Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame—where victories are forged and the final chapter unfolds. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for claiming ultimate victory. Your civilization choice is paramount. The Modern Age presents 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, remember that leader synergies significantly impact their overall power.

Best *Civ 7* Modern Civilizations

*Civ 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) remains pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations represent the pinnacle of Civ 7's Modern Age offerings. They excel in military strength, resource acquisition, and overall map dominance.

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 bonus for quarters and wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency bonus for resources and wonders. Ageless.

America’s versatility shines through its resource utilization. Frontier Expansion generates substantial gold, while the Industrial Park (created by combining the Railyard and Steel Mill) provides significant Food, Production, and Gold. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Amphibious Marine unit adds strategic mobility.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Gain Science equal to 50% of a building's production cost upon overbuilding. +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique heavy naval unit that respawns at 50% HP in the nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique fighter unit with increased range, +4 combat strength against other fighters, and interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: (Ginko + Jukogyo) Unique quarter; +1 Gold and Production on buildings in adjacent districts. 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 is undeniable. Goisshin allows for district and building restructuring with Science gains. The Zaibatsu quarter generates massive Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability and the Zero fighter's superior combat strength solidify its military dominance.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

A-tier civilizations offer strong, versatile benefits, often combining resource access with significant 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 with ranged attack and +2 combat strength within an army commander's radius. More expensive to train. Jacobin: One-time Great Person; trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) Unique quarter; +2 Happiness on quarters in the city. 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 excels in cultural victory paths. The Avenue, created by combining the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, fuels a powerful Culture and Happiness cycle, maximizing celebration effects. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique government with a +30% Culture celebration effect (10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: One-time Great Person; trainable in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: (Catedral + Portal de Mercanderes) Unique quarter; +2 Culture per Tradition in the government. 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 is a cultural powerhouse, offering substantial Culture and Gold generation. The Zocalo boosts Culture further, and the Soldaderas' healing ability enhances unit survivability.

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 when adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Unique merchant; gains 50 Gold per resource acquired via naval trade routes. Huiguan: (Qianzhuang + Shiguan) Unique quarter; +35% Influence in the city. 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.

The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach, providing strong Gold, Culture, and Influence. Careful resource management is key to offsetting the Science penalty. The Gusa unit excels in coordinated attacks.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-tier civilizations possess valuable strengths but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to yield or healing gained; 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 expansion and pillaging. The River Raids trait, combined with the Abambowa and Mwami units, maximizes gains from pillaging. However, it requires a proactive, war-focused strategy.

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 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. The Hussar and Stuka units provide significant military advantages. However, this strategy requires constant conflict and expansion.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on district tiles; +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 strong district bonuses, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide defensive and offensive military options. However, its benefits are less impactful outside of Tundra.

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: One-time Great Person; trainable when befriending an independent power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid city-state control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun unit is a strong ranged unit. Overall, its effectiveness depends on securing favorable city-state alliances.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-tier civilizations are more situational or require specialized 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.

The Mughal civilization offers massive gold generation but suffers from significant yield penalties in other areas. Careful resource management is crucial to offset these drawbacks. While potentially powerful, it demands a high level of strategic planning.