Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is a pivotal era where the game's outcome is often determined, marking the end of your journey from the Exploration Age. It's crucial to leverage your advantages and make strategic decisions to secure victory. The civilization you select plays a vital role in this stage, with ten civilizations available in the base game, and an additional one if you own the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing your chosen civilization with the right leader can create powerful synergies, enhancing your gameplay. Below, we present a tier list to help you choose the best Modern Age civilizations in Civ 7, ranked based on their standalone strengths.

Note: Your leader's abilities will further enhance your civilization, potentially altering their effectiveness through synergies. Consider how your chosen civilization will interact with your leader when making your decision.

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: The new DLC civilization, Great Britain, has not been ranked yet. Its performance will be assessed in due time.

S-Tier Modern Civs

These are the top-tier civilizations in Civilization 7, offering superior military units and resource access, enabling you to dominate 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 with the Amphibious ability, cheaper to train.

Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit that claims a Land Resource outside of your regular Settlement radius.

Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter formed 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 resource utilization, making it one of the best civilizations in the Modern Age. The Frontier Expansion trait can provide significant gold boosts by improving resources. The combination of the Railyard and Steel Mill to form the Industrial Park offers substantial Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and production capabilities. The Prospector can secure crucial resources, while the Marine's Amphibious ability adds versatility to your military strategy.

For more on economic victories, explore how to use Factory Resources in Civilization 7.

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 that respawns at 50% HP in the closest Settlement after being destroyed.

Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units.

Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter formed 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 highly resourceful, offering powerful units and economic benefits. The Goisshin trait allows for flexible district and building management while boosting Science. The Zaibatsu Quarter can generate substantial Gold and Production, fueling your endgame push. The Mikasa's respawn ability adds resilience to your naval fleet, while the Zero dominates the skies.

Learn more about all the Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer a balanced mix of resources and military strength, making them solid choices for various victory paths.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - 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 with Ranged attack capability and +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train.

Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities with an Avenue. The specific Jacobin received once, with increasing cost per Jacobin trained.

Avenue - French Imperial Quarter formed 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 ideal for a Cultural victory, with the Avenue providing a strong synergy of Culture and Happiness. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances your ability to manage Celebrations effectively. The Garde Imperiale offers defensive capabilities to protect your cultural growth.

Discover more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion, with 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, trainable only in Cities with a Zocalo. The specific Revolucionario received is random, with increasing cost per Revolucionario trained.

Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter formed by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes 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 Cultural powerhouse, offering significant Culture and Gold. The Revolucion Government provides periodic Culture boosts, while the Zocalo Quarter enhances Culture further. The Soldaderas Unit adds durability to your military formations, making Mexico a strong contender for a Cultural victory.

Check out how to achieve every victory type in Civ 7!

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 with +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa.

Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant 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 formed 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 Gold, Culture, and Influence, though it comes with a Science penalty from imported resources. Effective resource and building management can mitigate this, making Qing a versatile choice. The Gusa Unit provides strong military options when grouped together.

For new games, explore all the Civ 7 Map Settings explained.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations are solid but may be more specialized or less versatile compared to higher tiers.

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 that heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile.

Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander with 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 thrives on aggressive playstyles, gaining resources through pillaging. The River Raids trait and units like the Abambowa and Mwami make pillaging highly rewarding, though the civilization lacks direct access to key Modern Age yields.

For tips on waging war, explore the best Civ 7 Commander Upgrades.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron - Units receive +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship.

Hussar - Prussian Unique Cavalry Unit with +1 Movement and +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining.

Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit with +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad with +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles with a Staatseisenbahn.

Prussia excels in military aggression, gaining strength from poor relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka are powerful units for direct combat, but Prussia's focus on military might may leave you struggling to keep up with Science and Culture advancements.

If diplomacy is more your style, learn how to get and use Civ 7 Influence.

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 with +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.

Katyusha Rocket Launcher - Russian Unique Siege Unit with +1 Movement and 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, particularly in Tundra, but these may not be enough to compete with more specialized civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive military options, though they are less effective offensively.

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 with increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement. Can move after attacking.

Uparat - A Great Person with one charge, trainable only in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended. The specific Uparat received is random, with increasing cost 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 Suzerainty over City-States, though it requires substantial Influence. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit, but Siam's effectiveness relies heavily on the presence of suitable City-States.

Learn more about Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses!

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are situational and may require a more experienced player to maximize their potential.

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 that can make a Bombard Ranged attack.

Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler capable of founding new Towns with +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 significant Gold boost but at the cost of other yields, making it a high-risk, high-reward choice. Proper management can turn this into a powerful economic advantage, but it requires careful balancing to avoid falling behind in Science and Culture.

For a comprehensive guide to victory, explore how to win in Civ 7!