tiles and Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for the one with the least

No starting bias.

Augustus

Augustus in Civilization 7 in Roman attire
Augustus in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Imperium Maius: Adds Production in the Capital for every Town. Increased Gold towards purchasing Buildings in Towns. Can purchase Culture Buildings in Towns

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Expansionist

Agendas

  • Restitutor Orbis: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount for each Town in other players' empires. Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for each City (excluding Capital) in other players' empires

No starting bias.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin in Civilization 7 holding a book
Benjamin Franklin in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • The First American: Increased Science per Age on Production Buildings in Cities. Increased Production towards constructing Production Buildings. Increased Science per Age from active Endeavors you started or supported. Can have multiple Endeavors of the same type active at a time

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • Civic Virtue: Increase Relationship gains with players that share a Government with him. Decrease Relationship with players that don't share a Government with him

No starting bias.

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great in Civilization 7 in a green dress and crown
Catherine the Great in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Star of the North: Increased Culture per Age on displayed Great Works. Buildings with Great Work slots gain an additional slot. Cities settled in Tundra gain Science equal to a percentage of their Culture per turn

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • Dusha: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount with player who has the most Great Works. Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount with the player with the least. Catherine the Great must have a Great Work for this to take effect

Starting bias

  • Tundra

Charlemagne

Charlemagne in Civ 7 in a blue outfit and crown
Charlemagne in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Father of Europe: Military and Science Buildings receive a Happiness adjacency for Quarters. Gain a set number of free Cavalry Units, once unlocked, when entering a Celebration. Increased Combat Strength for Cavalry Units during a Celebration

Attributes

  • Militaristic
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • The Golden Shepherd: Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with whichever player has triggered the most Celebrations. If there is a tie, Increase Relationship by Small Amount to tieholders. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount with whoever has triggered the fewest Celebrations. If there's a tie, Decrease Relationship by Small Amount to tieholders

Starting Biases

  • Rivers

Confucius

Confucius in Civ 7 in a grey robe
Confucius in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Keju: Increased Growth Rate in Cities. Increased Science from Specialists

Attributes

  • Expansionist
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • Guanxi: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for having the most Specialists in an empire. Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount for the leader with the least amount of Specialists in an empire. Only triggers if Confucius has at least one Specialist

Starting Bias

  • Grassland

Friedrich – Oblique (base game)

Friedrich in Civ 7 in a grey and red outfit
Friedrich in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Berlin Academy: Army Commanders start with the Merit Commendation (increased Command Radius range). Gain an Infantry Unit when you construct a Science Building

Attributes

  • Militaristic
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • To Arms!: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount with the empire that has the least amount of Military Units on the map. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount with the empire that has the most amount of Military Units on the map

No starting bias.

Friedrich – Baroque Persona (Founders Content Pack DLC)

Friedrich's Baroque Persona in Civilization 7 in a blue outfit
Friedrich's Baroque Persona in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Hohenfriedberger Marsch: Gain a Great Work upon capturing a Settlement for the first time. Gain an Infantry Unit when you construct a Culture Building

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Militaristic

Agendas

  • Parisian Sensibilities: Increase Relationship per built Wonder in the Capital by a Medium Amount. Decrease Relationship per Building in the Capital by a Small Amount

No starting bias.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman in Civ 7 with arms folded
Harriet Tubman in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Combahee Raid: Increased Influence towards initiating Espionage Actions. Gain a set amount of War Support on all wars declared against you. Units ignore Movement penalties from Vegetated tiles

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Militaristic

Agendas

  • Veracity: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount once for each formal war the player declared. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount once for each surprise war the player declared

Starting Biases

  • Vegetated

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut in Civ 7 shouting
Hatshepsut in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • God's Wife of Amun: Adds Culture for every imported Resource. Increased Production towards the construction of Buildings and Wonders in Cities adjacent to Navigable Rivers

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Economic

Agendas

  • Wonders of Iteru: Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount if you have more Wonders than Hatshepsut. Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount if you have less Wonders

Starting Biases

  • Navigable Rivers
  • Desert

Himiko – Queen of Wa (base game)

Himiko in Civilization 7 holding a bronze plate
Himiko in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Friend of Wei: Gain a Unique Endeavor called 'Friend of Wei' that can be performed in an Alliance to grant you and your ally increased Science. Can support Endeavors for free. Adds Science per Age for every leader you're Friendly or Helpful with

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • Yamatai: Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Culture and Happiness Buildings. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Science and Gold Buildings

No starting bias.

