EU4: Beginner’s Guide for Brandenburg (Ultimate 2024)

Embark on a grand adventure in the heart of Europe as you take the reins of Brandenburg, a nation poised with potential and brimming with historical significance. In Europa Universalis IV, Brandenburg is not just a mere state; it’s a canvas for your strategic artistry, a crucible for your diplomatic skills, and a test of your military prowess.

Situated in the northern part of the Holy Roman Empire, this burgeoning duchy offers a unique blend of challenges and opportunities.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll navigate through the intricacies of statecraft, war, diplomacy, and development. You’ll learn how to transform this modest duchy into a powerhouse that can shape the course of European history. Get ready to forge alliances, outsmart rivals, and carve out your own legacy.
Let the adventure begin!

1444: Brandenburg’s Ambition

Diplomacy

Secure Your Position: Immediately seek alliances with your neighboring states. Prioritize nations like Poland or Saxony, which can provide significant military support against common threats.
Improve Relations: Start improving relations with potential allies and influential members of the Holy Roman Empire, such as Austria, the current Emperor. Good relations with the Emperor can be beneficial for future endeavors.
Optional Alliances: Consider alliances with other North German states. These can serve as a buffer against aggressive expansion by larger powers like Denmark or the Teutonic Order.

Economy and Military

Reduce Military Expenses: Lower army maintenance during peacetime to save on resources, but be ready to mobilize in the face of conflict.
Focus on Trade: Brandenburg has access to valuable trade nodes. Invest in your trade network and consider hiring a trade advisor to boost income.
Build a Strong Army: Despite the focus on trade, remember that Brandenburg’s military tradition is a key aspect of its power. Keep your military strong but cost-effective.

Technology and Ideas

Emphasize Military Tradition: Brandenburg has the potential to form Prussia, renowned for its military efficiency. Focus on military technology to gain an edge in conflicts.
Administrative and Diplomatic Balance: While military might is important, don’t neglect administrative and diplomatic technologies. These will help in managing your territories and forging alliances.
Idea Group Choices: For your first idea group, consider choosing between Diplomatic or Administrative ideas to strengthen your state’s internal management and diplomatic flexibility. Military ideas can be powerful but might strain your early-game resources.

Expansion and Development

Internal Development: Invest in your provinces to increase their economic output and manpower. Balanced development will strengthen your nation in the long run.
Opportunistic Expansion: Look for opportunities to expand, especially into the rich and fractured regions of the Holy Roman Empire. Be cautious of aggressive expansion penalties and the ire of the Emperor.
Focus on Key Areas: Prioritize expanding into areas that complement Brandenburg’s strengths, like increasing control over key trade nodes or regions with high military potential.

1444 – 1450: Laying the Foundations for Brandenburg’s Rise

Diplomatic Maneuvers

Assert Influence in the HRE: Work towards becoming a key player within the Holy Roman Empire. This could involve seeking a role as an Elector or influencing Imperial decisions.
Forge Key Alliances: Strengthen ties with significant powers like Poland and Austria. These alliances can help in countering threats from rivals like the Teutonic Order and Bohemia.
Monitor European Dynamics: Stay aware of the broader European political landscape. Opportunities may emerge to engage in conflicts that align with Brandenburg’s interests.

Economic Stability and Growth

Develop Your Economy: Focus on improving your provinces, especially those in high trade value areas. Boosting trade efficiency can significantly increase your income.
Balance Military and Economic Needs: Maintain a formidable army but avoid overspending. A strong military is necessary, but economic health is crucial for long-term success.
Invest in Key Buildings: Prioritize constructions that increase trade, production, and tax revenues. Upgrading roads and marketplaces can have lasting benefits for your economy.

Military Strategy

Advance Military Technology: Stay updated with military advancements. A well-equipped army will be essential for defending Brandenburg and potential territorial expansion.
Prepare for Regional Conflicts: Position and train your troops for conflicts within the Holy Roman Empire or against nearby rivals like the Teutonic Order.
Fortify Strategic Locations: Maintain and develop forts in crucial areas. This not only secures your borders but also serves as a deterrent to potential aggressors.

