Discover the Ultimate Tier List for Civ 7's Exploration Age Civs!

In the game Civilization 7, moving from the Antiquity Age to the Age of Exploration is automatic. During this transition, players are required to switch to a Civilization specialized in Exploration, often referred to as an Exploration Age Civ. Each Exploration Civ possesses distinctive strengths and limitations, such as special Abilities, Governments, Units, Structures, and other attributes. However, some players find it more straightforward to accomplish the Exploration Age Legacy Paths with certain Civilizations compared to others.

This “Civilization 7” Modern Era Civilizations Tier List evaluates every Civilization during the Exploration Era based on their ability to complete one of the four Exploration Era Legacy Paths with relative ease. While even the weakest Civilizations in “Civilization 7” during the Exploration Era have unique advantages, the best Civilizations for this era are those that swiftly navigate through this phase of the game and effectively set the stage for a prosperous Modern Era.

1. Abbasid

Best Abbasid Legacy Path: Scientific & Cultural

Medina: Receive 30 Gold for each Rural Population of a City when you create a Specialist.

Abbasid Civics
- Round City: Unlock the Mosque Unique Building. Increased Production to Buildings in Cities with a set number of Urban Population.
- Mawla: Unlock the Madrasa Unique Building. Receive a percentage of the Gold from Trade Income as Science. Resources tiles receive increased Happiness in Settlements with a Temple.
- Al-Jabr: Increased Science in Cities with a set number of Population.
Abbasid Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Ālim, a Great Person that grants one effect from a list of ten total effects
- Mamluk, a Cavalry Unit that receives increased Combat Strength for every Urban Population in a Settlement when stationed there.
- Madrasa, a Science Building that has Science adjacency for Quarters and Science Buildings.
- Mosque, a Happiness Building that has Happiness adjacency for Culture Buildings, and Culture Adjacency for Happiness Buildings. Unlocks Religion.
- Ulema, a unique Quarter that grants extra Science to all Specialists in this City.

Abbasid Favored Wonder: House of Wisdom
Abbasid Starting Bias: Camels, Coast (Exploration Age start)

2. Norman

Best Norman Legacy Path: Militaristic

Normannitas: When Embarked, Land Units gain an extra movement point, and they significantly boost their combat strength when positioned near Coastal territories.

Norman Civics
- Consuetudines et Justicie: Unlocks the Motte Unique Building.
- Common Law: Receive a free Social Policy slot.
- Domesday Book: Adds Gold to Farms, increased during Celebrations.
Norman Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Sokeman, a Settler that creates a Wall in the settlement it creates.
- Chevaler, a Cavalry Unit that has increased Combat Strength against Units with less Movement.
- Motte, a Fortification that gains Happiness if placed on Rough Terrain.
- Bailey, a Fortification with Culture adjacency with Walls.
- Donjon, a unique Quarter that grants a free Chevaler Cavalry unit upon completion.

Norman Favored Wonder: White Tower
Norman Starting Bias: Coast, Iron (Exploration Age start)

3. Ming

Best Ming Legacy Path: Economic & Scientific

Great Canon of Yongle: +50% Science in the Capital, -15 Science for every non-Tradition slotted.

Ming Civics
- Nine Garrisons: Unlocks the Ming Great Wall Unique Improvement
- Lijia: Reduce costs for purchasing Buildings in Towns.
- Da Ming Lu: Mandarin Unique Merchant Units add Science when they use the Create a Road Action.
Ming Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Mandarin, a Merchant that will grant Gold when it uses the Create a Road Action.
- Xunleichong, an Infantry Unit with a Ranged Attack that has increased Combat Strength in Featureless Terrain.
- Ming Great Wall, an Ageless Fortification that grants Gold for adjacent Fortifications.

Ming Favored Wonder: Forbidden City
Ming Starting Bias: Silk, Coast (Exploration Age start)

4. Spain

Best Spain Legacy Path: Economic & Militaristic

Siglo de Oro: +15% Gold towards converting a Town to a City, 30% in Distant Lands

Spain Civics
- Council of the Indies: Unlocks the Casa Consistorial Unique Building
- Armada: Fleet Commanders receive the Flotilla Promotion, which adds additional Unit Slots and allows Land Units to join the Commander group.
- New World Riches: Increased Food and Production in Settlements in Distant Lands.
Spain Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Conquistador, a Great Person that grants one of a possible ten effects
- Tercio, an Infantry Unit that grants increased Combat Strength against Cavalry Units to adjacent Units.
- Casa Consistorial, a Culture Building with Culture adjacency for Quarters. Cannot be built in Distant Lands.
- Casa de Contratación, a Gold Building with Gold Adjacency with Navigable River and Resource tiles. Cannot be built in Distant Lands.
- Plaza, a unique Quarter that increases Gold in this Settlement for every Settlement in Distant Lands.

