Best Countries In Europa Universalis 4

Key Takeaways

• Bengal offers potential expansion in Europa Universalis 4, making alliances and expanding aggressively.
• Ethiopia can dominate Africa and the Middle East in EU4 by being a Sunni nation or allying rivals’ rivals.
• Timurids can become a global power in EU4 if they manage revolts, annex vassals, and ally Ottomans early on.

In Europa Universalis 4, the entire world is at the player’s fingertips. Hundreds of playable nations are ready to be led to greatness. Whether starting as a country on the brink of collapse or an already powerful empire, fans certainly don’t lack options when it comes to starting a new game of Europa Universalis 4.

Some countries, however, offer such a wealth of possibilities they can’t help but be intriguing. All of these nations come with their own set of challenges, to be sure. Ultimately, it’s the player’s skills that will decide whether or not these nations flourish, or crash and burn.

Updated on October 13, 2024, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Paradox Interactive gracing Europa Universalis 4 fans with four free DLCs with their base game (Rights of Man, Art of War, Digital Extreme Upgrade, Common Sense), players who want to get into the grand strategy title can finally have a more comprehensive experience that may actually make their sessions more enjoyable. However, fans who want to spice things up in their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay may want to consider choosing starter nations that offer quite a lot of variety with their gameplay options. These include nations that specialize in hyper-expansionist strategies, a look into what’s happening in Africa even before the Age of Discovery, and a country whose only blocker into becoming a superpower is managing revolts.

16 Bengal

A View Of What Happens In The Region For Future Games

On top of Bengal providing quite an entertaining challenge in a player’s Europa Universalis 4 playthrough, the nation can become a “mirror” for players to use to check what happens to the Indian region in-depth as a reference for future playthroughs. Bengal having access to its own trade node on top of having some rich provinces puts it into a place of potential expansion. This is courtesy of a risky opening that reconquers Orissa and Garjat, makes an alliance with Delhi and Malwa, and opens doors to aggressively expand to the east and north – all at the cost of some Aggression Expansion in other nations.

With the Mandate of Heaven DLC, Bengal has the opportunity to become a Ming tributary, further giving it room to expand eastward without much hindrance from Indian rivals. Should gamers play their cards right, Bengal at the arrival of the Renaissance will be rich enough to stave off its tech penalties while at the same time giving it room to form Hindustan. By then, Bengal/Hindustan should be capable enough of quelling threats in the form of Bahmanis and Vijayanagar, giving them the opening to unify all of India into a world power.

15 Ethiopia

A Rising Power When Played Correctly

Players of Europa Universalis 4 who want a worthwhile challenge for their playthroughs can begin as Ethiopia, which despite its size boasts an Empire-tier government and quite a lot of vassals in its surrounding regions. Should Ethiopia focus on being a Sunni nation, nearby Muslim nations can become easy allies. However, some prefer a Coptic Ethiopia to take advantage of various boosts that can propel the nation to becoming a rival worthy of Ottoman attention. Making allies out of the rivals of popular expansionists (e.g., England, France, Portugal, Spain) can help Ethiopia thrive in its upcoming journey to the west.

When played properly, Ethiopia in Europa Universalis 4 gameplay can potentially dominate not just Africa but even the entirety of the Middle East. Before uniting Africa, Ethiopia should consider allying with the Ottomans first before taking over the Mamluks to the north and then Oman and Yemen to the east. Down to the south, Ethiopia should consider taking over everything until they see the Cape of Good Hope while the nation wipes out Funj in the west.

14 Timurids

Manage Revolts To Become A Major World Power

Technically a remnant of Timur, Timurids begin the game at a rather challenging position with the number of revolts that can happen at once. Not to mention, despite various vassals available at the start of a Europa Universalis 4 playthrough, the death of Shah Rukh will further increase their desire to be independent. Thankfully, Timurids does have a lot of angles to solve this internal issue: use the Lenient Taxation Iqta modifier with the Strong Duchies Nobility estate privilege, declare wars until each vassal is annexed one at a time, focusing on Administrative Points to have vassals do the brunt of fighting while also coring relevant provinces, and even letting vassals go – only to conquer them as soon as players form Mughals.