Technological and Ideological Progress

Focus on Administrative and Military Ideas: Invest in ideas that bolster your administrative efficiency and military strength, which are vital for national development and defense.
Embrace the Renaissance: Keep an eye on the Renaissance’s spread throughout Europe. Adopting these new ideas early can provide a technological advantage over neighboring states.
Religious Considerations: Prepare for significant religious decisions, especially with the Protestant Reformation looming. The choice between Catholicism and Protestantism will have profound effects on your diplomatic and internal affairs.

1450 – 1465: Expanding Brandenburg’s Influence and Power

Strategic Diplomacy and Alliances

Maintain and Evaluate Alliances: Continuously assess and reinforce your alliances, ensuring they align with your strategic goals. Relationships with nations like Poland, Austria, or emerging powers within the HRE can be key.
Influence Smaller States: Work on vassalizing or diplomatically annexing smaller neighboring states within the HRE, increasing your influence and territory without provoking larger powers.

Economic Development and Trade Expansion

Develop Trade Further: Continue to expand your trade influence, particularly in the Lübeck and Saxony trade nodes. Consider constructing trade buildings and deploying merchants strategically.
Invest in Economic Ideas: Adopt economic idea groups that will boost your national trade income and reduce construction costs, enhancing your long-term economic strength.
Balanced Military Spending: As your economy grows, gradually increase military spending to support expansionist policies, but ensure it doesn’t hinder your economic growth.

Military Campaigns and Territorial Expansion

Target Strategic Regions: Look for opportunities to expand into key strategic areas, such as Pomerania or Silesia, to control important trade routes and resources.
Careful Military Engagement: Engage in military conflicts wisely, considering the balance of power within the HRE and the potential impact on aggressive expansion.
Build a Professional Army: Continue to improve your military by hiring skilled generals, building a larger standing army, and adopting military technologies and ideas.

Internal Affairs and Stability

Manage Provincial Unrest: Keep an eye on provincial unrest and take measures to reduce it, such as increasing autonomy in troubled areas or stationing troops.
Promote Cultural and Religious Unity: As the Reformation approaches, decide your stance on religious matters. Whether you remain Catholic or become Protestant, ensure religious unity to maintain stability.
Invest in Administrative Technologies: Continue focusing on administrative technologies to improve governance efficiency and unlock new idea groups.

Technological Advancements and Ideas

Adopt New Technologies: Prioritize the adoption of new technologies, particularly those that enhance your military and administrative capabilities.
Choose Relevant Idea Groups: Depending on your strategy, select idea groups that complement your expansionist or defensive needs. Military ideas can fortify your army, while diplomatic ideas can aid in managing aggressive expansion and alliances.

1465 – 1480: Cementing Brandenburg’s Regional Dominance

Advanced Diplomatic Strategies

Reassess Alliances and Rivalries: Periodically review your alliances and rivalries. Adapt your diplomatic strategies to the changing European landscape, ensuring Brandenburg’s interests are safeguarded.
Influence Imperial Politics: Actively participate in the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire. Seek to gain or maintain a position as an Elector, and influence Imperial elections and decisions.

Economic Prosperity and Infrastructure

Maximize Resource Utilization: Focus on developing provinces rich in resources like iron and cloth. This not only boosts your economy but also supports your military endeavors.
Expand Trade Networks: Enhance your presence in key trade nodes. Consider establishing trade depots and leveraging trade steering to increase your wealth.
Manage Taxation and Production: Efficiently balance taxation and production policies to ensure a steady flow of income without burdening your population excessively.

