Europa Universalis 4: The 10 Best Ideas To Purchase

Thanks to Ideas in Europa Universalis 4, a player can enhance their gameplay by directing their nations to focus on areas of specialization. Depending on their chosen category, a Europa Universalis 4 Idea can provide nations with a set of escalating buffs that will allow them to focus their efforts in a given area, be it improving their military forces, diplomatic relations with other countries, or more specialized tasks such as colonizing the New World.

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However, with the game’s many Ideas spread across four categories, a nation’s choice of Ideas to focus on can determine how successful they will become within the game’s overall timeframe. In this regard, just which Ideas are practical areas of focus for Europa Universalis 4 players?

10 Espionage

Secure Efficient Spies For Diplomatic Plays

Players enjoying their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay may think twice about a peaceful playthrough once they receive a notification that their nation has just caught a foreign Diplomat building a Spy Network. With Espionage (Diplomatic) Ideas, players can get ahead of their foreign rivals by boosting their own capabilities of sending Diplomats as spies to other nations of interest.

At its core, Espionage Ideas grant players an additional Diplomat on top of constructing Spy Networks much faster, while they also get to detect enemy Spy Networks more efficiently. Much to the delight of conquest-leaning players, Claim Fabrication also allows them to claim entire states and only pay half the cost for the “Transfer Vassal” Peace Treaty.

9 Administrative

Efficient Leadership Gives More Time For Objectives

Despite the straightforward nature of Administrative (Administrative) Ideas, players who want to secure a stable nation for a large portion of their Europa Universalis 4 playthrough may be able to achieve this more efficiently with this Idea Group. Aside from the additional Advisor, the overall lessening of costs for Culture Promotion, Stability, and even Administrative Technology should encourage players to secure their nation’s internal stability, so they can extend similar benefits to their potential colonies.

Moreover, Administrative Ideas offer a massive 25% reduction to Core-Creation, making this an efficient Idea Group to focus on if players are using nations with relatively large areas or for conquest-related plays. When combined with the Religious (Administrative) Idea Group, players should be able to quell unrest more effectively.

8 Diplomatic

Enter The Global Geopolitical Scene With More Mobility

At first glance, players games/”>enjoying Europa Universalis 4 may look at the Diplomatic (Diplomatic) Ideas options and notice how they simply improve Diplomatic Relations, Diplomatic Reputation, and provide easier access to Diplomatic Technology. While players can essentially pursue their Diplomatic affairs at a slower pace, the additional benefits of fewer Province Warscore Costs and extra Diplomats can give players more room for Diplomatic plays.

Investing in Diplomatic IDeas in the early game should allow any type of nation to pursue more elaborate maneuvers in the global geopolitical scene. A more direct way of utilizing the Diplomatic Idea Group is to send extra Diplomats to secure more allies for smaller states, or to establish Spy Networks in other regions to prepare for war.

7 Defensive

Get Early-Game Security Against Aggressive Plays

Given howgames-diplomacy/”> Europa Universalis 4’s gameplay tries to replicate intricate 15th-century global geopolitics, it’s no surprise that a player might find themselves waging wars or being eyed for colonization as early as the beginning of their playthrough. In instances where players want to secure their defenses against hostile powers, Defensive (Military) Ideas can help them boost their overall protections, especially during wartime.

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Defensive Ideas not only boost Fort Defense but also Garrison Size and Reinforcement Speed. Moreover, the reduction of Fort Maintenance Costs while boosting Army Morale can help players mount a more manageable defense regardless of the situation. Defensive Ideas become a higher priority for nations who need to focus on stabilizing their immediate location before proceeding to more developmental processes.

6 Exploration

Discover & Establish Opportunities In The New World

A player’s games-best-negotiation-mechanics/”>Europa Universalis 4 gameplay being set in the Age of Discovery means their nation is positioned at a time when it can change history and start colonizing the New World. However, with colonization being a rather large effort, players who want to build into such an idea should instead ensure they’re capable of supporting overseas travel. In this regard, researching Exploration (Diplomatic) Ideas should give players a head start in their colonization aspirations.

