The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* is the endgame – where victories are forged and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for claiming ultimate victory. Your civilization choice is paramount. The Modern Age presents ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique synergies with their leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their inherent strengths, independent of leader bonuses. Remember to consider leader synergies when making your final decision.
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 assessment.
S-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to potent resource control, often dominating the map.
S-tier: America
Frontier Expansion: Earn 100 Gold per resource improvement. +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Unique civilian unit; claims land resources beyond normal settlement range. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (Railyard + Steel Mill); +2 Food per resource assigned to the city. 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 substantial gold income, while the combined Railyard and Steel Mill create the Industrial Park, boosting Food, Production, and Gold. This versatility allows for rapid expansion and strong production capabilities. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious nature adds tactical flexibility.
S-tier: Meiji Japan
Goisshin: Overbuilding yields Science equal to 50% of the building's production cost. +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 (Ginko + Jukogyo); +1 Gold and Production on buildings in adjacent districts. 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 resourcefulness and powerful units. Goisshin allows for district and building repurposing with significant Science gains. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability provides a significant advantage, while the Zero dominates the skies.
A-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations offer strong, versatile benefits, often combining resource access with potent military capabilities.
A-Tier: French Empire
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Access to all Modern Age government celebration effects. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique Infantry Unit; ranged attack, +2 Combat Strength within an army commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique Quarter (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon); +2 Happiness on Quarters in the city. 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 Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue, formed by the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a powerful feedback loop, boosting Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion: Unique government; +30% Culture for 10 turns (Celebration). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique Infantry Unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique Quarter (Catedral + Portal de Mercanderes); +2 Culture per Tradition in the government. 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, similar to the French Empire but with stronger Gold generation and potentially less Happiness. The Zocalo further enhances Culture output, and the Soldaderas' healing ability boosts unit survivability.
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 to import resources, gaining 50 Gold per resource via naval trade routes. Huiguan: Unique Quarter (Qianzhuang + Shiguan); +35% Influence in the city. 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, but requires careful resource management due to the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's Science penalty. The Gusa unit's strength lies in group formations.
B-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations offer solid benefits but might be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to the yield or healing gained. Land units gain Amphibious. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique Infantry Unit; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique Army Commander; +50% yields from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.
Buganda thrives on aggressive warfare and pillaging, gaining significant benefits from destroying enemy infrastructure. However, this strategy requires constant military action and may leave the civilization vulnerable if not executed effectively.
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 point. 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 warfare, gaining strength from negative relationships with other civilizations. However, this approach can lead to multiple simultaneous wars, requiring strong military and 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 bonuses to Districts, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide defensive capabilities.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State (at increased Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique Ranged Unit; increased range 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.
Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a highly mobile ranged unit.
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------These civilizations may require specific strategies or more experienced players to fully utilize their potential.
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 a high-risk, high-reward approach. The massive Gold bonus can be incredibly powerful, but the significant penalties to other yields require careful management. The other units and improvements offer modest support.
