The Modern Age in *Civilization 7* 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.

Ten civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC) vie for dominance in the Modern Age. Powerful synergies emerge when pairing civilizations with specific leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based on their base strength, independent of leader bonuses—consider leader synergies when making your final choice.

Best *Civ 7* Modern Civilizations

*Civ 7* 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) remains pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

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

S-tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Earn 100 Gold for each improved resource; +30% production towards the Statue of Liberty. Marine: Amphibious unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Unique civilian unit claiming land resources beyond standard settlement range. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (Railyard + Steel Mill); +2 Food per resource assigned to the city. 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 excels at resource utilization, boosting its economic and military strength. Frontier Expansion generates significant gold, while the Industrial Park provides substantial Food, Production, and Gold. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious capability enhances tactical flexibility.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Gain Science equal to 50% of a building's 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 interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (Ginko + Jukogyo); +1 Gold and Production on buildings in adjacent districts. 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 and powerful units define its strength. Goisshin allows for efficient district and building adaptation, while Zaibatsu generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability provides a significant military advantage, and the Zero dominates the skies.

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 with ranged attack and +2 combat strength within an army commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge); trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique quarter (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon); +2 Happiness on quarters in this city. 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 victories, leveraging a strong synergy between Culture and Happiness. The Avenue creates a powerful feedback loop, amplified by frequent celebrations. 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); trainable in cities with a Zocalo. Zocalo: Unique quarter (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes); +2 Culture per Tradition in the government. 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, generating substantial Culture and Gold. The Zocalo further boosts Culture, while the Soldaderas offer tactical healing capabilities.

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 when adjacent to another Gusa. Hangshang: Unique merchant establishing trade routes for resource import (50 Gold per resource via naval routes). Huiguan: Unique quarter (Qianzhuang + Shiguan); +35% Influence in this settlement. 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.

The Qing civilization offers a balanced approach, providing strong Gold, Culture, and Influence but requiring careful management of the Science penalty. The Gusa unit adds significant military strength.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-tier civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized or situationally effective.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to yield or healing; land units gain Amphibious. +30% production towards Muzibu Azaala Mpanga. Abambowa: Unique infantry unit healing +10 HP from pillaging. Mwami: Unique army commander; +50% yield from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives Lake yield bonuses. Ageless.

Buganda thrives on aggressive expansion and pillaging, generating substantial Culture and resources through warfare. However, this strategy requires constant military action.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 combat strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique cavalry unit with +1 Movement and +1 combat strength per remaining movement point. Stuka: Unique ground attack aircraft; +3 combat strength against land units. Staatseisenbahn: Unique railroad; +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.

Prussia excels in military dominance, gaining strength from negative relationships with other civilizations. However, this aggressive strategy demands constant expansion and resource management.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on districts in cities; +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 with +1 Movement and splash damage. Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent Farms; +2 Culture in Tundra. Ageless.

Russia offers a balanced approach, boosting Culture and Science production, particularly in Tundra. Its units provide defensive capabilities.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to immediately become a City-State's suzerain (higher Influence cost); +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique ranged unit with increased range and movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: Great Person (one charge); trainable when befriending an independent power. Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows for rapid City-State control, but requires sufficient Influence generation. The Chang Beun unit provides strong ranged support.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-tier civilizations are more situational or demand specialized 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 with bombard ranged attack. Zamindar: Unique settler with +1 population on new settlements. Stepwell: +2 Food from adjacent Farms. Ageless.

The Mughal civilization offers massive Gold generation but suffers from significant penalties to other yields. This high-risk, high-reward strategy requires careful resource management.