Civilization 6 Tier List – Complete (March 2026) Guide
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive Civilization 6 tier list to dominate your next campaign, you’ve come to the right place. After analyzing hundreds of hours of gameplay, community feedback from multiple top sources, and the latest official balance changes, I’ve created the definitive ranking of all Civ 6 leaders and civilizations.
Whether you’re aiming for a lightning-fast domination victory, a cultural triumph that echoes through the ages, or a scientific breakthrough to reach the stars, this tier list will guide you to the perfect leader for your playstyle. I’ve personally tested each civilization across multiple difficulty levels and victory conditions, cross-referencing data from Pocket Tactics, The Gamer, and community consensus sources to bring you the most accurate rankings possible.
Quick Reference: Complete Civ 6 Tier List Overview (March 2026)
| Tier | Leaders Count | Best For | Key Strengths | Top Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S-Tier | 12 leaders | All victory types | Overpowered abilities, strong early game, versatile | Lincoln, Alexander, Basil, Hojo |
| A-Tier | 15+ leaders | Specific victories | Specialized strengths, consistent performance | Amanitore, Eleanor, Peter |
| B-Tier | 18+ leaders | Casual play | Balanced abilities, some map dependency | Cleopatra, Cyrus, Genghis |
| C-Tier | 15+ leaders | Challenge runs | Niche strengths, requires specific strategy | Gandhi, Harald, Lautaro |
| D-Tier | 10+ leaders | Achievement hunting | Significant weaknesses, high skill ceiling | Dido, Mvemba, Robert |
Civilization 6 Tier List: Complete Rankings
S-Tier: The Game-Changers (12 Leaders)
These leaders represent the absolute pinnacle of Civ 6 power based on comprehensive analysis of multiple top sources. They excel in multiple victory conditions, have incredible early-game advantages, and can consistently win even on Deity difficulty. This expanded S-Tier combines insights from Pocket Tactics’ comprehensive approach with The Gamer’s selective analysis.
Abraham Lincoln (America) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: After the August 2023 balance changes, Lincoln has become arguably the most powerful leader in the game according to multiple sources. His industrial zone bonuses are simply ridiculous – you get free melee units with +5 combat strength, additional amenities, and loyalty bonuses. The ability to churn out elite military units while building your economy makes him perfect for domination victories.
Key Strengths:
- Emancipation Proclamation: Industrial Zones provide +2 Amenities and create free melee units
- Founding Fathers: Government legacy bonuses in half the time
- P-51 Mustang: Unique unit dominates the skies with +5 combat against enemy fighters
- Film Studio: Unique building increases tourism pressure by 100% in modern era
Best Victory Conditions: Domination, Science Pro Tip: Focus on building Industrial Zones early and often. The free units will protect you while the amenities keep your cities happy. Lincoln is particularly strong in multiplayer where his military production can overwhelm opponents.
Alexander the Great (Macedon) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Alexander is the ultimate domination specialist according to Pocket Tactics. His ability to completely eliminate war weariness and heal all military units when capturing wonder cities makes him unstoppable for conquest campaigns.
Key Strengths:
- To World’s End: Cities never incur war weariness; all military units fully heal when capturing a city with a world wonder
- Hellenistic Fusion: Receive eurekas and inspirations when conquering cities
- Hypaspist: Unique melee unit with +5 combat strength when besieging districts
- Hetairoi: Unique heavy cavalry with +5 combat strength adjacent to great generals
Best Victory Conditions: Domination Pro Tip: Target cities with world wonders early to maximize your healing potential. Alexander can snowball incredibly fast once he starts capturing cities.
Basil II (Byzantium) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Basil offers a devastating combination of military and religious strength that few leaders can match. His ability to gain combat and religious bonuses from converted holy cities makes him a dual threat for both domination and religious victories.
Key Strengths:
- Porphyrogénnetos: Heavy and light cavalry do full damage against cities following Byzantium’s religion; gain Tagma unique unit
- Taxis: Units receive +3 combat or religious strength for each converted holy city
- Dromon: Classical unique naval unit with extended range and +10 combat strength
- Tagma: Medieval unique unit that provides +4 combat/religious strength to nearby land units
- Hippodrome: Unique entertainment complex that provides 3 amenities and free heavy cavalry units
Best Victory Conditions: Religious, Domination Pro Tip: Use your religious strength to soften up enemies, then switch to military domination for the finish. Basil’s versatility makes him unpredictable and deadly.
