Ranking Modern Civilizations in Civilization 7

In Civilization 7, the Modern Age is where everything’s decided. It’s the critical point that shapes the winners. You’ll want to ensure you wield your advantages wisely, making clever choices as you move forward from the Exploration Age.

Your choice of civilization is crucial for claiming victory. In the Modern Age, there are ten civilizations to pick from, or eleven if you’ve got the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing the right Civ 7 leaders with these civilizations can unlock incredibly potent combinations. To simplify your decision-making process, we’ve put together a tier list of the top civilizations for the Modern Age in Civ 7.

Remember, your leader adds additional buffs throughout your campaign, and when paired with the right civilization, can enhance their power through strong synergies. This tier list is based on the raw power of each civilization on its own, so consider how a civilization’s strengths will mesh with your leader when making your choice.

Civ 7 Modern Civilizations 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 from the new DLC hasn’t been ranked yet—stay tuned to see how it fares!

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These are the cream of the crop in Civilization 7’s Modern Age. With powerful military units and excellent resource access, these civilizations dominate the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion – Add 100 Gold each time you improve a Resource. +30% Production towards building the Statue of Liberty.
Marine – Unique American Infantry with an Amphibious ability, cheaper to train.
Prospector – Unique American Civilian Unit that claims a Land Resource outside your typical Settlement radius.
Industrial Park – Created by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district, it adds +2 Food for every Resource assigned to this City.
Railyard – Boosts Production by +5 and provides +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders.
Steel Mill – Contributes +6 Production and Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders.

America stands out due to its versatile resource use, making it a top pick in the modern era. Its Frontier Expansion leads to significant gold boosts, while the combined benefits of the Railyard and Steel Mill form a robust Industrial Park, providing ample Food, Production, and Gold. America can expand rapidly thanks to its diverse offerings and sound production capabilities. The Prospector helps secure essential resources, and the Marine unit, with its Amphibious ability, adds strategic flexibility.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin – Gain Science equivalent to 50% of a Building’s Production cost when you Overbuild. +30% Production for constructing Dogo Onsen.
Mikasa – Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns once after being destroyed, at 50% HP.
Zero – Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Units, capable of intercepting enemy Air Units.
Zaibatsu – Created by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District, providing +1 Gold and Production on Buildings in adjacent Districts.
Ginko – Offers +5 Gold and +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders.
Jukogyo – Contributes +5 Production and +1 Production Adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders.

Meiji Japan is a powerhouse of efficiency, with the Goisshin trait allowing district remodeling while gaining substantial Science returns. The Zaibatsu Quarter can significantly enhance Gold and Production if positioned strategically with loaded quarters. Meiji Japan’s military strength lies in its formidable Mikasa unit, which can revive upon defeat, and the Zero aircraft, which dominates the skies in the late game.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

A-Tier civilizations provide robust access to resources and commendable military prowess through their unique units.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite – Choose the Celebration effects of any standard Government. +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower.
Garde Imperiale – Can perform a Ranged attack and gains +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander’s Radius.
Jacobin – A singular-use Great Person trainable in Cities with an Avenue; each is unique and cost increases with each new Jacobin.
Avenue – Created by constructing Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District, adding +2 Happiness on city Quarters.

The French Empire excels with its cultural potential, crafting a feedback loop of Culture and Happiness through the Avenue’s creation. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite taps into this synergy, bolstering your civilization via Celebrations. Though not an absolute powerhouse, the Garde Imperiale grants decent military capabilities to defend as you build a cultured empire.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion – Starts unique Government granting +30% Culture for 10 turns with a Celebration effect. Locks out other Government types. +30% Production for Palacio de Bellas Artes construction.
Soldaderas – Mexican Unique Infantry Unit, enabling +10 HP healing for adjacent Units.
Revolucionario– Great Person with unique characteristics, trainable in Cities equipped with a Zocalo.
Zocalo – Formed by constructing Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in one District, boosts Culture based on slotted Traditions.

