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Europa Universalis 5 is a type of strategy game that will give you positive results for being patient, just as much as it will cause you problems for being careless. Every single choice you make can have effects that last for many decades. However, for newcomers who are just starting, it is easy to feel confused and feel like there is too much to handle.This is the exact situation where these best beginner tips and tricks become useful, as they are designed to help you make it through your first one hundred years in Europa Universalis 5. Europa Universalis 5: Best beginner tips and tricks1) Start with forgiving NationsIf borrowing money helps you hire mercenaries to win a war or build critical infrastructure, do it (Image via Paradox Interactive)Your first game will set the tone for how quickly you understand Europa Universalis 5’s mechanics, so don’t start off with a fragile or isolated country. Pick a nation that has room to breathe and the resources to recover from early mistakes.France, England, or Castile are the usual go-to beginner options for good reason. France gives you raw military power, strong borders, and a stable economy. England’s island position protects you from constant invasions and lets you focus on trade and naval strength. Castile, meanwhile, offers a smooth introduction to colonization and diplomacy, without throwing you into too much conflict early on.That said, two great alternatives are Portugal and Poland. Portugal’s simple setup makes it ideal for learning exploration and trade mechanics, while Poland’s elective monarchy system introduces internal politics in a manageable way. Both give you unique experiences without overwhelming complexity.Read also: All cheats and console commands in Europa Universalis 52) Fix your Crown Power earlyFix your Crown Power, tame your estates, and use Parliament like a scalpel (Image via Paradox Interactive)One of the most important things you need to do in Europa Universalis 5 is fix your Crown Power. If it’s below 25%, your country will suffer from penalties like lower tax efficiency, weak cabinet performance, and reduced trade income. At this level, your estates (especially the nobility) are essentially running your nation, siphoning off most of your income. To turn that around, you need to raise your Crown Power and cut down estate influence.The easiest way to start is by choosing reforms that strengthen the monarchy. For example, adopting Autocracy adds a solid +10% Crown Power at the cost of slightly increasing Aristocracy. The short-term tradeoff is worth it because higher Crown Power directly boosts your income and authority. The long game is about tipping the balance back toward the throne, like one law and privilege at a time.3) Use Automation to learn, not ignoreLet automation assist you, not replace your decision-making (Image via Paradox Interactive)Automation in Europa Universalis 5 is a learning tool. Instead of handling everything at once, let the AI manage repetitive tasks so you can focus on understanding how the systems interact. We recommend that you start by automating population management and trade. Watch how the AI promotes population groups, handles resource flow, and invests in key provinces. These patterns teach you what good management looks like before you start doing it yourself.For the military, automation can help with recruitment, but don’t hand over control of army movement or wars. Positioning troops and timing battles are things you should learn manually.Diplomacy, however, should never be automated. It’s too closely tied to your long-term goals, and AI suggestions might lead you into unwanted wars.Read also: 5 games you should try if you enjoyed Escape From Duckov4) Choose advisors and allies carefullyLoans should fund growth, not patch bad spending habits (Image via Paradox Interactive)Be careful about giving powerful nobles roles at the beginning of the game. A better plan is to give those key roles to people who are directly loyal to the crown, as this will help you increase your country's trade, improve its overall stability, and strengthen your own royal authority. If crown members are scarce, use early marriages to expand your dynasty and fill future court positions with loyal family members.Alliances deserve the same caution. A strong ally can protect you early, but an unstable one can pull you into endless wars. Always check their debt, rebellions, and rivalries before committing. Once your nation is established, you can afford to build more ambitious alliances that serve your long-term goals.5) Keep your Stability highAlways have a small reserve of funds to restore stability when needed (Image via Paradox Interactive)In Europa Universalis 5, stability is your country’s heartbeat. It affects unrest, economy, and even diplomatic efficiency. You’ll often face the temptation to revoke privileges or reform laws all at once, but doing so too quickly can tank your stability and spark revolts.A stable nation earns more money, rebels less, and can sustain longer wars. Stability naturally drifts toward zero over time, so you’ll need to invest in it through the Economy menu. Be cautious when changing laws or revoking Estate privileges, as both actions drain stability fast and can leave you exposed to rebellions.6) Build roads and invest in literacy. Every decision, from who sits in your cabinet to which laws you pass, shapes your nation’s identity in Europa Universalis 5 (Image via Paradox Interactive)Two of the easiest things to overlook in Europa Universalis 5 are infrastructure and education, but both have long-term benefits that snowball over time.Roads drastically improve mobility and trade efficiency. They reduce army travel time, improve market access, and lower proximity costs when connected to your capital. Start by linking your major cities and rural production centers, especially areas rich in trade goods like gold or silver.Meanwhile, literacy boosts your research speed and administrative efficiency. Build libraries and universities early, and encourage population promotion in regions where literacy is low. Read more articles below:Why GTA 6 should have more types of animalsWhere Winds Meet: Everything you need to know about the upcoming Wuxia open-world RPGEscape from Duckov: Stop Bleeding quest guide
