Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in *Civilization VII* is the endgame – where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era requires leveraging advantages gained in the Exploration Age and making strategic choices. Your civilization selection is paramount. The Modern Age offers ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each with unique strengths that, when combined with the right leader, create powerful synergies. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base capabilities, independent of leader bonuses. Remember to consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

Best *Civilization VII* Modern Civilizations

*Civilization VII* 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 (DLC) is not yet ranked.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer exceptional advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource access, enabling dominance across various map types.

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: Claims land resources outside your settlement radius. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per assigned resource). Railyard: Unique production building (+5 Production, +1 Production adjacency). Steel Mill: Unique production building (+6 Production, Gold adjacency).

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

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% HP in the nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique fighter aircraft with increased range, +4 combat strength against other fighters, and air interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent buildings). Ginko: Unique Gold building (+5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency). Jukogyo: Unique Production building (+5 Production, +1 Production adjacency on coastal terrain).

Meiji Japan's resourcefulness and powerful units are key strengths. Goisshin allows for district and building adaptation while generating Science. The Zaibatsu quarter maximizes Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability provides strategic advantages, and the Zero dominates aerial combat.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

A-tier civilizations offer diverse resource access and potent military units.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Choose any Modern Age government celebration effect. +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique infantry unit with ranged attack and bonus combat strength near army commanders. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge, requires Avenue). Avenue: Unique quarter (+2 Happiness on city quarters). Jardin a la Francaise: Unique Culture building (+5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency). Salon: Unique Happiness building (+5 Happiness, +1 Culture adjacency).

The French Empire synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a feedback loop boosting Culture and Happiness, maximizing celebration effects from Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique government with a +30% Culture celebration effect (10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Unique infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge, requires Zocalo). Zocalo: Unique quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition). Catedral: Unique Culture building (+5 Culture, +1 Happiness adjacency). Portal de Mercaderes: Unique Culture building (+5 Culture, +1 Gold adjacency).

Mexico excels in Culture generation. The Revolucion government provides significant Culture bonuses, amplified by the Zocalo quarter (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes). Soldaderas offer healing support.

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 Gold from resources). Huiguan: Unique quarter (+35% Influence). Shiguan: Unique Science building (+6 Science, +1 Happiness adjacency). Qianzhuang: Unique Gold building (+5 Gold, +1 Gold adjacency).

The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach, providing boosts to Gold, Culture, and Influence, but with a Science penalty from imported resources. Careful resource management is crucial. The Gusa unit excels in group combat.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer specialized benefits suitable for specific playstyles.

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: Unique improvement (+3 Happiness, Lake yield bonuses).

Buganda thrives on aggressive expansion and pillaging, generating Culture and resources through military actions. The Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness and resource bonuses.

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's strength lies in its aggressive military. Blood and Iron provides combat bonuses based on negative relationships, making it ideal for expansionist strategies.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles (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 (+1 Movement, splash damage). Obschchina: Unique improvement (+2 Food from adjacent Farms, +2 Culture on Tundra).

Russia offers balanced Culture and Science generation, particularly strong on Tundra tiles. The Cossack and Katyusha provide defensive and offensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to become City-State Suzerain (higher Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique ranged unit (increased range, +1 Movement, can move after attacking). Uparat: Great Person (one charge, requires befriended Independent Power). 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 is a powerful ranged unit.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations require specialized strategies and are best suited for experienced players.

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).

Mughal’s massive Gold bonus can be incredibly powerful, but the significant penalty to other yields requires careful management. The other units and improvements offer moderate benefits.