Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

In Civilization 7, the Modern Age is where the game reaches its climax, and the path to victory is determined. This crucial era requires strategic decisions and leveraging your advantages from the Exploration Age to secure a win. The choice of civilization is pivotal, as it can significantly influence your success. In the Modern Age, players have a selection of ten civilizations to choose from, with an additional option if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing these civilizations with the right leaders can create powerful synergies that enhance your gameplay. Below, we present a tier list to help you navigate the best Modern Age civilizations in Civilization 7.

Keep in mind that your chosen Leader will further boost your civilization's capabilities, and the right combination can amplify your strategy. Our tier list focuses solely on the standalone strength of each civilization, but consider how they will synergize with your chosen Leader when making your decision.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs

Civ 7 Modern Civs Tier List

S-tier: America, Meiji Japan

A-tier: French Empire, Mexico, Qing

B-tier: Buganda, Prussia, Russia, Siam

C-tier: Mughal

Note: We haven't ranked the new DLC Civ Great Britain yet - time will tell how it measures up!

S-Tier Modern Civs

The cream of the crop in Civilization 7, these civilizations offer exceptional military units and resource access, enabling you to dominate the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion - Gain 100 Gold every time you improve a Resource. +30% Production towards constructing the Statue of Liberty.

Marine - American Unique Infantry Unit. Has the Amphibious ability. Cheaper to train.

Prospector - American Unique Civilian Unit. Claims a Land Resource outside of your regular Settlement radius.

Industrial Park - American Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. +2 Food in this City for every Resource assigned to this City.

Railyard - +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. American Unique Production Building. Ageless.

Steel Mill - +6 Production. Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. American Unique Production Building. Ageless.

America excels in the Modern Age due to its versatility and resource management. The Frontier Expansion trait provides substantial gold boosts, while the Industrial Park, formed by the Railyard and Steel Mill, enhances Food, Production, and Gold, making the USA a well-rounded civilization capable of rapid expansion. The Prospector unit further enhances resource acquisition, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds tactical flexibility.

Economic Victory: Find out how to use Factory Resources in Civilization 7.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin - When you Overbuild a Building, gain Science equal to 50% of the Building’s Production cost. +30% Production towards constructing Dogo Onsen.

Mikasa - Meiji Japanese Unique Heavy Naval Unit. The first time this Unit is destroyed, it respawns in the closest Settlement you own at 50% HP.

Zero - Meiji Japanese Unique Fighter Air Unit. Increased range. +4 Combat Strength against other Fighter Air Units. Can intercept enemy Air Units.

Zaibatsu - Meiji Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Ginko and Jukogyo in the same District. +1 Gold and Production on Buildings in adjacent Districts.

Ginko - +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Meiji Japan Unique Gold Building. Ageless.

Jukogyo - +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for Coastal Terrain and Wonders. Meiji Japan Unique Production Building. Ageless.

Meiji Japan offers robust resource management and powerful military units. The Goisshin trait allows for strategic district reshaping with Science gains, while the Zaibatsu Quarter boosts Gold and Production. The Mikasa and Zero units provide formidable naval and air capabilities, respectively, ensuring dominance in both sea and sky.

Find out more about all the Civ 7 Unit Types!

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer diverse resources and strong military units, making them solid choices for various strategies.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite - You can select the Celebration effects of any standard Government in the Modern Age. +30% Production towards constructing the Eiffel Tower.

Garde Imperiale - French Imperial Unique Infantry Unit. Can make a Ranged attack. +2 Combat Strength when within a friendly Army Commander Radius. More expensive to train.

Jacobin - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities with an Avenue, and the specific Jacobin received once. Cost increases per Jacobin trained.

Avenue - French Imperial Quarter. Created by constructing the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same District. +2 Happiness on Quarters in this City.

Jardin a la Francaise - +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. French Empire Unique Culture Building. Ageless.

Salon - +5 Happiness. +1 Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. French Empire Unique Happiness Building. Ageless.

The French Empire is ideal for a Cultural victory, with the Avenue Quarter enhancing Culture and Happiness. The Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait allows for versatile Government effects, and the Garde Imperiale unit provides defensive strength.

Find out more about Celebrations and Government Types in Civ 7!

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion - Starts with a unique Government, Revolucion. This Government has one Celebration effect, +30% Culture for 10 Turns. Cannot enter any other Government type. +30% Production towards constructing Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Soldaderas - Mexican Unique Infantry Unit. Adjacent Units heal +10 HP. Does not stack.

Revolucionario - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities with a Zocalo, and the specific Revolucionario received is random. Each Revolucionario can only be received once. Cost increases per Revolucionario trained.

Zocalo - Mexican Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same District. +2 Culture for every Tradition slotted into the Government.

Catedral - +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Culture Buildings and Wonders. Mexican Unique Culture Building. Ageless.

Portal de Mercaderes - +5 Culture. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Mexican Unique Culture Building. Ageless.

Mexico excels in Culture and Gold, with the Revolucion trait providing a significant Culture boost. The Zocalo Quarter further enhances Culture, and the Soldaderas unit offers healing support for your military.

