In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age marks a pivotal era where the fate of your empire is determined and the game reaches its climax. As you transition from the Exploration Age, it's crucial to leverage your strengths and make strategic choices to secure victory. The civilization you select plays a vital role in this final stretch, with ten options available in the base game, and an eleventh if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing these civilizations with the right leaders can create powerful synergies, enhancing your chances of success. To help guide your choice, we've compiled a tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.
It's important to note that your chosen leader can further enhance your gameplay with unique buffs. The synergies between leaders and civilizations can significantly impact their effectiveness. Our tier list focuses on the inherent strengths of each civilization, but always consider how your leader's abilities might complement or alter these dynamics 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 civilizations represent the cream of the crop in Civilization 7. They offer superior military units and access to valuable resources, enabling you to dominate the map and secure victory.
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 a top-tier choice in the Modern Age, thanks to its ability to utilize a wide array of resources effectively. The Frontier Expansion trait offers significant gold boosts from resource improvements, while the Industrial Park, formed by combining the Railyard and Steel Mill, provides substantial Food, Production, and Gold. This versatility allows the USA to expand rapidly and sustain its growth with robust production capabilities. The Prospector can secure vital resources, boosting your yields, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility to your military strategy. America's balanced and powerful attributes make it a formidable contender for victory.
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 excels in resourcefulness and boasts some of the game's most powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows you to adapt your districts and buildings to modern needs while earning Science, propelling your technological advancement. The Zaibatsu Quarter, formed by the Ginko and Jukogyo, generates significant Gold and Production, crucial for endgame strategies. Militarily, the Mikasa's ability to respawn after destruction adds resilience to your naval forces, while the Zero dominates the skies with its superior range and combat strength. Meiji Japan's potent combination of economic and military prowess makes it a top choice for players aiming for a strong finish.
A-Tier Modern Civs
A-Tier civilizations offer a solid mix of resource access and military strength, providing reliable options for achieving victory.
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 pursuing a Cultural victory, thanks to its synergistic traits. The Avenue, created by combining the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, fosters a powerful cycle of Culture and Happiness, propelling you through the Modern Age. This synergy enhances your ability to celebrate, which is further boosted by the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait. While the Garde Imperiale isn't the strongest unit, it provides defensive capabilities 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 another Culture-focused civilization, offering substantial Culture gains and additional Gold. The Revolucion government provides a unique Celebration effect, boosting Culture significantly. The Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, further amplifies your Culture output. The Soldaderas unit adds durability to your military, healing adjacent units, which can be crucial in maintaining your cultural push. Mexico is an excellent choice for players aiming for a cultural victory with a balanced approach to resources.
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 diverse set of bonuses but requires careful management due to the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty. With strategic resource and building management, you can mitigate this drawback. The Qing's access to Gold, Culture, and Influence makes it versatile, and the Gusa unit's combat strength in formations adds military might. The Shiguan and Qianzhuang buildings provide valuable Science and Gold, making Qing a strong contender when managed effectively.
B-Tier Modern Civs
B-Tier civilizations are solid choices with specific strengths, though they might be less versatile than higher-tier options.
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 a unique civilization that thrives on pillaging, making it ideal for aggressive players. The River Raids trait and the Abambowa and Mwami units provide significant benefits from pillaging, but you must maintain an active military presence to capitalize on these advantages. While Buganda offers limited direct access to key yields like Science and Culture, its pillaging strategy can be highly effective if executed well. This civilization requires a specialized playstyle but can yield strong results with the right approach.
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 the choice for players who relish conflict and want to dominate through military might. The Blood and Iron trait boosts combat strength as your relationships worsen, making Prussia a formidable force on the battlefield. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful, particularly in direct engagements. However, Prussia's focus on military aggression can be limiting, and maintaining a technological and cultural edge is essential to sustain your military advantage. The Staatseisenbahn provides some economic benefits, but you'll need to balance aggression with growth to succeed.
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 offers solid bonuses to Culture and Science, particularly in Tundra regions, making it a good choice for players focusing on these areas. However, these bonuses are not overwhelming, and the civilization's effectiveness can be limited by geographic constraints. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher units provide defensive capabilities, but Russia's overall strategy leans more toward steady growth rather than aggressive expansion. It's a reliable choice but might not offer the same dynamic potential as higher-tier civilizations.
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 a powerful tool if you can manage the Influence costs. The Chang Beun unit offers tactical flexibility with its ranged strength and movement capabilities. However, Siam's success hinges on your ability to generate Influence, which might require specific leader choices or strategic gameplay. While Siam can be effective with the right setup, it's more situational than some other civilizations.
C-Tier Modern Civs
C-Tier civilizations are viable but often require a more nuanced approach or specific circumstances to excel.
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 with the Paradise of Nations trait, potentially making you the wealthiest player on the map. However, the -25% penalty to all other yields requires careful management to ensure you don't fall behind in crucial areas like Science and Culture. The Sepoy and Zamindar units provide some military and expansion capabilities, but the Mughal's overall strategy can be risky. In the hands of experienced players, the Mughal can be a powerful choice, but it's less forgiving for those new to the game.
