"Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations"

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is pivotal, marking the decisive phase where victories are clinched and the game concludes. As you transition from the Exploration Age, maximizing your advantages and making strategic choices are crucial to securing your win.

Choosing the right Civilization is essential for your success in the Modern Age. With ten civilizations available (and an eleventh with the Crossroads of the World DLC), selecting the one that complements your chosen leader can create powerful synergies. To help you make an informed decision, here's our tier list ranking the best Modern Age civilizations in Civilization 7.

Note: Your Leader's abilities will enhance your gameplay, and when paired with the right civilization, can lead to potent synergies. This Tier List focuses on the standalone strength of each Civilization, so consider how your chosen civ will interact with your Leader.

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: The new DLC civilization, Great Britain, is not yet ranked—its performance will be assessed over time.

S-Tier Modern Civs

These are the cream of the crop in Civilization 7, offering superior military units and resource access that allow you to dominate the game map.

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 with the Amphibious ability. Cheaper to train.

Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit that claims Land Resources outside your regular Settlement radius.

Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Provides +2 Food in this City for every Resource assigned.

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, leveraging its ability to utilize numerous resources effectively. The Frontier Expansion trait offers significant gold boosts by improving resources, while the Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, enhances your city's Food, Production, and Gold output. This versatility allows America to expand rapidly and sustain that growth. The Prospector unit can secure crucial resources, and the Marine unit's Amphibious ability makes it a valuable asset on the battlefield.

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 that respawns at 50% HP in the closest Settlement after its first destruction.

Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units.

Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District. Provides +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 exceptionally resourceful, boasting powerful units and economic advantages. The Goisshin trait allows for efficient district and building management while generating Science. The Zaibatsu Quarter significantly boosts Gold and Production, ideal for propelling you into the endgame. The Mikasa and Zero units offer robust naval and air power, respectively, making Meiji Japan a formidable force in the Modern Age.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations are reliable choices, offering a balanced mix of resource access and military strength.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Choose 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 with Ranged attack capability. Gains +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train.

Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with an Avenue. The specific Jacobin received once. Cost increases per Jacobin trained.

Avenue - French Imperial Quarter formed by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District. Provides +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 thrives on synergy, particularly if you aim for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, created by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, generates a potent cycle of Culture and Happiness, crucial for navigating the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this further through frequent Celebrations. The Garde Imperiale, while not the strongest unit, provides a solid defensive option.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion, with 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, trainable only in Cities with a Zocalo. The specific Revolucionario received is random. Each Revolucionario can only be received once. Cost increases per Revolucionario trained.

Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same District. Provides +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 a powerhouse for Culture, with additional access to Gold. The Revolucion Government and Zocalo Quarter enhance your Culture output, making Mexico a strong contender for a Cultural victory. The Soldaderas unit adds resilience to your military, supporting your cultural endeavors.

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. Gains +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa.

Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant. Establishes a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement. Gains 50 Gold for every Resource acquired when creating a naval Trade Route.

Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District. Provides +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 mix of economic and cultural benefits, though managing the Science penalty from the Kang Qian Shengshi trait is crucial. With proper resource and building management, the Qing can be a strong choice. The Gusa unit provides military strength when grouped, adding to the civilization's versatility.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations offer solid benefits but are often more specialized or less universally applicable.

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. Gains 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 aggressive players who enjoy pillaging. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, makes pillaging highly rewarding. However, Buganda lacks direct access to key Modern Age yields like Science, Culture, and Gold, necessitating constant warfare to compensate.

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. Gains +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining.

Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit with +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad. Provides +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles with a Staatseisenbahn.

Prussia is perfect for those who thrive on conflict, gaining strength from strained relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are formidable in combat, but Prussia's focus on military might can be limiting. Maintaining a balance between military expansion and technological advancement is crucial to avoid falling behind.

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, damaging units adjacent to the target.

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, but these may not suffice against more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha units provide defensive capabilities, but Russia's overall strategy may not keep pace with the Modern Age's demands.

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. Can move after attacking.

Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended. 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 ability to instantly become Suzerain of a City-State is potent, but it requires substantial Influence, which Siam does not generate on its own. The Chang Beun unit offers tactical advantages, but Siam's success largely depends on leveraging City-State benefits.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations may be situational or demand a unique playstyle, often better 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 capable of a Bombard Ranged attack.

Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler that founds new Towns and provides +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 boost, but the -25% penalty to other yields can be challenging to manage. While not inherently weak, the Mughal requires careful strategy to mitigate the drawbacks and capitalize on its economic strength.