Ultimate Leader Guide: Benjamin Franklin in Civilization VII

Benjamin Franklin stands out as a remarkable leader in Civilization 7, particularly for his strengths in science, production, and Influence-based gameplay. His bonuses emphasize enhancing production buildings, which also yield additional science, alongside granting extra science for each Age as you embark on new Endeavors.

During the Antiquity Age, it’s crucial to focus on gaining Influence first and foremost. This strategy will set you up for a significant science boost when you transition into the Exploration Age. You can earn Influence through building various wonders and allocating attribute points, which we will discuss in detail below. This guide will also highlight the most effective civilization combinations for Franklin, ideal Mementos, and other tips.

Overview of Benjamin Franklin

Franklin’s gameplay centers on Influence and diplomatic Endeavors, both of which are very powerful mechanics in Civilization 7. Early in the game, opportunities such as research collaborations and local festivals can dramatically boost your food, science, culture, and other resources, sometimes even doubling your initial outputs.

Diplomacy is key for Franklin. Cultivating good relationships with other civilizations is essential, as maintaining friendly ties allows you to send Endeavors frequently when they become available.

Early Strategy for Benjamin Franklin

Franklin is a flexible leader with multiple paths to victory, particularly during the Antiquity Age. Thanks to your high science outputs and production capabilities, you can easily pursue both culture and science victories, and you’re also positioned well to form trade networks with friendly civilizations, setting you up for an economic win.

It’s also important not to overlook Franklin’s military capabilities. Although his approach often leans toward diplomacy, he can convert strong production into military might should the need arise. Your Influence can be strategically utilized to impose sanctions and carry out espionage against competitors.

Early Pantheon

Securing the Mysticism civic early on is wise, as achieving the City Patron Goddess Pantheon grants you an impressive +3 Influence boost right from the start.

Early Production

Building a Monument is a smart early choice for Franklin since it also increases your Influence. Additionally, consider constructing buildings like the Saw Pit and Brick Yard to enhance your early science output. Starting with Animal Husbandry is a solid option as well, although it depends on the resources near your capital.

Diplomacy

Franklin’s early science advantage illustrated.

Immediately construct at least two Scouts to explore your surroundings and discover neighboring civilizations. Engage with other civs quickly and utilize Franklin’s unique Research Collaboration Endeavor, which is enabled by his classification as a scientific civilization, to rapidly increase your science production. While this will provide benefits to your rivals as well, initiating multiple collaborations can help you exceed their science output significantly.

Best Resources and Great Starts for Franklin

Incense proves to be an excellent resource for Franklin, providing a 10% increase in science from the designated city. Other useful early resources like Cotton and Sheep can enhance food and production. The ultimate starting point for Franklin is near the Great Barrier Reef, one of the most productive science Natural Wonders in the game.

Top Mementos for Benjamin Franklin

Franklin’s Unique Mementos

Franklin unlocks unique Mementos, which are exceptionally advantageous:

• Bifocals – Earn 50 Influence each time you research a Mastery in Tech or Civic.

This enables you to swiftly accumulate Influence, which will compound as your science production grows increasingly stronger throughout the game. By the Modern Age, with optimal use of adjacencies, you can achieve hundreds of science points each turn and rapidly navigate the tech tree, unlocking more Influence.

• Kite & Key – +10% science towards mastering Tech.

This Memento is fun because it reduces the overall science cost for all tech research, giving you a competitive edge over the AI.

• Glass Armonica – Grants +10% science and happiness for you and your ally while in an alliance.

If you pursue a peaceful strategy with Franklin, the Glass Armonica can yield significant returns, allowing you to gain a remarkable 10% science boost per alliance. On a standard map, you could ally with several players, potentially providing an additional 20% science production on top of your already impressive science bonuses.

Complementary Mementos for Franklin

In conjunction with his unique Mementos, there are numerous other options:

• Treaty Of Kadesh – +1 Bonus Diplomatic Attribute point.

