The Modern Age in *Civilization VII* is the endgame – where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for winning. Your civilization choice is paramount; the Modern Age presents ten playable civilizations (eleven with the *Crossroads of the World* DLC), each offering unique synergies with various leaders. This tier list ranks civilizations based solely on their base strengths, independent of leader bonuses. Remember to consider leader synergies when making your final decision.
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 exceptional advantages, from strong military units to powerful resource access, often dominating the map.
S-tier: America
Frontier Expansion: Gain 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 normal settlement range. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource assigned to the city) created by building a Railyard and Steel Mill in the same district. 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 in resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold spikes, while the Railyard and Steel Mill combination (creating the Industrial Park) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold, enabling rapid expansion and strong production capabilities. The Prospector secures crucial resources, and the Marine's amphibious nature offers 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 owned settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique fighter aircraft with increased range, +4 Combat Strength against other fighters, and interception capabilities. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (+1 Gold and Production on buildings in adjacent districts) created by constructing a Ginko and Jukogyo in the same district. 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 are key strengths. Goisshin allows for efficient district and building restructuring with Science gains. The Zaibatsu quarter generates significant Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawn ability is a powerful defensive asset, while the Zero fighter aircraft dominates the skies.
A-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------A-Tier civilizations offer diverse resource access and considerable military strength.
A-Tier: French Empire
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Choose any Modern Age government's celebration effect; +30% production towards the Eiffel Tower. Garde Imperiale: Unique infantry unit with ranged attack; +2 Combat Strength within a friendly army commander's radius. Jacobin: Great Person (one charge) trainable in cities with an Avenue. Avenue: Unique quarter (+2 Happiness on Quarters in this City) created by constructing a Jardin a la Francaise and Salon in the same district. 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 synergizes Culture and Happiness effectively. The Avenue, formed from the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, creates a feedback loop of Culture and Happiness, maximizing celebration benefits through Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides solid military support.
A-Tier: Mexico
Revolucion: Unique government with a celebration effect (+30% Culture for 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 (+2 Culture per Tradition in the government) created by constructing a Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes in the same district. 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 Culture powerhouse, generating significant Culture and Gold. The Zocalo quarter further boosts Culture, and the Soldaderas' healing ability enhances unit survivability. The Revolucion government provides powerful Culture bonuses through celebrations.
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 imports; gains 50 Gold per resource from naval trade routes. Huiguan: Unique quarter (+35% Influence) created by constructing a Qianzhuang and Shiguan in the same district. 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, but requires careful management of the Kang Qian Shengshi trait's resource import penalty. The Gusa unit excels in large formations, and the Hangshang merchant expands resource access.
B-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------B-Tier civilizations offer solid benefits but may be more specialized or effective in specific scenarios.
B-Tier: Buganda
River Raids: Gain Culture from pillaging equal to the yield or healing gained; 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% yields from pillaging within its command radius. Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness; receives lake yield bonuses (Ageless).
Buganda thrives on aggressive warfare and pillaging, gaining significant Culture and healing from this strategy. The Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness and lake resource bonuses. However, this civilization lacks direct access to crucial yields like Science, Culture, Gold, and Influence without active pillaging.
B-Tier: Prussia
Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength per unfriendly civilization relationship. Hussar: Unique cavalry unit; +1 Movement; +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 aggressive warfare, gaining Combat Strength from negative relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful assets, but this strategy requires maintaining a strong military and actively conquering territories to keep pace in Science and Culture.
B-Tier: Russia
Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on 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 Science and Culture in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive capabilities. However, these bonuses are not overwhelming compared to more specialized civilizations.
B-Tier: Siam
Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to immediately become a City-State's suzerain (at a higher Influence cost); +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Unique ranged unit; increased range strength and +1 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 suzerainty, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit. However, the civilization lacks inherent yield generation, relying on City-State benefits.
C-Tier Modern Civilizations
------------------C-Tier civilizations are more situational or require specific playstyles, often 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: +2 Food from adjacent Farms (Ageless).
The Mughal civilization offers immense Gold generation but suffers from significant yield penalties. This high-risk, high-reward strategy requires careful management to compensate for the reduced Science and Culture production. The other units and improvements are useful but not game-changing.