Spain Favored Wonder: El Escorial
Spain Starting Bias: Coast (Exploration Age start)

5. Chola

Best Chola Legacy Path: Economic & Militaristic

Samayam: +1 Trade Route from the Improve Trade Relations Action.

Chola Civics
- Nagaram: Unlocks Manigramam Unique Building and boosts Influence towards initiating Trade Agreements. Mastery unlocks the Anjuvannam Unique Building.
- Kanakam: Increased Gold from active Diplomatic Actions you started or supported.
- Digvijaya: Kalam Unique Naval Unit receives increased Movement and Sight.
- Monsoon Winds: Increased Settlement Limit. Ottru Unique Naval Commander Unit receives the Convoys Promotion.
Chola Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Ottru, a Naval Commander that reduces the combat strength of enemy units in its Command Radius
- Kalam, a Naval Unit that can attack twice if it has enough Movement
- Manigramam, a Happiness Building with Happiness adjacency for Trade Buildings and Gold adjacency for Quarters.
- Anjuvannam, a Gold Building with Gold Adjacency for Coast tiles and Navigable Rivers, and increased Production towards Naval Units.
- Five Hundred Lords, a unique Quarter that increases both Land and Naval Trade Route range.

Chola Favored Wonder: Brihadeeswarar Temple
Chola Starting Bias: Coast, Tropical (Exploration Age start)

6. Hawai’i

Best Hawai’i Legacy Path: Cultural

In the game, when a Settlement grows onto Marine Terrain, it grants you 25 Culture points. Additionally, there is a bonus of +1 Happiness for every Fishing Boat present in the game.

Or, more conversational:
In this game, expanding your Settlement into marine areas brings in 25 Culture points. Plus, having Fishing Boats around adds an extra dose of happiness to the mix!

Hawai’i Civics
- Mana: Adds Culture every time an Environmental Event has provided Fertility this Age.
- Ohana: Unlocks the Lo’i Kalo Unique Building
- Heʻe nalu: Receive a set number of Relics. Increased Settlement Limit.
Hawai’i Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Kahuna, a Missionary Unit with a Heal action that doesn’t remove this Unit after being used.
- Leiomano, an Infantry Unit with increased Combat Strength against Infantry and Cavalry Units.
- Lo’i Kalo, an Improvement with Food and Production that grants Culture to adjacent Farms.

Hawai’i Favored Wonder: Hale o Keawe
Hawai’iStarting Bias: Marine, Coast (Exploration Age start)

7. Majapahit

Best Majapahit Legacy Path: Cultural & Militaristic

Country: With the exception of the Capital city, all other cities gain an additional Specialist Limit. However, when the Exploration Era concludes, this limit will vanish, rendering Specialists inactive until you raise the limit once more.

Majapahit Civics
- Wayang: Unlocks the Candi Bentar Unique Building
- Aliran Kepercayaan: Unlocks the Meru Unique Building
- Nusantara: Exploration Age Culture Buildings receive a Culture adjacency with Coast tiles.
- Gamelan: Increased Culture on tiles with multiple buildings from this Age. Increased Settlement Limit.
Majapahit Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Pedanda, a Missionary that will grant Culture when you convert a Settlement to your Religion.
- Cetbang, a Naval Unit that has increased Combat Strength against Naval Units. Can pillage tiles at range with a reduced Movement cost.
- Candi Bentar, a Happiness Building with a Culture Adjacency for Coast and Navigable River tiles.
- Meru, an Ageless Happiness Building with a Happiness Adjacency for Mountains and Wonders. Increased Happiness on Natural Wonder tiles.
- Pura, a unique Quarter that grants a Relic upon completion.

