Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame—where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era requires leveraging your advantages and making strategic choices from the Exploration Age onward. Your civilization selection is paramount.

Ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC) offer unique strengths in the Modern Age. Powerful synergies emerge when pairing civilizations with specific leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based on their base power, independent of leader bonuses. Remember to consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

Best *Civ 7* Modern Civilizations

*Civ 7* Modern Civilization Tier List

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**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) remains pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

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These civilizations offer exceptional advantages, from strong military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Gain 100 Gold per resource improvement. +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious infantry unit, cheaper to train. Prospector: Claims land resources beyond standard settlement radius. Industrial Park: (Railyard + Steel Mill) Unique quarter; +2 Food per resource assigned to the city. Railyard: +5 Production, +1 Production adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. Steel Mill: +6 Production, Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders.

America's versatility shines through its resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides substantial gold spikes, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill combination) generates significant Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer tactical flexibility.

Economic Victory: Learn how to utilize Factory Resources in Civilization 7.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Overbuilding yields Science (50% of building's Production cost). +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique Heavy Naval Unit; respawns at 50% HP in the nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique Fighter Air Unit; increased range, +4 Combat Strength against other fighters, can intercept. Zaibatsu: (Ginko + Jukogyo) Unique quarter; +1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings. Ginko: +5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Jukogyo: +5 Production, +1 Production adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders.

Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units are key strengths. Goisshin allows for district and building adaptation while generating Science. The Zaibatsu quarter generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability provides strategic resilience, while the Zero dominates the skies.

Learn more about all Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

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A-tier civilizations offer varied resource access and significant military strength.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Select any Modern Age Government's Celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique Infantry Unit; ranged attack, +2 Combat Strength within friendly Army Commander radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) Unique quarter; +2 Happiness on city Quarters. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Salon: +5 Happiness, +1 Culture adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders.

The French Empire excels in cultural victories. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon combination) creates a strong Culture and Happiness synergy, fueling Celebrations through Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.

Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique Government; +30% Culture for 10 turns (Celebration effect). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique Infantry Unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: (Catedral + Portal de Mercanderes) Unique quarter; +2 Culture per Tradition in the Government. Catedral: +5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture, +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders.

Mexico is a cultural powerhouse, generating significant Culture and Gold. The Zocalo (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes combination) boosts Culture further, while Soldaderas offer defensive strength through healing.

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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 adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Unique Merchant; establishes Trade Routes to import Resources. Huiguan: (Qianzhuang + Shiguan) Unique quarter; +35% Influence in this Settlement. Shiguan: +6 Science, +1 Happiness adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders.

The Qing civilization offers strong yields but requires careful resource management due to the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty. The Gusa unit provides military strength.

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B-Tier Modern Civilizations

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B-tier civilizations offer solid benefits, often specializing in particular strategies.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging (equal to yield or healing). Land units gain Amphibious ability. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique Infantry Unit; heals +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.

Buganda thrives on aggressive warfare and pillaging. River Raids, Abambowa, and Mwami synergize to maximize gains from pillaging, but require constant military action.

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B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique Cavalry Unit; +1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining Movement. 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 expansion, gaining combat strength from negative relationships. However, this strategy requires constant warfare and resource management.

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B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles in Cities; bonus Science on Tundra Districts. +30% production towards the Hermitage. Cossack: Unique Cavalry Unit; +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory. Katyusha Rocket Launcher: Unique Siege Unit; +1 Movement, Splash damage. Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent Farms, +2 Culture in Tundra.

Russia offers balanced Culture and Science bonuses, particularly strong on Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide military support.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State (higher Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique Ranged Unit; increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement, can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge); trained when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit.

Learn more about Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses!

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

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C-tier civilizations are more situational, requiring specific strategies and experience.

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; Bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique Settler; +1 Population on new Settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms.

Mughal's massive gold bonus can be incredibly powerful, but the significant yield penalties require careful management to avoid lagging in crucial areas like Science and Culture.