Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age stands as the pivotal era where the game's climax unfolds and victors emerge. Transitioning from the Exploration Age, it's crucial to leverage your advantages and make strategic decisions to secure your triumph. The civilization you select plays a vital role in achieving victory, with ten civilizations available in the Modern Age, plus an additional one if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC. When paired with the appropriate leaders, these civilizations can create formidable synergies. To help you navigate your choices, here's a comprehensive tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.

Keep in mind that your chosen leader can enhance your gameplay with specific buffs. When considering a civilization, think about how it will synergize with your leader to maximize your potential. This tier list ranks civilizations based on their standalone power, so consider these interactions when making your selection.

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 cream of the crop in Civilization 7. With superior military units and robust resource access, you can dominate the game map with these choices.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion - Gain 100 Gold every time you improve a Resource. +30% Production towards constructing the Statue of Liberty. Marine - American Unique Infantry Unit. Has the Amphibious ability. Cheaper to train. Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit. Claims a Land Resource outside of your regular Settlement radius. Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. +2 Food in this City for every Resource assigned to this City. Railyard - +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. American Unique Production Building. Ageless. Steel Mill - +6 Production. Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. American Unique Production Building. Ageless.

America excels in the Modern Age with its versatile resource utilization. The Frontier Expansion trait offers significant gold boosts by improving resources. The combination of Railyard and Steel Mill into the Industrial Park provides substantial Food, Production, and Gold, making the USA a well-rounded civilization capable of rapid expansion and high production. The Prospector's ability to claim resources and the Marine's Amphibious capability further enhance America's strategic flexibility and military prowess.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - When you Overbuild a Building, gain Science equal to 50% of the Building’s Production cost. +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen. Mikasa - Meiji Japanese Unique Heavy Naval Unit. The first time this Unit is destroyed, it respawns in the closest Settlement you own at 50% HP. Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit. Increased range. +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units. Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District. +1 Gold and Production on Buildings in adjacent Districts. Ginko - +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Meiji Japan Unique Gold Building. Ageless. Jukogyo - +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. Meiji Japan Unique Production Building. Ageless.

Meiji Japan is renowned for its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows for district and building adjustments while earning Science, which is crucial for advancing in the Modern Age. The Zaibatsu Quarter significantly boosts Gold and Production, facilitating a strong endgame push. The Mikasa and Zero units provide formidable naval and air superiority, with the Mikasa's ability to respawn adding a layer of strategic depth to your military engagements.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer a strong mix of resources and military units, making them reliable choices for various victory paths.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - You can select the Celebration effects of any standard Government in the Modern Age. +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale - French Imperial Unique Infantry Unit. Can make a Ranged attack. +2 Combat Strength when within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train. Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities with an Avenue, and the specific Jacobin received once. Cost increases per Jacobin trained. Avenue - French Imperial Quarter. Created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District. +2 Happiness on Quarters in this City. Jardin a la Francaise - +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. French Empire Unique Culture Building. Ageless. Salon - +5 Happiness. +1 Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. French Empire Unique Happiness Building. Ageless.

The French Empire is ideal for those pursuing a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a synergistic loop of Culture and Happiness, accelerating your progress through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this further by allowing you to select beneficial Celebration effects. The Garde Imperiale offers defensive capabilities, ensuring you can protect your cultural endeavors.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion. This Government has one Celebration effect, +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot enter any other Government type. +30% Production towards constructing Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas - Mexican Unique Infantry Unit. Adjacent Units heal +10 HP. Does not stack. Revolucionario - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities with a Zocalo, and the specific Revolucionario received is random. Each Revolucionario can only be received once. Cost increases per Revolucionario trained. Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercanderes in the same District. +2 Culture for every Tradition slotted into the Government. Catedral - +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Mexican Unique Culture Building. Ageless. Portal de Mercaderes - +5 Culture. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Mexican Unique Culture Building. Ageless.

Mexico is another powerhouse for Cultural victories, offering substantial Culture and Gold. The Revolucion trait provides a significant Culture boost during Celebrations, while the Zocalo Quarter further amplifies this advantage. The Soldaderas unit adds a defensive edge by enabling unit healing, making Mexico a strong contender for those aiming to dominate culturally.

