The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame—where victories are forged and the final chapter unfolds. Mastering this era hinges on leveraging your advantages and making shrewd decisions following the Exploration Age. 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 on their standalone strengths, remembering that leader abilities significantly impact overall 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's ranking (from the DLC) remains to be determined.
S-Tier Modern Civilizations
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These are *Civilization 7*'s elite, offering dominant map control through superior military units and resource access.
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: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource). Railyard & Steel Mill: Unique production buildings (ageless) that create the Industrial Park. America excels at resource utilization, its Frontier Expansion trait generating significant gold. The Railyard and Steel Mill synergize to create the food, production, and gold-rich Industrial Park. The Prospector secures crucial resources, while the Marine's amphibious ability enhances maneuverability.
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 that respawns at 50% health. Zero: Unique fighter aircraft with increased range and combat strength against other fighters. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent buildings). Ginko & Jukogyo: Unique ageless gold and production buildings creating the Zaibatsu. Meiji Japan's resourcefulness shines through. Goisshin allows for district and building reshaping while reclaiming science. The Zaibatsu quarter generates substantial gold and production. The Mikasa's respawn ability and the Zero's air superiority make for a formidable military.
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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: Unique ranged infantry unit. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge). Avenue: Unique quarter (+2 Happiness on other quarters). Jardin a la Francaise & Salon: Unique ageless culture and happiness buildings creating the Avenue. The French Empire excels at cultural victory through its synergistic traits. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a positive feedback loop of culture and happiness. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait allows for flexible government choices, while the Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.
Learn more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!
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). Zocalo: Unique quarter (+2 Culture per tradition). Catedral & Portal de Mercaderes: Unique ageless culture buildings creating the Zocalo. Similar to France, Mexico is a culture powerhouse. The Revolucion government provides significant culture boosts, while the Zocalo further amplifies cultural output. The Soldaderas unit offers defensive capabilities.
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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 (gains 50 Gold per resource from naval trade routes). Huiguan: Unique quarter (+35% Influence). Shiguan & Qianzhuang: Unique ageless science and gold buildings creating the Huiguan. The Qing civilization offers a balance of gold, culture, and influence, but requires careful management of the science penalty. The Gusa unit provides military strength.
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B-Tier Modern Civilizations
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These civilizations offer solid benefits but might be more specialized or situational.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain culture from pillaging (equal to yield or healing). Land units gain amphibious ability. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique infantry unit (+10 HP from pillaging). Mwami: Unique army commander (50% increased pillaging yields). Kabaka’s Lake: Unique improvement (+3 Happiness, lake yield bonuses). Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant culture and resources from pillaging. The Abambowa and Mwami units enhance pillaging efficiency. The Kabaka’s Lake provides happiness and lake resource bonuses.
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B-Tier: Prussia
Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly relationship. Hussar: Unique cavalry unit (+1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining movement). Stuka: Unique ground attack aircraft (+3 Combat Strength against land units). Staatseisenbahn: Unique railroad (+2 Gold and Production on rural tiles). Prussia excels in aggressive warfare, gaining combat strength from negative relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are formidable, but the civilization's focus on military might can leave other areas neglected.
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B-Tier: Russia
Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on districts (bonus Science on Tundra). +30% production towards the Hermitage. Cossack: Unique cavalry unit (+4 Combat Strength in friendly territory). Katyusha Rocket Launcher: Unique siege unit (Splash ability). Obschchina: Unique improvement (+2 Food from adjacent Farms, +2 Culture in Tundra). Russia offers balanced culture and science bonuses, particularly strong in tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide solid military options.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action (become City-State Suzerain). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique ranged unit (increased range and movement). Uparat: Great Person (one charge). Bang: Unique improvement (+3 Culture and Happiness). Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun unit is a strong ranged unit.
Learn more about Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses!
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
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These civilizations are more situational or require specific playstyles.
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: Unique improvement (+2 Food from adjacent Farms). The Mughal civilization offers immense gold generation but suffers from significant yield penalties. Careful management is crucial to offset the drawbacks.
