In Civilization 7, completing the Antiquity Age progresses the game into the Age of Exploration, and players are forced to swap to an Exploration Age Civ. Though every Exploration Civ comes with unique strengths and weaknesses in the form of unique Abilities, Civics, Units, Buildings, and other features, some find it easier to complete Exploration Age Legacy Paths than others.
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Civilization 7: All Leaders, Ranked
Table of Contents
This Civ 7 Tier List ranks all Leaders based on the strength of their Unique Leader Abilities and how easy it is for each Leader to secure Victories.
This Civ 7 Modern Age Civs Tier List ranks every Civ in the Exploration Age based on how easily each can finish one of the four Exploration Age Legacy Paths. Even the worst Exploration Age Civs in Civ 7 have something to offer, but the best Civ 7 Exploration Civs are those that can make this second act of the game breeze by, and how well each Civ works in setting the stage for a strong Modern Age.
1
Abbasid
Best Abbasid Legacy Path: Scientific & Cultural
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Medina: Receive 30 Gold for each Rural Population of a City when you create a Specialist.
Abbasid Civics
- Round City: Unlock the Mosque Unique Building. Increased Production to Buildings in Cities with a set number of Urban Population.
- Mawla: Unlock the Madrasa Unique Building. Receive a percentage of the Gold from Trade Income as Science. Resources tiles receive increased Happiness in Settlements with a Temple.
- Al-Jabr: Increased Science in Cities with a set number of Population.
Abbasid Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Ālim, a Great Person that grants one effect from a list of ten total effects
- Mamluk, a Cavalry Unit that receives increased Combat Strength for every Urban Population in a Settlement when stationed there.
- Madrasa, a Science Building that has Science adjacency for Quarters and Science Buildings.
- Mosque, a Happiness Building that has Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings, and Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings. Unlocks Religion.
- Ulema, a unique Quarter that grants extra Science to all Specialists in this City.
- Abbasid Favored Wonder: House of Wisdom
- Abbasid Starting Bias: Camels, Coast (Exploration Age start)
2
Norman
Best Norman Legacy Path: Militaristic
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Normannitas: Land Units receive +1 Movement when Embarked and get +5 Combat Strength when adjacent to Coastal tiles
Norman Civics
- Consuetudines et Justicie: Unlocks the Motte Unique Building.
- Common Law: Receive a free Social Policy slot.
- Domesday Book: Adds Gold to Farms, increased during Celebrations.
Norman Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Sokeman, a Settler that creates a Wall in the settlement it creates.
- Chevaler, a Cavalry Unit that has increased Combat Strength against Units with less Movement.
- Motte, a Fortification that gains Happiness if placed on Rough Terrain.
- Bailey, a Fortification with Culture adjacency with Walls.
- Donjon, a unique Quarter that grants a free Chevaler Cavalry unit upon completion.
- Norman Favored Wonder: White Tower
- Norman Starting Bias: Coast, Iron (Exploration Age start)
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3
Ming
Best Ming Legacy Path: Economic & Scientific
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Great Canon of Yongle: +50% Science in the Capital, -15 Science for every non-Tradition slotted.
Ming Civics
- Nine Garrisons: Unlocks the Ming Great Wall Unique Improvement
- Lijia: Reduce costs for purchasing Buildings in Towns.
- Da Ming Lu: Mandarin Unique Merchant Units add Science when they use the Create a Road Action.
Ming Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Mandarin, a Merchant that will grant Gold when it uses the Create a Road Action.
- Xunleichong, an Infantry Unit with a Ranged Attack that has increased Combat Strength in Featureless Terrain.
- Ming Great Wall, an Ageless Fortification that grants Gold for adjacent Fortifications.
- Ming Favored Wonder: Forbidden City
- Ming Starting Bias: Silk, Coast (Exploration Age start)
4
Spain
Best Spain Legacy Path: Economic & Militaristic
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Siglo de Oro: +15% Gold towards converting a Town to a City, 30% in Distant Lands
Spain Civics
- Council of the Indies: Unlocks the Casa Consistorial Unique Building
- Armada: Fleet Commanders receive the Flotilla Promotion, which adds additional Unit Slots and allows Land Units to join the Commander group.
