The Modern Age in Civilization 7 is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for triumph.

Civilization selection 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 on their base strength alone; consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs

Civilization 7 Modern Civ 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 unranked pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations offer exceptional advantages, from superior military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the map.

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Gain 100 Gold per resource improvement. +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Claims land resources outside settlement radius. Industrial Park: (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's versatility shines through its resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard and Steel Mill combination) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, fueling rapid expansion. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capabilities offer strategic mobility.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Overbuilding yields Science (50% of building production cost). +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Respawns at 50% HP in nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Increased range fighter unit; +4 Combat Strength against other fighters; intercepts enemy air units. Zaibatsu: (Ginko + Jukogyo) +1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings. 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 excels in resourcefulness. Goisshin allows for district and building restructuring with Science gains. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates massive Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability is a significant advantage, and the Zero fighter provides air superiority.

A-Tier Modern Civs

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: Ranged attack infantry unit; +2 Combat Strength within friendly Army Commander radius. More expensive to train. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) +2 Happiness on city Quarters. 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 boosts both, leading to frequent Celebrations. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique Government with a +30% Culture Celebration (10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: Great Person (one charge); trained in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes) +2 Culture per Tradition in 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, benefiting from strong Culture and Gold generation. The Zocalo further amplifies Culture output, and the Soldaderas provide 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: Infantry unit; +4 Combat Strength adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Merchant establishing trade routes for resource import (50 Gold per naval resource). Huiguan: (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, boosting Gold, Culture, and Influence, but requiring careful management of the Science penalty. The Gusa unit excels in formations, and the Hangshang facilitates resource acquisition.

B-Tier Modern Civs

B-tier civilizations offer specialized benefits suitable for specific playstyles.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Culture gain from pillaging (equal to yield/healing). Land units gain Amphibious ability. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Infantry unit; heals +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Army Commander; 50% increased pillaging yields within command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant benefits from pillaging. The Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness and resource bonuses.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Cavalry unit; +1 Movement; +1 Combat Strength per remaining movement. Stuka: Ground attack unit; +3 Combat Strength against land units. Staatseisenbahn: Railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.

Prussia excels in aggressive warfare, gaining strength from negative relationships. The Hussar and Stuka units are formidable.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on District tiles (bonus Science on Tundra). +30% production towards the Hermitage. Cossack: Cavalry unit; +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory. Katyusha Rocket Launcher: Siege unit; +1 Movement; splash damage. Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent Farms; +2 Culture in Tundra. Ageless.

Russia offers balanced Culture and Science gains, particularly strong on Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha provide military support.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique Diplomatic Action to become City-State Suzerain (higher Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Ranged unit; increased range and 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 swift City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a powerful ranged unit.

C-Tier Modern Civs

C-tier civilizations are more situational, requiring 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: Infantry unit; Bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Settler; +1 Population on new settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Ageless.

The Mughal civilization offers massive Gold generation but suffers from significant yield penalties in other areas. Careful resource management is crucial.