Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

In Civilization 7, the Modern Age stands as a pivotal era where the game's outcome is often determined. As you transition from the Exploration Age, it's crucial to leverage your strengths and make strategic decisions that will pave the way for victory. The choice of civilization plays a significant role in securing your win, with the Modern Age offering a selection of ten civilizations, or eleven if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC. When combined with the right leaders, these civilizations can unlock powerful synergies that enhance your gameplay. Below, we present a tier list to guide you in selecting the best Modern Age civilizations in Civilization 7, based solely on their standalone power. Remember, the leader you choose can further amplify your civilization's abilities, so consider these synergies when making your selection.

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, offering unmatched advantages that can help you dominate the map. From superior military units to exceptional resource access, these civilizations are top choices for securing a victory.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion - Earn 100 Gold each time you improve a Resource. Gain +30% Production when constructing the Statue of Liberty.

Marine - A unique American Infantry Unit with the Amphibious ability, making it more cost-effective to train.

Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit that can claim Land Resources beyond your regular Settlement radius.

Industrial Park - An American Unique Quarter formed by building a Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district, boosting the city's Food output by +2 for every Resource assigned.

Railyard - Provides +5 Production and +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. An ageless American Unique Production Building.

Steel Mill - Delivers +6 Production and Gold adjacency bonuses for Resources and Wonders. An ageless American Unique Production Building.

America excels in the Modern Age due to its resource utilization capabilities, making it a top contender. The Frontier Expansion trait can significantly boost your gold reserves by improving resources. The synergy between the Railyard and Steel Mill to create the Industrial Park ensures a robust supply of Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and sustained growth. Additionally, the Prospector can secure vital resources, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility. America's versatility and strength make it a formidable choice for any player aiming for victory.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - Gain Science equal to 50% of a Building’s Production cost when Overbuilding. Receive +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen.

Mikasa - A unique Meiji Japanese Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP in the nearest Settlement upon destruction.

Zero - A unique Meiji Japanese Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units, capable of intercepting enemy aircraft.

Zaibatsu - A Meiji Unique Quarter formed by building a Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District, providing +1 Gold and Production on adjacent Buildings.

Ginko - Offers +5 Gold and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Meiji Japan Unique Gold Building.

Jukogyo - Delivers +5 Production and +1 Production Adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. An ageless Meiji Japan Unique Production Building.

Meiji Japan stands out with its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows for efficient district and building management, providing a Science boost that can be crucial in the Modern Age. The Zaibatsu Quarter can generate substantial Gold and Production, propelling you toward an endgame victory. The Mikasa's respawn ability offers a strategic edge in naval warfare, while the Zero's capabilities make it a dominant force in the air. Meiji Japan is ideal for players seeking a strong late-game push.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations are well-rounded and versatile, offering a mix of resources and military prowess that can lead to a successful campaign.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Choose Celebration effects from any standard Government in the Modern Age. Gain +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower.

Garde Imperiale - A unique French Imperial Infantry Unit that can make Ranged attacks and gains +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius, though it's more expensive to train.

Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with an Avenue, and the specific Jacobin received once. The cost increases per Jacobin trained.

Avenue - A French Imperial Quarter formed by constructing a Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District, increasing Happiness on Quarters in the city by +2.

Jardin a la Francaise - Provides +5 Culture and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. An ageless French Empire Unique Culture Building.

Salon - Delivers +5 Happiness and +1 Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. An ageless French Empire Unique Happiness Building.

The French Empire offers a synergistic approach, particularly suited for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, created by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a powerful feedback loop of Culture and Happiness, fueling your civilization through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this with Celebration effects. While the Garde Imperiale isn't the strongest unit, it provides a defensive option to protect your cultural endeavors.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion, which offers a Celebration effect of +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot enter other Government types. Gains +30% Production towards constructing Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Soldaderas - A unique Mexican Infantry Unit that heals adjacent Units by +10 HP, but does not stack.

Revolucionario - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with a Zocalo, and the specific Revolucionario received randomly. Each Revolucionario can only be received once, with increasing cost per training.

Zocalo - A Mexican Unique Quarter formed by constructing a Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same District, providing +2 Culture for every Tradition slotted into the Government.

Catedral - Delivers +5 Culture and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Mexican Unique Culture Building.

Portal de Mercaderes - Provides +5 Culture and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Mexican Unique Culture Building.

Mexico is a powerhouse for Culture, offering a strong mix of Culture and Gold. With the right management of Happiness and Celebrations, Mexico can achieve significant Culture bonuses. The Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, enhances this further. The Soldaderas Unit adds a defensive layer, making Mexico an excellent choice for a cultural victory.

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi - Gain +4 Gold, +3 Culture, and +2 Influence, but lose -1 Science from imported Resources. Receive +30% Production towards constructing Chengde Mountain Resort.

