Civilization VII: Ranking Modern Civs

The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame—where victories are secured and the final chapter unfolds. Mastering this era hinges on leveraging your advantages and making shrewd choices following the Exploration Age. Your civilization selection is paramount. The Modern Age presents ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique synergies with various leaders. This tier list ranks the best Modern Age civilizations based solely on their base strengths, independent of leader bonuses. Remember to consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

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) will be determined with further gameplay.

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: Unique civilian unit; claims land resources beyond standard settlement radius. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (Railyard + Steel Mill); +2 Food per resource assigned. 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 excels in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill combination) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and production. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities add 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 unit; increased range, +4 Combat Strength against other fighters, intercepts enemy air units. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (Ginko + Jukogyo); +1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings. 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 and powerful units are key strengths. Goisshin allows efficient district and building repurposing, while the Zaibatsu quarter generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's unique respawn ability provides a significant tactical advantage, and the Zero fighter dominates the skies.

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 an army commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique quarter (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon); +2 Happiness on city quarters. 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 synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a feedback loop, boosting Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. While not overpowered, the Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique government; +30% Culture for 10 turns (one celebration effect). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique quarter (Catedral + Portal de Mercanderes); +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 Culture powerhouse, similar to the French Empire, but with stronger Gold generation and slightly less Happiness. The Zocalo quarter significantly boosts Culture, and the Soldaderas unit offers tactical healing benefits.

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 to import resources. Huiguan: Unique quarter (Qianzhuang + Shiguan); +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 balance of Gold, Culture, and Influence, but with a Science penalty for imported resources. Careful resource management is crucial to offset this drawback. The Gusa unit provides strong military potential.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-tier civilizations are strong 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 command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive warfare and pillaging. River Raids, Abambowa, and Mwami units maximize gains from pillaging, but this strategy requires constant military action and may be risky.

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 strategy requires constant conflict and may lead to overwhelming opposition.

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 bonuses to districts, particularly in Tundra. While not overwhelmingly powerful, the Cossack and Katyusha provide decent military support.

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: Great Person (one charge); trained when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

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

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-tier 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; bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique Settler; +1 Population on new settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Ageless.

Mughal offers massive Gold generation but suffers significant penalties to other yields. Careful management is crucial to offset these penalties.