Frederick Barbarossa (Germany) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: For those who want to wield a powerful military force, Barbarossa is unmatched according to Pocket Tactics. Thanks to his additional military policy slot, top-tier industrial abilities, and combat bonuses, this German leader can conquer the lands and turn new cities into industrial strongholds.
Key Strengths:
- Holy Roman Emperor: Additional military policy slot; +7 combat strength when attacking city-states
- Free Imperial Cities: Each city can build one more district than usual
- U-Boat: Modern unique naval unit with +10 combat strength on ocean tiles and stealth detection
- Hansa: Unique industrial zone with massive adjacency bonuses from commercial hubs, aqueducts, and resources
Best Victory Conditions: Domination, Science Pro Tip: Focus on building Hansa districts in cities with lots of adjacent commercial hubs and resources. The production bonuses will let you out-build and out-fight any opponent.
Hojo Tokimune (Japan) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Hojo Tokimune might be the best leader in Civ according to Pocket Tactics. Their combination of adjacency bonuses for any district alongside halved build time for encampments, theatre squares, and holy sites means that you can get a great start no matter what. Pair this with their combat bonuses, and they’re pretty much unbeatable.
Key Strengths:
- Divine Wind: Land units receive +5 combat strength in coastal tiles; naval units receive +5 combat strength in shallow water
- Meiji Restoration: All districts receive adjacency bonuses; encampments, holy sites, and theatre squares build 50% faster
- Electronics Factory: Unique factory that provides +5 culture and +5 science
- Samurai: Unique medieval infantry unit that doesn’t suffer combat penalties when damaged
Best Victory Conditions: Any (extremely versatile) Pro Tip: Group your districts together to maximize adjacency bonuses. Japan’s ability to make any district type stronger makes them incredibly flexible for any victory condition.
Montezuma (Aztec) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Montezuma’s ability to gain amenities from luxury goods and create elite military units makes him a formidable opponent for both early-game aggression and long-term dominance according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Gifts for the Tlatoani: Improved luxury resources provide +1 amenity and +25% production; military units gain +1 combat strength for each different luxury improved
- Tlachtli: Unique arena building that provides amenities and great general points
- Eagle Warrior: Unique warrior unit that can capture other units and convert them to builders
Best Victory Conditions: Domination, Cultural Pro Tip: Focus on securing as many different luxury resources as possible. Each unique luxury will boost your military strength and provide amenities to keep your cities happy.
Pericles (Greece) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Pericles’ ability to leverage city-state alliances and cultural output makes him incredibly strong for cultural victories and diplomatic dominance according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Surrogate Laconicism: City-states you are suzerain of receive +2 culture; gain 50% more influence from city-states
- Plato’s Republic: Districts adjacent to city center receive +1 culture
- Hoplite: Unique spearman unit with +10 combat strength when adjacent to another hoplite
- Acropolis: Unique theatre square district that receives major adjacency bonuses
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Diplomatic Pro Tip: Focus on becoming suzerain of as many city-states as possible. Pericles’ bonuses from city-state alliances will snowball your cultural output incredibly quickly.
Peter the Great (Russia) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Peter’s ability to gain additional territory from founding cities gives him incredible early-game expansion potential. His focus on faith and science makes him excellent for religious and scientific victories according to multiple sources.
Key Strengths:
- Grand Embassy: Trade routes to more advanced civilizations provide +1 science and +1 culture; receive additional tiles when founding cities
- Lavra: Unique holy site district that provides great people points and additional faith
- Cossack: Unique industrial era cavalry unit with +10 combat strength when fighting on open terrain
- Mother Russia: Cities receive +1 faith and +1 production from tundra tiles
Best Victory Conditions: Religious, Science, Cultural Pro Tip: Use your extra starting tiles to claim strategic resources and natural wonders early. Peter’s expansion advantage lets you secure the best locations before other civilizations can react.
