Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age progress, is crucial for success. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of victory. Eleven civilizations (ten base game, plus one from the Crossroads of the World DLC) offer diverse strategic options, creating powerful synergies with different leaders. This tier list ranks the best Modern Age civilizations based on their base capabilities, remembering that leader abilities can significantly alter a civilization's strength.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civilizations

Civilization 7 Modern Civilization Tier List

S-tier: America, Meiji Japan

A-tier: French Empire, Mexico, Qing

B-tier: Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam

C-tier: Mughal

Note: Great Britain's ranking (from the DLC) will be determined with further gameplay.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer exceptional advantages, from strong military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Gain 100 Gold per resource improvement. +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Claims land resources outside your settlement radius. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource assigned). Created by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency bonus for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.

America excels in resource utilization, boosting gold income and production. The Industrial Park synergizes Railyard and Steel Mill for significant Food, Production, and Gold gains, facilitating rapid expansion. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious capability enhances tactical flexibility.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Gain Science (50% of building production cost) when overbuilding. +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique Heavy Naval Unit; respawns at 50% HP in the nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique Fighter Air Unit; increased range, +4 combat strength against other fighters, and air interception capability. Zaibatsu: Unique Quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings). Created by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same district. Ginko: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for coastal terrain and Wonders. Ageless.

Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units make it a formidable choice. Goisshin allows efficient district and building repurposing, while Zaibatsu generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability offers strategic resilience, and the Zero dominates aerial combat.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

A-tier civilizations offer diverse resource access and strong military capabilities.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Select any Modern Age government's celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique Infantry Unit; ranged attack, +2 combat strength within a friendly army commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique Quarter (+2 Happiness on city quarters). Created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same district. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Salon: +5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency bonus for Happiness buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

The French Empire synergizes Culture and Happiness, maximizing celebration effects. The Avenue boosts both, while the Garde Imperiale provides military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique Government (+30% Culture for 10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique Infantry Unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique Quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition in government). Created by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same district. Catedral: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

Mexico excels in Culture generation, amplified by the Revolucion government and Zocalo quarter. Soldaderas offer tactical healing advantages.

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi: +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, -1 Science from imported resources. +30% production towards Chengde Mountain Resort. Gusa: Unique Infantry Unit; +4 combat strength adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Unique Merchant; establishes trade routes for resource import (50 Gold per naval resource). Huiguan: Unique Quarter (+35% Influence). Created by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same district. Shiguan: +6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Happiness buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

Qing offers a balance of Gold, Culture, and Influence, though managing the Science penalty from imported resources is key. The Gusa unit excels in concentrated formations.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-tier civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging (equal to yield/healing). Land units gain Amphibious. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique Infantry Unit; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique Army Commander; 50% increased yields from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, maximizing pillaging for Culture and resources. However, it requires constant warfare and resourcefulness.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 combat strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique Cavalry Unit; +1 Movement, +1 combat strength per remaining movement point. Stuka: Unique Ground Attack Air Unit; +3 combat strength against land units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.

Prussia excels in aggressive warfare, gaining combat strength from negative relationships. However, it requires constant conflict and expansion to maintain momentum.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District buildings; +30% production towards the Hermitage. Cossack: Unique Cavalry Unit; +4 combat strength in friendly territory. Katyusha Rocket Launcher: Unique Siege Unit; +1 Movement, splash damage. Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent Farms; +2 Culture in Tundra. Ageless.

Russia offers balanced Culture and Science gains, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide defensive and offensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to immediately become a City-State's suzerain (at increased Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique Ranged Unit; increased range strength and +1 Movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge); trained when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid City-State control, but requires managing Influence effectively. The Chang Beun is a powerful ranged unit.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-tier civilizations are situational or require specific strategies.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations: +75% Gold from all sources; -25% to all other yields. +30% production towards the Red Fort. Sepoy: Unique Infantry Unit; bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique Settler; +1 Population on new settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Ageless.

Mughal's massive Gold bonus can be incredibly powerful, but requires careful management to offset the yield penalties. It's a high-risk, high-reward civilization.