Civilization 5, commonly known as Civ 5, is a densely packed game with several layers of game mechanics padded onto it. It’s a deep game that rewards the player’s strategy, foresight, and creativity to win matches.
We could go on about the myriad of factors that contribute to a win in Civ 5, but we’re going to focus on the most basic one: the civilization the player chooses. The game offers a roster of over 35 civilizations you can lead. Each is unique and its own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.
This tier list ranks the civilizations in terms of their capacity to win any match at varying difficulties. Since there are multiple ways to win a game in Civ 5, this list also acknowledges how good each civilization is in accordance with their unique play style.
With all that out of the way, let’s dive right into the Civ 5 tier list.
Table of ContentsShow
S-Tier
These are currently the best civilizations to play as in the game.
They have so many avenues to win that you don’t have to worry about adjusting your strategy mid-game. You can also afford to pay less attention to your enemies because there’s little need to specialize on your tactics.
Because of their dominance, beginner Civ players can win some matches with these under their control.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Skill |
Poland | Casimir III | Winged Hussar | Ducal Stable | Solidarity |
Austria | Maria Theresa | Hussar | Coffee House | Diplomatic Marriage |
Babylonia | Nebuchadnezzar II | Bowman | Walls of Babylon | Ingenuity |
A-Tier
These are specialist civilizations with a few all-rounders in the mix.
While not as dominant as those in S-Tier, they will still be able to secure wins early on because of how effective they are in a lot of aspects of the game.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Skill |
Shoshone | Pocatello | Pathfinder, Comanche Riders | Great Expanse | |
Egypt | Ramesses II | War Chariot | Burial Tomb | Monument Builders |
Aztec | Montezuma | Jaguar | Floating Gardens | Sacrificial Captives |
Arabia | Harun al-Rashid | Camel Archer | Bazaar | Trade Caravan, Ships of the Desert |
Siam | Ramkhamhaeng | Naresuan’s Elephant | Wat | Father Governs Children |
Brazil | Pedro II | Pracinha | Brazilwood Camp | Carnival |
China | Wu Zetian | Chu-Ko-Nu | Paper Maker | Art of War |
Japan | Oda Nobunaga | Samurai, Zero | Bushido | |
Greece | Alexander | Hoplite, Companion Cavalry | Hellenic League |
B-Tier
On paper, these civilizations pale in comparison with S and A-Tiers. In the hands of a skilled player, however, that gap starts to close.
When set up in the right situation, these civs can crush the opposition no matter what tier they place in.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Skill |
Rome | Augustus Caesar | Legion, Ballista | The Glory of Rome | |
Zulu | Shaka | Impi | Ikanda | Iklwa |
Iroquois | Hiawatha | Mohawk Warrior | Longhouse | The Great Warpath |
France | Napoleon | Foreign Legion, Musketeer | Chateau | Ancient Regime, City of Light |
Polynesia | Kamehameha | Maori Warrior | Moai | Wayfinding |
Ottoman Empire | Suleiman | Janissary, Sipahi | Barbary Corsairs | |
Inca | Pachacuti | Slinger | Terrace Farm | Great Andean Road |
Indonesia | Gajah Mada | Kris Swordsman | Candi | Spice Islanders |
Sweden | Gustavus Adoplhus | Carolean, Hakkapeliitta | Nobel Prize | |
Portugal | Maria I | Nau | Feitora | Mare Clausum |
Assyria | Ashurbanipal | Siege Tower | Royal Library | Treasures of Nineveh |
Russia | Catherine | Cossack | Krepost | Siberian Riches |
C-Tier
These civilizations have limited flexibility when it comes to playstyles. They mostly win on the victory path optimized for their civilization, and nothing else.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Skill |
America | Washington | Minuteman, B17 | Manifest Destiny | |
Venice | Enrico Dandolo | Merchant of Venice, Great Galleass | Serenissima | |
Spain | Isabella | Tercio, Conquistador | Seven Cities of Gold | |
Korea | Sejong | Hwach’a, Turtle Ship | Scholars of the Jade Hall | |
Mongolia | Genghis Khan | Keshik, Khan | Mongol Terror | |
Morocco | Ahmad al-Mansur | Berber Cavalry | Kasbah | Gateway to Africa |
Denmark | Harald Bluetooth | Berserker, Norwegian Ski Infantry | Viking Fury | Viking Fury |
Maya | Pacal | Atlatlist | Pyramid | The Long Count |
D-Tier
Poorly optimized civilizations that struggle to win any victory path.
These civs can be effective on lower difficulties but struggle even on normal.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Ability |
Germany | Otto von Bismarck | Landsknecht, Panzer | Hanse | Furor Teutonicus |
Persia | Darius I | Immortal | Satrap’s Court | Achaemenid Legacy |
India | Gandhi | War Elephant | Mughal Fort | Population Growth |
Netherlands | William I | Sea Beggar | Polder | East India Company |
Songhai | Askia | Mandekalu Cavalry | Mud Pyramid Mosque | River Warlord |
Huns | Attila | Battering Ram, Horse Archer | Scourge of God |
F-Tier
The worst civilizations in the game. In a match with more than 2 civs, these are usually the ones to fall first.
Civilization | Leader | Unique Unit | Unique Building | Unique Ability |
Celts | Boudicca | Pictish Warrior | Ceilidh Hall | Druidic Lore |
Byzantine | Theodora | Cataphract, Dromon | Patriarchate of Constantinople | |
Carthage | Dido | African Forest Elephant, Quinquereme | Phoenician Heritage | Phoenician Heritage |
Ethiopia | Haile Selassie | Mehal Sefari | Stele | Spirit of Adwa |