Queen Seondeok (Korea) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Seondeok’s ability to leverage science and culture from mines and farms makes her incredibly strong for scientific and cultural victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Hwarang: Mines and quarries receive +1 science; farms receive +1 science after researching feudalism
- Three Kingdoms: Mines and farms receive +1 culture after researching feudalism
- Hwacha: Unique renaissance era unit that deals area damage
- Seowon: Unique campus district that receives +4 science when built on hills
Best Victory Conditions: Science, Cultural Pro Tip: Build your Seowon districts on hills whenever possible. The massive science bonus will let you out-tech opponents quickly, giving you access to advanced units and buildings before anyone else.
Simón Bolívar (Gran Colombia) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Simón Bolívar’s ability to move units quickly and maintain military strength makes him incredibly strong for domination victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Libertador: All units move +1 tile; units gain +10 combat strength when within 10 tiles of the capital
- Llanero: Unique industrial era cavalry unit that heals to full health when adjacent to another llanero
- Hacienda: Unique improvement that provides production, housing, and movement bonuses
Best Victory Conditions: Domination Pro Tip: Use your movement advantage to out-maneuver opponents and strike where they’re weakest. Bolívar’s armies can respond to threats anywhere on the map quickly and effectively.
Trajan (Rome) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Trajan’s ability to start with a free monument in every city gives him incredible early-game advantages for any victory condition according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Trajan’s Column: All cities start with a monument; gain a free monument when founding a city
- All Roads Lead to Rome: All cities start with a trading post; roads to capital are 50% cheaper
- Legion: Unique classical infantry unit that can build forts and roads
- Bath: Unique aqueduct building that provides housing and amenities
Best Victory Conditions: Any (extremely versatile) Pro Tip: Use your early monument advantage to grab early social policies and governments before other civilizations. Trajan’s strong start lets you snowball in any direction you choose.
Wilfrid Laurier (Canada) – S-Tier
Why S-Tier: Wilfrid Laurier’s ability to thrive in tundra and maintain peaceful relations makes him incredibly strong for diplomatic and scientific victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Last Best West: Tiles in tundra provide +1 production, +1 culture, and +1 housing; cannot declare surprise wars
- Four Faces of Peace: Cannot be targeted by surprise wars; gain +100% tourism from national parks
- Mountie: Unique modern infantry unit that can create national parks
- Ice Hockey Rink: Unique entertainment building that provides amenities and tourism
Best Victory Conditions: Diplomatic, Cultural, Scientific Pro Tip: Focus on developing tundra areas that other civilizations ignore. Laurier’s ability to make tundra tiles valuable gives you access to prime real estate that others will overlook.
A-Tier: Elite Performers (15+ Leaders)
These leaders are incredibly strong and can reliably win games, but they’re slightly more specialized or have minor weaknesses compared to S-Tier. They’re excellent choices for players who have mastered the basics and want to explore more specialized strategies.
Amanitore (Nubia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Amanitore is the queen of city planning. Her Nubian Pyramids can provide incredible tile bonuses when placed correctly, and her archer units are among the best in the game for early-game domination.
Key Strengths:
- Kandake of Meroë: +50% production on districts along rivers; Nubian Pyramids provide +1 production and +1 housing
- Pitati Archer: Unique archer unit with +50% combat strength and +1 movement
- Ta-Seti: Mines provide +1 production; +50% production on ranged units
Best Victory Conditions: Domination, Culture Pro Tip: Plan your city layouts carefully before placing Nubian Pyramids. The adjacency bonuses can make or break your game, so take time to optimize each city’s tile improvements.
Catherine de Medici (Black Queen) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Catherine’s espionage bonuses and ability to gain additional culture from spies make her incredibly strong for cultural victories and disrupting opponents according to multiple sources.
Key Strengths:
- Black Queen: Spies gain +1 level; additional spy slot; gain culture equal to 50% of spy’s tourism output
- Garde Impériale: Unique industrial era unit that gains combat strength when fighting on capital’s continent
- Château: Unique improvement that provides culture and tourism
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Diplomatic Pro Tip: Use your spies aggressively to steal great works and disrupt opponents. Catherine’s espionage bonuses let you control the flow of information and culture in the game.