Mexico is a cultural juggernaut comparable to France but brings more monetary gains to the table. Maximizing happiness through buildings facilitates Celebrations, unlocking a 30% boost in Culture to drive toward victory. Soldaderas Units add immunity through healing formations, and the Zocalo Quarter further enhances cultural returns.

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi – Offers +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, but takes -1 Science from imported Resources. +30% Production for Chengde Mountain Resort.
Gusa – Unique Infantry Unit, gaining +4 Combat Strength next to another Gusa.
Hangshang – Merchant capable of setting up Trade Routes, gaining 50 Gold per imported Resource.
Huiguan – Created by combining Qianzhuang and Shiguan, enhancing Influence by 35% in the Settlement.

Though Qing yields strong bonuses in Gold, Culture, and Influence, it suffers a Science dip with Kang Qian Shengshi. Successful management to balance this drawback is essential, as fast-paced Modern Age technology is critical. Proper resource, Wonder, and Building planning offsets Science drawbacks considerably.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-Tier civilizations offer useful features, though typically more specialized, making them optimal in fewer situations but broadly valuable.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids – Gathers Culture from pillaged Buildings or Improvements matching the yield or healing obtained. Adds Amphibious ability to Land Military Units. +30% towards constructing Muzibu Azaala Mpanga.
Abambowa – Bugandan Unique Infantry Unit healing from Pillaging.
Mwami – Bugandan Unique Army Commander receives 50% yields from pillaging within its Command Radius.

Buganda offers unconventional gameplay focusing on expropriation and pillaging to thrive. Aggressive players will reap Culture, but a proactive military is necessary to access enemy Settlements. River Raids, as well as unique units like Abambowa and Mwami, necessitate continuous warfare, but neglecting resource acquisition can impede success.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron – Adds +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or hostile Civ Relationship.
Hussar – Unique Prussian Cavalry Unit with +1 Movement. Possesses additional Combat Strength based on remaining Movement.
Stuka – Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit offers +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Prussia thrives with enemy animosity, gaining Combat Strength from sour relationships. Ideal for aggressive strategies, Prussia capitalizes on unique Hussar and Stuka Units to crush foes. A single-minded focus on battle prevails, but Settlements must be captured to sustain vital Science and Cultural demands. However, lack of diversity could lead to strategic limitations when enemies unite.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie – Adds +1 Culture on Districts, with an extra +1 Science on Tundra Districts. +30% Production for Hermitage.
Cossack – Unique Cavalry Unit defending with +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.
Katyusha Rocket Launcher – Siege Unit with Splash ability against adjacent units.

Russia combines decent Science, Culture, and powerful defensive Units to safeguard progress. However, the bonuses on Districts are insufficient, especially limited to Tundra. While the Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher protect with defensive capabilities, this limited strategy could hinder success against varied troops.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab – Initiates Diplomatic Action to become City-State Suzerain at higher Influence cost. +30% Production for Doi Suthep.
Chang Beun – Unique Ranged Unit with heightened Ranged Strength and mobility.
Uparat – Trainable Great Person with unique characteristics in Cities aligned with Independent Powers.

Siam’s diplomacy and influence-driven game hinges on developing Suzerain status for yielding benefits. City-State alignment is crucial for offsets, yet limited Influence generation capabilities require careful management. Chang Beun Ranged Units provide tactical maneuvering through their mobility.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-Tier civilizations can be effective but typically require special approaches tailored for experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations – Gathers +75% Gold from all sources but costs -25% for other yields. Aligns with +30% for Red Fort construction.
Sepoy – Unique Infantry Unit conducting Bombard Ranged attacks.
Zamindar – Settler Unit supports founding new Towns with +1 Population boost.

Mughal can excel financially with +75% Gold collection, yet the -25% reduction across other yields mandates strategic compensation. Managing Science and Culture penalties is essential, as wealth alone cannot substitute critical advances. In adept hands, Mughal thrives, but for the novice, alternatives may promise simpler triumphs.

Patrick, a freelance journalist with over 13 years of gaming expertise, relishes delving deep into game systems, amassing extensive experience with titles like Overwatch 2 and Destiny 2.