In Civilization 7, the Modern Age marks the pinnacle of your journey, where the game's outcome is determined and the endgame begins. It's crucial at this stage to leverage your strengths and make strategic decisions as you transition from the Exploration Age. Your choice of Civilization is paramount in securing victory, with the Modern Age offering ten core civilizations, and an additional one with the Crossroads of the World DLC. Combining these with the right leaders can create powerful synergies. To help you navigate this critical choice, we've compiled a comprehensive tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in Civ 7.
Keep in mind, your selected Leader will enhance your gameplay with additional buffs, and when paired effectively with a Civilization, can significantly boost your strategic options. Our tier list focuses on the inherent strengths of each Civilization, but remember to consider how these will synergize with your chosen Leader.
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: The new DLC Civilization, Great Britain, remains unranked. Its performance will be assessed over time.
S-Tier Modern Civs
------------------The crème de la crème of Civilization 7, these civilizations offer exceptional military units and resource access, enabling you to 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 with the Amphibious ability. Cheaper to train. Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit that can claim Land Resources beyond your regular Settlement radius. Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter created by building the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Provides +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 stands out in the Modern Age due to its ability to leverage numerous resources. The Frontier Expansion trait significantly boosts your gold, while the Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, offers substantial Food, Production, and Gold, making the USA a versatile and robust civilization capable of rapid expansion. The Prospector can secure vital resources, further enhancing your yields, while the Marine unit provides strategic flexibility with its Amphibious ability.
S-tier: Meiji Japan
Goisshin - Gain Science equal to 50% of the Building’s Production cost when Overbuilding. +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen. Mikasa - Meiji Japanese Unique Heavy Naval Unit. Respawns at the closest Settlement at 50% HP if destroyed once. Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units. Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter formed by 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 excels with its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows for strategic reshaping of districts and buildings, providing a Science boost, while the Zaibatsu Quarter generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability offers a second chance in naval battles, and the Zero's aerial prowess makes it a formidable force in the skies.
A-Tier Modern Civs
------------------A-Tier civilizations are solid choices, offering a mix of resources and military strength.
A-Tier: French Empire
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - Select Celebration effects from any standard Government. +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale - French Imperial Unique Infantry Unit with Ranged attack capabilities. +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. Avenue - French Imperial Quarter formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon. +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 thrives on a synergy between Culture and Happiness, making it an excellent choice for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, created by combining the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, amplifies this synergy, boosting your civilization through the Modern Age. The Garde Imperiale provides a defensive edge, ensuring your cultural focus remains unchallenged.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government providing +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot enter other Government types. +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, trainable in Cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes. +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 for Culture, with the Revolucion Government offering significant Culture boosts. The Zocalo Quarter enhances this further, making Mexico an ideal candidate for a cultural victory if you can manage Happiness effectively. The Soldaderas unit adds a defensive layer, healing adjacent units during battles.
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. Establishes a Trade Route to import Resources from foreign Settlements. Gains 50 Gold for every Resource acquired via naval Trade Route. Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter formed by the Qianzhuang and Shiguan. +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 with a Science penalty that requires careful management. The Shiguan helps offset this, and the Gusa unit provides military strength in formations. With strategic resource and Wonder management, Qing can be a formidable choice.
B-Tier Modern Civs
------------------B-Tier civilizations are good but more specialized, offering value in specific scenarios.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids - Gain Culture from pillaging Buildings or Improvements. 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. Bugandan Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. One per Settlement.
Buganda is tailored for aggressive players who thrive on pillaging enemy territory. The River Raids trait and units like the Abambowa and Mwami reward frequent warfare, but this playstyle demands constant activity and a strong military presence.
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. +1 Combat Strength for every remaining Movement. 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 ideal for players who embrace conflict, gaining strength from strained relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are potent in battle, but Prussia's focus on military might means you must also keep pace with Science and Culture to remain competitive.
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 with +1 Movement and the Splash ability. 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 solid bonuses on Districts, particularly in Tundra, but its yield advantages are moderate. The Cossack and Katyusha units provide defensive capabilities, but Russia may struggle to keep up with more specialized civilizations.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab - Gains a unique Diplomatic Action to become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher Influence cost. +30% Production towards constructing Doi Suthep. Chang Beun - Siamese Unique Ranged Unit with increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement. Can move after attacking. Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended. Bang - +3 Culture and Happiness. Siamese Unique Improvement. Ageless. Must be placed on a Navigable River.
Siam's ability to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State is powerful, but it relies on generating Influence, which requires strategic building and leader choices. The Chang Beun unit offers tactical advantages, but Siam's overall strength depends on the City-States it can influence.
C-Tier Modern Civs
------------------C-Tier civilizations are situational and may suit more 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 with a Bombard Ranged attack. Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler capable of founding new Towns. +1 Population on new Settlements. Stepwell - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Mughal Unique Improvement. Ageless. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Stepwell.
The Mughal civilization offers immense Gold potential, but its -25% penalty to other yields requires careful management to remain competitive in Science and Culture. In skilled hands, the Mughal can be powerful, but it presents a higher risk for less experienced players.
