Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age is a critical turning point where the game's outcome is often decided. It's the final stretch where strategic choices made post-Exploration Age can significantly influence your path to victory. Selecting the right civilization is paramount, as it shapes your strategy and potential synergies with your chosen leader. With ten civilizations available in the base game (and an eleventh with the Crossroads of the World DLC), your choice is crucial. Below, we present a tier list to guide you in selecting the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.

Note: While this tier list focuses on the inherent strengths of each civilization, remember that your leader can further enhance your gameplay. Consider these synergies when making your selection.

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 are the cream of the crop in Civilization 7. With access to superior military units and valuable resources, these civilizations offer a strong foundation for dominating the game 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 stands out as a powerhouse in the Modern Age, leveraging a variety of resources effectively. The Frontier Expansion trait can provide substantial gold boosts by improving resources, while the Industrial Park, formed by combining the Railyard and Steel Mill, generates significant Food, Production, and Gold. This versatility allows for rapid expansion and robust production capabilities. The Prospector can secure crucial resources, boosting your yields further, while the Marine unit offers tactical flexibility with its Amphibious ability.

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 resource management and boasts formidable military units. The Goisshin trait allows for flexible district and building reshaping while boosting Science, and the Zaibatsu Quarter significantly enhances Gold and Production. The Mikasa naval unit's ability to respawn adds strategic depth, and the Zero fighter provides aerial superiority. This civilization is ideal for players aiming to advance swiftly into the endgame.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer strong, versatile gameplay with access to essential resources and military units.

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 for those pursuing a Cultural victory. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a powerful feedback loop of Culture and Happiness, driving progress through the Modern Age. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances this with Celebration effects. The Garde Imperiale unit provides defensive capabilities, ensuring your cultural growth 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 a powerhouse for Cultural victories, offering substantial Culture and Gold. The Revolucion trait and Zocalo Quarter, formed by the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, enhance Culture significantly. The Soldaderas unit provides defensive resilience, making Mexico a strong contender for those who can manage Happiness and initiate Celebrations effectively.

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 mix of benefits, though managing the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty is crucial. With strategic resource and building management, the Qing can maintain a competitive edge. The Gusa unit's combat strength and the Hangshang merchant's trade capabilities add to the civilization's versatility.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations have specific strengths that can be leveraged effectively in certain scenarios.

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 aggressive players focused on pillaging. The River Raids trait and units like Abambowa and Mwami excel in gaining resources through destruction. However, the civilization's reliance on pillaging for key yields makes it challenging and situational.

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 enjoy a confrontational approach. The Blood and Iron trait boosts combat strength based on negative relationships, making Prussia a formidable military force. However, its focus on warfare can be a double-edged sword, requiring careful management to avoid being overwhelmed.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - +1 Culture on Districts in Cities. +1 Science on Districts 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 provides balanced bonuses to Culture and Science, particularly in Tundra regions. The Cossack and Katyusha units support a defensive strategy, but the civilization's yield bonuses may not match more specialized options.

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 this requires substantial Influence. The Chang Beun unit offers tactical advantages, but Siam's overall impact depends heavily on the City-States available and your ability to generate Influence.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations offer unique playstyles but may be more challenging to master.

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 high-risk, high-reward strategy with a significant Gold boost but a penalty to other yields. Effective management of this trade-off can lead to success, but it requires careful planning to compensate for the reduced Science and Culture output.