Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 marks the pinnacle of the game, where the stakes are highest and the endgame looms. This era is where you'll seal your fate, making it crucial to leverage your strengths and make strategic decisions as you transition from the Exploration Age.

Your choice of civilization in the Modern Age is a critical factor in achieving victory. With ten civilizations available (and an eleventh with the Crossroads of the World DLC), selecting the right one can significantly boost your chances of success. When paired with the appropriate Civ 7 Leaders, these civilizations can create powerful synergies. To help you make an informed choice, here's our tier list ranking the best Modern Age civilizations in Civ 7.

Note: Your chosen Leader will provide additional buffs throughout your playthrough, and the right combination with a civilization can amplify their effectiveness. This Tier List ranks civilizations based solely on their inherent strengths, so consider how a civilization will synergize with your Leader 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 are the cream of the crop in Civilization 7, offering superior military units and access to vital resources, enabling you to dominate the map effectively.

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 is a powerhouse in the modern era, excelling in resource utilization. The Frontier Expansion trait provides substantial gold boosts from resource improvements. The Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, significantly enhances Food, Production, and Gold, making the USA versatile and capable of rapid expansion and high production. The Prospector helps secure important resources, while the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility. America is a well-rounded choice that offers a lot to players aiming 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 stands out for its resourcefulness and powerful units. The Goisshin trait allows you to adapt your buildings to modern needs while earning Science, and the Zaibatsu Quarter boosts Gold and Production, fueling your endgame push. The Mikasa's ability to respawn once adds resilience to your naval forces, while the Zero offers a strong aerial presence, making Meiji Japan a formidable choice.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations are solid choices that provide a balanced approach to resources and military strength, offering versatility in your strategy.

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 excels in cultural victories, thanks to the synergistic effects of the Avenue, which combines the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon to boost Culture and Happiness. This synergy fuels the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait, making it ideal for players focusing on cultural dominance. The Garde Imperiale provides a defensive edge, ensuring your cultural pursuits remain undisturbed.

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 cultural powerhouse, offering a strong mix of Culture, Gold, and Happiness. The Revolucion trait, combined with the Zocalo Quarter, provides significant Culture bonuses, making it a prime choice for cultural victories. The Soldaderas unit adds resilience to your military formations, making Mexico a robust choice for players aiming to dominate culturally.

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 approach with a focus on Gold, Culture, and Influence, though it requires careful management due to the Science penalty from imported resources. The Huiguan Quarter provides a significant Influence boost, and the Gusa unit can be powerful in large formations, making Qing a versatile choice for players who can manage its unique challenges.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations are good but more specialized, suitable for players with specific strategies or those who enjoy unique playstyles.

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 strategies, gaining significant benefits from pillaging. The River Raids trait and the Abambowa and Mwami units make pillaging highly rewarding, but this civilization requires constant warfare to thrive. While it lacks direct access to crucial yields like Science and Culture, a successful pillaging strategy can compensate for these deficiencies.

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 relish conflict, gaining Combat Strength from negative relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are strong, making Prussia a formidable military force. However, its focus on combat means you'll need to capture Settlements to keep up with Science and Culture, which are vital in the Modern Age. Prussia is a high-risk, high-reward choice that requires careful management to avoid being overwhelmed.

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 decent yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra, making it a solid choice for players who can leverage these advantages. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities, but the civilization's bonuses are not as impactful as those of higher-tier civilizations, potentially limiting its competitiveness in the Modern Age.

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 immediate Suzerain status over City-States, which can be powerful if you can generate the necessary Influence. The Chang Beun is an effective ranged unit, but Siam's overall impact depends heavily on the City-States you can ally with, making it a situational choice.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are viable but often require a specific playstyle or more experienced players 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 can be highly effective with the right strategy, thanks to the +75% Gold boost from all sources. However, the -25% penalty to other yields requires careful management to maintain competitiveness in Science and Culture. The Mughal's other traits are solid but not game-changing, making this civilization a challenging but rewarding choice for experienced players.