Even if players don’t want to immediately set out for the new world, Exploration Ideas can greatly improve a nation’s potential for overseas trade courtesy of the option to recruit Explorers and Conquistadors and boost Treasure Fleet Income. Even if players don’t want to become aggressive invaders, just the prospect of securing lucrative locations via Overseas Claim Fabrication and a better Colonial Range should improve a nation’s overall economy.

5 Expansion

Practical Colonization Means Expanding At The Right Time

Players who begin their Europa Universalis 4 experience will realize that the starting year of 1444 places them right at the beginning of the Age of Discovery, which means the right development should position them to colonize the New World. Courtesy of Expansion (Administrative) Ideas, players who want to get ahead of the colonization game can benefit from additional Colonists, Merchants, Diplomats, and even the Global Trade Power necessary to establish territories. Moreover, faster Envoy Travel Time, and lessening Liberty Desire and Minimum Autonomy positions the player nation as a more effective colonist.

However, players need to time their Expansion efforts to ensure the Idea Group isn’t wasted at a time when the nation doesn’t have the capacity to support colonial efforts. Ideally, players should build upon developments in Exploration before pursuing Expansion, and only get aggressive after securing all Ideas.

4 Humanist

Satisfy Internal Groups For Easier External Movement

When players begin their Europa Universalis 4 playthrough, they likely want to start expanding their national interests based on Missions and other immediate concerns. However, players can’t exactly focus on their nation’s long-term goals if there are Rebels and other forms of unrest brewing on the horizon. This can be impeded by Humanist (Administrative) Ideas, all of which are designed to accommodate potential dissatisfaction among the player’s many populations.

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Upgrades within Humanist Ideas include an increase in Promoted Cultures, Tolerance towards Heathens and Heretics, and more opportunities to Improve Relations. Being able to satisfy various groups in a player’s nation, especially during expansion, can ensure there won’t be any rebellions and situations of internal strife at critical moments in a player’s gameplay session.

3 Influence

Make Diplomatic Affairs Easier To Handle

Diplomacy plays a crucial role in a game like Europa Universalis 4, and Influence (Diplomatic) Ideas play a big hand in ensuring players make the most out of their Diplomatic relations with other nations. At its core, Ideas that boost Diplomatic Relations and lessen Unjustified Demands already make Influence an attractive Idea Group to improve at the onset.

However, Influence can help players become more of a powerhouse with the way they improve their control over Vassals. Boosts in Force Limit Contributions and Income from Vassals while decreasing Liberty Desires from subjects effectively cements a player’s control over their officials, helping them secure smoother gameplay, especially in larger areas.

2 Innovative

Build Upon Ideas With Research Efficiency

A nation’s progression in a grand strategy game like Europa Universalis 4 isn’t always determined by how vast their military and diplomatic capabilities become, but rather by how fast they can attain such Ideas. Players can enjoy faster developments in their nation with Innovative (Administrative) Ideas, giving them the capability to research Technologies and Embrace Institutions at a cheaper cost.

Moreover, access to an extra Advisor and hiring them for a lower cost, alongside a Free Policy, should help nations position themselves as powerhouses in their chosen fields. While “general” in terms of scope, fully upgrading Innovative Ideas should give players the efficient heads-up they need to research other Ideas for more specific needs.

1 Offensive

Always Prepare For Conflict

Regardless of a player’s approach in their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay, their progress with their chosen nation will likely be dampened by other rival countries who want to grind their nation under heel. In this regard, upgrading Offensive (Military) Ideas can always help players stay a step ahead of their contemporaries.

Although more straightforward compared to its more war machine-specific counterparts, obtaining overall bonuses such as Army Morale recovery, Siege capabilities, and even faster Recruitment Time, can give any nation a general boost in their wartime performance. Combining Offensive Ideas with Innovative Ideas can pave the way for a more generalized military effort for players.