Himiko – High Shaman Persona (Founders Content Pack DLC)

Himiko - High Shaman Persona in Civ 7 holding a bronze plate
Himiko - High Shaman Persona in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Miko of Amaterasu: Increased Happiness per Age on Happiness Buildings. Increased Production towards constructing Happiness Buildings. Gain increased Culture but slightly reduced Science, with increased effects during a Celebration

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Diplomatic

Agendas

  • Shaman Queen: Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with constructed Science and Gold Buildings. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount per Settlement with Culture and Happiness Buildings

No starting bias.

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta in Civilization 7 shouting in brown and grey robe
Ibn Battuta in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • The Marvels of Traveling: Gains multiple Attribute points after the first Civic in every Age. Increased Sight for all Units. Gain a Unique Endeavor called Trade Maps that lets you gradually see other Leaders' explored areas

Attributes

  • Wildcard

Agendas

  • Far and Wide: Increase Relationship by a Large Amount with the player who has uncovered the most Fog of War tiles. If there is a tie, Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount to tieholders. Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount with the player who has uncovered the fewest Fog of War tiles

Starting Biases

  • Flat

Isabella

Isabella in Civ 7 holding a gold staff
Isabella in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Seven Cities of Gold: Gain Gold every time you discover a Natural Wonder, increased if the Natural Wonder is in Distant Lands. Receive additional tile yields from Natural Wonders, additional Gold towards purchasing Naval Units, and reduced Gold maintenance costs for Naval Units

Attributes

  • Economic
  • Expansionist

Agendas

Wonderlust: Decrease Relationship by a Large Amount per Natural Wonder in the player's borders. If no Natural Wonders are possessed by the player, Increase Relationship by a Small Amount

Starting Biases

  • Coast
  • Natural Wonders

José Rizal

José Rizal in Civ 7 holding a book
José Rizal in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Pambansang Bayani: When gaining rewards from a Narrative Event, gain additional Culture and Gold per Age. Increased Celebration duration and Happiness towards Celebrations. Has additional Narrative Events

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Diplomatic

Agendas

  • Kapwa: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player with the most active Endeavors started. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player with the most active Sanctions started. If there is a tie between the players with the most active Endeavors or Sanctions, then Increase or Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount accordingly

Starting Bias

  • Tropical

Lafayette

Lafayette in Civilization 7 in grey outfit
Lafayette in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Hero of Two Worlds: Gains a Unique Endeavor called 'Reform', which grants an additional Social Policy slot. Supporting this Endeavor also grants the other Leader an additional Social Policy slot. Increased Combat Strength for every Tradition, but not Policy, slotted in the Government. Increased Culture and Happiness per Age in Settlements. These effects are increased further in Distant Lands

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Diplomatic

Agendas

  • French Quarters: Increase Relationship by a Small Amount for the player with the most Urban Districts with all Building slots filled. Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount for the player with the least Urban Districts

Starting Bias

  • Coast

Machiavelli

Machiavelli in Civ 7 looking at his hand
Machiavelli in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Il Principe: Gain additional Influence per Age. Gain a set amount of Gold per Age when your Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted, or even more Gold per Age when they are rejected. Ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars. You can Levy Military Units from City-States you are not Suzerain of

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Economic

Agendas

  • The Spider: If not at war with Machiavelli, increase Relationship by Medium Amount for each other war

No starting bias.