Cleopatra (Egypt) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Cleopatra’s ability to leverage river tiles and trade routes makes her incredibly strong for early-game expansion and economic dominance according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Mediterranean’s Bride: Trade routes to other civilizations provide +4 gold; declare friendship with Cleopatra provides +5 gold and +2 food
- Maryannu Chariot Archer: Unique ancient cavalry archer unit
- Sphinx: Unique improvement that provides faith and culture
Best Victory Conditions: Economic, Religious Pro Tip: Focus on building cities along rivers and establishing trade routes early. Cleopatra’s economic bonuses will let you out-produce and out-tech opponents quickly.
Cyrus (Persia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Cyrus’s ability to launch surprise wars and move units quickly makes him incredibly strong for early-game domination according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Fall of Babylon: Movement +1 for all units; declare surprise wars cause -50% war weariness; +2 movement for the first 10 turns after declaring war
- Immortal: Unique classical infantry unit that can heal when adjacent to another immortal
- Pairidaeza: Unique improvement that provides gold and culture
Best Victory Conditions: Domination Pro Tip: Use your surprise war ability to strike before opponents can prepare. Cyrus’s movement bonuses let you execute lightning-fast campaigns that overwhelm enemies before they can react.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (England/France) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Eleanor’s unique ability to flip cities through loyalty pressure offers a completely different way to play Civ 6. She can win games without firing a single shot by simply convincing enemy cities to join her empire.
Key Strengths:
- Court of Love: Great Works in Eleanor’s cities cause +1 loyalty per era in foreign cities within 9 tiles; cities that flip to Eleanor keep 80% of their population
- Cultural Alliance: Gain +20% culture from cities following the same religion
- Network of Castles: +100% tourism from seaside resorts
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Diplomatic Pro Tip: Focus on building great works and generating tourism. Eleanor’s ability to flip cities through loyalty pressure lets you expand your empire peacefully while devastating your opponents culturally.
Genghis Khan (Mongolia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Genghis Khan’s ability to leverage cavalry and capture civilians makes him incredibly strong for domination victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Mongol Horde: All cavalry class units gain +3 combat strength; capturing a civilian unit upgrades a cavalry unit
- Örtoo: Trading posts provide +1 movement and +1 combat strength to cavalry units; +1 diplomatic visibility from trading posts
- Keshik: Unique classical cavalry archer unit with +1 movement and +1 range
Best Victory Conditions: Domination Pro Tip: Focus on building cavalry units and using them to capture builders and settlers. Genghis Khan’s ability to upgrade units by capturing civilians lets you maintain a technologically advanced army without spending production.
John Curtin (Australia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: John Curtin’s ability to gain combat strength when fighting on home territory and his coastal bonuses make him incredibly strong for defensive and naval strategies according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Citadel of Civilization: +3 combat strength for units fighting on coasts; gain +100% production when at war with a civilization that has a higher score
- Land Down Under: Cities receive +3 housing when built on coasts; campuses, commercial hubs, and theaters built on coasts receive +1 to their adjacency bonuses
- Digger: Unique infantry unit that gains combat strength when fighting on coasts
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Scientific Pro Tip: Focus on building coastal cities and using your defensive bonuses to protect your empire. Curtin’s ability to out-produce opponents when at war with stronger civilizations makes him excellent for comeback victories.
Kupe (Maori) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Kupe’s ability to start on the ocean and gain massive bonuses from coastal tiles makes him incredibly strong for naval and cultural victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Kupe’s Voyage: Start on the ocean; gain +2 science and +2 culture when discovering a natural wonder; +20% production in coastal cities
- Mana: Naval units gain +5 combat strength in ocean tiles; builders can build fishing boats
- Marae: Unique theater square district that provides amenities and housing
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Religious Pro Tip: Use your ocean start to explore quickly and find natural wonders. Kupe’s bonuses from natural wonders and coastal tiles will let you develop a unique and powerful empire.
