"Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations"

In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age stands as the pivotal stage where the game's outcome is often determined, marking the endgame where strategic decisions made post-Exploration Age become crucial. Your choice of Civilization in this era is instrumental in securing victory, with ten options available, and an additional one if you own the *Crossroads of the World* DLC. Pairing these civilizations with the right leaders can unlock potent synergies, enhancing your path to success. Below is our tier list to guide your choice of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.

Keep in mind, your selected Leader can further enhance your gameplay with specific buffs, potentially altering the strength of your civilization through synergistic effects. This tier list focuses solely on the standalone power of each civilization, so consider how a civilization will synergize with your chosen Leader when making your decision.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs

Civ 7 Modern Civs Tier List

S-tier: America, Meiji Japan

A-tier: French Empire, Mexico, Qing

B-tier: Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam

C-tier: Mughal

Note: We haven't ranked the new DLC Civ Great Britain yet - time will tell how it measures up!

S-Tier Modern Civs

These are the crème de la crème of Civilization 7, offering unparalleled advantages in military units and resource access, allowing you to dominate the game map effectively.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion - Earn 100 Gold each time you improve a Resource. Gain +30% Production when building the Statue of Liberty.

Marine - America's Unique Infantry Unit with the Amphibious ability, making it cheaper to train.

Prospector - America's Unique Civilian Unit that claims a Land Resource beyond your standard Settlement radius.

Industrial Park - A unique American Quarter formed by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district, adding +2 Food per assigned Resource in the City.

Railyard - Boosts +5 Production and +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. An ageless American Production Building.

Steel Mill - Provides +6 Production and Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. An ageless American Production Building.

America excels in resource utilization, making it a top choice for the Modern Age. The Frontier Expansion trait offers substantial gold boosts from improved resources, while the Industrial Park combines Railyard and Steel Mill to enhance Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and robust development. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility. This civilization is well-rounded and powerful.

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S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - Gain Science equal to 50% of a Building’s Production cost when Overbuilding. Gain +30% Production when building Dogo Onsen.

Mikasa - Meiji Japan's Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP in the nearest Settlement after its first destruction.

Zero - Meiji Japan's Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units, capable of intercepting enemy Air Units.

Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter, formed by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District, adding +1 Gold and Production on adjacent Buildings.

Ginko - Generates +5 Gold and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Meiji Japan Gold Building.

Jukogyo - Yields +5 Production and +1 Production Adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. An ageless Meiji Japan Production Building.

Meiji Japan is highly resourceful, offering powerful bonuses and units. Goisshin allows for flexible district and building adjustments, boosting Science returns. The Zaibatsu Quarter maximizes Gold and Production, propelling you into the endgame. The Mikasa and Zero units provide strong naval and aerial capabilities, ensuring dominance on multiple fronts.

Discover more about all the Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations are solid choices, providing access to crucial resources and military units, ensuring a well-rounded gameplay experience.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Select Celebration effects from any standard Government in the Modern Age. Gain +30% Production when building the Eiffel Tower.

Garde Imperiale - French Imperial Unique Infantry Unit capable of Ranged attacks, gaining +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train.

Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with an Avenue, specific to each Jacobin. Cost increases with each trained Jacobin.

Avenue - French Imperial Quarter created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District, adding +2 Happiness to Quarters in this City.

Jardin a la Francaise - Provides +5 Culture and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. An ageless French Empire Culture Building.

Salon - Yields +5 Happiness and +1 Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. An ageless French Empire Happiness Building.

The French Empire excels in cultural synergy, making it ideal for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, fosters a potent cycle of Culture and Happiness, propelling you through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this further with Celebration effects. The Garde Imperiale offers defensive capabilities, ensuring your cultural pursuits remain undisturbed.

Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with the unique Revolucion Government, featuring a Celebration effect that boosts +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot switch to other Government types. Gain +30% Production when building Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Soldaderas - Mexican Unique Infantry Unit that heals adjacent Units +10 HP. Does not stack.

Revolucionario - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with a Zocalo, random and unique to each Revolucionario. Cost increases with each trained Revolucionario.

Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter created by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same District, adding +2 Culture per Tradition slotted into the Government.

Catedral - Yields +5 Culture and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Mexican Culture Building.

Portal de Mercaderes - Provides +5 Culture and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Mexican Culture Building.

Mexico is a powerhouse in Culture, offering more Gold and Culture than the French Empire but slightly less Happiness. The Revolucion Government and Zocalo Quarter enhance your cultural output, making Mexico a prime candidate for a Cultural victory. The Soldaderas Unit adds resilience with its healing ability, supporting a robust cultural strategy.

