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 winning. The Modern Age offers ten civilizations (eleven with the Crossroads of the World DLC), each offering unique synergies with different leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base strengths, independent of leader bonuses—consider leader synergies when making your final decision.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs

Civilization 7 Modern Civ Tier List

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**S-tier:** America, Meiji Japan

**A-tier:** French Empire, Mexico, Qing

**B-tier:** Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam

**C-tier:** Mughal

**Note:** Great Britain (DLC) is unranked pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civs

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These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the game.

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 assigned resource) created by building a Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Railyard: (+5 Production, +1 Production adjacency bonus) Ageless unique production building. Steel Mill: (+6 Production, Gold adjacency bonus) Ageless unique production building.

America excels in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Railyard and Steel Mill combination (Industrial Park) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, fostering rapid expansion. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities enhance tactical flexibility. America offers a well-rounded approach to expansion and production.

Economic Victory: Learn how to leverage Factory Resources in Civilization 7.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Gain Science (50% of building production cost) when 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 air interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings) created by constructing a Ginko and Jukogyo in the same district. Ginko: (+5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency bonus) Ageless unique gold building. Jukogyo: (+5 Production, +1 Production adjacency bonus on coastal terrain) Ageless unique production building.

Meiji Japan boasts resourcefulness and powerful units. Goisshin allows for district and building adaptation while recovering Science. The Zaibatsu quarter generates massive Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability is a significant advantage, and the Zero fighter unit dominates the skies.

Learn more about all Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civs

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

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Access to any Modern Age government's celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique ranged infantry unit (+2 combat strength within an army commander's radius), more expensive to train. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge) trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique quarter (+2 Happiness on city quarters) created by constructing a Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same district. Jardin a la Francaise: (+5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency bonus) Ageless unique culture building. Salon: (+5 Happiness, +1 Culture adjacency bonus) Ageless unique happiness building.

The French Empire synergizes well for Cultural victories. The Avenue creates a feedback loop of Culture and Happiness, maximizing celebration effects from Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.

Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique government with a celebration effect (+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) trainable in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition slotted) created by constructing a Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same district. Catedral: (+5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency bonus) Ageless unique culture building. Portal de Mercaderes: (+5 Culture, +1 Gold adjacency bonus) Ageless unique culture building.

Mexico is a Culture powerhouse, generating significant Culture and Gold. The Zocalo amplifies Culture output, and the Soldaderas provide defensive capabilities.

Check out How to Win Civ 7 - every victory type explained!

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 who establishes trade routes for resource imports. Huiguan: Unique quarter (+35% Influence) created by constructing a Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same district. Shiguan: (+6 Science, +1 Happiness adjacency bonus) Ageless unique science building. Qianzhuang: (+5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency bonus) Ageless unique gold building.

The Qing civilization offers strong yields but requires careful resource management due to the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty. The Gusa unit provides military strength.

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B-Tier Modern Civs

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These civilizations are strong but might be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to yield or healing gained. Land units gain Amphibious ability. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique infantry unit that heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique army commander; 50% increased pillaging yields within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: (+3 Happiness, receives Lake yield bonuses) Ageless unique improvement (flat terrain only).

Buganda thrives on warfare and pillaging, generating significant Culture and resources through aggressive expansion. However, this strategy requires constant military activity.

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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 with other civilizations. However, this approach requires constant expansion and can lead to overwhelming conflict.

Prefer diplomacy? Find out How to Get and Use Civ 7 Influence.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles (bonus Science on Tundra). +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 on Tundra) Ageless unique improvement (cannot be adjacent to another Obshchina).

Russia benefits from District bonuses, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide military support.

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, +1 Movement, can move after attacking). Uparat: Great Person (one charge) trainable after befriending an Independent Power. Bang: (+3 Culture and Happiness) Ageless unique improvement (must be placed on a navigable river).

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

Learn more about Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses!

C-Tier Modern Civs

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These civilizations are 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 with bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique settler (+1 Population on new settlements). Stepwell: (+2 Food from adjacent Farms) Ageless unique improvement (flat terrain only, cannot be adjacent to another Stepwell).

Mughal's high Gold generation can be powerful but requires careful management to offset the yield penalties. Other traits are decent but not game-changing.