Military Expansion and Fortification

Enhance Army Composition: Integrate more advanced units into your army as military technology progresses. Keep a balance between infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
Secure Borders with Forts: Upgrade existing forts and build new ones in strategic locations to protect your expanding borders and deter potential aggressors.
Conduct Calculated Military Campaigns: Identify opportune moments to engage in wars, focusing on territorial expansion and weakening your rivals. Ensure you maintain manageable levels of aggressive expansion.

Internal Stability and Reforms

Handle Religious Tensions: As the Protestant Reformation begins, decide whether to embrace Protestantism or remain Catholic. Manage religious unrest and aim for religious unity.
Centralize State Power: Implement policies and decisions that centralize state power, reducing autonomy in provinces and consolidating your rule.
Invest in Education and Culture: Support universities and cultural developments. This not only boosts your prestige but also accelerates technological advancements.

Technological Innovation and Ideas

Embrace Printing Press: As the Printing Press emerges, focus on embracing it swiftly to gain a technological edge.
Adapt to New Warfare Tactics: With changing military technologies, adapt your tactics and composition to stay ahead of your rivals.
Select Suitable Idea Groups: Depending on your strategic goals, choose idea groups that enhance your military capabilities, diplomatic influence, or administrative efficiency.

1480 – 1495: Advancing Brandenburg’s Ascent to Power

Diplomatic Foresight and Influence

Strategic Alliances and Rivalries: Constantly evaluate and adjust your alliances. Form strategic relationships that can support your goals, and identify new rivals that threaten your interests.
Influence HRE Politics: As a key state in the Holy Roman Empire, aim to influence its policies and decisions. Consider supporting or opposing the Emperor based on your strategic goals.

Economic Management and Trade Domination

Diversify Economic Practices: Expand your economic base by developing different provinces based on their resources and trade goods. This diversification will make your economy more resilient to fluctuations.
Enhance Trade Supremacy: Continue to expand your influence in key trade nodes. Use light ships to protect trade and increase your trade power.
Invest Wisely: Allocate funds to build economic buildings like workshops and manufactories, which significantly boost your income.

Military Might and Strategic Warfare

Advanced Military Structure: Continue to update and modernize your army. Incorporate newer unit types and maintain a strong balance of infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
Conduct Strategic Wars: Engage in wars that expand your territory or weaken rivals, but always be wary of overextension and aggressive expansion penalties.
Fortify Key Areas: Ensure your borders are well-protected with a network of forts, especially on the frontiers with potential aggressors.

Internal Affairs and Progressive Policies

Manage Religious Harmony: With the Protestant Reformation underway, carefully manage the religious composition within your nation to maintain stability.
Promote Administrative Efficiency: Implement policies that improve administrative efficiency, reducing corruption and streamlining governance.
Cultural and Educational Investments: Continue investing in cultural and educational institutions to boost national prestige and accelerate technological advancement.

Technological Advancements and Idea Group Selection

Stay Ahead in Technology: Keep up with the latest technological advancements, particularly in military and administrative areas.
Idea Group Strategy: Choose idea groups that complement your current strategy and future ambitions. Consider innovative or humanist ideas to deal with technological and cultural challenges.

1495 – 1510: Brandenburg’s Path to Preeminence

Strategic Diplomacy and International Relations

Dynamic Alliances and Diplomacy: Continuously adapt your diplomatic strategies to the evolving European landscape. Form alliances that can bolster your position and carefully select rivals.
Play a Role in HRE and Global Affairs: Actively participate in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire and start to engage in the broader geopolitics as exploration and colonization begin.

Economic Growth and Global Trade Opportunities

Expand Global Trade Influence: As new trade routes open up, seek opportunities to expand your global trade network. Consider building a fleet capable of exploring and protecting distant trade routes.
Optimize National Taxation and Production: Focus on enhancing your national tax and production efficiency. Invest in buildings that increase your economic output and trade power.
Economic Ideas and Policies: Adopt and implement economic policies and ideas that boost your financial strength and enable more significant investments in your military and infrastructure.

