Three leaders we are looking forward to playing Civilization VII with

With the worldwide launch of Civilization VII fast zooming into view we are starting to get very excited about what the early days of Spring hold for our gaming time..

While Firaxis has just unveiled the opening cinematic and orchestral theme tune for Civ VII we have been digging into the leaders the game will shop with trying to decide who we will play as first.

Even with all the leaders not yet announced we know of 13 that will land on launch and there is a fair old spread of philosophical geniuses to homicidal despots, depending on who takes your fancy really. So let’s have a close look at the three we are most interested in at this stage, covering a broad range of playstyles for everybody.

Confucius

For a more cerebral starting point, we are going to pick Confucious – the Chinese philosopher who is generally considered one of the main sages of East Asian history.

Confucius, or Kong Fu Zi, came to prominence during the Zhou Dynasty and turned to writing following a life in government. In contrast to a political climate in which rulers vied for power and succumbed to vice, Confucius cultivated an ethos of order, harmony, and tradition. His many writings stress hard work and knowing one’s place – be you ruler or subject, parent or child. Confucian thought would influence East Asian society for centuries hence.

Unique Ability
Keju: Increased Growth Rate in Cities. Increased Science from Specialists.

Attributes:

• Expansionist
• Scientific

Agendas:
Guanxi: Increase Relationship by a Medium Amount for having the most Specialists in an empire. Decrease Relationship by a Small Amount for the leader with the least amount of Specialists in an empire. Only triggers if Confucius has at least one Specialist.

Starting Biases:

• Grassland

Confucious’ real-life political career:
Confucius held several government positions during his lifetime. Although he struggled to implement his ideas in the political realm, his vision of benevolent leadership and just governance left a lasting legacy, influencing the administration of various dynasties throughout Chinese history.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The name of Florentine writer, diplomat, and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli has become synonymous with duplicity and treachery. He argued that the most effective ruler was one willing to do whatever it took to gain, retain, and wield power. Such views won him the ire of both the Catholic Church and the powerful Medici dynasty. But his ideas live on in his posthumous work The Prince—giving him, in true Machiavellian fashion, the last word.

Unique Ability

Il Principe: Gain additional Influence per Age. Gain a set amount of Gold per Age when your Diplomatic Action proposals are accepted, or even more Gold per Age when they are rejected. Ignore Relationship requirements for declaring Formal Wars. You can Levy Military Units from City-States you are not Suzerain of.

Attributes:

• Diplomatic
• Economic
• Agendas:
• The Spider: If not at war with Machiavelli, increase Relationship by Medium Amount for each other war.

Starting Biases:

• None

Known for:
Machiavellianism: Over time, the term “Machiavellian” came to describe political behavior marked by deceit, manipulation, and a disregard for morality in the pursuit of power. Though Machiavelli himself emphasized pragmatic statecraft, his name became associated with cynical, manipulative politics, a reputation that has influenced both political theory and popular culture.

Trưng Trắc

Now it’s time for a leader with a more militaristic outlook on life.

For a brief period in what is now Vietnam, two sisters, Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị, stood against the might of the Han Dynasty. When her husband was sentenced to death, Trưng Trắc and her sister fought on, gaining independence for three years before the Han counterattack. They are still held up as symbols of Vietnamese independence, and divinities in their own right.

Unique Ability
Hai Bà Trưng: Gain a set number of free Promotions on your first Commander. Your Commanders gain additional experience. Gain increased Science in Cities on Tropical tiles; this bonus is increased during any Formal War you declare.

Attributes:

• Militaristic
• Scientific

Agendas:
Van Minh: Decrease Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the greatest amount of Promotions across all Commanders. If tied, Decrease Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders. Increase Relationship by Medium Amount with the player who has the least amount of Promotions across all Commanders. If tied, Increase Relationship a Small Amount with tie holders.

Starting Biases:

• Vegetated
• Tropical

Real-life legacy:
After the Han Empire eventually crushed the rebellion in 43 CE, Trưng Trắc was captured, and legend says she committed suicide by drowning herself in the Hat River to avoid being paraded in a Chinese triumph. Her bravery and resistance against foreign invaders have made her a symbol of Vietnamese independence and the fight for freedom. Her story is still celebrated in Vietnam today, with monuments and festivals in her honor.

All leaders in Civ VII so far

With more promised along the way, and doubtless some DLC to add in here we currently know of 13 Leaders that will appear in Civ VII – Here they are in a glorious little list.

• Amina
• Ashoka
• Augustus
• Charlemagne
• Confucious
• Hatshepsut
• Ibn Battuta
• Isabella
• Machiavelli
• Pachacuti
• Tecumseh
• Trưng Trắc
• Xeres

Civilization VII launches world wide on February 11th 2025.

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