Civilization 6 is a turn-based strategy 4X game in which players get to build up their very own civilization and battle with other players with the goal of one day conquering the entire world. However, not every leader is capable of ruling as effectively as others. This is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best rulers in the game, and ranked them individually.
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This guide features a Civilization 6-tier list that ranks some of the most dominant rulers in the game.
Civilization 6 (Civ 6) Tier List (April 2024)
The leader you choose is incredibly important because it can dictate how the game will play out. How a country manages its technology, military resources and develops its culture all while maintaining a ruling government will be deciding factors contributing to your overall success in the game.
Without further ado, here’s our Civilization 6 tier list ranking the leaders in the game from best to worst.
Tier S Leaders
- Hojo Tokimune (Japan)
- Ability: Meiji Restoration
- Bonus: Divine Wind
- Structure: Electronics Factory
- Unit: Samurai
- Joao III (Portugal)
- Ability: Casa da India
- Bonus: Porta do Cerco
- Structure: Navigation School
- Unit: Nau
- John Curtin (Australia)
- Ability: Land Down Under
- Bonus: Citadel of Civilization
- Structure: Outback Station
- Unit: Digger
- Peter (Russia)
- Ability: Mother Russia
- Bonus: The Grand Embassy
- Structure: Lavra
- Unit: Cossack
Tier A Leaders
- Bull Moose Teddy (America)
- Ability: Founding Fathers
- Bonus: Antiquities and Parks
- Structure: Film Studio
- Unit: P-51 Mustang
- Cleopatra (Egypt)
- Ability: Iteru
- Bonus: Mediterranean’s Bride
- Structure: Sphinx
- Unit: Maryannu ChariotArcher
- Cyrus (Persia)
- Ability: Satrapies
- Bonus: Fall of Babylon
- Structure: Pairidaeza
- Unit: Immortal
- Gorgo (Greece)
- Ability: Plato’s Republic
- Bonus: Thermopylae
- Structure: Hoplite
- Unit: Acropolis
- Kupe (Maori)
- Ability: Kupe’s Voyage
- Bonus: Mana
- Structure: Marae
- Unit: Toa
- Pedro II (Brazil)
- Ability: Amazon
- Bonus: Magnanimous
- Structure: Minas Geraes
- Unit: Street Carnival Copacal
- Rough Rider Teddy (America)
- Ability: Founding Fathers
- Bonus: Roosevelt Corollary
- Structure: Film Studio
- Unit: Rough Rider
- Saladin (Arabia)
- Ability: The Last Prophet
- Bonus: Righteousness of the Faith
- Structure: Mamluk
- Unit: Madrasa
Tier B Leaders
- Gilgamesh (Sumeria)
- Ability: Epic Quest
- Bonus: Adventures of Enkidu
- Structure: Ziggurat
- Unit: War-Cart
- Hammurabi (Babylon)
- Ability: Enuma Anu Enlil
- Bonus: Ninu Ilu Sirum
- Structure: Palgum
- Unit: Sabum Kibittum
- Lady Six Sky (Maya)
- Ability: Mayab
- Bonus: Ix Mutal Ajaw
- Structure: Observatory
- Unit: Hul’che
- Mansa Musa (Mali)
- Ability: Songs of the Jeli
- Bonus: Sahel Merchants
- Structure: Suguba
- Unit: Mandekalu Cavalry
- Matthias Corvinus (Hungary)
- Ability: Pearl of the Danube
- Bonus: Raven King
- Structure: Thermal Bath
- Unit: Huszar
- Pericles (Greece)
- Ability: Plato’s Republic
- Bonus: Surrounded by Glory
- Structure: Acropolis
- Unit: Hoplite
- Phillip II (Spain)
- Ability: Treasure Fleet
- Bonus: Es Escorial
- Structure: Mission
- Unit: Conquistador
- Qin Shi Huang (China)
- Ability: Dynastis Cycle
- Bonus: The First Emperor
- Structure: Great Wall
- Unit: Crouching Tiger
- Seondeok (Korea)
- Ability: Three Kingdoms
- Bonus: Hwarang
- Structure: Seowon
- Unit: Hwacha
- Simon Bolivar (Gran Columbia)
- Ability: Ejercito Patriota
- Bonus: Campana Admirable
- Structure: Hacienda
- Unit: Lianero
Related: Warzone Weapons Tier List (July 2022)
Tier C Leaders
- Dido (Phoenicia)
- Ability: Mediterranean Colonies
- Bonus: Founder of Carthage
