Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 marks the critical phase where the fate of your empire is determined, and the game reaches its climax. It's essential to leverage your advantages and make strategic choices as you transition from the Exploration Age. The civilization you select plays a pivotal role in securing your victory. With ten civilizations available in the Modern Age (eleven, including the Crossroads of the World DLC), and when paired with the right leaders, you can unlock powerful synergies that can dominate the game. Here's our tier list to guide you through the best Modern Age civilizations in Civilization 7.

Remember, your chosen leader will enhance your gameplay with additional bonuses, and the right combination with a civilization can amplify their effectiveness. This tier list evaluates civilizations based on their standalone strengths, so consider how they will synergize with your chosen leader.

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, offering exceptional military units and resource access that can help you dominate the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion - Earn 100 Gold every time you improve a Resource. Gain +30% Production towards constructing the Statue of Liberty. Marine - American Unique Infantry Unit with the Amphibious ability, making them more cost-effective to train. Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit that can claim Land Resources beyond your regular Settlement radius. Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Adds +2 Food in the City for each assigned Resource. 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 stands out in the modern era with its ability to exploit resources effectively. The Frontier Expansion trait provides significant gold boosts from resource improvements, while the Railyard and Steel Mill combine to form the Industrial Park, boosting Food, Production, and Gold. This versatility makes the USA a well-rounded civilization capable of rapid expansion and high production. The Prospector extends your resource reach, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility, making America a top choice for players aiming for dominance.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - Gain Science equal to 50% of the Building’s Production cost when Overbuilding. +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen. Mikasa - Meiji Japanese Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP at the nearest Settlement upon destruction. Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighters. Can intercept enemy Air Units. Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District. Adds +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 excels with its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows for efficient district reshaping, yielding Science in the process, while the Zaibatsu Quarter amplifies Gold and Production. The Mikasa's ability to respawn makes it a formidable naval force, and the Zero's capabilities in air combat enhance your late-game strategy, making Meiji Japan a strong contender for victory.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer balanced advantages, providing access to key resources and military strength.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Choose Celebration effects from any standard Government in the Modern Age. +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale - French Imperial Unique Infantry Unit with Ranged attack capability and +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train. Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities with an Avenue. The specific Jacobin received is unique and increases in cost per Jacobin trained. Avenue - French Imperial Quarter created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District. Adds +2 Happiness on Quarters in the 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 synergy between the Avenue and the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon creates a powerful loop of Culture and Happiness. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this by allowing flexible Celebration effects, making the French Empire a cultural powerhouse in the Modern Age.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion, with a Celebration effect granting +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot switch to other Government types. +30% Production towards constructing 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 in Cities with a Zocalo. The specific Revolucionario received is random and unique, increasing in cost per Revolucionario trained. Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same District. Adds +2 Culture for each 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 strong contender for a Cultural victory, with high Culture output and additional Gold access. The Zocalo Quarter boosts Culture further, and the Soldaderas' healing ability adds a defensive edge. If managed well, Mexico can excel in the Modern Age.

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 with +4 Combat Strength when adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant who can establish a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement. Gain 50 Gold for every Resource acquired via naval Trade Route. Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District. Adds +35% Influence in the 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 mix of Gold, Culture, and Influence, with a trade-off in Science from imported Resources. Effective management can mitigate this drawback, making Qing a versatile choice. The Gusa Unit's combat strength in formations and the Hangshang's trade capabilities add to Qing's strategic depth.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations offer specialized advantages but may be less versatile than higher tiers.

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 that heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile. Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander with 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. Must be placed on Flat Terrain, one per Settlement.

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining resources through pillaging. The River Raids trait and the Abambowa and Mwami units make pillaging highly beneficial, though it requires constant warfare. The Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness, but Buganda lacks direct access to key Modern Age yields, necessitating a unique and active playstyle.

B-Tier: Prussia

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

Prussia is ideal for players who enjoy aggressive diplomacy and warfare. The Blood and Iron trait enhances combat strength as relationships worsen, while the Hussar and Stuka units are formidable in battle. However, Prussia's focus on military might can leave it lagging in Science and Culture, crucial in the Modern Age, making it a high-risk, high-reward choice.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - +1 Culture on Districts in Cities. +1 Science on Districts in Cities in Tundra. +30% Production towards constructing 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 the Splash ability, dealing damage to adjacent enemy Units. Obschchina - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. +2 Culture in Tundra. Russian Empire Unique Improvement, ageless.

Russia offers moderate yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra, but these may not suffice against more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha units provide defensive strength, making Russia suitable for players focused on protecting their scientific and cultural advancements.

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 with increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement, capable of moving after attacking. Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended. The specific Uparat received is random and unique, increasing in cost per Uparat trained. Bang - +3 Culture and Happiness. Siamese Unique Improvement, ageless. Must be placed on a Navigable River.

Siam's unique trait allows for immediate Suzerainty over City-States, which can be powerful if you can manage the Influence cost. The Chang Beun's maneuverability adds tactical depth, but Siam's effectiveness depends heavily on the City-States available and your ability to generate Influence.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations may require a more experienced approach or specific conditions to shine.

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 capable of making a Bombard Ranged attack. Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler that adds +1 Population on new Settlements. Stepwell - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Mughal Unique Improvement, ageless.

The Mughal civilization offers a significant Gold boost, which can be incredibly powerful. However, the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful management to ensure you don't fall behind in Science and Culture, critical in the Modern Age. With the right strategy, the Mughal can be a formidable force, but it's a high-risk choice that may not suit all players.