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 successes, is crucial for winning. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of victory. The Modern Age offers ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique strengths when paired with the right leader. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base capabilities, independent of leader bonuses—consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

Best *Civilization 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 (new DLC civ) is pending further assessment.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior 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: (Railyard + Steel Mill) Unique quarter; +2 Food per resource assigned to the city. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.

America excels in resource utilization, making it a top Modern Age contender. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill combination) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, facilitating rapid expansion and production. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer 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, can intercept. Zaibatsu: (Ginko + Jukogyo) Unique Quarter; +1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings. Ginko: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. Ageless.

Meiji Japan boasts resourcefulness and powerful units. Goisshin allows district and building repurposing with Science gains. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability offers strategic advantages, while the Zero excels as a late-game air unit.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

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

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Choose 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. More expensive to train. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) Unique Quarter; +2 Happiness on city quarters. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Salon: +5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

The French Empire synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a feedback loop, boosting Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

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

Mexico is a Culture powerhouse, slightly less focused on Happiness but offering more Gold. The Zocalo (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes) further boosts Culture, and the Soldaderas provide healing support.

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 imports (+50 Gold per resource via naval trade routes). Huiguan: (Qianzhuang + Shiguan) Unique Quarter; +35% Influence in the city. Shiguan: +6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

The Qing civilization offers strong Gold, Culture, and Influence, but with a Science penalty from imported resources. Careful resource management is key. The Gusa unit is effective in large formations.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging (equal to yield or 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% yield from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant resources from pillaging. Requires a strong military and active warfare.

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 strength from negative relationships. Requires a strong military and proactive expansion.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on city districts; +1 Science on Tundra districts. +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 district yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra. Units provide defensive and area-of-effect capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to instantly 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); trainable when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows quick City-State suzerainty, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a powerful ranged unit.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations are more situational and may require specific playstyles.

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 offers massive Gold gains but significantly reduces other yields. Requires careful management to offset the yield penalties.