Preventing Austrian Alliances In Eu4: Strategies For Success

In the game Europa Universalis IV, players can choose to play as Austria, a country with a strong presence in central Europe. To dominate Europe as Austria, players must make strategic alliances with other countries. Potential allies include France, Hungary, Aragon, Castile, Poland, and even England. Attacking countries like Burgundy and the Ottomans is made easier with the help of allies. Players should also focus on improving relationships with electors and hiring a statesman to gain influence. Additionally, players can increase their power by dismantling countries like Burgundy and vassalizing smaller states.

Ally with France, Hungary, and Baden

To ensure that no one allies with Austria in EU4, you can try to ally with powerful nations that Austria may seek alliances with, such as France, Hungary, and Baden. Here's a strategy for each:

Ally with France

France is a desirable ally due to its military and diplomatic strength. To increase your chances of allying with them, start by improving relations. You can do this by sending them gifts, improving your stability, and supporting their independence if they are at war. Additionally, keep an eye on their rivals and try to rival them yourself. This will give you a relationship bonus with France. If you have a common rival, you can coordinate attacks or take advantage of their preoccupation with a rival to strike.

Ally with Hungary

Hungary is another powerful nation that can be a valuable ally. To improve relations with Hungary, you can send them gifts and improve your stability. If you have a royal marriage with them, this will also help. Hungary may be more inclined to ally with you if you have a strong military and can offer support in their wars. Look for opportunities to join their wars and prove your value as an ally.

Ally with Baden

Baden may seem like a weaker option, but they can still be a valuable ally, especially if you can help them expand. Start by improving relations with Baden and offering your support. As Baden often relies heavily on mercenaries, you can provide them with financial assistance or help improve their economy. Additionally, look for opportunities to bring them into wars on your side by promising land or other incentives. By helping Baden expand, you can strengthen your alliance.

By allying with these three nations, you can decrease the likelihood of Austria finding a strong ally. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the current diplomatic situation and the needs of each potential ally.

Dismantle Burgundy

To dismantle Burgundy in Europa Universalis IV, there are several strategies you can employ. Here are some detailed instructions to achieve this goal:

Firstly, understand the context of Burgundy in the game. Burgundy is a powerful nation in the Low Countries region, with significant influence, income, and military might. They are ruled by the Bourgogne branch of the Valois dynasty and are subjects to both France and the Holy Roman Empire. Their unique government reforms, such as the "Burgundian State" and the "Council of Mechelen," grant them diplomatic advantages and faster integration of PUs.

One strategy is to exploit the rivalry between Bohemia and Austria. Start by fabricating a claim on Sundgau and declaring a conquest war while promising land to Bohemia. This will help you gain a foothold in the region and potentially weaken Austria's position.

Another approach is to form an alliance with France, who is historically a subject of Burgundy. With France as your ally, you can work together to check Burgundy's expansion and limit their influence. This may involve declaring wars or imposing diplomatic pressures to hinder their growth.

Additionally, you can try to become Burgundy's rival and directly engage in conflicts with them. This option may be challenging, but it is feasible if you have a strong military and strategic advantages. Declare wars, disrupt their trade, and take advantage of their weaknesses to gradually dismantle their power.

Finally, you can consider restarting the game until you achieve a specific scenario. For instance, you can wait until Austria is rivaled by Bohemia and then fabricate claims to declare war. This strategy may require patience and a willingness to adapt your approach based on the game's dynamics.

Remember that dismantling Burgundy is a complex task, and you may need to adapt your strategy based on the evolving circumstances in the game. A combination of diplomatic, military, and strategic maneuvers will be essential to achieving your goal.

Attack the Balkans and the Ottomans with allies

To prevent Austria from forming alliances in EU4, one strategy is to attack the Balkans and the Ottomans with allies. Here's a detailed guide on how to execute this strategy effectively:

First, understand that the Balkans are often a highly contested region in the game, with Venice and Genoa controlling the Aegean Sea and hindering control of the Constantinople trade node. This makes it crucial to gain control over the Balkans to secure the trade income from Constantinople. One approach is to start by attacking weaker nations like Epirus, Candar, Dulkadir, and Ramazan to consolidate your power in Anatolia and gain further claims. These nations are unlikely to have strong allies, making them easier targets.