Check out How to Win Civ 7 - every victory type explained!

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi - +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, but -1 Science from imported Resources. +30% Production towards constructing Chengde Mountain Resort.

Gusa - Qing Unique Infantry Unit. +4 Combat Strength if adjacent to another Gusa.

Hangshang - Qing Unique Merchant. Civilian who can establish a Trade Route to import Resources from a foreign Settlement. Gain 50 Gold for every Resource acquired when creating a naval Trade Route.

Huiguan - Qing Unique Quarter. Created by constructing the Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same District. +35% Influence in this Settlement.

Shiguan - +6 Science. +1 Happiness Adjacency for Happiness Buildings and Wonders. Qing Unique Science Building. Ageless.

Qianzhuang - +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for Gold Buildings and Wonders. Qing Unique Gold Building. Ageless.

The Qing Civilization offers strong yields in Gold, Culture, and Influence, though it requires careful management due to the Science penalty from the Kang Qian Shengshi trait. The Gusa unit provides military strength, and the Huiguan Quarter enhances Influence.

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

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations have solid benefits but may be more specialized, suitable for specific strategies.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids - Gain Culture when pillaging Buildings or Improvements equal to the yield or healing gained. Land Military Units gain the Amphibious ability. +30% Production towards constructing Muzibu Azaala Mpanga.

Abambowa - Bugandan Unique Infantry Unit. Heals +10 HP from Pillaging any tile.

Mwami - Bugandan Unique Army Commander. 50% yields from pillaging within its Command Radius.

Kabaka’s Lake - +3 Happiness. Receives Lake yield bonuses, including yields for all Buganda’s abilities and the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga Wonder. Bugandan Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. One per Settlement.

Buganda thrives on pillaging, gaining Culture and resources from enemy territories. The River Raids trait and units like Abambowa and Mwami are crucial for this strategy, though it requires constant warfare to be effective.

Waging war? Take a look at the best Civ 7 Commander Upgrades.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron - Units receive +1 Combat Strength for every Unfriendly or worse Civ Relationship.

Hussar - Prussian Unique Cavalry Unit. Has +1 Movement. +1 Combat Strength for every Movement it has remaining.

Stuka - Prussian Ground Attack Air Unit. +3 Combat Strength against Land Units.

Staatseisenbahn - Prussian Unique Railroad. +2 Gold and Production on Rural tiles with a Staatseisenbahn.

Prussia is ideal for aggressive players who aim to overpower opponents. The Blood and Iron trait enhances combat strength based on poor relationships, and units like the Hussar and Stuka are formidable in battle. However, Prussia's focus on military might can leave it lagging in Science and Culture.

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

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - +1 Culture on Districts in Cities. +1 Science on Districts in Tundra. +30% Production towards constructing the Hermitage.

Cossack - Russian Unique Cavalry Unit. +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.

Katyusha Rocket Launcher - Russian Unique Siege Unit. Has +1 Movement. Lower base Combat Strength but has the Splash ability. Dealing damage to enemy Units adjacent to the target Unit.

Obschchina - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. +2 Culture in Tundra. Russian Empire Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Obshchina.

Russia offers modest yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra regions. The Prosveshchenie trait provides a balanced approach to Culture and Science, with units like the Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher offering defensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab - Gains a unique Diplomatic Action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher Influence cost than Befriend Independent. +30% Production towards constructing Doi Suthep.

Chang Beun - Siamese Unique Ranged Unit. Has increased Ranged Strength and +1 Movement. Can move after attacking.

Uparat - A Great Person with one charge. Can only be trained in Cities when an Independent Power has been befriended, and the specific Uparat received is random. Each Uparat can only be received once. Cost increases per Uparat trained.

Bang - +3 Culture and Happiness. Siamese Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on a Navigable River.

Siam's unique trait allows for immediate Suzerainty over City-States, though it requires significant Influence. The Chang Beun unit offers tactical advantages, but Siam's effectiveness depends on the right City-States and Influence management.

Learn more about Civ 7 Independent Powers and their bonuses!

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are situational and may require a unique playstyle, best suited for experienced players.

C-Tier: Mughal

Paradise of Nations - +75% Gold from all sources. -25% to all other yields. +30% Production towards constructing the Red Fort.

Sepoy - Mughal Unique Infantry Unit. Can make a Bombard Ranged attack.

Zamindar - Mughal Unique Settler. Civilian Unit capable of founding new Towns. +1 Population on new Settlements.

Stepwell - +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Mughal Unique Improvement. Ageless. Does not remove Warehouse bonuses on a tile. Must be placed on Flat Terrain. Cannot be placed adjacent to another Stepwell.

The Mughal civilization offers a significant Gold boost but at the cost of other yields. The Paradise of Nations trait can be powerful if managed correctly, but it requires careful balancing to mitigate the penalties in Science and Culture. The Sepoy and Zamindar units provide unique capabilities, but the Mughal's success hinges on strategic resource management.