EU5: Best nations for beginners

by

Europa Universalis 5 lets you take control of any nation on Earth starting in 1337. You can choose from a huge variety of countries – everything from tiny cities to powerful empires.

Every country in Europa Universalis 5 has its pros and cons, making for interesting gameplay. However, if you’re new to the game, it’s best to start with a country that helps you learn the fundamentals – and the nations on this list do just that. They aren’t necessarily the easiest countries to play, but each offers special benefits or circumstances that make them ideal for mastering the basics of EU5.

Here are the best EU5 starting nations for beginners.

Portugal

Portugal isn’t the strongest country in the Iberian Peninsula, but it’s remarkably safe. As long as you maintain good relations with Castile – which is usually straightforward due to events early in the game – Portugal enjoys one of the most secure positions in all of Europe.

As a Portugal player, I’m really excited about the possibilities! We’re perfectly set up to go exploring and build up a huge colonial empire, making a ton of money through trade. But, honestly, there’s also a smart path closer to home. Helping Castile kick the Moors out of Spain – the Reconquista – could let us grab some territory in North Africa too. Just… seriously, whatever you do, don’t march your armies and ships on Lisbon in 1358. I’ve seen it go wrong, trust me on this one!

If you enjoy this game and want something similar but with battles happening everywhere, Castile is a good option to try.

Great for: Exploration, Trade

Ashikaga Shogunate

Starting with the Ashikaga Shogunate is a good choice because it’s a stable and prosperous nation. This lets you focus on building up your country – improving production, growing trade, and expanding north to colonize Hokkaido – without facing immediate threats from other powers. While Yuan China appears intimidating, internal rebellions will soon weaken it.

You’ll soon find yourself in a turbulent period of Japanese history – the Sengoku Era, where the Shogunate is falling apart. This creates opportunities for both warfare and negotiation, with complex challenges to overcome. It’s a fantastic setting to learn the ropes, though the political landscape can be tricky to navigate.

Great for: Production, Diplomacy

Hanseatic League

Okay, so in EU5 there’s this really unique thing you can do. You can play as the Hanseatic League, which isn’t a country in the traditional sense. It’s basically a merchant alliance. What’s wild is you can have vassals and build stuff – like these trade posts called Kontors – in other countries, but you don’t actually own any land yourself. It’s a totally different way to play the game!

Playing as the Hanseatic League offers a distinctive experience centered around diplomacy and trade. Because you’re relieved of typical governmental responsibilities, it’s an ideal setting to fully immerse yourself in the details of commerce and building a trading empire.

If you’re looking for a comparable game where you can eventually rule a nation, consider playing as one of the various Japanese clans during the Ashikaga Shogunate period.

Great for: Trade, Diplomacy

England

England isn’t the dominant naval power it will eventually become at the start of this period. It’s far from safe and secure – in fact, it’s surrounded by rivals and doesn’t even fully control all of its territory as an island nation, due to its significant land holdings in France.

From the very beginning of the game, you’ll find yourself deeply involved in the long and complex 100 Years’ War. As England, you can choose to fight to keep and expand your lands in France, even trying to become King of France, or you can focus on ruling your home islands. However, even that won’t be entirely peaceful, as Scotland poses a threat to the north. If you want a difficult military challenge right away that will quickly teach you how to wage war, England is the perfect choice.

After overcoming initial challenges – and how you handle them matters – England offers a remarkable range of opportunities, more than many other countries.

Great for: Warfare, Exploration, Diplomacy, Production

Holland

You lead a tiny county within the vast Holy Roman Empire, and you’re surrounded by rivals eager to conquer you. Your people struggle with famine every winter, and political instability threatens to make things even worse.

It’s true that Holland doesn’t begin with many advantages, but with smart decisions, it could become a major global center for manufacturing and trade – as long as it avoids repeating past economic disasters like the tulip mania.

The Netherlands is a great place to study how economies grow and how important trade can be. You might even get some ideas for building your own successful business!

Great for: Trade, Production, Diplomacy

Read More

2025-11-04 20:19