Civilization VII's Modern Age is pivotal; it's where victories are secured and the game concludes. Mastering this era, building upon your Exploration Age successes, is crucial for winning. Your civilization choice significantly impacts your chances of victory. The Modern Age offers ten 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 Age Civilizations

Civilization VII Modern Age 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 (DLC) is unranked pending further evaluation.

S-Tier Modern Civilizations

These civilizations offer unparalleled advantages, from superior military units to potent 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 unique infantry unit; cheaper to train. Prospector: Claims land resources beyond standard settlement radius. Industrial Park: Unique quarter (+2 Food per resource assigned). Requires Railyard and Steel Mill. Railyard: +5 Production; +1 Production adjacency for Quarters and Wonders. Ageless. Steel Mill: +6 Production; Gold adjacency for Resources and Wonders. Ageless.

America excels at resource utilization. Frontier Expansion provides significant gold boosts, while the Industrial Park (Railyard + Steel Mill) generates substantial Food, Production, and Gold. The Prospector secures vital resources, and the Marine's amphibious ability enhances maneuverability. This well-rounded civilization facilitates rapid expansion and strong production capabilities.

S-tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Overbuilding yields Science (50% of building's production cost). +30% production towards Dogo Onsen. Mikasa: Unique heavy naval unit; respawns at 50% HP in nearest settlement upon destruction. Zero: Unique fighter unit; increased range, +4 combat strength against fighters, can intercept. Zaibatsu: Unique quarter (+1 Gold and Production on adjacent district buildings). Requires Ginko and Jukogyo. 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's resourcefulness and powerful units are key strengths. Goisshin allows district and building reshaping with significant Science gains. Zaibatsu generates substantial Gold and Production. The Mikasa's respawning ability is potent, and the Zero provides significant air superiority.

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: Ranged attack infantry unit; +2 combat strength within army commander radius. More expensive to train. Jacobin: One-time Great Person (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 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 (Jardin a la Francaise + Salon) creates a strong feedback loop, boosting Celebrations via Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. While the Garde Imperiale isn't exceptional, it provides adequate military support.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Unique government (+30% Culture for 10 turns). +30% production towards Palacio de Bellas Artes. Soldaderas: Infantry unit; adjacent units heal +10 HP. Revolucionario: One-time Great Person (requires Zocalo). Zocalo: Unique quarter (+2 Culture per Tradition). Requires Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes. 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, generating significant Culture and Gold. The Zocalo (Catedral + Portal de Mercaderes) further boosts Culture. Soldaderas offer healing support in combat. Consistent Happiness generation is crucial to maximizing Culture bonuses.

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; gains 50 Gold per resource acquired via naval trade route. Huiguan: Unique quarter (+35% Influence). Requires Qianzhuang and Shiguan. 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 strong Gold, Culture, and Influence, but suffers a Science penalty from imported resources. Careful resource management is key to mitigating this weakness. The Gusa unit excels in large formations.

B-Tier Modern Civilizations

B-tier civilizations are strong but may be more specialized or situational.

B-Tier: Buganda

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

Buganda thrives on aggressive play, gaining significant benefits from pillaging. This requires a strong military and active warfare. While the Kabaka’s Lake provides Happiness and resource bonuses, the lack of direct access to key yields makes consistent pillaging crucial.

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 point. 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 combat strength from negative relationships. The Hussar and Stuka are powerful units. However, this strategy requires constant expansion and can lead to overwhelming conflicts if not managed carefully.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture and Science on district tiles (Science bonus in 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 benefits from district bonuses, particularly in Tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide solid military options. However, the yield bonuses are moderate and may not match the strengths of more specialized civilizations.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Unique diplomatic action to become City-State suzerain (at increased Influence cost). +30% production towards Doi Suthep. Chang Beun: Ranged unit; increased range strength and +1 movement; can move after attacking. Uparat: One-time Great Person (requires befriending an independent power). Bang: +3 Culture and Happiness. Ageless.

Siam's unique diplomatic action allows rapid City-State suzerainty, but requires sufficient Influence. The Chang Beun is a strong ranged unit. The civilization's overall strength depends heavily on securing favorable City-State alliances.

C-Tier Modern Civilizations

C-tier civilizations are situational and may 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: 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 significant penalties to other yields. Success requires careful management to offset the yield reductions, especially in Science and Culture. The other units and improvements are useful but not exceptionally strong.