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 advancements, is crucial for success. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of victory. The Modern Age presents ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique synergies with various leaders. This tier list ranks the best Modern Age civilizations based solely on their base strengths—remember that leader abilities can significantly alter a civilization's power.
Best *Civ 7* Modern Civilizations
*Civ 7* Modern Civilization Tier List
---------------------------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
------------------These civilizations offer the best overall strengths in Civilization 7, boasting strong military units and powerful resource access for map dominance.
S-tier: America
Frontier Expansion: Gain 100 Gold per resource improvement. +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Claims land resources outside your settlement radius. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource assigned); created by building a Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.
America excels in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Railyard and Steel Mill synergy generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer strategic mobility.
S-tier: Meiji Japan
Goisshin: Gain Science (50% of building's 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 enemy air units. Zaibatsu: Unique Quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings); created by building a Ginko and Jukogyo in the same district. Ginko: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. Ageless.
Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units are defining features. Goisshin allows efficient district and building adaptation while generating Science. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability provides a significant tactical advantage, while the Zero dominates air combat.
A-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------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: Unique Infantry Unit; ranged attack, +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique Quarter (+2 Happiness on city Quarters); created by building a Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same district. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Salon: +5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
The French Empire's synergy between Culture and Happiness is its strength. The Avenue generates a feedback loop, fueling Celebrations through Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion: Unique Government (+30% Culture for 10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique Infantry Unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trainable in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique Quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition in Government); created by building a Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same district. Catedral: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture; +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
Mexico's cultural prowess is evident in its strong Culture generation. The Zocalo further enhances Culture output, while the Soldaderas offer tactical healing advantages.
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 for resource imports. Huiguan: Unique Quarter (+35% Influence); created by building a Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same district. Shiguan: +6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Ageless.
The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach, with strong Gold, Culture, and Influence generation, though it requires careful management of the Science penalty from imported resources. The Gusa unit provides significant military strength.
B-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------B-tier civilizations offer specialized benefits, effective in specific scenarios.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to yield or healing gained; Land Military 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 command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.
Buganda thrives on aggressive expansion and pillaging, generating significant Culture and resources through warfare. However, its reliance on conflict makes it less versatile.
B-Tier: Prussia
Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per negative Civ Relationship. Hussar: Unique Cavalry Unit; +1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining movement point. Stuka: Unique Ground Attack Air Unit; +3 Combat Strength against Land Units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.
Prussia's strength lies in its aggressive military capabilities, benefiting from negative relationships with other civilizations. However, this aggressive strategy requires careful resource management.
B-Tier: Russia
Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on 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. Ageless.
Russia offers balanced Culture and Science generation, particularly strong in Tundra terrain. Its units provide defensive and siege 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: Unique Ranged Unit; increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge); trainable when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.
Siam's unique diplomatic action allows rapid City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun unit offers strong ranged combat capabilities.
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------C-tier civilizations are 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. Ageless.
The Mughal civilization offers immense Gold generation but suffers from significant penalties to other yields, requiring careful resource management and strategic planning.
