Civilization 7 offers a deep tapestry of historical leaders and civilizations, all with their own strengths and playstyles. However, unlocking all of them sometimes feels like playing another game inside the game. This guide gives a complete breakdown of each leader and civilization in Civ 7, how to unlock them by progressing in gameplay, achievements, or selecting specific starting conditions. Whether you’re trying to rebuild ancient empires or chart your own course to global domination, this guide will get you the access to all of the strategic possibilities that exist in Civilization 7.
How to Unlock Every Leader in Civilization 7
Civilization 7 offers a diverse selection of 21 leaders, some of whom have alternate personas with unique abilities, effectively giving you even more choices. While many of these leaders are available to all players who own the game, some are locked behind DLC, both free and paid.
| Leader | How to Unlock | Exploration Unlocks | Modern Unlocks |
| Amina | Base Game | Songhai | Buganda |
| Ashoka | Base Game | Chola | None |
| Augustus | Base Game | None | None |
| Benjamin Franklin | Base Game | None | America |
| Catherine the Great | Base Game | None | Russia |
| Charlemagne | Base Game | Norman | None |
| Confucius | Base Game | Ming | Qing |
| Friedrich | Base Game | None | Prussia |
| Harriet Tubman | Base Game | None | America |
| Hatshepsut | Base Game | None | None |
| Himiko | Base Game | None | Meiji Japan |
| Ibn Battuta | Base Game | Abbasid | None |
| Isabella | Base Game | Spain | Mexico |
| Jose Rizal | Base Game | Hawai’i | None |
| Lafayette | Base Game | None | French Empire |
| Machiavelli | Base Game | None | None |
| Napoleon | Base Game | None | French Empire |
| Pachacuti | Base Game | Inca | None |
| Tecumseh | Base Game | Shawnee | America, Mexico |
| Trung Trac | Base Game | Majapahit | None |
| Xerxes | Base Game | None | None |
The leader you pick in Civilization 7 influences which civilizations become available to you as you advance through the game’s ages. These available civs are usually linked to the leader geographically or historically. However, even though a leader might be strongly associated with a particular civilization, it doesn’t always mean that’s the best civilization to choose strategically. There might be other civs that better complement your playstyle or the current game situation.
How to Unlock Every Civ in Civilization 7
When you start a new game, the civilization and leader you first pick will automatically unlock a few more civilizations for the Exploration and Modern Ages. These unlocked civs usually have some historical or geographical connection to your initial choice, and they’re designed to work well together. Think of them as the “obvious” or “natural” choices that help your civilization feel like it’s evolving smoothly through time.
Antiquity Age Civilizations and How to Unlock Them
- Aksumite: Play as Amina, Hatshepsut, Ibn Battuta, or Isabella.
- Egyptian: Play as Augustus or Hatshepsut.
- Greek: Play as Benjamin Franklin, Catherine the Great, Charlemagne, Lafayette, or Machiavelli.
- Han: Play as Confucius.
- Khmer: Play as Ashoka or Trung Trac.
- Mauryan: Play as Ashoka, Trung Trac, or Xerxes.
- Mayan: Play as Pachacuti.
- Mississippian: Play as Tecumseh or Pachacuti.
- Persian: Play as Ibn Battuta or Xerxes.
- Roman: Play as Augustus, Benjamin Franklin, Catherine the Great, Charlemagne, Isabella, Lafayette, or Machiavelli.
Exploration Age Civilizations and How to Unlock Them
- Abbasid:
- Play as Egypt during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Persia during the Antiquity Age.
- Improve three Camel resource tiles.
- OR Choose Ibn Battuta as Leader.
- Chola:
- Play as Khmer during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Mauryan during the Antiquity Age.
- Have three City Centers adjacent to Coastal tiles (excluding Lake tiles).
- OR Choose Ashoka as Leader.
- Hawaiian:
- Play as Mayan during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Mississippian during the Antiquity Age.
- Have two Settlements on an Island.
- OR Choose José Rizal as Leader.
- Inca:
- Play as Mayan during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Mississippian during the Antiquity Age.
- Have three Settlements with at least three Mountains.
- OR Choose Pachacuti as Leader.
- Majapahit:
- Play as Khmer during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Mauryan during the Antiquity Age.
- Improve three Pearl resource tiles.
- Have a minimum of three naval Trade Routes.
- OR Choose Trung Trac as Leader.
- Ming:
- Play as Han during the Antiquity Age.
- Improve three Silk resource tiles.
- Slot at least eight resources in a single Settlement.
- OR Choose Confucius as Leader.
- Mongolian:
- Play as Han during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Persia during the Antiquity Age.
- Improve three Horse resource tiles.
- Have three Siege units.
- Norman:
- Play as Greek during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Roman during the Antiquity Age.
- Improve three Iron resource tiles.
- Build a minimum of five Walls.
- OR Choose Charlemagne as Leader.
- Shawnee:
- Play as Mississippian during the Antiquity Age.
- OR Choose Tecumseh as Leader.
- Songhai:
- Play as Aksum during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Egyptian during the Antiquity Age.
- Have a minimum of three Navigable River tiles in three Settlements.
- OR Choose Amina as Leader.
- Spanish:
- Play as Greek during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Roman during the Antiquity Age.
- Reconquer a lost Settlement.
- OR Choose Isabella as Leader.
Modern Age Civilizations and How to Unlock Them
- American:
- Play as Roman during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Norman during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Shawnee during the Exploration Age.
- Have three Distant Land Settlements in Plains or Grassland tiles.
- OR Choose Benjamin Franklin as Leader.
- OR Choose Harriet Tubman as Leader.
- OR Choose Tecumseh as Leader.
- Buganda:
- Play as Abbasid during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Songhai during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Amina as Leader.
- Imperial French:
- Play as Roman during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Norman during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Lafayette as Leader.
- OR Choose Napoleon as Leader.
- Meiji Japanese:
- Play as Hawaiian during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Majapahit during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Himiko as Leader.
- Mexican:
- Play as Mayan during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Inca during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Shawnee during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Spanish during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Isabella as Leader.
- OR Choose Tecumseh as Leader.
- Mughal:
- Play as Persian during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Abbasid during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Chola during the Exploration Age.
- Prussian:
- Play as Roman during the Antiquity Age.
- Have three Army Commanders.
- OR Choose Friedrich as Leader.
- Qing:
- Play as Han during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Ming during the Exploration Age.
- Play as Mongolian during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Confucius as Leader.
- Russian:
- Play as Greek during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Mongolian during the Exploration Age.
- OR Choose Catherine the Great as Leader.
- Siamese:
- Play as Khmer during the Antiquity Age.
- Play as Chola during the Exploration Age.