Should Timurids manage to become Mughals by taking some of Jaunpur and Delhi lands, the nation has the potential to transform into a global power. Staying in wars will force vassals to have little reason to rebel, with Ottomans being an ideal ally as they can easily jump to becoming an immediate asset when dealing with the early-game annoyance of Mamluks.

13 Muscovy

Hyper-Expansionist With A Bit Of A Challenge Streak

Initially a vassal state to the Golden Horde, Muscovy has taken advantage of its early strength to become one of the most stable among the surviving states after the Great Horde’s collapse. However, Muscovy’s potential for hyper-expansion in its Europa Universalis 4 gameplay does come at the cost of a weaker early-game presence – particularly lagging behind in tech compared to neighbors across all directions. Thankfully, the presence of a number of Orthodox vassals provides Muscovy with a much-needed combat ability boost to start expanding in any direction they choose.

Should Muscovy start the game prioritizing Religious Ideas, this process should make it much easier to either convert or become tolerant towards Sunni lands in the south. Given geographical reach, only the Novgorod trade route can become a worthwhile early-game investment. The ideal strategy here is to target Novgorod and the Steppe Hordes in the early game to start the formation of Russia, which by then should give players enough firepower to defend against Poland and Denmark. The potential challenge in Muscovy encountering various enemies early on can make this nation more of a third or fourth-playthrough material.

12 The Papal State

Watch Everyone Else Try To Get In Their Good Graces

This is no ordinary nation in EU 4. As the Pope, players step into the shoes of the leader of the Catholic world. As such, The Papal State wields incredible power and influence. Although not the largest country at the beginning of the game, the Papacy is poised to expand dramatically across the Italian peninsula.

Catholic rulers (the devout ones anyway) will try to stay in the player’s good graces, lest they arouse the anger of the Pope. This country represents one of the most unique playthroughs in the game, one that fans shouldn’t ignore on their next outing.

11 Austria

Simulate The History Of German Politics

In Paradox games, playing as the Holy Roman Empire is an experience that every fan should try at least once. Regarding EU 4, navigating the fractious states of the Empire may seem daunting, especially for beginners; however, for those willing to dabble in German politics, starting as Austria is a solid choice.

In real life, the Habsburg monarchy, represented by Austria, came to dominate the Holy Roman Empire to the point where the title essentially became hereditary. In the game, Austria isn’t quite there yet but occupies a strong position where dominating Imperial politics is well within reach. Can you recreate the stunning successes of this dynasty?

10 Poland

Explore Different Areas Of Expansion

Poland is a great nation to play due to the country’s many potential avenues of expansion. Poland starts the game in disarray (and without a king). However, once a leader is crowned, the real work can begin. With Lithuania as an option for a personal union, Poland can start focusing on corralling its troublesome vassals.

Once internal stability is achieved, there are several choices when it comes to external expansion. Players can lock horns with the Golden Horde or the ailing Teutonic Order. If players are feeling particularly strong (or brave) they can even consider chipping away at the intimidating nations of Hungary and the Holy Roman Empire. Restoring the glory of this proud kingdom is quite fun.

9 England

Enjoy The English Channel With The Safety Of Isolation

The game’s setting represents an interesting time for the English crown. Multiple problems are festering within this powerful nation. Internal stability is teetering, continued war with France is likely, and further expansion into Ireland is stalled. Nevertheless, despite these problems, the sky’s the limit for England if they manage to put their affairs in order.

With the safety afforded by the English Channel, England has time to tend to its internal safety without having to worry too much about foreign invasions. Once England’s domestic troubles have been sorted one way or another, players can begin the unification of the British Isles. Then, why not reignite the conflict with France to regain England’s former continental possessions? Finally, to top it all off, there are always potential colonial acquisitions in the New World and beyond to consider.

8 Trebizond

Revitalize The Byzantine Empire

At the game’s start in 1444, the once-powerful Byzantine Empire is but a shadow of its former self. The disastrous effects of the Fourth Crusade have left Byzantium splintered. One nation with a legitimate claim to the throne of Caesar is Trebizond, a small kingdom in Anatolia.