Majapahit Favored Wonder: Borobodur
Majapahit Starting Bias: Coast, Spices (Exploration Age start)

8. Songhai

Best Songhai Legacy Path: Economic

In the context of Sudan’s Timeline, a bonus of +2 Resource Capacity is applied to cities situated along navigable rivers. Furthermore, trade ships traversing these waterways are protected and cannot be looted or pillaged.

Songhai Civics
- Ships of the Desert: Unlocks the Caravanserai Unique Improvement
- Hi-Koi: Increased Combat Strength to all Military Units on Navigable Rivers.
- Kanta: Tajiro Unique Merchant Unit gains increased Gold. Increased Settlement Limit. Cities in Homelands on Navigable Rivers generate Treasure Fleets worth one Victory Point each.
Songhai Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Tajiro, a Merchant that gains Gold when you create a Trade Route that travels over at least one Navigable River
- Gold Bangles Infantry, an Infantry Unit that has increased Combat Strength on Resource tiles. Receives additional yields when Plundering Trade Routes.
- Caravanserai, a Gold building with Gold Adjacency for Rivers and Resources.

Songhai Favored Wonder: Tomb of Askia
Songhai Starting Bias: Navigable Rivers, Desert, Plains, Coast (Exploration Age start)

9. Mongolia

Best Mongolia Legacy Path: Militaristic

10.

As a fervent admirer, here’s my take on your text:

Bokh: When I conquer a Settlement, I gain the most robust Cavalry unit currently in production. My production of Settlers decreases by 50%. I also earn an additional point towards the Minitaristic Legacy Path for Settlements far away and from those I’ve conquered within my Homelands.

Mongolia Civics
- Ulus: Unlocks the Ortöö Unique Improvement
- Four Hounds: Receive a free Noyan Unique Commander. Increased Settlement Limit.
- Yassa: Ortöö Unique Improvement receives increased Gold in Settlements not founded by you.
Mongolia Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Noyan, an Army Commander that has increased Movement. Cavalry Units in its Command Radius have increased Flanking.
- Keshig, a Ranged Unit that counts as a Cavalry Unit with increased Movement, and heals after defeating enemy Units.
- Ortöö, an Improvement that grants Gold and restores a Unit’s Movement if they step onto the tile.

Mongolia Favored Wonder: Erdene Zuu
Mongolia Starting Bias: Horses (Exploration Age start)

11. Shawnee

Best Shawnee Legacy Path: Economic

Settlements nestled by Navigable Waterways yield an additional 2 Food units, while cities situated away from such waterways experience a 10% reduction in Food production.

Shawnee Civics
- Wyehi Simekofi: Unlocks the Mawaskawe Skote Unique Improvement.
- Miyaska Latoweki: Adds Gold for each Trade Route while you have a number of Endeavors active.
- Telwatiki: You can support other leaders’ Wars multiple times instead of once.
- Maleki Kintake: Increased Food on Farms and Camps.
Shawnee Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Hoceepkileni, a Missionary that has increased movement, and Rivers do not end movement.
- Kispoko Nena’to, an Infantry Unit that has increased Combat Strength for every Empire Resource.
- Mawaskawe Skote, an Improvement that adds Food and gains Gold from adjacent Resources.

Shawnee Favored Wonder: Serpent Mound
Shawnee Starting Bias: Rivers, Grassland, Plains, Coast (Exploration Age start)

12. Inca

Best Inca Legacy Path: Scientific

Apus: Can work Mountain Terrain, +2 Food and Production on Mountain Terrain.

Inca Civics
- Mit’a: Unlocks the Terrace Farm Improvement
- Ayllu: Increased Food on Terrace Farm Improvements in Settlements with a Granary.
- Qhapaq Ñan: Rough tiles do not end the Movement of any Inca Unit.
Inca Unique Units & Infrastructure
- Chasqui, a Recon Unit that has increased Movement and Sight, and can see through Mountains and Rough tiles.
- Warak’aq, a Ranged Unit that has high Movement and ignores Rough penalties during Movement. Has increased Combat Strength when attacking from Rough tiles.
- Terrace Farm, an Improvement that gains a high yield of Food, but can only be built on a Rough tile adjacent to a Mountain.

Inca Favored Wonder: Machu Pikchu
Inca Starting Bias: Mountains, Desert, Plains, Coast (Exploration Age start)

2025-02-22 01:01

Discover the Ultimate Tier List for Civ 7’s Exploration Age Civs!