The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is pivotal; it's where victories are clinched and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for winning. Your civilization choice is paramount. 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 leader bonuses can significantly alter a civilization's power.
Best *Civ 7* Modern Civilizations
*Civ 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 unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the game.
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 beyond settlement radius. Industrial Park: (Railyard + Steel Mill) Unique quarter; +2 Food per resource assigned. 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 Industrial Park (Railyard and Steel Mill combination) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer tactical flexibility. This well-rounded civilization facilitates rapid expansion and strong production.
Economic Victory: Learn how to leverage Factory Resources in *Civilization 7*.
S-tier: Meiji Japan
Goisshin: Overbuilding yields Science (50% of building's Production cost). +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique Heavy Naval Unit; respawns at 50% HP in nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique Fighter unit; increased range, +4 Combat Strength vs. 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. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Coastal terrain and Wonders. Ageless.
Meiji Japan boasts powerful resource management and formidable units. Goisshin allows efficient district and building repurposing, while Zaibatsu generates massive Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability and the Zero's superior air combat capabilities make them dominant forces.
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: Choose 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: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) Unique Quarter; +2 Happiness on city Quarters. 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 synergizes well for Cultural victories. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise and Salon) creates a Culture and Happiness feedback loop, maximizing Celebration effects from Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.
Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in *Civ 7*!
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion: Unique Government; +30% Culture for 10 turns (Celebration effect). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes) Unique Quarter; +2 Culture per Tradition slotted. 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 is a Culture powerhouse, offering strong Culture and Gold generation. The Zocalo (Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes) further boosts Culture, and the Soldaderas provide tactical healing advantages. This civilization excels in Cultural victories.
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; establishes trade routes for resource import. Huiguan: (Qianzhuang + Shiguan) Unique Quarter; +35% Influence. 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 strong Gold, Culture, and Influence, but requires careful management of the Science penalty from imported resources. The Gusa unit's strength in formations and the Huiguan's Influence boost make this a versatile choice.
Starting a new game? We've got all the *Civ 7* Map Settings explained.
B-Tier Modern Civilizations
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These civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging (equal to yield/healing). Land units gain Amphibious. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Infantry unit; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Army Commander; +50% pillaging yields within command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless. Must be placed on Flat Terrain.
Buganda thrives on aggressive play, leveraging pillaging for significant Culture gains. The Abambowa and Mwami units enhance pillaging effectiveness, but success hinges on constant warfare and resourcefulness.
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 Civ relationship. Hussar: Cavalry unit; +1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining Movement. Stuka: Ground Attack unit; +3 Combat Strength against land units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.
Prussia excels in aggressive expansion, gaining Combat Strength from negative relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful, but this strategy requires constant conflict and careful resource management to keep pace technologically.
Prefer diplomacy? Find out How to Get and Use *Civ 7* Influence.
B-Tier: Russia
Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles. +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. Ageless. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Obshchina.
Russia benefits from District yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide defensive and offensive capabilities, but the civilization might lag behind others in overall yield generation.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become City-State Suzerain (at higher Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Ranged unit; increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge); trained when befriending an Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless. Must be placed on a Navigable River.
Siam's unique Diplomatic Action offers strategic City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence generation. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit, but the civilization's overall yield generation might be less consistent than others.
Learn more about *Civ 7* Independent Powers and their bonuses!
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
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These civilizations are situational and may 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. Ageless. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Stepwell.
Mughal offers massive Gold generation but suffers from significant yield penalties. Careful resource management is crucial to offset these drawbacks and maintain competitiveness in Science and Culture. While potentially powerful, it demands experienced players.