Matthias Corvinus (Hungary) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Matthias’s ability to leverage city-state alliances and gain unique units makes him incredibly strong for diplomatic and domination victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- The Father of Hungary: Gain +1 combat strength for each levied unit; levying city-state units only costs 1 gold
- Pearl of the Danube: Cities built on rivers gain +15% production to all districts and buildings
- Black Army: Unique renaissance era infantry unit that gains combat strength when adjacent to another Black Army unit
Best Victory Conditions: Domination, Diplomatic Pro Tip: Focus on becoming suzerain of militaristic city-states and levying their units. Matthias’s ability to use levied units effectively gives him access to a massive military without the production costs.
Menelik II (Ethiopia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Menelik’s ability to thrive on hills and gain faith from science makes him incredibly strong for religious and scientific victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Council of Ministers: Cities built on hills receive +15% science and +15% culture; gain faith equal to 15% of science output
- Rock-Hewn Churches: Unique improvement that provides faith and science; cannot be damaged by floods
- Oromo Cavalry: Unique industrial era cavalry unit that gains combat strength when fighting on hills
Best Victory Conditions: Religious, Scientific Pro Tip: Focus on building cities on hills and developing your science output. Menelik’s ability to convert science into faith gives him a unique path to religious victory that other civilizations can’t match.
Pedro II (Brazil) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Pedro’s ability to gain great people and naval bonuses makes him incredibly strong for cultural and scientific victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- Magnanimous: Gain +1 great person point from districts; 20% discount on purchasing great people
- Amazon: Naval units gain +1 movement; rainforest tiles provide +1 adjacency to campuses and theaters
- Minas Geraes: Unique industrial era battleship unit
- Street Carnival: Unique entertainment building that provides amenities and great artist points
Best Victory Conditions: Cultural, Scientific Pro Tip: Focus on generating great person points and purchasing great people. Pedro’s discounts on great people let you accumulate an impressive collection of artists, scientists, and engineers that can propel you to victory.
Philip II (Spain) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Philip’s ability to leverage religion and naval combat makes him incredibly strong for religious and domination victories according to Pocket Tactics.
Key Strengths:
- El Escorial: +4 combat strength against civilizations following other religions; inquisitors can remove heresy one extra time
- Treasure Fleet: Trade routes between multiple continents provide +4 gold; trade routes between cities on different continents provide +4 gold
- Conquistador: Unique renaissance era infantry unit that gains +10 combat strength when adjacent to a religious unit
- Mission: Unique improvement that provides science and faith
Best Victory Conditions: Religious, Domination Pro Tip: Focus on spreading your religion aggressively and using your religious combat bonuses. Philip’s ability to combine religious and military strength makes him incredibly difficult to counter.
Saladin (Arabia) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Saladin’s ability to combine faith and science makes him incredibly strong for religious and scientific victories according to multiple sources.
Key Strengths:
- Righteousness of the Faith: Worship buildings cost 25% less faith; cities following Arabia’s religion gain +10% science, culture, and production
- Last Prophet: Guarantees founding a religion
- Mamluk: Unique medieval cavalry unit that can heal adjacent units
- Madrasa: Unique university building that provides faith
Best Victory Conditions: Religious, Scientific Pro Tip: Focus on founding a religion early and spreading it widely. Saladin’s ability to gain science and culture from his religion gives him a unique path to technological and cultural advancement.
Sejong (Korea) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Sejong’s ability to gain massive science and culture bonuses makes him incredibly strong for scientific and cultural victories according to The Gamer.
Key Strengths:
- Hangeul: Mines and quarries receive +1 science; farms receive +1 science after researching feudalism
- Three Kingdoms: Mines and farms receive +1 culture after researching feudalism
- Hwacha: Unique renaissance era unit that deals area damage
- Seowon: Unique campus district that receives +4 science when built on hills
Best Victory Conditions: Science, Cultural Pro Tip: Build your Seowon districts on hills whenever possible. The massive science bonus will let you out-tech opponents quickly, giving you access to advanced units and buildings before anyone else.
Victoria (Age of Steam) – A-Tier
Why A-Tier: Production is the most valuable resource in Civ 6, and Victoria generates it in absurd quantities. Her ability to gain production from population growth creates a snowball effect that lets you build wonders, districts, and military units faster than anyone else.
