Civilization 7: Ranking Modern Civilizations

If you're diving into the Civilization VI experience with the Civilization VII Modern Age, you know it's the pivotal point where champions emerge and the game reaches its climax. This is your golden opportunity to leverage your strengths and make smart decisions to secure victory. Choosing the right Civ 7 civilization is crucial—it can set the stage for your triumph or leave you scrambling to catch up.

The civilization you pick can significantly impact your strategy, and the Modern Age offers a diverse roster of ten civilizations (eleven, if you’ve got the Crossroads of the World DLC). Pairing the right leader with the ideal civilization can create powerful synergies. Below is our tier list, ranking each civilization based solely on their standalone power, excluding leader-specific interactions.

Best Civ 7 Modern Civs

S-Tier Modern Civs

These are the cream of the crop, offering unmatched versatility and strength.

S-Tier: America

Frontier Expansion: Earn 100 Gold whenever you improve a resource. +30% Production toward the Statue of Liberty.
Marine: An American Unique Infantry Unit with Amphibious capability and lower training costs.
Prospector: A Unique Civilian Unit that claims a land resource beyond your settlement radius.
Industrial Park: A Unique Quarter created by combining a Railyard and Steel Mill, providing +2 Food per resource assigned to the city.
Railyard: +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for Quarters and Wonders.
Steel Mill: +6 Production. Gold adjacency for resources and wonders.

America shines due to its resource utilization and flexibility. The Frontier Expansion boosts gold income, while the Railyard and Steel Mill combo creates an Industrial Park that maximizes food, production, and gold. This civilization is highly adaptable, making it excellent for rapid expansion and efficient growth. Its Prospector and Marine units add further utility and tactical depth.

S-Tier: Meiji Japan

Goisshin: Gain Science equal to 50% of a building’s production cost when overbuilding it. +30% Production toward the Dogo Onsen.
Mikasa: A Unique Heavy Naval Unit that respawns at 50% HP after being destroyed.
Zero: A Unique Fighter Air Unit with increased range and combat strength against other fighters.
Zaibatsu: A Unique Quarter created by combining Ginko and Jukogyo, providing +1 Gold and Production on adjacent buildings.
Ginko: +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for gold buildings and wonders.
Jukogyo: +5 Production. +1 Production Adjacency for coastal terrain and wonders.

Meiji Japan excels in resource management and military prowess. The Goisshin trait allows you to reshape districts efficiently while earning significant science. The Zaibatsu Quarter amplifies both gold and production outputs, and its naval and aerial units are formidable. The Mikasa’s ability to respawn adds longevity, making this civilization a strong contender for both military and economic victories.

A-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations offer impressive capabilities but may require more strategic planning.

A-Tier: French Empire

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Select any government celebration effect in the Modern Age. +30% Production toward the Eiffel Tower.
Garde Imperiale: A Unique Infantry Unit with ranged attacks and boosted combat strength in friendly army commander radius.
Jacobin: A Great Person that grants culture bonuses when trained in cities with an Avenue.
Avenue: A Unique Quarter created by combining Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, providing +2 Happiness in the city.
Jardin a la Francaise: +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for culture buildings and wonders.
Salon: +5 Happiness. +1 Culture Adjacency for happiness buildings and wonders.

France is a fantastic choice for cultural victories. The Avenue Quarter creates a feedback loop between culture and happiness, allowing you to maximize celebrations and bonuses. While the Garde Imperiale isn’t the strongest unit, it provides a defensive edge, ensuring your cultural focus remains intact.

A-Tier: Mexico

Revolucion: Start with a unique government granting +30% Culture for 10 turns. +30% Production toward the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Soldaderas: A Unique Infantry Unit that heals adjacent units +10 HP.
Revolucionario: A Great Person granting culture bonuses when trained in cities with a Zocalo.
Zocalo: A Unique Quarter created by combining Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, providing +2 Culture per tradition slotted.
Catedral: +5 Culture. +1 Happiness Adjacency for culture buildings and wonders.
Portal de Mercaderes: +5 Culture. +1 Gold Adjacency for gold buildings and wonders.

Mexico is another excellent option for cultural victories. The Zocalo Quarter and Revolucionario Great Person enhance culture output, while the Soldaderas Unit supports team-oriented playstyles. With careful planning, Mexico can excel in cultural achievements.

A-Tier: Qing

Kang Qian Shengshi: +4 Gold, +3 Culture, +2 Influence, but -1 Science from imported resources. +30% Production toward the Chengde Mountain Resort.
Gusa: A Unique Infantry Unit with +4 Combat Strength when adjacent to another Gusa.
Hangshang: A Unique Merchant capable of importing resources via trade routes.
Huiguan: A Unique Quarter created by combining Qianzhuang and Shiguan, providing +35% Influence in the settlement.
Shiguan: +6 Science. +1 Happiness Adjacency for happiness buildings and wonders.
Qianzhuang: +5 Gold. +1 Gold Adjacency for gold buildings and wonders.

Qing is a balanced civilization with strong economic and cultural potential. The Kang Qian Shengshi trait provides a wealth of gold and culture but comes with a science penalty. Proper resource and wonder management can mitigate this downside. The Gusa Unit and Hangshang Merchant offer additional utility, making Qing a versatile choice.

B-Tier Modern Civs

These civilizations are solid but more niche, requiring specific playstyles or conditions to shine.

B-Tier: Buganda

River Raids: Gain Culture when pillaging buildings or improvements. Land units gain the Amphibious ability. +30% Production toward the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga.
Abambowa: A Unique Infantry Unit that heals +10 HP from pillaging.
Mwami: A Unique Army Commander providing 50% yields from pillaging within its command radius.
Kabaka’s Lake: +3 Happiness. Provides lake yield bonuses, including for all Buganda’s abilities and the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga Wonder.

Buganda thrives on aggressive playstyles, relying heavily on pillaging to generate resources and culture. This civilization is best suited for players who enjoy warfare and bold strategies. However, without sufficient military strength, this approach can backfire.

B-Tier: Prussia

Blood and Iron: Units gain +1 Combat Strength for every unfriendly or worse relationship.
Hussar: A Unique Cavalry Unit with increased movement and combat strength based on remaining movement.
Stuka: A Unique Ground Attack Air Unit with +3 Combat Strength against land units.
Staatseisenbahn: A Unique Railroad providing +2 Gold and Production on rural tiles.

Prussia is ideal for militaristic players seeking domination. The Blood and Iron trait rewards hostility, and its unique units are powerful in offensive engagements. However, maintaining aggressive relationships can alienate other civilizations, leaving you vulnerable to retaliation.

B-Tier: Russia

Prosveshchenie: +1 Culture on districts in cities. +1 Science on districts in tundra. +30% Production toward the Hermitage.
Cossack: A Unique Cavalry Unit with +4 Combat Strength in friendly territory.
Katyusha Rocket Launcher: A Unique Siege Unit with Splash damage.
Obschchina: +2 Food from adjacent farms. +2 Culture in tundra.

Russia offers solid cultural and scientific outputs, especially in tundra regions. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher provide defensive and offensive capabilities, respectively. However, its lack of specialization limits its potential compared to other civilizations.

B-Tier: Siam

Itsapharahab: Gain a unique diplomatic action to immediately become Suzerain of a City-State at a higher influence cost. +30% Production toward the Doi Suthep.
Chang Beun: A Unique Ranged Unit with increased movement and ranged strength.
Uparat: A Great Person providing random bonuses when befriending independent powers.
Bang: +3