Gusa - A unique Qing Infantry Unit that gains +4 Combat Strength when adjacent to another Gusa.

Hangshang - A unique Qing Merchant capable of establishing a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement, earning 50 Gold for every Resource acquired via naval Trade Route.

Huiguan - A Qing Unique Quarter formed by constructing a Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District, boosting Influence by +35% in the Settlement.

Shiguan - Provides +6 Science and +1 Happiness Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Qing Unique Science Building.

Qianzhuang - Delivers +5 Gold and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. An ageless Qing Unique Gold Building.

The Qing civilization offers a range of benefits, though it comes with a Science penalty from imported Resources. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides boosts in Gold, Culture, and Influence, which can be managed with strategic resource and building choices. The Shiguan can offset the Science penalty to some extent. The Gusa Unit's combat strength in formations adds military strength, making Qing a versatile choice despite its challenges.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations have solid benefits but may be more specialized and suitable for specific scenarios. They bring value to various victory paths.

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. Gain +30% Production towards constructing Muzibu Azaala Mpanga.

Abambowa - A unique Bugandan Infantry Unit that heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile.

Mwami - A unique Bugandan Army Commander that increases yields from pillaging by 50% within its Command Radius.

Kabaka’s Lake - Provides +3 Happiness and receives Lake yield bonuses, including yields for all Buganda’s abilities and the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga Wonder. An ageless Bugandan Unique Improvement that must be placed on Flat Terrain and does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. One per Settlement.

Buganda excels for players who enjoy a more aggressive, pillaging-focused strategy. The River Raids trait, combined with the Abambowa and Mwami units, offers significant gains from pillaging. However, Buganda lacks direct access to crucial Modern Age yields like Science, Culture, Gold, and Influence, necessitating constant warfare to compensate. It's a unique playstyle that can be rewarding but requires active engagement.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron - Units receive +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship.

Hussar - A unique Prussian Cavalry Unit with +1 Movement and +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining.

Stuka - A unique Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit with +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Staatseisenbahn - A unique Prussian Railroad that provides +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles.

Prussia is ideal for players who want to dominate through military might and aggression. The Blood and Iron trait rewards you for poor relationships with other civilizations, enhancing your combat strength. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful in combat, but Prussia's focus on military can be limiting. You'll need to capture Settlements to keep up with Science and Culture, which are crucial in the Modern Age. Prussia's approach is straightforward but can become challenging if you're overwhelmed by multiple enemies.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - Gain +1 Culture on Districts in Cities and +1 Science on Districts in Cities in Tundra. Receive +30% Production towards constructing the Hermitage.

Cossack - A unique Russian Cavalry Unit that gains +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.

Katyusha Rocket Launcher - A unique Russian Siege Unit with +1 Movement and the Splash ability, dealing damage to enemy Units adjacent to the target.

Obschchina - Provides +2 Food from adjacent Farms and +2 Culture in Tundra. An ageless Russian Empire Unique Improvement that does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile and cannot be placed adjacent to another Obschchina.

Russia offers solid yield bonuses on Districts, particularly in Tundra, but these aren't overwhelming. The Prosveshchenie trait helps with Culture and Science, but you might struggle to keep up with more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher units are strong defensively, making Russia suitable for players who want to protect their Science and Culture growth.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab - Gain a unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher Influence cost than Befriend Independent. Gain +30% Production towards constructing Doi Suthep.

Chang Beun - A unique Siamese Ranged Unit with increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement, capable of moving after attacking.

Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended, and the specific Uparat received randomly. Each Uparat can only be received once, with increasing cost per training.

Bang - Provides +3 Culture and Happiness. An ageless Siamese Unique Improvement that must be placed on a Navigable River and does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile.

Siam's unique trait allows for immediate Suzerainty over City-States, which can be powerful if you can secure the necessary Influence. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged Unit, but Siam's overall benefits are situational. Success with Siam depends heavily on the City-States you encounter and your ability to manage Influence.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are not inherently bad but are often more situational or require a unique playstyle that might be better suited for experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations - Gain +75% Gold from all sources but suffer a -25% penalty to all other yields. Gain +30% Production towards constructing the Red Fort.

Sepoy - A unique Mughal Infantry Unit capable of making a Bombard Ranged attack.

Zamindar - A unique Mughal Settler capable of founding new Towns and providing +1 Population on new Settlements.

Stepwell - Provides +2 Food from adjacent Farms. An ageless Mughal Unique Improvement that must be placed on Flat Terrain and cannot be placed adjacent to another Stepwell.

The Mughal civilization can be incredibly powerful with its +75% Gold bonus, but the -25% penalty to other yields poses a significant risk. Managing this penalty is crucial, as Science and Culture are vital in the Modern Age. The Mughal's other traits are solid but not game-changing. In skilled hands, the Mughal can lead to victory, but for less experienced players, there are more straightforward options available.