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi - +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, but -1 Science from imported Resources. +30% Production towards constructing Chengde Mountain Resort. Gusa - Qing Unique Infantry Unit. +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant. Civilian who can establish a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement. Gain 50 Gold for every Resource acquired when creating a naval Trade Route. Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District. +35% Influence in this Settlement. Shiguan - +6 Science. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Qing Unique Science Building. Ageless. Qianzhuang - +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Qing Unique Gold Building. Ageless.

The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach with boosts in Gold, Culture, and Influence, though it requires careful management due to its Science penalty. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait can be a double-edged sword, necessitating strategic resource and Wonder management. The Gusa unit provides military strength, and the Huiguan Quarter significantly enhances your Influence, making Qing a versatile choice for various victory conditions.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids - Gain Culture when pillaging Buildings or Improvements equal to the yield or healing gained. Land Military Units gain the Amphibious ability. +30% Production towards constructing Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa - Bugandan Unique Infantry Unit. Heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile. Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander. 50% yields from pillaging within its Command Radius. Kabaka’s Lake - +3 Happiness. Receives Lake yield bonuses, including yields for all Buganda’s abilities and the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga Wonder. Bugandan Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. One per Settlement.

Buganda is ideal for players who enjoy a more aggressive playstyle focused on pillaging. The River Raids trait and units like the Abambowa and Mwami capitalize on this strategy, but it requires constant warfare to be effective. While the Kabaka's Lake provides Happiness, Buganda lacks direct access to crucial Modern Age yields, making it a niche choice.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron - Units receive +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship. Hussar - Prussian Unique Cavalry Unit. Has +1 Movement. +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining. Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit. +3 Combat Strength against Land Units. Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad. +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles with a Staatseisenbahn.

Prussia is perfect for those who thrive on conflict, gaining strength from strained relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful in combat, but Prussia's focus on military might can leave you vulnerable in other areas like Science and Culture, which are crucial in the Modern Age. The Staatseisenbahn helps with Gold and Production, but a broader strategy is needed to succeed.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - +1 Culture on Districts in Cities. +1 Science on Districts in Tundra. +30% Production towards constructing the Hermitage. Cossack - Russian Unique Cavalry Unit. +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory. Katyusha Rocket Launcher - Russian Unique Siege Unit. Has +1 Movement. Lower base Combat Strength but has the Splash ability. Dealing damage to enemy Units adjacent to the target Unit. Obschchina - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. +2 Culture in Tundra. Russian Empire Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Obshchina.

Russia offers modest yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra, which can limit its effectiveness depending on your map. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities, but Russia's overall strategy might not keep pace with more specialized civilizations in terms of yields and technological advancement.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab - Gains a unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher Influence cost than Befriend Independent. +30% Production towards constructing Doi Suthep. Chang Beun - Siamese Unique Ranged Unit. Has increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement. Can move after attacking. Uparat - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended, and the specific Uparat received is random. Each Uparat can only be received once. Cost increases per Uparat trained. Bang - +3 Culture and Happiness. Siamese Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on a Navigable River.

Siam's unique ability to become Suzerain of a City-State can be advantageous if you can generate enough Influence. The Chang Beun offers strong ranged capabilities, but Siam's overall strategy depends heavily on the right City-States and managing Influence effectively.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are more situational and may require a unique playstyle, best suited for experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations - +75% Gold from all sources. -25% to all other yields. +30% Production towards constructing the Red Fort. Sepoy - Mughal Unique Infantry Unit. Can make a Bombard Ranged attack. Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler. Civilian Unit capable of founding new Towns. +1 Population on new Settlements. Stepwell - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Mughal Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Stepwell.

The Mughal civilization offers a significant Gold advantage with the Paradise of Nations trait, but the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful management. While the Sepoy and Zamindar units are useful, the Mughal's potential hinges on mitigating the yield penalty to remain competitive in Science and Culture, crucial for success in the Modern Age.