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A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi - Gain +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, but -1 Science from imported Resources. Gain +30% Production when building Chengde Mountain Resort.

Gusa - Qing Unique Infantry Unit gaining +4 Combat Strength when adjacent to another Gusa.

Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant capable of establishing Trade Routes to import Resources from foreign Settlements, earning 50 Gold per acquired Resource via naval Trade Routes.

Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter created by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District, boosting +35% Influence in this Settlement.

Shiguan - Yields +6 Science and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Qing Science Building.

Qianzhuang - Provides +5 Gold and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Qing Gold Building.

Qing offers a balanced mix of yields, though managing the Science penalty from imported Resources is crucial. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides boosts in Gold, Culture, and Influence, while the Shiguan helps offset the Science drawback. The Gusa Unit offers military strength in formations, making Qing a versatile choice.

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B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations are good but more specialized, fitting fewer scenarios yet valuable in many legacy paths.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids - Gain Culture from pillaging Buildings or Improvements equal to the yield or healing gained. Land Military Units gain the Amphibious ability. Gain +30% Production when building Muzibu Azaala Mpanga.

Abambowa - Bugandan Unique Infantry Unit that heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile.

Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander boosting 50% yields from pillaging within its Command Radius.

Kabaka’s Lake - Yields +3 Happiness and Lake yield bonuses, including all Buganda’s abilities and the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga Wonder. An ageless Bugandan Improvement placed on Flat Terrain, one per Settlement.

Buganda thrives on an aggressive playstyle, leveraging pillaging for resources and Culture. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, makes pillaging highly rewarding. However, Buganda lacks direct access to essential Modern Age yields like Science, Culture, Gold, and Influence, necessitating constant warfare to compensate.

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B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron - Units gain +1 Combat Strength for each Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship.

Hussar - Prussian Unique Cavalry Unit with +1 Movement and +1 Combat Strength for every remaining Movement.

Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit with +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad adding +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles.

Prussia is perfect for players unafraid of antagonizing others, gaining Combat Strength from poor relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are formidable, ensuring victory in most engagements. However, Prussia's focus on military might means you must aggressively expand to keep up with Science and Culture, which are crucial in the Modern Age.

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B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - Gain +1 Culture on Districts in Cities and +1 Science on Districts in Tundra. Gain +30% Production when building the Hermitage.

Cossack - Russian Unique Cavalry Unit with +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.

Katyusha Rocket Launcher - Russian Unique Siege Unit with +1 Movement and Splash ability, affecting adjacent enemy Units.

Obschchina - Yields +2 Food from adjacent Farms and +2 Culture in Tundra. An ageless Russian Empire Improvement placed on non-adjacent tiles.

Russia offers decent yield bonuses on Districts, especially in Tundra, but these aren't overwhelming. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher protect your Science and Culture growth, though more defensively. Russia might struggle to keep pace with more specialized civilizations in terms of yields.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab - Gain a unique Diplomatic Action to become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher Influence cost than Befriend Independent. Gain +30% Production when building Doi Suthep.

Chang Beun - Siamese Unique Ranged Unit with increased Ranged Strength, +1 Movement, and the ability to move after attacking.

Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only when an Independent Power has been befriended, random and unique to each Uparat. Cost increases with each trained Uparat.

Bang - Yields +3 Culture and Happiness. An ageless Siamese Improvement placed on Navigable Rivers.

Siam's unique trait allows immediate Suzerainty over City-States, though at a high Influence cost. Without inherent Influence generation, you'll rely on your Leader and ageless buildings. The Chang Beun is a versatile Ranged Unit, but Siam's overall impact depends on the City-States you can secure.

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C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are situational or demand a unique playstyle, best suited for experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations - Gain +75% Gold from all sources but suffer -25% to all other yields. Gain +30% Production when building the Red Fort.

Sepoy - Mughal Unique Infantry Unit capable of Bombard Ranged attacks.

Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler capable of founding new Towns with +1 Population on new Settlements.

Stepwell - Yields +2 Food from adjacent Farms. An ageless Mughal Improvement placed on Flat Terrain, non-adjacent to other Stepwells.

Mughal can be incredibly strong with the right setup, thanks to the +75% Gold boost. However, the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful management, especially with Science and Culture crucial in the Modern Age. Mughal's other traits are solid but less essential, making it a high-risk, high-reward choice.