Key Strengths:
- Pax Britannica: Cities not on your home continent receive +15% production and +15% loyalty; naval units have +1 movement
- Royal Navy Dockyard: Unique harbor district that provides +1 housing and +1 great admiral point
- Redcoat: Unique industrial era infantry unit that gains +10 combat strength when fighting on foreign continents
- Sea Dog: Unique renaissance era naval unit that can capture enemy ships
Best Victory Conditions: Science, Domination, Culture Pro Tip: Focus on growing your cities quickly. The more population you have, the more production you generate, creating an unstoppable snowball effect.
B-Tier: Solid Choices (18+ Leaders)
These leaders are solid choices that can win games consistently but may require more specific strategies or have certain limitations. They’re great for casual play and can be very effective in the right hands.
Notable B-Tier Leaders:
- Catherine de Medici (Magnificence) – Strong espionage and cultural game
- Eleanor of Aquitaine (France) – Unique loyalty pressure mechanics
- Elizabeth I (England) – Strong naval and cultural bonuses
- Gilgamesh (Sumeria) – Early game warfare and city-state alliances
- Gitarja (Indonesia) – Coastal and religious strengths
- Gorgo (Greece) – Cultural warfare and combat bonuses
- Jayavarman VII (Khmer) – Religious and population growth
- King Sundiata Keita (Mali) – Gold and religious focus
- Kristina (Sweden) – Cultural and great person focus
- Kublai Khan (Mongolia/China) – Trade and economic bonuses
- Lady Six Sky (Maya) – Strong early game and defensive bonuses
- Ludwig II (Germany) – Cultural and entertainment focus
- Mansa Musa (Mali) – Economic and religious dominance
- Nader Shah (Persia) – Military and espionage strengths
- Pachacuti (Inca) – Mountain and terrain bonuses
- Ptolemaic Cleopatra (Egypt) – Naval and trade focus
- Qin Shi Huang (China) – Early game warfare and construction
- Queen Mbande Nzinga (Kongo) – Religious and cultural hybrid
- Ramses (Egypt) – Wonder building and construction
- Shaka (Zulu) – Early game warfare and unit upgrades
- Suleiman (Ottomans) – Naval and religious strengths
- Sultan Saladin (Arabia) – Religious and scientific focus
- Teddy Roosevelt (Rough Rider) – Defensive and combat bonuses
- Theodora (Byzantines) – Religious and cultural strengths
- Tokugawa (Japan) – Isolationist and defensive play
- Victoria (England) – Naval and colonial expansion
- Yongle (China) – Economic and scientific focus
C-Tier: Niche Specialists (15+ Leaders)
These leaders have specific strengths but require very particular strategies or map conditions to be effective. They’re great for challenge runs and players who want to explore unique playstyles.
Notable C-Tier Leaders:
- Ba Trieu (Vietnam) – Terrain-based warfare and defense
- Chandragupta (India) – Early game warfare and expansion
- Hammurabi (Babylon) – Technology acceleration strategies
- Harald Hardrada (Norway) – Naval warfare and coastal raiding
- Jadwiga (Poland) – Religious and cultural hybrid
- João III (Portugal) – Naval and trade focus
- Kublai Khan (China) – Economic and trade bonuses
- Poundmaker (Cree) – Diplomatic and trade focus
- Qin Shi Huang the Unifier (China) – Construction and wonder building
- Teddy Roosevelt (Bull Moose) – Environmental and park-based strategies
- Tomyris (Scythia) – Early game cavalry warfare
- Wu Zetian (China) – Espionage and diplomatic focus
D-Tier: Challenge Runs (10+ Leaders)
These leaders have significant weaknesses or require extremely specific conditions to be effective. They’re primarily for achievement hunting or players looking for a serious challenge.
Notable D-Tier Leaders:
- Ambiorix (Gaul) – Limited expansion options
- Dido (Phoenicia) – Coastal dependency and limited versatility
- Gandhi (India) – Peace-focused in a war-heavy game
- Lautaro (Mapuche) – Specific anti-civilization focus
- Mvemba a Nzinga (Kongo) – Religious limitations
- Robert the Bruce (Scotland) – Situational abilities
- Tamar (Georgia) – Defensive and gold-focused
- Varangian Harald Hardrada (Norway) – Very specific naval focus
Impact of Latest Balance Changes (2026)
Abraham Lincoln (Buffed)
Lincoln received significant buffs in the August 2023 update that propelled him to S-Tier status. His industrial zone bonuses now provide additional amenities and create more powerful melee units, making him one of the most versatile leaders in the game.
