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Civilization VI Tier List Maker
Rank Civilization VI leaders, from Gandhi and Cleopatra to Teddy Roosevelt and Genghis Khan.
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Drag items into a tier — or tap an item, then tap a tier.
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Meet every leader (30)
These 30 leaders load into the maker above. Each write-up covers what the leader is and what to weigh when you rank it. Facts were last checked on .
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Gandhi
The Indian lawyer and activist, symbolic father of modern India, who leads the Indians. In game he is the ultimate peacekeeping leader, who avoids declaring war unless provoked.
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Cleopatra
The last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, who allied with Roman generals such as Julius Caesar and Marc Antony in the civil war that ended the Roman Republic. She leads Egypt in Civ VI.
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Gilgamesh
The hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an Akkadian poem considered the oldest known work of literature. It describes him as the demigod king of Uruk, and he leads the Sumerians.
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Montezuma
Montezuma I, fifth tlatoani of Tenochtitlan and a ruler who greatly expanded Aztec territory. In Civilization VI he leads the Aztecs as an aggressive expansionist.
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Peter the Great
The tsar of Russia from 1682 until his death, who expanded the empire and modernized Russian politics with Western-style reforms inspired by the Enlightenment. He leads the Russians.
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Qin Shi Huang
The first emperor of China, born Ying Zheng, who ended the Warring States period through a series of military campaigns. In Civ VI he leads the Chinese and covets wonders.
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Pericles
A prominent Greek statesman, orator and general who led Athens from about 461 BC, a period known as the Golden Age of Athens. He leads the Greeks and masters the civic side of the game.
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Gorgo
A queen of Sparta, daughter of Cleomenes I and wife of Leonidas I, noted by ancient historians for her intelligence, wisdom and judgment. She also leads the Greeks in Civ VI.
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Trajan
Emperor of Rome from 98 AD, best remembered for one of the greatest military expansions in Roman history. He is also recognized as one of the "Five Good Emperors" for his public building programs.
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Hojo Tokimune
The eighth shikken of the Kamakura shogunate, best known for twice repelling the Mongols in their attempted invasions of Japan. He leads the Japanese in Civilization VI.
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Frederick Barbarossa
King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor from 1155, nicknamed "Barbarossa," meaning "red beard," by the Italians he spent much of his rule warring with. He leads the Germans.
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Victoria
Queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 until her death and empress of India from 1876. Her 63-year reign, one of the longest in history, saw the British Empire reach its height.
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Catherine de Medici
An Italian noblewoman who was queen of France and then queen mother to three kings, exerting enormous influence over the throne. She leads the French, who are nominally cultural but a dangerous opponent.
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Harald Hardrada
King of Norway from 1046, known for leading the Byzantine Varangian Guard and for his invasions of Denmark and England. He leads the Norwegians, a naval power in Civilization VI.
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Tomyris
A warrior-queen who reigned over a Scythian confederation in Central Asia and led her people against Cyrus the Great's invasion, allegedly defeating and killing him in 530 BC. She leads the Scythians.
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Saladin
The first sultan of Egypt and Syria and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, known for his victory at the battle of Hattin and capture of the Kingdom of Jerusalem in 1187.
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Philip II
Nicknamed the Prudent, king of Spain, Portugal, Naples and Sicily. His reign saw the Spanish Empire reach the height of its expansion and power, in what is called the Spanish Golden Age.
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Pedro II
Nicknamed the Magnanimous, the second and last emperor of Brazil, renowned for his education and sponsoring of learning, culture and science. He leads the Brazilians, and covets Great People.
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Kublai Khan
The fifth Great Khan of the Mongols, who founded the Yuan dynasty in 1271 after conquering China. In Civ VI: Rise and Fall he leads both the Chinese and the Mongolians.
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Teddy Roosevelt
The 26th President of the United States, best known for his vigorous foreign policy, progressive reforms and conservation of nature. He leads the Americans, wielding a big stick on his continent.
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Genghis Khan
Born Temüjin, the first great khan of the Mongols, who united the nomadic tribes and began the conquests that built the Mongol Empire. He leads the Mongolians in Rise and Fall.
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Alexander
Alexander III, known as Alexander the Great, king of Macedon from 336 BC and later of Egypt and Persia, widely believed never to have been defeated in battle. He leads the Macedonians.
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Suleiman
Suleiman I, called the Magnificent and the Lawgiver, tenth sultan of the Ottoman Empire, whose reign was the apex of its power. He leads the Ottomans in Gathering Storm.
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Jayavarman VII
King of the Khmer Empire from about 1181, best known for fostering the spread of Buddhism in Cambodia and for building temples, hospitals, highways and reservoirs. He leads the Khmer.
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Mvemba a Nzinga
Baptized Afonso I, the sixth manikongo of the Kingdom of Kongo, known for spreading Christianity and for condemning the Portuguese slave trade in his letters to the kings of Portugal.
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Dido
Also known as Elissa, the legendary first queen of Carthage, which she allegedly founded in 814 BC after fleeing Tyre. She leads the Phoenicians in Civilization VI: Gathering Storm.
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Wilhelmina
Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948, the longest reign of any Dutch monarch, remembered for supporting the Dutch resistance. She leads the Dutch in Rise and Fall.
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Lautaro
A young Mapuche toqui who escaped Spanish captivity and turned his captors' tactics against them while leading the resistance in Chile. He leads the Mapuche in Rise and Fall.
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Matthias Corvinus
King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, known for creating the Black Army, one of Europe's first professional standing armies, and as the first non-Italian ruler to embrace Renaissance style.
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Jadwiga
King of Poland from 1384. Her marriage to Jogaila of Lithuania set the foundations for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and she fostered the Christianization of Lithuania. She leads the Poles.
Civilization VI tier list questions
Which expansions are these leaders from?
Many are base-game leaders, while others such as Genghis Khan, Wilhelmina and Lautaro came with Rise and Fall, and Suleiman and Dido came with Gathering Storm, as noted in the write-ups.
Do I need to know each leader's abilities to rank them?
No. This list ranks the leaders as characters and historical figures. If you want to rank them by in-game strength, use the leader and civilization abilities on the wiki as a guide.
How should I rank Civilization VI leaders?
Common criteria include leader design, personality, civilization uniques, history and how fun the playstyle is. Many fans rank by playstyle, such as peaceful builders versus aggressive conquerors.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these references on .