This straightforward Memento is available from the game’s onset and is perfect for new players opting for Franklin. It grants an additional point in the Diplomacy Attribute tree. To see what the attribute trees offer, you can check the information provided in-game.

• Golden Seal Stone – Unlocked by leveling up Himiko, Queen of Wa to level 2. This grants an extra +1 Influence per Age on science buildings.

Since you’re focused on science with Franklin, it’s beneficial to have a Memento that specifically aligns with his diplomatic and scientific strategy.

• Globus Cruciger – Grants 50 Influence whenever you allocate an Attribute Point in the Diplomatic Attribute tree. Unlocked by leveling up Charlemagne to level 5.

This handy Memento synergizes well with the base +1 Diplomatic Attribute point Memento, allowing you to kickstart your game with an extra 50 Influence. While this may appear minor, it could prove vital in establishing early city-state suzerainty or fostering a positive relationship with nearby civilizations.

Top Civilization Combinations for Benjamin Franklin

As you begin your journey with Benjamin Franklin in the Antiquity Age, you’ll select your initial civilization to pair with him.

Greece

Greece aligns perfectly with Benjamin Franklin’s strengths. It offers a base +3 Influence on the Palace right from the beginning, which is invaluable since Influence can be challenging to acquire early in the game.

The Parthenon, part of Greece’s unique quarter, contributes +2 Influence if placed in rough terrain. Additionally, when you construct the unique quarter, the Acropolis, you’ll generate a Logios, which further enhances the Influence of your Palace tile. These bonuses collectively benefit Franklin’s diplomatic-oriented strategy.

Greece also boasts advantageous policies within their civic tree, such as Xenia, which makes it cheaper to befriend city-states, Ekklesia Mastery offering +2 Culture for each Endeavor initiated, and Symmachia Mastery, which provides a 30% reduction in costs for Endeavors and Sanctions.

Rome

If you prefer a more militaristic approach, consider choosing Rome. The Roman bonus of extra production in the capital for each town complements Franklin’s production focus to enhance science generation. Pairing this production boost with the scientific advantages linked to military technologies—such as early access to Bronze Working—will provide you substantial leverage over your rivals.

However, Rome isn’t limited to military success. The unique building, the Basilica, gives +1 Influence adjacency for Culture buildings and Wonders. This amplifies the effectiveness of your Monument and enhances early adjacency boosts from important wonders like the Great Stele. With sufficient production in the capital, you’ll likely secure several wonders, even at higher difficulty levels.

Though Rome may not provide the best Influence civics compared to Greece, it still includes some of the most powerful policies available. For instance, the Cursus Honorum policy offers 25% of the production cost for Infantry units as culture whenever you produce an Infantry unit, allowing you to simultaneously focus on military development and culture.

Benjamin Franklin in the Exploration Age and Modern Age

Transitioning into the Exploration and Modern Age with Benjamin Franklin prompts a significant choice regarding your new civilization. This decision is heavily influenced by your current game situation. It wouldn’t be accurate to claim there’s a universally best or worst choice when it comes to civilization pairings.

Instead, tailor your decision based on your gameplay style. For military-focused Franklin players, considering the Normans might be beneficial.

Normans in the Exploration Age

The game suggests opting for the Normans for Franklin due to a perceived cultural link (the specifics of which are unclear). However, only choose the Normans if you’ve developed a militaristic approach with Rome in the prior Age.

The Normans can adopt both aggressive and defensive military strategies during the Exploration Age. If you’ve laid the groundwork for a strong military presence and science economy in the previous Age, harness the powerful Chevaler unique unit to fortify your borders, build up your defenses, and then unleash your scientific advantages or pursue conquest.

Options in the Modern Age

When you reach the Modern Age, the array of civilization options is vast, making it impossible to declare one the definitive best. Your choice should align with how your game has unfolded so far. America is often viewed as a default selection, and Franklin would greatly benefit from the substantial production increases offered by the Railyard and Steel Mill.

Alternatively, you might find success with civilizations like France or Meiji Japan if you’re focusing on military victories.