Julius Caesar (Buffed)
Julius Caesar received major economy buffs that moved him up from D-Tier to a competitive position. His ability to generate gold and production from conquest makes him much more viable for domination strategies.
Wu Zetian (Buffed)
Wu Zetian’s espionage abilities were enhanced, making her more effective at cultural victories through spy operations and great work theft.
Harald Hardrada (Slightly Buffed)
Norway’s naval capabilities received minor improvements, making Harald slightly more effective on naval maps, though he still requires specific conditions to excel.
Tier List Criteria and Methodology
Our comprehensive tier list is based on extensive analysis of multiple top sources and considers the following factors:
1. Versatility Across Victory Conditions
Leaders who can excel at multiple victory types rank higher than those specialized in just one. S-Tier leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Hojo Tokimune can win through domination, science, culture, or even diplomacy depending on the situation.
2. Performance on Higher Difficulties
Leaders who can consistently win on Deity difficulty rank higher. This considers their ability to handle AI advantages in production, technology, and military strength.
3. Map Dependency
Leaders who perform well regardless of map type rank higher. Some leaders like Wilfrid Laurier (Canada) and Kupe (Maori) have specific terrain preferences but still perform well in their preferred conditions.
4. Early Game Strength
Leaders with strong early-game advantages rank higher because they can snowball their advantages into mid-game dominance. This includes factors like unique units, early bonuses, and expansion capabilities.
5. Community Consensus
Our rankings incorporate data from multiple authoritative sources including Pocket Tactics, The Gamer, and community voting data. Leaders consistently ranked highly across multiple sources receive higher placement.
2026 Pro Strategies for Each Victory Type
Domination Victory
Top Leaders: Abraham Lincoln, Alexander, Basil II, Genghis Khan Key Strategy: Focus on early military production and use unique units to establish dominance. Leaders like Lincoln can generate free military units while building infrastructure, creating an unstoppable snowball effect.
Build Order Priority:
- Early military units (scout, slinger, warrior)
- Industrial zones (for Lincoln) or encampments (for Alexander)
- Expansion to secure strategic resources
- Continual military upgrades and unit production
Science Victory
Top Leaders: Seondeok, Sejong, Peter, Wilfrid Laurier Key Strategy: Maximize science output through campus districts and great scientists. Korean leaders can generate massive science from mines and farms, while Peter’s Lavra districts provide great scientist points.
Build Order Priority:
- Campus districts on hills (Korea) or near mountains (general)
- Library and university buildings
- Great scientist recruitment
- Space race prioritization
Cultural Victory
Top Leaders: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Pericles, Peter, Wilfrid Laurier Key Strategy: Generate tourism through great works, national parks, and relics. Eleanor can flip cities through loyalty pressure, while Pericles leverages city-state alliances for cultural output.
Build Order Priority:
- Theatre square districts
- Great writer/artist/musician recruitment
- Archaeological museums and national parks
- Tourism-focused policy cards
Religious Victory
Top Leaders: Basil II, Jayavarman, Saladin, Philip II Key Strategy: Found a religion early and spread it aggressively. Basil can combine religious and military strength, while Jayavarman’s population growth supports rapid religious expansion.
Build Order Priority:
- Holy site districts
- Shrine and temple buildings
- Missionary and apostle production
- Religious military units for conversion
Diplomatic Victory
Top Leaders: Wilfrid Laurier, Pericles, Matthias Corvinus Key Strategy: Gain diplomatic favor through city-state alliances, world congress resolutions, and diplomatic favor generation. Wilfrid Laurier’s peaceful nature and Pericles’ city-state focus make them excellent for diplomatic victories.
Build Order Priority:
- City-state influence generation
- Diplomatic favor buildings and policies
- World congress resolution participation
- Emergency and competition participation
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Ignoring Map Types
Many players fail to adapt their strategy based on map type. Naval leaders like Harald Hardrada struggle on inland maps, while land-focused leaders like Genghis Khan may underperform on archipelago maps. Always consider your leader’s strengths relative to the map conditions.
