Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age progress, is crucial for success. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of winning. Eleven civilizations (ten base game, plus one from the Crossroads of the World DLC) offer diverse strategic options, creating powerful synergies with different leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base strengths; leader abilities can significantly alter their effectiveness.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civilizations

Civilization 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 (DLC) is unranked pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

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These civilizations offer exceptional advantages, from superior military units to potent resource control, 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 outside your settlement radius. Industrial Park: (Railyard + Steel Mill) Unique Quarter; +2 Food per resource assigned. Railyard: +5 Production, +1 Production adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. Steel Mill: +6 Production, Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders.

America excels at resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold spikes, while the Industrial Park (Railyard and Steel Mill combination) generates substantial 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: Gain Science (50% of building production cost) when overbuilding. +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 boasts resourcefulness and powerful units. Goisshin allows for district and building adaptation while reclaiming Science. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates massive Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability provides strategic resilience, and the Zero excels in aerial combat.

Learn more about all Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

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A-Tier civilizations offer diverse resource access and strong military capabilities.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Select any Modern Age Government's Celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Ranged attack infantry unit, +2 Combat Strength within friendly Army Commander radius. Jacobin: One-charge Great Person (requires Avenue). Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) Unique Quarter; +2 Happiness on 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 synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue creates a feedback loop, boosting Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides military support.

Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique Government; +30% Culture for 10 turns (Celebration). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: One-charge Great Person (requires Zocalo). Zocalo: (Catedral + Portal de Mercanderes) Unique Quarter; +2 Culture per Tradition. 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 Culture powerhouse, offering strong Culture generation and Gold access. The Zocalo further amplifies Culture, and Soldaderas provide unit sustainment.

Check out How to Win Civ 7 - every victory type explained!

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi: +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, -1 Science from imported resources. +30% production towards Chengde Mountain Resort. Gusa: Infantry unit; +4 Combat Strength adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Merchant; gains 50 Gold per resource acquired via naval trade routes. Huiguan: (Qianzhuang + Shiguan) Unique Quarter; +35% Influence. 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 a balance of yields, though managing the Science penalty from Kang Qian Shengshi is crucial. The Gusa unit provides strong military capabilities.

Starting up a new game? We've got all the Civ 7 Map Settings explained.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

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B-Tier civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to yield/healing gained. Land units gain Amphibious. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Infantry unit; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Army Commander; +50% yields from pillaging within its Command Radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness, receives Lake yield bonuses.

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant benefits from pillaging. However, it lacks direct access to key yields like Science and Culture in the Modern Age, requiring active warfare to compensate.

Waging war? Take a look at the best Civ 7 Commander Upgrades.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Cavalry unit; +1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining movement point. Stuka: Ground Attack Air Unit; +3 Combat Strength against land units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.

Prussia excels in aggressive warfare, gaining strength from negative relationships. However, its focus on military might requires balancing Science and Culture needs through territorial expansion.

Prefer diplomacy? Find out How to Get and Use Civ 7 Influence.

B-Tier: Russia

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

Russia benefits from District yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra. Its units provide defensive and area-of-effect capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become City-State Suzerain (at increased Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Ranged unit; increased range and movement, can move after attacking. Uparat: One-charge Great Person (requires befriended Independent Power). Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for swift City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence generation. 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 may be more situational or require specialized strategies.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations: +75% Gold from all sources, -25% to all other yields. +30% production towards the Red Fort. Sepoy: Infantry unit; Bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Settler; +1 Population on new settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms.

The Mughal civilization offers massive Gold generation but significantly reduces other yields. Careful resource management is crucial to offset this drawback.