Everything We Know About Civilization 7’s New Surprise Leader Harriet Tubman

The upcoming strategy game Civilization 7 has revealed a new surprise leader: American abolitionist Harriet Tubman. In the Civilization series, leaders primarily determine playstyle. Each one comes with distinct advantages, disadvantages, perks, and skills that color the way they build strength, interact with other civs/leaders, and more. Choosing the right leader is the first step to victory in a game of Civ, although certainly not the last - and that'll likely work much the same in Civ 7 as it has in 1-6.

Announced today in a first-look trailer on YouTube, Harriet Tubman is now confirmed to be a playable leader in Civ 7. She's one of two characters representing the United States, the other being Ben Franklin (although now that players can mix civs and leaders, that won't matter much anymore). Here's how she'll work in Civ 7.

Harriet Tubman Is A Surprise Modern Age Leader

A Landmark Inclusion For Civ 7

Firaxis Games

Born in 1822, Tubman was a lifelong activist, but is best known for her role in freeing enslaved people as a part of the Underground Railroad. She's credited with rescuing at least 70 people individually, but the intelligence provided by her massive spy network contributed to the emancipation of countless others. She also participated in historic raids on Harper's Ferry and Combahee Ferry, convincing many of those freed to join the side of the Union in the Civil War. Later in life, she advocated for women's suffrage, and has since become a venerated figure in American history.

Related Civ 7's Emergent Narratives & Narrative Events System Explained Civ 7 developers recently explained some details about the new Emergent Narratives and Narrative Events system players will see in Civilization 7.

Tubman joins Ben Franklin and Abraham Lincoln as playable characters who represent the US in the Civilization series. She's the first Black American woman to feature as a leader, and, like all her counterparts, has a unique playstyle that reflects real parts of her history.

Harriet Tubman’s Leader Bonus & Agenda

Harriet Tubman's Stats In Civ 7

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First, let's take a look at Harriet Tubman's Leader Bonuses in Civ 7. Every leader starts with a couple of perks that are intended to guide their playstyle. For Tubman, the first of those prevents her units from taking a movement penalty when traveling through vegetation. In other words, they can walk through thick plants without slowing down. Tubman's second bonus gives her an extra 50% Influence when starting espionage operations, and five War Support when wars are declared against her.

Influence is a resource used to perform acts of diplomacy in Civ 7.

Harriet Tubman's Leader Agenda in Civ 7 is Veracity, which means she values those who tell the truth. When the player is using another leader, they'll receive a Relationship boost with Tubman each time they declare a Formal War, but their relationship will take a hit if they declare a Surprise War.

As for other stats, Harriet Tubman's map start bias is Vegetated, which means she's more likely to start in areas of the map with abundant plant life. Her Attributes are Diplomatic and Militaristic, which means she's willing to negotiate with other leaders, but prefers to maintain a strong military just in case. That means that, when playing against her, it's best to stay on her good side.

The Best Play Style For Harriet Tubman

How To Play As (Or Against) Harriet Tubman In Civ 7

Firaxis Games

Although they don't affect much when controlled by the player, Leader Attributes can often key the player into the best way to win with a particular character. For Harriet Tubman, those Attributes - Diplomatic and Militaristic - seem at odds with one another, but may actually make her one of the best leaders in the game. First and foremost, players should take advantage of her unique abilities, and focus early and often on espionage. If a rival civ is becoming a problem, attempt to steal from their coffers, or delay their long-term plans.

In the meantime, it's probably a good idea to spend some time building up a military. As Harriet Tubman, the player likely won't start many wars, at least not in the early game; but with all that extra War Support and a solid military behind them, they should have no problem finishing them. Later on, they may become more militaristic as they grow in might.

Tubman's ideal playstyle is one of balance, requiring sustained focus in multiple areas. As a result, she may not be an ideal choice for casual players. However, in time, her versatile playstyle may mean she'll come to be considered one of the best leaders in Civilization 7.