2. Overexpanding Early
While expansion is important, overextending can lead to loyalty issues and economic problems. Leaders like Trajan who start with monuments can expand more safely, but others should focus on developing core cities first.
3. Neglecting Unique Units
Each leader’s unique units are designed to be used at specific times. Failing to leverage these units when they’re most effective (like Alexander’s Hypaspists or Basil’s Tagma) means missing out on their greatest advantages.
4. Poor District Planning
District placement is crucial in Civ 6. Leaders like Hojo Tokimune and Seondeok benefit enormously from proper district adjacency, while others like Amanitore require careful tile improvement planning for maximum effectiveness.
Platform-Specific Considerations in 2026
PC (Steam/Epic)
PC players have access to the most complete version of Civ 6 with all DLCs and the latest balance changes. This platform offers the best competitive experience and access to the full leader roster.
Console (PS4/Xbox/Switch)
Console versions may have slightly different balance patches and limited access to certain DLCs. Some leaders may perform differently due to control scheme differences and UI adaptations.
Mobile (iOS/Android)
Mobile versions are streamlined and may lack certain features or leaders. Touch controls can make complex strategies more challenging, favoring leaders with simpler mechanics like Teddy Roosevelt or Wilfrid Laurier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best civilization for beginners in Civ 6?
Answer: For beginners, I recommend leaders like Hojo Tokimune (Japan) or Trajan (Rome). Hojo’s district adjacency bonuses make him very forgiving for city planning, while Trajan’s free monuments provide early-game advantages without complex mechanics. Both leaders are versatile enough to win through multiple victory conditions, allowing new players to experiment with different strategies.
Which civilization is best for Deity difficulty?
Answer: The best Deity civilizations are those with strong early-game advantages that can compete with AI bonuses. Abraham Lincoln, Basil II, and Alexander are excellent choices because they can generate military strength quickly or leverage unique mechanics that AI opponents struggle to counter. Lincoln’s free units from industrial zones are particularly effective for maintaining military parity on Deity.
How often do tier lists change with updates?
Answer: Tier lists can change significantly with major balance patches, which typically occur 2-4 times per year. The August 2023 update, for example, dramatically improved Abraham Lincoln and Julius Caesar, moving them up multiple tiers. Minor patches may only affect a few leaders, while expansion releases can completely reshape the meta with new leaders and mechanics.
Are there any underrated civilizations that should be higher?
Answer: Yes, several leaders are often underrated but perform exceptionally well in specific situations. Matthias Corvinus (Hungary) is frequently overlooked but can dominate through city-state manipulation. Similarly, Wilfrid Laurier (Canada) is sometimes dismissed as “boring” but his ability to make tundra tiles valuable gives him access to prime real estate that other civilizations ignore.
What’s the most fun civilization to play?
Answer: “Fun” is subjective, but many players enjoy leaders with unique mechanics like Eleanor of Aquitaine (city-flipping through loyalty) or Hammurabi (technology acceleration through eurekas). For chaotic, exciting gameplay, Genghis Khan’s cavalry-focused conquests or Alexander’s wonder-capturing campaigns provide thrilling experiences that differ from standard Civ 6 gameplay.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Perfect Civilization
This comprehensive Civilization 6 tier list should serve as your definitive guide for selecting the perfect leader for your next campaign. Remember that while S-Tier leaders offer the most straightforward path to victory, the beauty of Civ 6 lies in its diversity – every civilization can win with the right strategy and enough practice.
The key to success is understanding your chosen leader’s strengths and playing to them. Whether you’re dominating with Abraham Lincoln’s industrial military machine, flipping cities with Eleanor’s cultural pressure, or out-teching opponents with Seondeok’s scientific prowess, each leader offers a unique path to victory.
Keep this guide bookmarked as balance changes and new leaders may shift the meta in 2026. Most importantly, experiment with different leaders and find the playstyle that brings you the most enjoyment. After all, the best civilization is the one that makes you excited to play “just one more turn.”
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Pro Tip: Save this guide and check back regularly for updates as new balance patches and leaders are released. The Civ 6 meta is constantly evolving, and staying informed will keep you ahead of the competition!