Military Development and Territorial Expansion

Keep Military at the Cutting Edge: Stay ahead in military technology and continue to build a powerful and modern army. Regularly upgrade your forces with the latest unit types.
Expand Through Tactical Warfare: Identify strategic opportunities for territorial expansion, especially within the Holy Roman Empire, while managing aggressive expansion and relations with neighbors.
Fortification and Defense: Upgrade your fort system and maintain a strong defense, particularly in border provinces and strategic chokepoints.

Domestic Policies and Reform Initiatives

Religious Unity and Tolerance: With the Protestant Reformation in full swing, make strategic decisions regarding religion that bolster internal stability and international relations.
Centralize State Authority: Continue efforts to centralize power, reduce autonomy in provinces, and strengthen the administrative core of your government.
Promote Cultural Renaissance: Encourage cultural and educational developments that can increase your prestige and influence, while also speeding up technological advancements.

Technological Leadership and Idea Group Adaptation

Embrace New Technologies: Prioritize technological advancements, especially those that unlock new possibilities in exploration and colonization.
Adaptive Idea Group Choices: Choose idea groups that support your current goals, whether they are focused on further internal development, military conquest, or global exploration.

Key Tips and Considerations for Brandenburg
* As Brandenburg, especially with the potential to form Prussia, it’s essential to maintain internal stability. This can involve managing religious tensions, particularly during the Protestant Reformation. Choose whether to embrace Protestantism or remain Catholic based on strategic needs, and manage religious unrest accordingly. Use state interactions, advisors, and troops to maintain control and suppress rebellions.
* Brandenburg’s location in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire and near valuable trade nodes like Lübeck and Saxony offers significant economic opportunities. Focus on building a strong trade network, construct trade buildings, and use light ships to protect your trade in the Baltic Sea. Invest in provinces with valuable resources to maximize your income, balancing trade, production, and taxation efficiently.
* Expanding within the Holy Roman Empire requires a careful approach due to the aggressive expansion penalties and the complex political landscape. Prioritize regions that enhance your strategic position, such as those rich in resources or with high strategic value. Utilize diplomatic means like marriages and alliances, alongside military conquest, to expand your influence. Be mindful of the Emperor’s reaction and the dynamics within the Empire.

The Road to Prussia: Realizing Brandenburg’s Destiny (How to Form Prussia from Brandenburg in EU4)

Key Steps to Form Prussia

1. Control Key Provinces

Main Areas: Focus on Königsberg, Danzig, and Warmia.
Strategy: Plan your expansion to secure these important territories.

2. Adopt the Protestant or Reformed Faith

Reformation Choices: Convert to either Protestant or Reformed Christianity.
Methods: Convert when the Reformation starts or use a religious center to convert your capital.

3. Strategic Expansion and Diplomacy in the Baltic Region

Target Territories: Aim for necessary provinces in the Baltic area.
Aggressive Expansion Management: Be careful with expansion within the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) to avoid coalitions.

4. Economic and Military Preparation

Economic Strength: Ensure a strong economy for military expansion and religious conversion costs.
Military Investment: Develop a powerful military, embracing Prussia’s renowned military capabilities.

5. Embracing the Protestant Reformation

Conversion Timing: Choose the right moment to convert, minimizing unrest.
Handling Unrest: Be ready to address revolts and unrest from religious changes.

6. Forming Prussia and Adopting Prussian Government

Formation Decision: Control required provinces and embrace the chosen religion to activate the decision in the national menu.
Prussian Monarchy: Transition to a Prussian Monarchy for unique military and government benefits.

What are The Best Idea Groups for Brandenburg in EU4?

Choosing the right idea groups in Europa Universalis IV is crucial for optimizing your nation’s strengths and compensating for its weaknesses. For Brandenburg, which has a natural inclination towards military prowess and can significantly impact European diplomacy, selecting appropriate idea groups is key.

