In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age is a pivotal era where the game's outcome is often determined. It marks the culmination of your strategic journey, making it crucial to capitalize on your advantages and make astute decisions as you transition from the Exploration Age.
Your choice of civilization in the Modern Age can significantly influence your path to victory. With ten civilizations available (and an eleventh if you own the Crossroads of the World DLC), selecting the right one, especially when paired with the appropriate leader, can unlock powerful synergies. To aid your decision-making, we've compiled a tier list of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.
Note: Your chosen leader will further enhance your gameplay through specific buffs. When selecting a civilization, consider how it will synergize with your leader, as this can greatly impact its overall power. Our tier list focuses solely on the inherent strengths of each civilization at its base level.
### Best Civ 7 Modern CivsCiv 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. With superior military units and resource access, these civilizations offer a strong foundation for dominating 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. 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 excels in the Modern Age by leveraging its resource-rich environment. The Frontier Expansion trait provides significant gold boosts from resource improvements, while the Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, significantly enhances Food, Production, and Gold. This makes the USA a versatile and robust civilization, ideal for rapid expansion and sustained growth. The Prospector can secure crucial resources, boosting your yields, while the Marine's Amphibious ability offers tactical flexibility.
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 a powerhouse in the Modern Age, offering both resourcefulness and formidable military units. The Goisshin trait allows for flexible district and building management while yielding Science, and the Zaibatsu Quarter can generate substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's unique respawn ability and the Zero's aerial prowess make Meiji Japan a dominant force both on land and in the air.
A-Tier Modern Civs
A-Tier civilizations are solid choices with diverse resource access and strong military units, offering flexibility and strength in various 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 a synergistic choice, particularly for those aiming for a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a potent cycle of Culture and Happiness, fueling the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait. The Garde Imperiale provides a defensive edge, ensuring your cultural progress remains unhindered.
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 powerhouse, offering substantial Culture and Gold gains. The Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, amplifies Culture output. The Soldaderas unit enhances unit durability, making Mexico a strong contender for a cultural victory.
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 - Qiang 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 yields, though managing the Science penalty from imported resources is crucial. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait boosts Gold, Culture, and Influence, while the Shiguan offsets the Science drawback. The Gusa unit is formidable when deployed in formations, ensuring military strength.
B-Tier Modern Civs
B-Tier civilizations are good but more specialized, excelling in specific scenarios while still offering overall value.
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 thrive on aggressive expansion through pillaging. The River Raids trait, along with the Abambowa and Mwami units, rewards aggressive play, though it requires constant warfare to compensate for the lack of direct access to key yields like Science and Culture.
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 those who embrace conflict. The Blood and Iron trait empowers your units based on negative relationships, making Prussia a formidable military force. However, its focus on combat may leave you struggling to keep up with the technological and cultural advancements needed in the Modern Age.
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 modest yield bonuses on Districts, with a focus on Science and Culture, particularly in Tundra. While not the most powerful, the Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities, making Russia a stable choice for a balanced approach.
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 control over City-States, though generating the necessary Influence can be challenging. The Chang Beun unit offers strong ranged capabilities, making Siam a good choice for those who can leverage City-State alliances effectively.
C-Tier Modern Civs
C-Tier civilizations are situational or 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 immense Gold gains but comes with a significant penalty to other yields. While potentially powerful in the right hands, managing the -25% penalty on all other yields is essential to keep up with the Science and Culture demands of the Modern Age.
