database Leaders

Leaders Database Schema

This document describes the database tables used to define leaders in Civilization VII.

Overview

Unlike Civ VI, leaders in Civ VII are separate from civilizations. Leaders can be paired with multiple civilizations, and have their own abilities.

Types Table

Register leaders in the Types table:

<Types>
    <Row Type="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" Kind="KIND_LEADER"/>
    <Row Type="TRAIT_LEADER_HATSHEPSUT_ABILITY" Kind="KIND_TRAIT"/>
</Types>

Leaders Table

The main leader definition table:

<Leaders>
    <Row
        LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT"
        Name="LOC_LEADER_HATSHEPSUT_NAME"
        IsMajorLeader="true"
        InheritFrom="LEADER_DEFAULT"
    />
</Leaders>

Leaders Table Columns

Column	Type	Description
LeaderType	TEXT	Primary key (e.g., LEADER_HATSHEPSUT)
Name	TEXT	Display name localization key
IsMajorLeader	BOOLEAN	Is a playable major leader
IsIndependentLeader	BOOLEAN	Is an independent faction leader
InheritFrom	TEXT	Parent leader to inherit from
OperationList	TEXT	AI operation set
DiscountRate	INTEGER	AI discount rate
AITargetCityPercentage	INTEGER	AI city targeting preference

Leader Types

Type	IsMajorLeader	IsIndependentLeader	Description
Major Leader	true	false	Playable leaders
Minor Civ Leader	false	false	City-state leaders
Independent Leader	false	true	Independent faction leaders
Default	-	-	Base template

LeaderTraits Table

Links leaders to their traits:

<LeaderTraits>
    <Row LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_HATSHEPSUT_ABILITY"/>
    <Row LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_CULTURAL"/>
    <Row LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" TraitType="TRAIT_AQ_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
    <Row LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" TraitType="TRAIT_EX_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
    <Row LeaderType="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" TraitType="TRAIT_MO_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
</LeaderTraits>

Victory Traits

Leaders have victory preference traits for each age:

Trait	Description
TRAIT_AQ_CULTURE_VICTORY	Antiquity culture victory preference
TRAIT_AQ_ECONOMIC_VICTORY	Antiquity economic victory preference
TRAIT_AQ_MILITARY_VICTORY	Antiquity military victory preference
TRAIT_AQ_SCIENCE_VICTORY	Antiquity science victory preference
TRAIT_EX_*_VICTORY	Exploration age preferences
TRAIT_MO_*_VICTORY	Modern age preferences

Leader Attribute Traits

Trait	Description
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_CULTURAL	Cultural bonuses
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_ECONOMIC	Economic bonuses
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_EXPANSIONIST	Expansion bonuses
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_MILITARISTIC	Military bonuses
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_POLITICAL	Diplomacy bonuses
TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_SCIENTIFIC	Science bonuses

CityEvents Table

Defines events that can occur in cities:

<CityEvents>
    <Row EventType="CITY_EVENT_DEFAULT"/>
    <Row EventType="CITY_EVENT_UNIT_OR_BUILDING"/>
    <Row EventType="CITY_EVENT_DISTRICT"/>
    <Row EventType="CITY_EVENT_IMPROVEMENT"/>
    <Row EventType="CITY_EVENT_WONDER"/>
    <Row EventType="CITY_UNDER_THREAT"/>
</CityEvents>

LeaderCivPriorities Table

Defines which civilizations leaders prefer:

<LeaderCivPriorities>
    <Row Leader="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_EGYPT" Priority="4"/>
    <Row Leader="LEADER_HATSHEPSUT" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_AKSUM" Priority="1"/>
    <Row Leader="LEADER_AUGUSTUS" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_ROME" Priority="4"/>
    <Row Leader="LEADER_AUGUSTUS" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_EGYPT" Priority="1"/>
</LeaderCivPriorities>

Base Game Leaders

Major Leaders

Leader	Attributes	Era Focus
Amina	Economic, Militaristic	All ages
Ashoka	Political, Expansionist	Culture
Augustus	Cultural, Expansionist	Military
Benjamin Franklin	Multiple	Economic
Catherine	Multiple	Economic
Charlemagne	Multiple	Military
Confucius	Political, Scientific	Culture
Friedrich	Multiple	Military
Harriet Tubman	Multiple	Culture
Hatshepsut	Cultural, Economic	Culture
Himiko	Multiple	Culture
Ibn Battuta	Multiple	Economic
Isabella	Multiple	Economic
Jose Rizal	Multiple	Science
Lafayette	Multiple	Military
Machiavelli	Political, Scientific	Multiple
Pachacuti	Expansionist, Militaristic	Military
Trung Trac	Multiple	Military
Xerxes	Militaristic	Military

Minor Civ Leaders

Leader	Type
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_DEFAULT	Generic
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_SCIENTIFIC	Science focus
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_RELIGIOUS	Religion focus
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_TRADE	Trade focus
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_CULTURAL	Culture focus
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_MILITARISTIC	Military focus
LEADER_MINOR_CIV_INDUSTRIAL	Production focus

Example: Creating a New Leader

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Database>
    <!-- Register types -->
    <Types>
        <Row Type="LEADER_MY_LEADER" Kind="KIND_LEADER"/>
        <Row Type="TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY" Kind="KIND_TRAIT"/>
    </Types>

    <!-- Define the leader -->
    <Leaders>
        <Row
            LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER"
            Name="LOC_LEADER_MY_LEADER_NAME"
            IsMajorLeader="true"
            InheritFrom="LEADER_DEFAULT"
        />
    </Leaders>

    <!-- Define leader trait -->
    <Traits>
        <Row
            TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY"
            Name="LOC_TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY_NAME"
            Description="LOC_TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY_DESCRIPTION"
        />
    </Traits>

    <!-- Link traits to leader -->
    <LeaderTraits>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_MAJOR_CIV"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_CULTURAL"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_ATTRIBUTE_SCIENTIFIC"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_AQ_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_EX_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
        <Row LeaderType="LEADER_MY_LEADER" TraitType="TRAIT_MO_CULTURE_VICTORY"/>
    </LeaderTraits>

    <!-- Link to modifiers (defined in GameEffects) -->
    <TraitModifiers>
        <Row TraitType="TRAIT_LEADER_MY_LEADER_ABILITY" ModifierId="MY_LEADER_ABILITY_MODIFIER"/>
    </TraitModifiers>

    <!-- Define civ priorities -->
    <LeaderCivPriorities>
        <Row Leader="LEADER_MY_LEADER" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_EGYPT" Priority="4"/>
        <Row Leader="LEADER_MY_LEADER" Civilization="CIVILIZATION_GREECE" Priority="2"/>
    </LeaderCivPriorities>
</Database>

Related Tables

• LeaderQuotes - Leader quotes for Civilopedia
• LeaderInfo - Additional leader metadata
• AgendaTraits - AI agenda behavior
• HistoricMoments - Leader-specific moments