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Beginner Guides

Browse the beginner archive for first campaign routes, setup checklists, opening priorities, and practical tutorials for strategy newcomers.

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This archive has 15 guides. Search the site index, open a related game hub, or narrow by the common guide formats found here.

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15 guides

Guides in Beginner Guides

Mediterranean map with Italy highlighted and expansion arrows toward a restored Roman Empire for an HoI4 Italy guide. HoI4 Console

HoI4 Italy Guide 2026: Roman Empire Route

Build Italy from the weakest major to the Roman Empire in HoI4 1.16+: division templates, focus order, Balance of Power, Ethiopia timing, navy, and FAQ.

Open guide Galactic council hall with glowing faction emblems for a Stellaris civics tier list. Stellaris Beginner

Stellaris Best Civics 4.3

A Stellaris 4.3 civics guide for normal empires, hive minds, machines, megacorps, beginner picks, meta caveats, and reform timing.

Open guide Glowing tradition tree of hexagon nodes growing from a colony dome for a Stellaris traditions guide. Stellaris Beginner

Stellaris Best Traditions 4.3

Choose the best Stellaris traditions in 4.3 with opening orders, build archetypes, economy, war, unity, crisis, and beginner recommendations.

Open guide Starter homeworld launching a first science ship for a Stellaris beginner guide. Stellaris Console

Stellaris Beginner Guide 2026

A practical Stellaris beginner guide for 2026, covering setup, the first 30 years, empire choice, exploration, expansion, economy, colonies, fleets, diplomacy, and...

Open guide A 15th-century portolan chart of Iberia with Portugal highlighted in gold and a caravel on Atlantic routes for an EU5 Portugal guide. EU5 Console

Portugal EU5 Guide: First 50 Years for Beginners

Start Portugal in Europa Universalis 5 with a safe first-50-years plan: secure Castile diplomacy, build Lisboa’s economy, manage trade, and prepare for exploration.

Open guide An illuminated 15th-century map of Iberia with the Kingdom of Castile highlighted in gold for an EU5 Castile guide. EU5 Console

Castile EU5 Guide: First 50 Years for Beginners

Learn Castile’s first 50 years in Europa Universalis 5: stabilize Iberia, manage Portugal and Granada, build the economy, fight limited wars, and prepare for Spain...

Open guide Stylized medieval map of Ireland with clan territories and sea routes for an EU5 Ireland guide. EU5 Console

EU5 Ireland Guide: First 50 Years

A first-50-years Ireland guide for EU5 covering survival, unification, England, diplomacy, economy, expansion, and beginner mistakes.

Open guide Open strategy atlas with a glowing map of Europe for an EU5 beginner guide. EU5 Console

EU5 Beginner Guide: First 50 Years Checklist

New to Europa Universalis 5? Use this EU5 beginner guide to choose a first country, set up before unpausing, survive the first 50 years, and avoid early economy,...

Open guide Habsburg lands glowing gold on a 14th-century map of the Holy Roman Empire for an EU5 Austria guide. EU5 Console

EU5 Austria Guide: First 50 Years

A first-50-years Austria guide for EU5 covering diplomacy, the HRE/international organization angle, economy, estates, warfare, and mistakes to avoid.

Open guide Carpathian basin map with a Hungarian crown for an EU5 Hungary guide. EU5 Console

Hungary EU5 Guide: First 50 Years for Beginners

Start Hungary in Europa Universalis 5 with a beginner-safe first-50-years plan focused on Buda, mines, roads, control, Bohemia diplomacy, and measured Balkan...

Open guide Central Europe map with a bold campaign arrow route for an HoI4 Germany guide. HoI4 Console

HoI4 Germany Guide: First Campaign Route

A Germany 1936 first-campaign route for HoI4 players who want a structured opener: industry, research, army setup, Poland, France, and common beginner mistakes.

Open guide National banners on a map with one highlighted for an EU5 starter nations guide. EU5 Beginner

Best Starter Nations in EU5: Best First Countries by Playstyle

Choosing your first Europa Universalis 5 country? This guide ranks the best EU5 starter nations for beginners, including Hungary, Castile, Portugal, and which...

Open guide Calm war-room starter scene for an HoI4 beginner guide. HoI4 Console

HoI4 Beginner Guide: First Campaign Setup

A practical HoI4 first campaign route for 2026: pick a forgiving country, stabilize research and production, build simple divisions, and learn war without drowning...

Open guide Treasury ledger with coins flowing through a market for an EU5 economy guide. EU5 Console

EU5 Economy Guide: How to Make Money, Control Markets, and Avoid Bankruptcy

Europa Universalis V has a much deeper economy than older EU-style “income minus expenses” systems. Your treasury is only the visible result of a larger machine:...

Open guide Grid of abstract military unit counters for an HoI4 division templates guide. HoI4 Console

HoI4 Division Templates 2026 Guide

Safe single-player HoI4 division templates for 2026 with infantry, tanks, garrisons, support companies, and supply caveats.

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