Napoleon - Emperor Persona in Civilization 7 in a grey outfit
Napoleon - Emperor Persona in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Empereur des Français: Gains a Unique Diplomatic Action that reduces the Trade Route capacity for a target civilisation and causes massive Grievances. Increased Gold per Age for every leader you're Unfriendly or Hostile with

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Economic

Agenda

  • Napoleonic Code: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount with the player that has the smallest standing army. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player that has the largest standing navy

No starting bias.

Napoleon - Revolutionary Persona in Civ 7 in a red outfit
Napoleon - Revolutionary Persona in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • La Grande Armée: Increased Movement for all Land Units. Defeating an enemy Unit provides Culture equal to a percentage of its Combat Strength

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Militaristic

Agenda

  • Culture from Conquest: Decrease Relationship by Small Amount for every Alliance made between other players. Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player with the highest Culture Per Turn score

No starting bias.

Pachacuti

Pachacuti in Civilization 7 holding an axe
Pachacuti in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Earth Shaker: All Buildings gain a Food adjacency for Mountains. Specialists adjacent to Mountains do not cost Happiness maintenance

Attributes

  • Economic
  • Expansionist

Agendas

  • Mountain King: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player with the least Mountains in their territory. Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount for the player with the most Mountains in their territory

Starting Biases

  • Mountains

Tecumseh (Tecumseh and Shawnee Pack DLC)

Tecumseh in Civ 7 holding an axe
Tecumseh in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Nicaakiyakoolaakwe: Increased Food and Production per Age in Settlements for every City-State you are Suzerain of. Increased Combat Strength for all your Units for every City-State you are Suzerain of

Attributes

  • Diplomatic
  • Militaristic

Agendas

  • Suzerain of the World: Decrease Relationship by a Large Amount when a player disperses an Independent, and Increase Relationship by a Small Amount if player does not have an active "Befriend Independent" Project active

Starting Biases

  • Grassland
  • Plains

Trưng Trắc

Trung Trac in Civilization 7 praying
Trung Trac in Civilization 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Hai Bà Trưng: Gain a set number of free Promotions on your first Commander. Your Commanders gain additional experience. Gain increased Science in Cities on Tropical tiles; this bonus is increased during any Formal War you declare

Attributes

  • Militaristic
  • Scientific

Agendas

  • Van Minh: Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the greatest amount of Promotions across all Commanders. If tied, Decrease Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders. Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the least amount of Promotions across all Commanders. If tied, Increase Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders

Starting Biases

  • Vegetated
  • Tropical

Xerxes – King of Kings (base game)

Xerxes in Civ 7 with finger pointed upwards
Xerxes in Civ 7. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Crusher of Rebellions: Increased Combat Strength for Units that are attacking in neutral or enemy territory. Gain Culture and Gold per Age upon capturing a Settlement for the first time. Gain increased Gold in all Settlements, increased even further in Settlements not founded by you. Increased Settlement limit per Age

Attributes

  • Economic
  • Militaristic

Agendas

  • Lord of Fire: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount when a player is not at war. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount when a player is at war

Starting Bias

  • Desert

Xerxes – The Achaemenid Persona (Deluxe Content Pack DLC)

Xerxes - The Achaemenid Persona from Civilzation 7 cracking his knuckles
Xerxes - The Achaemenid Persona. 2K

Unique Ability

  • Silk Road: Increased Trade Route limit with all other leaders. Creating a Trade Route or Road with a Merchant provides Culture and Gold per Age. Increased Culture and Gold per Age on Unique Buildings and Unique Improvements

Attributes

  • Cultural
  • Economic

Agendas

  • Lord of Coin: Decrease Relationship by a Medium Amount if player has a greater or equal number of Trade Routes compared to Xerxes. Increase Relationship by a Small Amount if player has fewer Trade Routes than Xerxes

Starting Bias

  • Desert
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Authors

Toby Saunders
Toby SaundersFreelance Writer

Toby Saunders is a freelance writer specialising in Video Game journalism. He has a wealth of experience in the field and is published on many different websites including PCGamesN, Nintendo Life and Pocket Tactics. He has a degree in Film Studies (he gets to write about Film and TV occasionally, too).

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