In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age is a pivotal era where the game's outcome is often determined. It's crucial to leverage your advantages and make strategic decisions as you transition from the Exploration Age. The civilization you select plays a significant role in securing your victory. With ten civilizations available in the Modern Age, and an additional one if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC, choosing the right one can create powerful synergies with the appropriate leaders. To help you make an informed decision, here's our tier list for the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.
Keep in mind that your chosen leader will enhance your gameplay with additional buffs, and when paired with the right civilization, these synergies can significantly boost your power. This tier list focuses solely on the inherent strengths of each civilization, so consider how a civilization will interact with your leader when making your choice.
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 valuable 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 due to its ability to utilize a wide range of resources effectively. 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, enhancing your yields, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility. America is a well-rounded civilization with much to offer.
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 the Modern Age, offering both resourcefulness and powerful military units. The Goisshin trait allows for flexible district and building management while providing a Science boost, and the Zaibatsu Quarter can generate significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's ability to respawn after destruction adds resilience to your naval forces, while the Zero's enhanced capabilities make it a formidable air unit. Meiji Japan is well-equipped to dominate the endgame.
A-Tier Modern Civs
A-Tier civilizations are strong choices with diverse resource access and solid military units.
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 ideal for those aiming for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a synergistic loop of Culture and Happiness, propelling you through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this with flexible Celebration effects. While the Garde Imperiale isn't the strongest unit, it provides a defensive option to protect your cultural progress.
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 government provides a significant Culture boost during Celebrations, and the Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, further enhances your Culture. The Soldaderas unit adds defensive capabilities, making Mexico a solid choice for those 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 Gold, Culture, and Influence, though it comes with a Science penalty from imported resources. Managing this trait effectively is crucial in the fast-paced Modern Age. The Shiguan can help offset the Science deficit, and the Gusa unit provides strong military potential when grouped. Qing is a versatile civilization with much to offer if managed correctly.
B-Tier Modern Civs
B-Tier civilizations are solid choices with specific strengths, though they may be more situational.
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 key Modern Age yields like Science, Culture, and Gold, making it reliant on pillaging to compensate. This unique playstyle can be rewarding but requires constant activity and strategic resource targeting.
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 relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful in combat, making Prussia a formidable military force. However, Prussia's focus on aggression can be a double-edged sword, as it may struggle to keep up with Science and Culture without capturing enemy settlements. The Staatseisenbahn helps with Gold and Production, but maintaining a belligerent stance can lead to overwhelming opposition.
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 as impactful as those of more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities, but Russia's overall yield potential might not be enough to compete with top-tier civilizations in the Modern Age.
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, but Siam's overall impact depends heavily on the City-States you can ally with. Without direct access to generating Influence, Siam's effectiveness can vary based on the game's circumstances.
C-Tier Modern Civs
C-Tier civilizations are situational and may require more experienced players to leverage their unique playstyles effectively.
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, but at the cost of a 25% penalty to all other yields. This can be a powerful advantage if managed correctly, but it requires careful investment to compensate for the reduced Science and Culture. The Sepoy and Zamindar units are useful, but the Mughal's success hinges on mitigating the yield penalty. In skilled hands, the Mughal can be a strong contender, but it's a riskier choice for less experienced players.
