In *Civilization 7*, the Modern Age is where the game reaches its climax, making it a crucial phase where strategic decisions can determine your victory. As you transition from the Exploration Age, it's essential to capitalize on your advantages and choose wisely to secure your win. The civilization you select during this era is pivotal, with ten options available, or eleven if you have the Crossroads of the World DLC. Pairing these with the right leaders can unlock powerful synergies, so we've compiled a tier list to guide your choice of the best Modern Age civilizations in *Civ 7*.

Note: Your chosen Leader will enhance your gameplay with additional buffs, and when matched with the right civilization, can create strong synergies. This tier list focuses solely on the base power of each civilization, so consider how your Leader's abilities will interact with your chosen civilization when making your selection.

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

These are the top-tier civilizations in Civilization 7, offering exceptional military units and resource access that can help you dominate the game 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 Units. 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 ability to leverage resources effectively. The Frontier Expansion trait provides significant gold boosts from improved resources, while the Industrial Park, formed by combining the Railyard and Steel Mill, offers substantial Food, Production, and Gold, making the USA a versatile and powerful civilization capable of rapid expansion and high production. Additionally, the Prospector can claim crucial resources, boosting your yields, and the Marine's Amphibious ability adds strategic flexibility to your military.

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 stands out for its resourcefulness and powerful military units. The Goisshin trait allows you to adapt your districts and buildings to meet modern needs while gaining Science, and the Zaibatsu Quarter can generate significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's ability to respawn once after destruction adds durability to your naval forces, while the Zero's enhanced combat capabilities make it a dominant force in the skies, ensuring Meiji Japan's strength in the endgame.

A-Tier Modern Civs

A-Tier civilizations offer a balanced mix of resource access and military strength, making them reliable choices for various victory paths.

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, thanks to the synergistic effects of the Avenue, which combines the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon to boost Culture and Happiness. This feedback loop can propel you through the Modern Age, while the Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite trait enhances your ability to celebrate. The Garde Imperiale provides a solid defensive option, ensuring your cultural growth isn't disrupted by aggressive neighbors.

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 Mercanderes 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 is another powerhouse for Culture, offering a robust mix of Culture and Gold. The Revolucion government provides a substantial Culture boost during Celebrations, and the Zocalo Quarter further enhances your cultural output. The Soldaderas unit adds resilience to your military, making Mexico a strong contender for a cultural victory if you manage to maintain high Happiness levels.

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 a balanced set of yields with a trade-off in Science from imported resources. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides boosts in Gold, Culture, and Influence, while the Shiguan helps offset the Science penalty. The Gusa unit can be formidable in large formations, offering good military strength. With careful management, the Qing can be a versatile choice for multiple victory paths.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-Tier civilizations are solid choices with specialized benefits, suitable for specific strategies but less versatile than higher tiers.

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 is ideal for aggressive players who enjoy pillaging. The River Raids trait and the Abambowa and Mwami units make pillaging highly rewarding, though you'll need to maintain a strong military presence to access enemy territories. While the Kabaka's Lake provides Happiness, Buganda lacks direct access to key Modern Age yields like Science and Culture, making it reliant on successful raids.

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 tailored for players who thrive on conflict. The Blood and Iron trait boosts combat strength with each unfriendly relationship, making it perfect for aggressive play. The Hussar and Stuka units are strong, but Prussia's focus on military might can be a double-edged sword. Without sufficient Science and Culture, you might struggle to keep up with technological advancements, making it crucial to capture settlements to maintain your edge.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie - +1 Culture on Districts in Cities. +1 Science on Districts in Cities 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, which can be limiting depending on your map. The Prosveshchenie trait provides a balanced boost to Culture and Science, but these aren't as impactful as those of higher-tier civilizations. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher units offer defensive capabilities, but Russia's strength lies in its ability to maintain a steady, if not spectacular, growth in key areas.

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, which can be powerful if you manage to accumulate enough Influence. The Chang Beun offers excellent ranged capabilities, but Siam lacks direct access to generating the necessary Influence, relying on your leader and ageless buildings. This makes Siam a situational choice that can be potent with the right setup.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-Tier civilizations are more situational and may require a unique playstyle, often better 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 high-risk, high-reward strategy with the Paradise of Nations trait, which significantly boosts Gold but penalizes other yields by 25%. To succeed, you must effectively manage this trade-off, ensuring your Gold investments compensate for the penalties in Science and Culture. The Mughal's other traits are solid but not game-changing, making it a challenging but potentially rewarding choice for skilled players.