Civilization 7: Modern Civilizations Tier List

The Modern Age in *Civilization VII* is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age progress, is crucial for success. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of winning. The Modern Age offers ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each with unique strengths when paired with the right leader. This tier list ranks civilizations based on their base power, independent of leader synergies.

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's ranking (from the DLC) is pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource control, often dominating the game.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Gain 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 resource assigned); requires Railyard and Steel Mill. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency bonus for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.

America's versatility shines through its resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides substantial gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill) generates significant Food, Production, and Gold. Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities enhance 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; 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. Zaibatsu: Unique Quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings); requires Ginko and Jukogyo. Ginko: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Jukogyo: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency bonus for Coastal terrain and Wonders. Ageless.

Meiji Japan's resourcefulness is evident. Goisshin allows district and building repurposing with Science gains. Zaibatsu generates massive Gold and Production. Mikasa's respawning ability and Zero's superior air combat strength ensure military dominance.

A-Tier Modern Civilizations

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 Infantry Unit; ranged attack, +2 Combat Strength within a friendly Army Commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); requires Avenue. Avenue: Unique Quarter (+2 Happiness on city Quarters); requires Jardin a la Francaise and Salon. Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Salon: +5 Happiness; +1 Culture adjacency bonus for Happiness buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

The French Empire excels in cultural victory paths. The Avenue (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a Culture and Happiness feedback loop, maximizing Celebration effects from Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique Government (+30% Culture for 10 turns Celebration effect). +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 in Government); requires Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes. Catedral: +5 Culture; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Culture buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

Mexico is a cultural powerhouse, similar to the French Empire, but with stronger Gold generation and slightly less Happiness. The Zocalo (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes) significantly boosts Culture, and Soldaderas provide defensive strength.

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 (+50 Gold per resource via naval routes). Huiguan: Unique Quarter (+35% Influence); requires Qianzhuang and Shiguan. Shiguan: +6 Science; +1 Happiness adjacency bonus for Happiness buildings and Wonders. Ageless. Qianzhuang: +5 Gold; +1 Gold adjacency bonus for Gold buildings and Wonders. Ageless.

Qing offers strong Gold, Culture, and Influence, but requires careful management of the Science penalty from imported resources. Gusa units excel in formation combat, and Hangshang facilitates resource acquisition.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.

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; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique Army Commander; +50% pillaging yields within command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive warfare and pillaging. River Raids, Abambowa, and Mwami maximize gains from this strategy. Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness and Lake 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 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 expansion, gaining strength from negative relationships. Hussar and Stuka units are potent, but this strategy requires constant warfare and resource management to keep up with technological advancements.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on city Districts; +1 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. Ageless.

Russia benefits from District yield bonuses, particularly in Tundra. Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher offer defensive and offensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to instantly become a City-State's Suzerain (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 (one charge); requires befriended Independent Power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's ability to quickly gain City-State suzerainty is powerful, but relies on sufficient Influence generation. Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations are situational or require specific 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. Ageless.

Mughal's massive Gold generation can be incredibly powerful, but the significant yield penalties require careful resource management to compensate for the lack of Science and Culture. Other traits are useful but not game-changing.