The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age progress, is crucial for success. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of winning. The Modern Age presents ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique strengths when paired with the right leader. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base capabilities—leader synergies should be considered separately when making your final decision.
Best *Civilization 7* Modern Civilizations
*Civilization 7* Modern Civilization Tier List
---------------------------S-tier: America, Meiji Japan
A-tier: French Empire, Mexico, Qing
B-tier: Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam
C-tier: Mughal
Note: Great Britain's ranking (from the DLC) will be determined with further gameplay.
S-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the game.
S-tier: America
Frontier Expansion: Earn 100 Gold for each improved resource. +30% Production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Unique civilian unit claiming land resources beyond standard settlement range. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource assigned to the city) created by building a Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency bonus for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.
America excels in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the combined Railyard and Steel Mill create the powerful Industrial Park, generating substantial Food, Production, and Gold. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious capability adds tactical flexibility.
S-tier: Meiji Japan
Goisshin: Gain Science equal to 50% of a building's Production cost when overbuilding. +30% Production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP in the nearest owned settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range, +4 Combat Strength against other fighters, and air interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: Unique Quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings) created by building a Ginko and Jukogyo in the same district. Ginko: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. Ageless.
Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units are its hallmarks. Goisshin allows efficient district and building repurposing, while Zaibatsu generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability and the Zero's air superiority make them formidable military assets.
A-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------A-tier civilizations offer diverse resource access and strong military capabilities.
A-Tier: French Empire
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Choose any Modern Age Government's Celebration effects. +30% Production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique Infantry Unit with ranged attack capability; +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge) trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique Quarter (+2 Happiness on city Quarters) created by building a Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same district. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Salon: +5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency bonus for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
The French Empire synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue creates a feedback loop, fueling Celebrations and boosting yields. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion: Unique Government with a Celebration effect (+30% Culture for 10 turns). +30% Production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique Infantry Unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge) trainable in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique Quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition in the Government) created by building a Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same district. Catedral: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
Mexico excels in Culture generation. The Zocalo further amplifies Culture output, and the Soldaderas provide battlefield resilience.
A-Tier: Qing
Kang Qian Shengshi: +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, -1 Science from imported resources. +30% Production towards Chengde Mountain Resort. Gusa: Unique Infantry Unit; +4 Combat Strength when adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Unique Merchant establishing trade routes for resource import (50 Gold per resource via naval trade routes). Huiguan: Unique Quarter (+35% Influence in the city) created by building a Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same district. Shiguan: +6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach. Kang Qian Shengshi provides strong yields but requires careful resource management to offset the Science penalty. The Gusa unit is effective in large formations.
B-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or situational.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to the yield or healing gained; Land Military Units gain Amphibious ability. +30% Production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique Infantry Unit healing +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique Army Commander; 50% increased yields from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.
Buganda thrives on aggressive play, benefiting significantly from pillaging. However, its reliance on warfare can be a double-edged sword.
B-Tier: Prussia
Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique Cavalry Unit with +1 Movement and +1 Combat Strength per remaining movement point. Stuka: Unique Ground Attack Air Unit; +3 Combat Strength against Land Units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.
Prussia excels in aggressive warfare, gaining strength from negative relationships with other civilizations. However, this approach requires constant expansion and can lead to overwhelming conflicts.
B-Tier: Russia
Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles; +30% Production towards the Hermitage. Cossack: Unique Cavalry Unit; +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory. Katyusha Rocket Launcher: Unique Siege Unit with +1 Movement and splash damage. Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent Farms; +2 Culture in Tundra. Ageless.
Russia's strengths lie in its District bonuses and unique units. However, these benefits are less impactful than other civilizations' strengths in the Modern Age.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to instantly become a City-State's Suzerain (at increased Influence cost). +30% Production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique Ranged Unit with increased range, strength, and movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge) trainable when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.
Siam's ability to quickly gain City-State suzerainty is powerful but relies heavily on Influence generation. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit.
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations are situational or require specialized strategies.
C-Tier: Mughal
Paradise of Nations: +75% Gold from all sources; -25% to all other yields. +30% Production towards the Red Fort. Sepoy: Unique Infantry Unit with Bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique Settler with +1 Population on new Settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Ageless.
The Mughal civilization offers immense wealth but suffers from significant penalties to other yields, requiring careful resource management.
