Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

Author: Victoria Mar 16,2025

The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame—where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era requires leveraging your advantages and making strategic choices following the Exploration Age. Your civilization selection is paramount. The Modern Age offers ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each capable of powerful synergies with specific leaders. This tier list ranks the best Modern Age civilizations based solely on their base capabilities; remember that leader abilities significantly impact a civilization's overall strength.

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 exceptional advantages, from strong military units to powerful resource access, enabling dominance across various maps.

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 assigned). Railyard: (+5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus). Steel Mill: (+6 Production; Gold adjacency bonus).

America excels in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, fostering rapid expansion. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer tactical flexibility.

Economic Victory: Learn how to utilize Factory Resources in Civilization 7.

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 nearest settlement upon destruction). Zero: Unique Fighter Air Unit (increased range, +4 combat strength against fighters, interception capability). Zaibatsu: Unique Quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent buildings). Ginko: (+5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus). Jukogyo: (+5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus on coastal terrain).

Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units are key strengths. Goisshin allows district and building repurposing with Science gains, while Zaibatsu generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability provides resilience, and the Zero dominates aerial combat.

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: Select any Modern Age Government's Celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique Infantry Unit (ranged attack, +2 combat strength in Army Commander radius). Jacobin: Great Person (trained in cities with an Avenue). Avenue: Unique Quarter (+2 Happiness on city quarters). Jardin a la Francaise: (+5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus). Salon: (+5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency bonus).

The French Empire synergizes well for Cultural victories. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a Culture and Happiness feedback loop, maximizing Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. 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 (trained in cities with a Zocalo). Zocalo: Unique Quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition). Catedral: (+5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus). Portal de Mercaderes: (+5 Culture; +1 Gold adjacency bonus).

Mexico is a Culture powerhouse. Revolucion provides significant Culture bonuses with Happiness management, amplified by the Zocalo (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes). Soldaderas offer defensive strength.

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: Unique Infantry Unit (+4 combat strength adjacent to another Gusa). Hangshang: Unique Merchant (establishes trade routes, gains 50 Gold per resource acquired via naval trade routes). Huiguan: Unique Quarter (+35% Influence). Shiguan: (+6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus). Qianzhuang: (+5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus).

The Qing civilization offers strong yields but requires careful resource management due to the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty. The Gusa unit excels in formation combat.

Starting a new game? We've got all the *Civ 7* Map Settings explained.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

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B-tier civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging (equal to yield/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: (+3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses).

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant resources through pillaging. Requires a strong military and proactive warfare.

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 civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique Cavalry Unit (+1 Movement, +1 Combat Strength per remaining Movement). Stuka: Unique Ground Attack Air 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. Requires strong military and resource management to maintain pace with technological advancements.

Prefer diplomacy? Find out How to Get and Use *Civ 7* Influence.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on Districts (bonus Science on Tundra 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).

Russia benefits from District yield bonuses (particularly in Tundra). Units offer defensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action (immediately become Suzerain of a City-State at increased Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique Ranged Unit (increased range, +1 Movement, can move after attacking). Uparat: Great Person (trained when befriending an Independent Power). Bang: (+3 Culture and Happiness).

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows rapid City-State control, but requires Influence generation. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit.

Learn more about *Civ 7* Independent Powers and their bonuses!

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

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C-tier civilizations are situational or 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: Unique Infantry Unit (Bombard ranged attack). Zamindar: Unique Settler (+1 Population on new Settlements). Stepwell: (+2 Food from adjacent Farms).

Mughal's high gold generation can be powerful, but the yield penalty requires careful management to compensate for reduced Science and Culture. Other traits are relatively standard.