"Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations"

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is a crucial turning point where the game's outcome is often determined. As you transition from the Exploration Age, it's vital to leverage your advantages and make strategic decisions to secure your victory. The choice of civilization plays a pivotal role in this era, as it sets the stage for your endgame strategy.

In Civilization 7, the Modern Age offers a selection of ten civilizations, expanding to eleven with the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing these civilizations with the right leaders can create powerful synergies, enhancing your gameplay. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in Civ 7.

Note that your chosen Leader can significantly influence your gameplay by providing additional buffs. When selecting a civilization, consider how it will interact with your Leader to maximize synergies. This tier list evaluates civilizations based on their standalone capabilities, but always keep in mind the potential for enhanced performance through leader pairings.

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

The S-tier civilizations in Civilization 7 are the cream of the crop, offering exceptional military units and resource access, enabling you 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. 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 stands out as one of the best civilizations in the modern era, thanks to its ability to utilize a wide range of resources. 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. Additionally, the Prospector can secure crucial resources, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility, making America a well-rounded choice for any player.

For those aiming for an Economic Victory, understanding how to use Factory Resources in Civilization 7 is essential.

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 renowned for its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows for flexible district and building management, rewarding players with Science when overbuilding. The Zaibatsu Quarter, formed by the Ginko and Jukogyo, can generate substantial Gold and Production, boosting your endgame capabilities.

The Mikasa's ability to respawn after being destroyed offers strategic advantages in naval warfare, while the Zero provides superior air combat capabilities, making Meiji Japan a formidable force in the skies.

To learn more about the various unit types in Civilization 7, check out our detailed guide on all the Civ 7 Unit Types.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-tier civilizations are strong contenders, offering a balanced mix of resources and military units to support a variety of 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 ideal for players aiming for a Cultural victory. The synergistic effects of the Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, create a powerful loop of Culture and Happiness, propelling you through the Modern Age. This synergy enhances your Celebrations, which are further amplified by the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait.

For more information on how Celebrations and Government Types work in Civ 7, explore our comprehensive guide.

While not the strongest, the Garde Imperiale offers a solid defensive option to protect your cultural achievements.

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 a powerhouse in Culture, offering significant Gold and Culture boosts. The Revolucion trait provides a temporary Culture bonus, while the Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, amplifies your Culture output. If you can maintain high Happiness levels and initiate Celebrations, Mexico becomes a prime candidate for a cultural victory.

The Soldaderas Unit enhances your military's resilience, making it easier to defend your cultural achievements. For strategies on achieving victory in Civ 7, check out our guide on How to Win Civ 7 - every victory type explained.

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, but requires careful management due to its Science penalty from imported resources. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait can be a double-edged sword, boosting your economy but potentially slowing your technological progress.

Strategic resource management and leveraging the Shiguan's Science output can mitigate this drawback. The Gusa Unit's combat strength boost when grouped together adds a strong military dimension to Qing's capabilities.

For tips on setting up your game, explore our guide on Civ 7 Map Settings explained.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-tier civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized, making them viable in specific scenarios.

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 focused on pillaging. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, provides significant benefits from pillaging, making it essential to be active and frequently at war. The Kabaka’s Lake offers a nice boost to Happiness, but Buganda lacks direct access to key yields like Science, Culture, Gold, and Influence, necessitating a constant pillaging strategy to compensate.

For those interested in military strategies, check out our guide on the best Civ 7 Commander Upgrades.

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 and want to dominate through military might. The Blood and Iron trait increases Combat Strength based on your relationships with other civilizations, making it ideal for those who enjoy being the map's bully. The Hussar and Stuka units are strong, ensuring success in most battles.

However, Prussia's focus on military power can be limiting, as it may struggle to keep up with Science and Culture without capturing Settlements. The Staatseisenbahn provides some economic benefits, but managing multiple hostile relationships can be risky.

For those interested in a more diplomatic approach, learn about How to Get and Use Civ 7 Influence.

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 provides modest yield bonuses on Districts, with a focus on Culture and Science, particularly in Tundra regions. While these bonuses are useful, they may not be sufficient to keep up with more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher offer defensive capabilities, protecting your scientific and cultural advancements, especially against large armies.

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 managed correctly. However, generating the necessary Influence can be challenging without the right support from your Leader and other sources. The Chang Beun is a versatile ranged unit, but Siam's overall impact may depend heavily on the City-States you can ally with.

To learn more about the benefits of Independent Powers, check out our guide on Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-tier civilizations are situational and may require a unique playstyle, 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 but comes with a substantial penalty to all other yields. While this can be powerful if managed correctly, the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful investment to mitigate its impact, especially in the Science and Culture-rich Modern Age. The Sepoy and Zamindar units provide additional tactical options, but Mughal's overall effectiveness hinges on balancing its economic advantages against its yield penalties.

In the right hands, Mughal can be a formidable civilization, but it requires a nuanced approach to overcome its inherent challenges.