Gain an advantage in the Civilization 5 Game by using the best civilizations and leaders. Our latest Civ 5 tier list guide will provide you the best overview.
Civ 5 Tier List 2023 – Best Leaders >>
With over 40 different civilizations to play in, Civ 5 is a massively replayable 4X strategy experience. Each civilization and leader supports at least one of four different paths to victory (dominance, science, diplomacy, and culture).
While most leaders can competently abide by any of these conditions, they are not created equal. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of levels to help you decide which one to choose for your next game.
At this point Firaxis is primarily focused on Civilization 6, it’s pretty safe to consider it the final, definitive ranking of all leaders in Civ 5. This list takes into account the standard edition of Civ 5 as well as its two expansions, the gods. and Kings and Brave New World.
The accepted language for the Civ tier list is to organize each civilization into categories named according to the difficulty of the game.
That’s exactly what we did below. The best civilizations are in the gods category, followed by immortals, emperors, kings, princes, chieftains, chieftains, and finally settlers. Now, without further delay, here is the Faindx Civ 5 Tier List 2023.
Last Update on – 22 March 2023
S Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
These are currently the best civilizations to play in game form.
They have so many ways to win that you don’t have to worry about adjusting your strategy in the middle of the game. You also risk paying less attention to your enemies because your strategy requires little expertise.
Because of their dominance, beginning Civ players can win a few matches with them under their control.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Skill | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | Winged Hussar | Ducal Stable | Solidarity | Casimir III |
| Austria | Hussar | Coffee House | Diplomatic Marriage | Maria Theresa |
| Babylonia | Bowman | Walls of Babylon | Ingenuity | Nebuchadnezzar II |
A Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
These are distinct civilizations consisting of some all-rounders players.
Although they are not as impressive as the S-tier ones, they will be able to win early due to how effective they are in many aspects of the game.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Skill | Unique Building | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoshone | Pathfinder, Comanche Riders | Great Expanse | – | Pocatello |
| Egypt | War Chariot | Monument Builders | Burial Tomb | Ramesses II |
| Aztec | Jaguar | Sacrificial Captives | Floating Gardens | Montezuma |
| Arabia | Camel Archer | Trade Caravan, Ships of the Desert | Bazaar | Harun al-Rashid |
| Siam | Naresuan’s Elephant | Father Governs Children | Wat | Ramkhamhaeng |
| Brazil | Pracinha | Carnival | Brazilwood Camp | Pedro II |
| China | Chu-Ko-Nu | Art of War | Paper Maker | Wu Zetian |
| Japan | Samurai, Zero | Bushido | – | Oda Nobunaga |
| Greece | Hoplite, Companion Cavalry | Hellenic League | – | Alexander |
B Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
On paper, these citizens pale in comparison to the S and A levels. However, in the hands of a skilled player, this gap starts to shrink.
When set up in the right conditions, these civilizations can crush opposition, whatever level they are.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Skill | Unique Building | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome | Legion, Ballista | The Glory of Rome | – | Augustus Caesar |
| Zulu | Impi | Iklwa | Ikanda | Shaka |
| Iroquois | Mohawk Warrior | The Great Warpath | Longhouse | Hiawatha |
| France | Foreign Legion, Musketeer | Ancient Regime, City of Light | Chateau | Napoleon |
| Polynesia | Maori Warrior | Wayfinding | Moai | Kamehameha |
| Ottoman Empire | Janissary, Sipahi | Barbary Corsairs | – | Suleiman |
| Inca | Slinger | Great Andean Road | Terrace Farm | Pachacuti |
| Indonesia | Kris Swordsman | Spice Islanders | Candi | Gajah Mada |
| Sweden | Carolean, Hakkapeliitta | Nobel Prize | – | Gustavus Adoplhus |
| Portugal | Nau | Mare Clausum | Feitora | Maria I |
| Assyria | Siege Tower | Treasures of Nineveh | Royal Library | Ashurbanipal |
| Russia | Cossack | Siberian Riches | Krepost | Catherine |
C Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
These civilizations have limited flexibility when it comes to playing styles. They mostly win on a victory path adapted to their civilization, nothing more.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Skill | Unique Building | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| America | Minuteman, B17 | Manifest Destiny | – | Washington |
| Venice | Merchant of Venice, Great Galleass | Serenissima | – | Enrico Dandolo |
| Spain | Tercio, Conquistador | Seven Cities of Gold | – | Isabella |
| Korea | Hwach’a, Turtle Ship | Scholars of the Jade Hall | – | Sejong |
| Mongolia | Keshik, Khan | Mongol Terror | – | Genghis Khan |
| Morocco | Berber Cavalry | Gateway to Africa | Kasbah | Ahmad al-Mansur |
| Denmark | Berserker, Norwegian Ski Infantry | Viking Fury | Viking Fury | Harald Bluetooth |
| Maya | Atlatlist | The Long Count | Pyramid | Pacal |
D Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
Poorly adapted civilizations struggling to conquer any path of conquest.
