Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age marks the pinnacle of your journey, where the fate of your empire is sealed, and the game reaches its conclusion. This era is crucial as it's where strategic decisions made post-Exploration Age can significantly influence your path to victory. Choosing the right civilization is paramount, as the Modern Age introduces ten civilizations, with an eleventh available through the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing these with the appropriate leaders can unlock potent synergies, propelling you towards success. To aid in your selection, we present a tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*, ranked based on their standalone strength, though remember to consider leader synergies for optimal play.

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, remains unranked. Its performance will be assessed over time.

S-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations represent the elite of Civilization 7, boasting superior military units and resource access, enabling them 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 a Land Resource outside your regular Settlement radius. Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. +2 Food in this City for every Resource assigned to it. 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 with its versatile resource utilization. The Frontier Expansion trait offers substantial gold boosts from resource improvements, while the Industrial Park, formed by combining Railyard and Steel Mill, enhances Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and robust production capabilities. The Prospector further secures crucial resources, and the Marine's Amphibious ability provides tactical flexibility on the battlefield.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - Gain Science equal to 50% of a Building’s Production cost when Overbuilding. +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen. Mikasa - Meiji Japanese Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP in the closest Settlement upon destruction. Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units, capable of intercepting enemy Air Units. Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter formed 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 stands out with its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait facilitates efficient district and building management, boosting Science yields, while the Zaibatsu Quarter enhances Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability provides resilience, and the Zero's aerial prowess ensures dominance in the skies, making Meiji Japan a formidable choice for the Modern Age.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-tier civilizations offer a balanced mix of resource access and military strength, suitable for various victory paths.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Select 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 and +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius, more expensive to train. Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities with an Avenue, 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. +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 excels in cultural victories with its synergistic culture and happiness boosts. The Avenue, formed by combining Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a powerful feedback loop, propelling the civilization through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this further, while the Garde Imperiale provides defensive strength.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion, offering one Celebration effect: +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot enter other Government types. +30% Production towards constructing Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas - Mexican Unique Infantry Unit that heals adjacent Units +10 HP, does not stack. Revolucionario - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities with a Zocalo, specific Revolucionario received randomly, 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. +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 cultural powerhouse, similar to the French Empire, but with additional Gold benefits. The Revolucion trait, coupled with the Zocalo Quarter, provides significant Culture boosts, while the Soldaderas unit offers tactical advantages through healing.

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 with +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant capable of establishing a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement, gaining 50 Gold for every Resource acquired on a naval Trade Route. Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter formed 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 mix of Gold, Culture, and Influence, though with a Science penalty that requires careful management. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides substantial bonuses, while the Gusa unit offers military strength, and the Hangshang merchant enhances economic growth through trade.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-tier civilizations are solid but may be more specialized, suitable for specific strategies.

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 that heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile. Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander that yields 50% 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 thrives on an aggressive, pillaging-focused strategy, gaining resources and Culture through destruction. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, maximizes the benefits of pillaging, though the civilization lacks direct access to key Modern Age yields.

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 and +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 that provides +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles.

Prussia is ideal for players who enjoy a confrontational approach, gaining strength from strained relationships. The Blood and Iron trait, coupled with the Hussar and Stuka units, makes Prussia a formidable military force, though it may struggle with Science and Culture without aggressive expansion.

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, lower base Combat Strength, but the Splash ability to damage adjacent enemy Units. 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 benefits from yield bonuses on Districts, particularly in Tundra, though these bonuses are not overwhelming. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher offer defensive capabilities, supporting a Science and Culture-focused strategy.

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, able to move after attacking. Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended, specific Uparat received randomly, 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 immediate Suzerainty over City-States, though it lacks inherent Influence generation. The Chang Beun unit provides tactical advantages, while the Bang improvement boosts Culture and Happiness, making Siam suitable for players who can leverage City-State alliances.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-tier civilizations are situational or require a specialized playstyle, often best 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 making a Bombard Ranged attack. Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler capable of founding new Towns with +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 high Gold yield but at the cost of other resources. The Paradise of Nations trait can be powerful if managed correctly, but the -25% penalty to other yields requires strategic compensation. The Sepoy and Zamindar units provide military and expansion options, making Mughal a strong choice for players adept at economic management.