Next, focus on Venice, which guarantees Albania and has influence in the Balkans. However, be cautious as Venice also has powerful allies like Austria and France. To avoid a direct confrontation with them, improve your military strength and position before engaging Venice. Ensure you have a bigger army and take advantage of any mil tech advantages you can gain. Consider attacking Venice's vassals, such as Naxos and the Knights, to weaken their hold on the region.

Another strategy is to bring the allies of your target into a separate war first. By keeping both wars active, you prevent them from calling their allies defensively against you. This tactic can be enhanced by allying with their allies and building trust, potentially allowing you to break their alliances. Additionally, you can attack the allies of their allies to further distract and divide them.

When declaring war, be strategic about ticking the boxes next to the enemy's allies. Avoid ticking boxes for powerful nations like Austria or Aragon, as this will likely lead to them joining the war. Instead, focus on targeting weaker allies or those with fewer connections, such as Albania and Venice's vassals. Remember that having a larger army and stating conquered land will give you an advantage in battles and sieges.

Lastly, don't forget to manage your aggressive expansion (AE). Assign diplomats to improve relations with outraged countries to prevent a coalition from forming against you. The Ottomans are a strong nation, capable of handling multiple fronts, but for new players, it's advisable to focus on one war at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Marry electors

To marry electors effectively, you should aim to ally with three to four electors and keep relations high. You can identify electors with high relations by checking the HRE screen, which will indicate why they like or dislike you. Aim for a relation score of at least 150 with the electors, which can be achieved through various means, such as having the same religion, being a defender of the faith, using the influence action as a great power, gifting, improving imperial relations, and utilizing religious diplomats.

Additionally, consider allying with Archbishoprics, as they are more likely to remain Catholic during the reformation. Improving relations with electors can also be achieved by having royal marriages with them. However, be cautious when marrying electors, as it can annoy those you are in a marriage alliance with. Only marry an elector if you intend to put them in a forced personal union.

Marrying electors is a crucial aspect of the game when playing as Austria, and it can help you secure your position as Emperor and maintain positive relations with powerful allies.

Revoke as Austria

As Austria, your main goal is to revoke the privileges of your allies and become the undisputed Emperor, dominating Europe. Here are some strategies to ensure no one allies with you and to achieve your goals:

First, focus on building strong alliances yourself. Ally with major powers that are friendly towards you, such as France, Hungary, Aragon, Castille, Poland, and even England. France is particularly important as they will provide strong support in Wars in Germany and deter other nations from challenging you. However, be cautious as allying with too many nations will strain your diplomatic relations, slowing your progress in other areas.

Second, strategically choose provinces to add to the Holy Roman Empire (HRE). Target provinces from states with more than one province, such as Bavaria, Bohemia, and Switzerland. Leave states with only one province for now. This strategy will maximize your monthly Imperial Authority (IA) gain. Additionally, consider giving up one core on each nation inside the HRE, such as Styria, Tirol, or Burgundy, to further increase your IA.

Third, take advantage of internal HRE wars. As Austria, you can involve yourself in many of these conflicts, ensuring your allies provide assistance, especially in challenging wars like those against Burgundy and the Ottomans. Attack the Balkans and the Ottomans with support from allies like Hungary, Poland, and Aragon. Convert the land and add it to the HRE during peacetime, ensuring you have at least 50 IA to pass the next reform.

Finally, manage your relationships with electors carefully. Improve relations with theocratic electors, hire a Statesman, and release dead princes from 1444, such as Modena, Pisa, and Hamburg, to gain their support. You can also force a Personal Union (PU) on Hungary and Bohemia in the 1500s by royal marrying them and improving relations.

Remember, your goal is to revoke, and by following these strategies, you'll be well on your way to achieving your goals as Austria in EU4.

Frequently asked questions