Best Diplomatic Idea Groups for Brandenburg

Influence Ideas:
- Benefits: Reduces aggressive expansion impact, increases diplomatic reputation, and lowers the cost of diplomatic annexation.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: As Brandenburg, you’re often expanding within the Holy Roman Empire, where aggressive expansion is a major concern. Influence ideas help manage this while facilitating the integration of vassals.
Diplomatic Ideas:
- Benefits: Provides more diplomats, improves diplomatic relations, and offers a reduction in province war score cost.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: The extra diplomats and improved relations are invaluable for managing alliances and coalitions, crucial for navigating the complex politics of the HRE.
Trade Ideas:
- Benefits: Boosts trade efficiency and income, and increases your merchants and trade range.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: Although Brandenburg is not primarily a trade nation, boosting trade can significantly enhance your economy, providing more resources for your military and diplomatic endeavors.

Best Military Idea Groups for Brandenburg

Quality Ideas:
- Benefits: Improves the combat ability of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and enhances naval capabilities.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: Brandenburg/Prussia’s military tradition is renowned, and Quality ideas complement this by further enhancing the effectiveness of your already formidable military units.
Defensive Ideas:
- Benefits: Increases army morale, fort defense, and reduces military maintenance.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: Defensive ideas not only bolster your troops’ staying power in battles with increased morale but also make your forts more formidable, which is crucial in the defensively challenging HRE terrain.
Offensive Ideas:
- Benefits: Provides bonuses to siege ability, land leader shock, and fire, and increases force limits.
- Why It’s Good for Brandenburg: Offensive ideas are perfect for an aggressive expansion strategy, enhancing your ability to quickly win sieges and field larger and more effective armies.

How Do I Form Prussia as Brandenburg in EU4?

To form Prussia as Brandenburg in EU4, you need to meet several key conditions: Firstly, control the required provinces, including Königsberg, which is critical. Secondly, convert to Protestant or Reformed Christianity. This often involves waiting for the Protestant Reformation to begin in the early 1500s. Once these prerequisites are met, and you have the required administrative technology level, you can form Prussia through a decision in the game’s mission interface.

What are the Best Strategies for Early Expansion as Brandenburg?

Early expansion for Brandenburg should focus on careful territorial growth within the Holy Roman Empire. Prioritize small, nearby states that can be easily integrated. Managing aggressive expansion is crucial to avoid coalitions. Diplomatically annexing or vassalizing smaller neighbors and expanding into the Baltic region, particularly towards Pomerania and Teutonic Order territories, are common strategies. Always balance expansion with maintaining good relations with key powers like Austria, the Emperor of the HRE.

What are the Key Challenges for Brandenburg Players in EU4? (How to Overcome Them!)

Navigating HRE Politics: Form strategic alliances and maintain good relations with the Emperor to navigate the Holy Roman Empire’s complex landscape.
Managing Aggressive Expansion: Expand carefully, focusing on smaller states to avoid coalitions, and improve relations with potential coalition members.
Building a Strong Economy: Develop provinces, especially those with valuable trade goods, and balance military spending to strengthen your economy.

Conclusion

This Brandenburg Guide is written for the vanilla version of EUIV – if you want to add up the fun of playing Europa Universalis IV, consider adding DLCs and content packs to your game.

As we reach the end of our comprehensive journey through Brandenburg in Europa Universalis IV, we’ve seen how leading this central European power is a masterful blend of astute military strategy, shrewd diplomacy, and economic savvy. From your early steps in the complex Holy Roman Empire to potentially forming the mighty Prussian state, Brandenburg presents a uniquely challenging and enriching experience in EU4.

This guide aims to illuminate your path to glory and ignite your passion for the intricate and immersive world of Europa Universalis IV. Now, it’s your turn to take the helm: What ingenious strategies or memorable moments have you experienced in your Brandenburg adventures? Feel free to share your stories and insights in the comments below. Let’s continue to unravel and celebrate the rich tapestry of EU4 together!

EU4: Beginner’s Guide for Brandenburg (Ultimate 2024) - EU4 Paradise (2024)

Table of Contents