In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age is pivotal, marking the culmination of your journey where victories are clinched and the game reaches its climax. Transitioning from the Exploration Age, it's crucial to leverage your advantages and make strategic decisions to secure your triumph. The choice of Civilization in this age can significantly influence your path to victory, with ten distinct civilizations available (and an eleventh with the Crossroads of the World DLC). When paired with the right leaders, these civilizations can unlock potent synergies. To help you navigate your choice, here’s a detailed tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.
Remember, the leader you choose will further enhance your gameplay, and when combined with the right civilization, can create powerful synergies. This tier list evaluates civilizations based on their standalone capabilities, so consider how your leader's abilities will interact with your chosen civilization.
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: We haven't ranked the new DLC Civ Great Britain yet - time will tell how it measures up!
S-Tier Modern Civs
These are the cream of the crop in Civilization 7. With access to superior military units and abundant resources, these civilizations can dominate the 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. Has the Amphibious ability. Cheaper to train.
Prospector - American Unique Civilian Units. Claims a Land Resource outside of your regular Settlement radius.
Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. +2 Food in this City for every Resource assigned to this City.
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 resource utilization to become one of the top civilizations. The Frontier Expansion trait provides significant gold boosts from resource improvements, while the Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, offers substantial Food, Production, and Gold. This versatility allows the USA to expand rapidly and maintain high production levels. The Prospector can secure crucial resources, boosting your yields, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility. America is a well-rounded choice for players aiming for a strong economic and military presence.
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. The first time this Unit is destroyed, it respawns in the closest Settlement you own at 50% HP.
Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit. Increased range. +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units.
Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District. +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 a powerhouse in resource management and military strength. The Goisshin trait allows for efficient district and building reshaping, providing a Science boost that's crucial in the Modern Age. The Zaibatsu Quarter, formed by the Ginko and Jukogyo, generates significant Gold and Production, propelling you towards the endgame. The Mikasa's ability to respawn after destruction offers strategic naval advantages, while the Zero's enhanced combat capabilities make it a formidable air unit. Meiji Japan is ideal for players looking to dominate both economically and militarily.
A-Tier Modern Civs
A-Tier civilizations offer a balanced mix of resource access and military strength, making them reliable choices for various victory paths.
A-Tier: French Empire
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - You can select 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. Can make a Ranged attack. +2 Combat Strength when within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train.
Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities with an Avenue, and the specific Jacobin received once. Cost increases per Jacobin trained.
Avenue - French Imperial Quarter. Created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District. +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 is a synergistic choice, particularly for those aiming for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a powerful loop of Culture and Happiness, accelerating your progress through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this by allowing you to choose Celebration effects, boosting your cultural output. While the Garde Imperiale isn't the strongest unit, it provides a defensive edge, ensuring your cultural pursuits remain undisturbed.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion. This Government has 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. Can only be trained in Cities with a Zocalo, and the specific Revolucionario received is random. Each Revolucionario can only be received once. Cost increases per Revolucionario trained.
Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercanderes in the same District. +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 another strong contender for a Cultural victory, offering a robust Culture output with additional Gold benefits. The Revolucion trait provides a significant Culture boost during Celebrations, while the Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, further enhances your cultural growth. The Soldaderas unit adds a defensive layer, healing adjacent units, making Mexico a solid choice for players focused on cultural dominance.
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. +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa.
Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant. Civilian who can establish a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement. Gain 50 Gold for every Resource acquired when creating a naval Trade Route.
Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District. +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 balanced mix of yields, though it requires careful management due to the Science penalty from imported resources. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides boosts in Gold, Culture, and Influence, which can be offset by strategic resource and building management. The Gusa unit is strong in formations, offering military might, while the Huiguan Quarter, formed by the Qianzhuang and Shiguan, significantly enhances your Influence. Qing is a versatile choice for players who can manage its unique challenges.
B-Tier Modern Civs
B-Tier civilizations are solid choices with specific strengths, though they may be more specialized and 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. 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 players who enjoy aggressive playstyles. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, rewards frequent pillaging with significant resource gains. However, Buganda lacks direct access to crucial Modern Age yields like Science, Culture, and Gold, making it reliant on pillaging to compensate. This civilization suits players who can maintain a high level of activity and target specific yields effectively.
B-Tier: Prussia
Blood and Iron - Units receive +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship.
Hussar - Prussian Unique Cavalry Unit. Has +1 Movement. +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining.
Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit. +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.
Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad. +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles with a Staatseisenbahn.
Prussia is perfect for players who thrive on conflict. The Blood and Iron trait boosts your military strength as you sour relations with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful in combat, making Prussia a formidable military force. However, its focus on aggression can be a double-edged sword, as maintaining a strong military requires keeping up with Science and Culture, which Prussia struggles with outside of combat. The Staatseisenbahn provides some economic benefits, but overall, Prussia is best for those who can manage its aggressive playstyle effectively.
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. +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.
Katyusha Rocket Launcher - Russian Unique Siege Unit. Has +1 Movement. Lower base Combat Strength but has the Splash ability. Dealing damage to enemy Units adjacent to the target Unit.
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 on Districts, with a focus on Science and Culture, particularly in Tundra. While these bonuses are helpful, they may not be enough to outpace more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities, but Russia's overall strength lies in its ability to build a culturally and scientifically advanced civilization, which may require careful management to fully leverage.
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. Has increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement. Can move after attacking.
Uparat - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended, and 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 unique trait allows for immediate Suzerainty over City-States, which can be powerful if you can generate the necessary Influence. The Chang Beun is a versatile ranged unit, offering tactical advantages on the battlefield. However, Siam's effectiveness depends heavily on the right City-States and your ability to manage Influence, making it a situational choice that can be strong in the right circumstances.
C-Tier Modern Civs
C-Tier civilizations are more situational and may require a unique playstyle, often best 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. Can make a Bombard Ranged attack.
Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler. Civilian Unit capable of founding new Towns. +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 with the Paradise of Nations trait, which can be a game-changer if managed correctly. However, the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful compensation to keep up with Science and Culture, crucial in the Modern Age. The Sepoy and Zamindar units are useful but not standout features. Mughal can be a strong choice for experienced players who can navigate its unique economic dynamics effectively.
