Civilization VII: A Modern Era Civilization Tier List
The Modern Age in Civilization VII is pivotal, determining the victor. Strategic advantages and decisive choices are crucial following the Exploration Age. Civilization selection is paramount. This tier list ranks the best Modern Age civilizations in Civ VII, considering their base power without leader bonuses. Remember, leader synergies significantly impact a civilization's strength.
Note: Great Britain (from the Crossroads of the World DLC) is not yet ranked.
S-Tier:
- America: America excels in resource utilization. The Frontier Expansion trait provides substantial gold from resource improvements. The Industrial Park, formed by combining the Railyard and Steel Mill, generates significant food, production, and gold, enabling rapid expansion. The Prospector secures crucial resources, while the amphibious Marine unit offers surprising mobility.
- Meiji Japan: Meiji Japan boasts impressive resourcefulness and powerful units. Goisshin allows for district and building reshaping with science gains. The Zaibatsu Quarter generates substantial gold and production. The Mikasa heavy naval unit respawns at 50% health, protecting investments. The Zero fighter offers superior range and combat strength against other fighters.
A-Tier:
- French Empire: The French Empire synergizes well for cultural victories. The Avenue, created by combining the Jardin a la Francaise and Salon, fosters a Culture and Happiness loop, maximizing celebration effects from Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite. The Garde Imperiale provides decent military support.
- Mexico: Similar to France, Mexico excels in culture. The Zocalo Quarter, built using the Catedral and Portal de Mercaderes, boosts culture. The Revolucion government provides significant culture bonuses during celebrations. The Soldaderas unit offers healing capabilities.
- Qing: The Qing civilization offers a balance of gold, culture, and influence, but at the cost of science from imported resources. The Huiguan Quarter boosts influence, and the Gusa unit is powerful in formations. Careful resource management is key to offsetting the science penalty.
B-Tier:
- Buganda: Buganda thrives on warfare and pillaging. The River Raids trait, combined with the Abambowa and Mwami units, maximizes gains from pillaging. However, it lacks direct access to crucial yields like science and culture in the Modern Age, making aggressive expansion essential.
- Prussia: Prussia excels in aggressive warfare. The Blood and Iron trait boosts combat strength based on negative relationships with other civilizations. The Hussar and Stuka units are powerful, but this strategy requires constant expansion to maintain technological and cultural pace.
- Russia: Russia benefits from district yield bonuses, particularly in tundra. The Cossack and Katyusha Rocket Launcher units provide defensive capabilities. However, its yield bonuses are not overwhelmingly strong compared to other civilizations.
- Siam: Siam's unique diplomatic action allows immediate city-state suzerainty, but requires significant influence generation. The Chang Beun unit is a strong ranged unit. Success depends on securing the necessary influence and favorable city-states.
C-Tier:
- Mughal: The Mughal civilization offers extremely high gold generation but suffers from significant penalties to other yields. Mastering resource management is critical to offsetting this drawback and maintaining competitiveness in science and culture.