These civilizations can be effective at low difficulties but also struggle under normal conditions.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Ability | Unique Building | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Landsknecht, Panzer | Furor Teutonicus | Hanse | Otto von Bismarck |
| Persia | Immortal | Achaemenid Legacy | Satrap’s Court | Darius I |
| India | War Elephant | Population Growth | Mughal Fort | Gandhi |
| Netherlands | Sea Beggar | East India Company | Polder | William I |
| Songhai | Mandekalu Cavalry | River Warlord | Mud Pyramid Mosque | Askia |
| Huns | Battering Ram, Horse Archer | Scourge of God | – | Attila |
F Tier – Civ 5 Tier List >>
Worst civilizations in the game. In a game with more than 2 civilizations, it’s usually the ones that come first.
| Civilization | Unique Unit | Unique Ability | Unique Building | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celts | Pictish Warrior | Druidic Lore | Ceilidh Hall | Boudicca |
| Byzantine | Cataphract, Dromon | Patriarchate of Constantinople | – | Theodora |
| Carthage | African Forest Elephant, Quinquereme | Phoenician Heritage | Phoenician Heritage | Dido |
| Ethiopia | Mehal Sefari | Spirit of Adwa | Stele | Haile Selassie |
Deity Tier Civilizations >>
All Deity-level citizens have strengths that are beneficial in almost every position, which makes them competitive in basically every type of victory, regardless of starting position.
For example, Babylon is strong on the science path because when she learns the Right Tech she gets a free great scientist. In addition, the unique defensive building of Nebuchadnezzar’s archers and The Walls of Babylon make it a good choice for a victory for supremacy.
- Poland (Casimir III)
- Arabia (Harun al-Rashid)
- Persia (Darius I)
- Mayans (Pacal)
- Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar II)
- Korea (Sejong)
Other civilizations at this level are just as versatile and should be taken into account when you are learning the game. Many have compared choosing any of these leaders to playing at a lower difficulty level.
Immortal Tier Civilizations >>
- Songhai (Askia)
- America (Washington)
- Greece (Alexander)
- The Zulu (Shaka)
- The Huns (Atilla)
- The Inca (Pachacuti)
- England (Elizabeth)
Like god-level civilizations, the Immortals are strong and advantageous, even if their focus is a bit more limited. Their starts aren’t as strong, but they are able to salvage some bad early decisions, a pardon that still makes them good learning leaders.
Emperor Tier Civilizations >>
- Sweden (Gustavus Adolphus)
- China (Wu Zetian)
- Germany (Bismarck)
- Mongolia (Genghis Khan)
We’re getting to the middle of the pack at this point. Many citizens in later levels are fairly neutral in their respective bonuses, making them good choices if you’re looking for a fair fight against AI. The victory for supremacy is supported by Mongolia, thanks to its strong cavalry units. For Swedes, diplomatic victories are a good option as they gain more influence and great character building through alliances. These aren’t game-breaking abilities though, so don’t be arrogant!
King Tier Civilizations >>
- Denmark (Harald Bluetooth)
- Egypt (Ramesses II)
- Spain (Isabella)
- The Aztecs (Montezuma)
- The Shoshone (Pocatello)
- Russia (Catherine)
- Polynesia (Kamehameha)
- Siam (Ramkhamhaeng)
- Brazil (Pedro II)
Most of the leaders in Civ V are found in the King Tier. Their perks are smaller than in previous levels, which means you’ll be on an even higher playing field with your opponents. Some good options at this stage are Spain if you are looking for a science win and Russia for a dominance win.
Shoshone’s penchant for rapid expansion and exploration makes them good at quick starts, which you can take advantage of for more than one type of victory, depending on the terrain.
If you want to play a culture game, Brazil is your best bet at this stage, being able to double your tours during golden times, but keep in mind that they prefer jungle terrain.
Prince Tier Civilizations >>
- The Celts (Boudicca)
- The Netherlands (William)
- Japan (Oda Nobunaga)
- Ethiopia (Haile Selassie)
Prince-level leaders are in the middle, with a narrow focus that makes them all the more distinctive. This can lead to a feeling of being shoehorned into specific modes of play. Its benefits are also quite palpable.
The Japanese are a civilization of pure supremacy because of their unique units and their ability to fight with full force even when damaged. Ethiopia, on the other hand, prefers to play defensively and keep the city count fairly low, as they get combat bonuses against civilians with more cities.
Warlord Tier Civilizations >>
- Austria (Maria Theresa)
- The Ottomans (Suleiman)
- Rome (Augustus Caesar)
- Assyria (Ashurbanipal)
- Morocco (Ahmad al-Mansur)
At this point, we’re all the way down, as warlord-level civilians are hard to play thanks to some very small bonuses. For example, Assyria gets a free technique when you conquer a city, but if you’re already conquering other cities, this bonus is mostly meaningless.
Rome’s production discounts for buildings already in its capital are good in theory, but the effect is minimal once the game’s end is reached.
Chieftain Tier Civilizations >>
- Byzantium (Theodora)
- Venice (Enrico Dandolo)
- Iroquois (Hiawatha)
- India (Gandhi)
Not under the barrel, but close to it! These civilizations require a focused plan and there is no room for error if you are leading them to victory. Venice is unique in that it cannot train colonists at all, nor can they capture the cities they conquer.
However, Enrico can still go for a domination victory, but you’ll have to doom opposing cities. A more interesting strategy is to buy city-states directly using the Merchant of Venice’s legendary personality.
Settler Tier Civilizations >>
- Indonesia (Gajah Mada)
- Portugal (Maria I)
- Carthage (Dido)
- France (Napoleon)
Least of the following, these citizens have no value when it comes to following specific victory paths. However, this does not mean that they should never breed; Civ 5 veterans looking for a challenge may enjoy taking them for a spin.
If you want to play one of those, we recommend a navigation game with Carthage, or use his ability to cross mountains quickly to conquer your neighbors. France cultural game favors, while Portugal leans towards more diplomacy.
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