- New World Riches: Increased Food and Production in Settlements in Distant Lands.
Spain Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Conquistador, a Great Person that grants one of a possible ten effects
- Tercio, an Infantry Unit that grants increased Combat Strength against Cavalry Units to adjacent Units.
- Casa Consistorial, a Culture Building with Culture adjacency for Quarters. Cannot be built in Distant Lands.
- Casa de Contratación, a Gold Building with Gold Adjacency with Navigable River and Resource tiles. Cannot be built in Distant Lands.
- Plaza, a unique Quarter that increases Gold in this Settlement for every Settlement in Distant Lands.
- Spain Favored Wonder: El Escorial
- Spain Starting Bias: Coast (Exploration Age start)
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5
Chola
Best Chola Legacy Path: Economic & Militaristic
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Samayam: +1 Trade Route from the Improve Trade Relations Action.
Chola Civics
- Nagaram: Unlocks Manigramam Unique Building and boosts Influence towards initiating Trade Agreements. Mastery unlocks the Anjuvannam Unique Building.
- Kanakam: Increased Gold from active Diplomatic Actions you started or supported.
- Digvijaya: Kalam Unique Naval Unit receives increased Movement and Sight.
- Monsoon Winds: Increased Settlement Limit. Ottru Unique Naval Commander Unit receives the Convoys Promotion.
Chola Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Ottru, a Naval Commander that reduces the combat strength of enemy units in its Command Radius
- Kalam, a Naval Unit that can attack twice if it has enough Movement
- Manigramam, a Happiness Building with Happiness adjacency for Trade Buildings and Gold adjacency for Quarters.
- Anjuvannam, a Gold Building with Gold Adjacency for Coast tiles and Navigable Rivers, and increased Production towards Naval Units.
- Five Hundred Lords, a unique Quarter that increases both Land and Naval Trade Route range.
- Chola Favored Wonder: Brihadeeswarar Temple
- Chola Starting Bias: Coast, Tropical (Exploration Age start)
6
Hawai’i
Best Hawai’i Legacy Path: Cultural
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Moananuiākea: Gain 25 Culture when a Settlement expands to any Marine Terrain. +1 Happiness on Fishing Boats
Hawai’i Civics
- Mana: Adds Culture every time an Environmental Event has provided Fertility this Age.
- Ohana: Unlocks the Lo’i Kalo Unique Building
- Heʻe nalu: Receive a set number of Relics. Increased Settlement Limit.
Hawai’i Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Kahuna, a Missionary Unit with a Heal action that doesn’t remove this Unit after being used.
- Leiomano, an Infantry Unit with increased Combat Strength against Infantry and Cavalry Units.
- Lo’i Kalo, an Improvement with Food and Production that grants Culture to adjacent Farms.
- Hawai’i Favored Wonder: Hale o Keawe
- Hawai’iStarting Bias: Marine, Coast (Exploration Age start)
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7
Majapahit
Best Majapahit Legacy Path: Cultural & Militaristic
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Negara: All cities except the Capital receive +1 Specialist Limit. When the Exploration Age ends, the Limit will disappear, and Specialists will become inactive until you increase the Limit again.
Majapahit Civics
- Wayang: Unlocks the Candi Bentar Unique Building
- Aliran Kepercayaan: Unlocks the Meru Unique Building
- Nusantara: Exploration Age Culture Buildings receive a Culture adjacency with Coast tiles.
- Gamelan: Increased Culture on tiles with multiple buildings from this Age. Increased Settlement Limit.
Majapahit Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Pedanda, a Missionary that will grant Culture when you convert a Settlement to your Religion.
- Cetbang, a Naval Unit that has increased Combat Strength against Naval Units. Can pillage tiles at range with a reduced Movement cost.
- Candi Bentar, a Happiness Building with a Culture Adjacency for Coast and Navigable River tiles.
- Meru, an Ageless Happiness Building with a Happiness Adjacency for Mountains and Wonders. Increased Happiness on Natural Wonder tiles.
- Pura, a unique Quarter that grants a Relic upon completion.
