Choosing the best leader for beginners in Civilization VI involves finding a balance between simplicity of playstyle and effectiveness. Here are several leaders whose unique abilities, units, and infrastructure provide straightforward and powerful benefits, making them ideal for those new to the game:

1. Trajan of Rome

• Leader Ability: Trajan’s Column — Automatically grants a free building in the city center (usually a Monument) in each city, boosting culture and helping to expand borders faster.
• Unique Unit and Infrastructure: The Legion (a powerful early game melee unit) and the Bath (provides amenities and housing, which are crucial for city growth).
• Why for Beginners?: Rome’s benefits are passive, requiring no special strategy to utilize effectively. The early boost to culture and strong units allow beginners to focus on expanding and understanding the game’s mechanics without managing complex unique abilities.

2. Gilgamesh of Sumeria

• Leader Ability: Adventures of Enkidu — Allows Sumeria to share pillage rewards and combat experience with the nearest allied unit, and they can declare war on anyone attacking their allies without warmonger penalties.
• Unique Unit: The War-Cart is an extremely powerful early game unit that does not require resources to build and can quickly secure a military advantage.
• Why for Beginners?: Gilgamesh’s abilities encourage active engagement with other civilizations and city-states, both in war and friendship, teaching new players the dynamics of Civilization VI’s diplomatic and combat systems in a forgiving way.

3. Teddy Roosevelt of America

• Leader Ability: Roosevelt Corollary — Units receive a combat bonus on the home continent, and America gets a bonus to all diplomatic favor earned, which is very helpful in the World Congress.
• Unique Units and Infrastructure: The Rough Rider, P-51 Mustang, and the Film Studio (which significantly boosts tourism later in the game).
• Why for Beginners?: Teddy’s abilities make America strong defensively and help maintain peace on their home continent. This allows new players to build up their cities with less worry about defense and gives them an edge in cultural victories.

4. Cleopatra of Egypt

• Leader Ability: Mediterranean’s Bride — Extra trade route capacity when a trade route is sent to other civilizations, and international trade routes provide extra gold.
• Unique Unit and Infrastructure: The Maryannu Chariot Archer (a strong and mobile early unit) and the Sphinx (enhances culture and faith).
• Why for Beginners?: Cleopatra’s focus on trade makes Egypt very wealthy and helps maintain positive relationships with other civilizations. This economic advantage allows beginners to learn the trade and economy aspects of the game more comfortably.

5. Hojo Tokimune of Japan

• Leader Ability: Divine Wind — Land units receive a combat bonus in land tiles adjacent to the coast, and naval units receive it in shallow water. Building Districts receive a bonus adjacency effect.
• Unique Unit and Infrastructure: Samurai (remains strong even when damaged) and Electronics Factory (boosts production and culture).
• Why for Beginners?: Japan’s abilities encourage dense, efficient city planning, which is a key concept for new players to grasp. Their unique units and bonuses also make them versatile, allowing for a variety of victory strategies.

These leaders offer straightforward, powerful benefits and help introduce core concepts of Civilization VI, making them great choices for beginners looking to learn and enjoy the game. Each one allows new players to explore different aspects of the game—from military to culture to diplomacy—in an accessible way.