- Structure: Cotho
- Unit: Bireme
- Jadwiga (Poland)
- Ability: Golden Liberty
- Bonus: Lithuanian Union
- Structure: Winged Hussar
- Unit: Sukienn
- Jayavarman VII (Khmer)
- Ability: Grand Barays
- Bonus: Monasteries of the King
- Structure: Prasat
- Unit: Domrey
- Menelik II (Ethiopia)
- Ability: Aksumite Legacy
- Bonus: Council of Ministers
- Structure: Rock-Hewn Church
- Unit: Oromo Cavalry
- Montezuma (Aztec)
- Ability: Legend of the Five Suns
- Bonus: Gifts for the Tlatoani
- Structure: Tlachtli
- Unit: Eagle Warrior
- Pachacuti (Inca)
- Ability: Mit’a
- Bonus: Qhapaq Nan
- Structure: Terrace Farm
- Unit: Warak’aq
- Taman (Georgia)
- Ability: Strength in Unity
- Bonus: Glory of the World, Kingdom of Faith
- Structure: Tsikhe
- Unit: Khevsur
- Wilhelmina (Dutch)
- Ability: Grote Rivieren
- Bonus: Radio Oranje
- Structure: Polder
- Unit: De Zeven Provincien
Tier D Leaders
- Amanitore (Nubia)
- Ability: Ta-Seti
- Bonus: Kandake of Meroe
- Structure: Kandake of Meroe
- Unit: Pitati Archer
- Ba Trieu (Vietnam)
- Ability: Nine Dragon River Delta
- Bonus: Drive Out the Aggressors
- Structure: Thanh
- Unit: Voi Chien
- Basil II (Byzantium)
- Ability: Taxis
- Bonus: Porphyrogennetos
- Structure: Hippodrome
- Unit: Tagma
- Catherine de Medici (France)
- Ability: Grand Tour
- Bonus: Catherine’s Flying Squadron
- Structure: Chateau
- Unit: Garden Imperiale
- Frederick Barbarossa (Germany)
- Ability: Free Imperial Cities
- Bonus: Holy Roman Emperor
- Structure: Hansa
- Unit: U-Boat
- Suleiman (Ottoman)
- Ability: Great Turkish Bombard
- Bonus: Grand Vizier
- Structure: Grand Vizier
- Unit: Barbary Corsair
- Trajan (Rome)
- Ability: All Roads Lead to Rome
- Bonus: Trajan’s Column
- Structure: Trajan’s Column
- Unit: Legion
- Wilfrid Laurier (Canada)
- Ability: Four Faces of Peace
- Bonus: The Last Best West
- Structure: The Last Best West
- Unit: Mountie
Tier E Leaders
- Alexander the Great (Macedonia)
- Ability: Hellenistic Fusion
- Bonus: To the World’s End
- Structure: Basilikoi Paides
- Unit: Hypaspist
- Eleanor of Aquitaine (England)
- Ability: Workshop of the World
- Bonus: Court of Love
- Structure: Royal Navy Dockyard
- Unit: Sea Dog
- Genghis Khan (Mongolia)
- Ability: Ortoo
- Bonus: Mongol Horde
- Structure: Mongol Horde
- Unit: Keshig
- Gitarja (Indonesia)
- Ability: Great Nusantara
- Bonus: Exalted Goddess of the Three Worlds
- Structure: Kampung
- Unit: Jong
- Kristina (Sweden)
- Ability: Nobel Prize
- Bonus: Minerva of the North
- Structure: Open-Air Museum
- Unit: Carolean
- Lautaro (Mapuche)
- Ability: Toqui
- Bonus: Swift Hawk
- Structure: Chemamull
- Unit: Mallon Raider
- Magnificence Catherine (France)
- Ability: Grand Tour
- Bonus: Catherine’s Magnificences
- Structure: Chateau
- Unit: Garde Imperiale
- Shaka (Zulu)
- Ability: Isibongo
- Bonus: Amabutho
- Structure: Ikanda
- Unit: Impi
Tier F Leaders
- Ambiorix (Gaul)
- Ability: Hallstatt Culture
- Bonus: King of the Eburones
- Structure: Oppidum
- Unit: Gaesatae
- Kublai Khan (Mongolia)
- Ability: Ortoo
- Bonus: Gerege
- Structure: Ordu
- Unit: Keshig
- Mvemba a Nzinga (Kongo)
- Ability: Nkisi
- Bonus: Religious Convert
- Structure: Mbanza
- Unit: Ngao Mbeba
- Tomyris (Scythia)
- Ability: People of the Steppe
- Bonus: Killer of Cyrus
- Structure: Kurgan
- Unit: Saka Horse Archer
- Victoria (England)
- Ability: British Museum/Workshop of the World
- Bonus: Pax Britannica
- Structure: Royal Navy Dockyard
- Unit: Sea Dog
That concludes our Civilization 6 tier list ranking some of the best leaders in the game. Before you go, don’t forget to check out some of our other Civilization 6 content here at Gamer Journalist. Like how to increase amenities or how to increase housing in Civilization 6.