When looking for an interesting challenge, players may want to consider revitalizing the Byzantine Empire as Trebizond. It won’t be easy, though. Halting the inexorable Ottoman advance is a challenging endeavor considering Trebizond’s military weakness and geographical isolation. However, if the player somehow manages to achieve the seemingly impossible, why stop there? The potential glory of a reformed Roman Empire awaits…

7 Castile

Form The Kingdom Of Spain With A Starting Powerhouse

Castile is certainly one of the most important European countries at the 1444 start. They find themselves on the brink of completing the “Reconquista” of the Iberian peninsula, along with plenty of additional avenues for expansion. It’s also not a bad country to play as a beginner.

Once the Moors have been displaced, Castile can set its sights on forming the Kingdom of Spain. The other major nation on the peninsula, Aragon, can be reunited with Castile through a personal union. After that, the sky’s the limit. Players can then set their sights on exploring/colonizing the Americas or pursuing more continental ambitions in Portugal, Italy, and beyond.

6 Novgorod

Form The Russian Empire After Overcoming Challenges

Novgorod represents yet another interesting challenge veteran players may want to consider. They are one of the prime contenders for forming the Russian Empire, although doing so isn’t exactly straightforward. Surrounded by enemies, Novgorod will have a tough time simply surviving if the player isn’t careful.

If players possess the Third Rome DLC, Novgorod receives its own unique mission tree. In real life, Novgorod was annexed by Muscovy. Fans, however, can change that outcome by defeating the Muscovites instead! From there, players can work towards forming the Russian Empire, a process that’s fraught with plenty of danger.

5 Wallachia

Play For Vlad The Impaler

Many historical figures have become legendary, sometimes making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. Perhaps one of the most recognizable historical figures whose history is steeped in legend is Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For a different experience, why not try playing as the legend himself?

When playing as Wallachia, a scripted event will fire that may bring Vlad the Impaler into power. Nevertheless, Vlad will have his work cut out for him. Wallachia is surrounded on all sides by troublesome and more powerful neighbors. But, with Vlad at the reins, anything is possible. Players can even look forward to forming the country of Romania if their endeavors prove successful.

4 Uesugi

Conquer Japan As A Mini-Game

Fans of Total War: Shogun 2 will find themselves in familiar territory here. In EU 4, the politics of Japan are dominated by a group of powerful lords, the daimyos. The Uesugi is one such daimyo clan. For fans who have never played a Japanese nation before, the Uesugi is an interesting choice.

The Uesugi don’t start the game as pushovers. They possess the capacity to absorb many of their weaker neighbors. If the tempo of expansion is kept at a brisk pace, players will easily come to dominate the island. With that accomplished, Japan can eventually be united into a single nation with the Uesugi at the helm.

3 Venice

Capitalize On The Nation’s Maritime Potential

Venice is an influential merchant republic that poses quite a few interesting possibilities when it comes to gameplay and expansion. Fans can follow the more historical route by ensuring that Venice monopolizes the maritime trade in the region. Eliminating their prime competitor, Genoa, is recommended in this regard.

There are also plenty of options for military conquest as well. The Balkans, for instance, represent one potential target for the merchant republic, although tangling with strong rivals such as the Ottoman Empire is likely. Forming alliances with some of the major European powers can provide extra muscle in future conflicts.

2 The Mamluks

Begin With The Potential To Expand In Different Directions

As the rulers of Egypt and Syria, the Mamluks occupy an extremely favorable position on the map. Supported by a powerful and feared military, the Mamluks have the capacity to expand in several directions. They also possess a unique government type if the Cradle of Civilization DLC is installed.

Historically, the Mamluks were subsumed into the Ottoman Empire. With the benefit of hindsight, however, players can enact measures to prevent that outcome from repeating. If internal stability can be maintained, the Mamluks can surely become the dominant power in the Middle East.

1 The Netherlands

Access Europe’s Potential Trading Powerhouse

The Netherlands is actually one of the many formable nations in EU 4. Fans who manage to recreate it will have plenty of compelling prospects to work with afterward. Chief among these possibilities is turning the Netherlands into Europe’s premier trading powerhouse.

Playing as Burgundy is perhaps the most straightforward way to form the Netherlands. It’s worth noting, however, that any country with the Dutch, Flemish, or Frisian primary culture may create it. As such, this endeavor can be made more challenging by selecting a weaker nation at the game’s start.