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

14 guides

Guides in Beginner Guides

NASA artist concept of a young exoplanet for a Stellaris beginner guide. StellarisConsole

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
Europa Universalis V economy screen showing income, expenses, minting, taxes, maintenance, and balance. EU5Console

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
EU5 Carpathia and Balkans country map showing Hungary, Croatia, Wallachia, Serbia, Bosnia, and nearby powers EU5Console

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
EU5 Tinto Maps Iberia view showing Portugal, Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada EU5Console

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...

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EU5 Tinto Maps Iberia view showing Portugal, Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada EU5Console

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.

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EU5 map view showing the scale of Europe and why starter country choice matters EU5Beginner

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...

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EU5 map view showing the scale of Europe and why starter country choice matters EU5Console

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,...

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Stellaris Best Civics 4.3 guide artwork. StellarisBeginner

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.

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EU5 Ireland Guide: First 50 Years guide artwork. EU5Console

EU5 Ireland Guide: First 50 Years

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

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EU5 Austria Guide: First 50 Years guide artwork. EU5Console

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.

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Stellaris Best Traditions 4.3 guide artwork. StellarisBeginner

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.

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Hearts of Iron IV key art for a structured Germany first campaign guide. HoI4Console

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.

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A strategy war room with maps and front planning markers for a first Hearts of Iron IV campaign. HoI4Console

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...

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HoI4 Division Templates 2026 Guide guide artwork. HoI4Console

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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