- Majapahit Favored Wonder: Borobodur
- Majapahit Starting Bias: Coast, Spices (Exploration Age start)
8
Songhai
Best Songhai Legacy Path: Economic
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Tarikh al-Sudan: +2 Resource Capacity in Cities on Navigable Rivers. Trade Ships cannot be plundered on Navigable Rivers.
Songhai Civics
- Ships of the Desert: Unlocks the Caravanserai Unique Improvement
- Hi-Koi: Increased Combat Strength to all Military Units on Navigable Rivers.
- Kanta: Tajiro Unique Merchant Unit gains increased Gold. Increased Settlement Limit. Cities in Homelands on Navigable Rivers generate Treasure Fleets worth one Victory Point each.
Songhai Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Tajiro, a Merchant that gains Gold when you create a Trade Route that travels over at least one Navigable River
- Gold Bangles Infantry, an Infantry Unit that has increased Combat Strength on Resource tiles. Receives additional yields when Plundering Trade Routes.
- Caravanserai, a Gold building with Gold Adjacency for Rivers and Resources.
- Songhai Favored Wonder: Tomb of Askia
- Songhai Starting Bias: Navigable Rivers, Desert, Plains, Coast (Exploration Age start)
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9
Mongolia
Best Mongolia Legacy Path: Militaristic
10
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Bokh: When you capture a Settlement, gain the strongest Cavalry Unit currently available. -50% Production towards Settlers. Gain 1 extra point towards the Minitaristic Legacy Path for Settlements in Distant Lands and from Conquered Settlements in Homelands.
Mongolia Civics
- Ulus: Unlocks the Ortöö Unique Improvement
- Four Hounds: Receive a free Noyan Unique Commander. Increased Settlement Limit.
- Yassa: Ortöö Unique Improvement receives increased Gold in Settlements not founded by you.
Mongolia Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Noyan, an Army Commander that has increased Movement. Cavalry Units in its Command Radius have increased Flanking.
- Keshig, a Ranged Unit that counts as a Cavalry Unit with increased Movement, and heals after defeating enemy Units.
- Ortöö, an Improvement that grants Gold and restores a Unit’s Movement if they step onto the tile.
- Mongolia Favored Wonder: Erdene Zuu
- Mongolia Starting Bias: Horses (Exploration Age start)
11
Shawnee
Best Shawnee Legacy Path: Economic
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Nepekifaki: Settlements next to Navigable Rivers gain +2 Food on Rivers, but Cities not adjacent to Navigable Rivers get -10% Food.
Shawnee Civics
- Wyehi Simekofi: Unlocks the Mawaskawe Skote Unique Improvement.
- Miyaska Latoweki: Adds Gold for each Trade Route while you have a number of Endeavors active.
- Telwatiki: You can support other leaders’ Wars multiple times instead of once.
- Maleki Kintake: Increased Food on Farms and Camps.
Shawnee Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Hoceepkileni, a Missionary that has increased movement, and Rivers do not end movement.
- Kispoko Nena’to, an Infantry Unit that has increased Combat Strength for every Empire Resource.
- Mawaskawe Skote, an Improvement that adds Food and gains Gold from adjacent Resources.
- Shawnee Favored Wonder: Serpent Mound
- Shawnee Starting Bias: Rivers, Grassland, Plains, Coast (Exploration Age start)
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12
Inca
Best Inca Legacy Path: Scientific
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Apus: Can work Mountain Terrain, +2 Food and Production on Mountain Terrain.
Inca Civics
- Mit’a: Unlocks the Terrace Farm Improvement
- Ayllu: Increased Food on Terrace Farm Improvements in Settlements with a Granary.
- Qhapaq Ñan: Rough tiles do not end the Movement of any Inca Unit.
Inca Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Chasqui, a Recon Unit that has increased Movement and Sight, and can see through Mountains and Rough tiles.
- Warak’aq, a Ranged Unit that has high Movement and ignores Rough penalties during Movement. Has increased Combat Strength when attacking from Rough tiles.
- Terrace Farm, an Improvement that gains a high yield of Food, but can only be built on a Rough tile adjacent to a Mountain.
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Grand Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
4X
- Franchise
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Sid Meier’s Civilization
- Released
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February 11, 2025