Picking your first nation in EU5 is a big decision. Pick someone too weak and you’ll be crushed. Pick someone too complex and you’ll be overwhelmed. The sweet spot is a nation that’s strong enough to survive your mistakes but simple enough to learn the game. Here are the best starting nations for new EU5 players.

The Tutorial Pick: Portugal

Portugal is the classic beginner nation, and it’s still a great choice in EU5. Here’s why:

• Safe position. Portugal is on the edge of Europe, protected by Spain and the ocean. No one can easily invade you.
• Clear goals. Portugal’s path is obvious — expand overseas, build a colonial empire, and dominate trade.
• Strong economy. Portugal has access to good trade routes and can build a strong trade economy early.
• Simple management. Portugal’s internal politics are relatively simple compared to larger nations.

The classic Portugal run: build your economy, colonize the New World, and become a trade superpower. It’s the perfect first campaign.

The Strong Pick: France

France is the strongest nation in Europe at the start of EU5, and it’s a great pick for beginners who want power:

• Massive army. France has one of the largest armies in the game. You can win most early wars.
• Rich economy. France has high development and a strong tax base.
• Room to expand. France can expand in every direction — into Italy, the Low Countries, or the Holy Roman Empire.

The downside is that France is a major power, which means everyone watches you. You’ll face coalitions and diplomatic pressure. But for a beginner, having a strong army to fall back on is a huge safety net.

The Relaxed Pick: Castile/Spain

Castile is the other Iberian power, and it’s a great pick for a more relaxed campaign:

• Strong position. Castile is powerful in Iberia and has a clear path to forming Spain.
• Colonial opportunities. Like Portugal, Castile can expand into the New World.
• Manageable challenges. The Iberian region is relatively stable, and you can expand at your own pace.

The downside is that you’ll eventually need to deal with France to your north. But that’s a problem for later.

The Powerful Pick: The Ottomans

The Ottomans are the strongest nation in the game, and they’re a great pick for beginners who want to feel powerful:

• Massive army and economy. The Ottomans start with a huge military and a strong economy.
• Expansion in every direction. You can expand into Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
• Strong military traditions. The Ottoman military is one of the best in the game.

The downside is that managing a large empire is more complex. You have more provinces, more pops, and more to keep track of. It’s a good second or third campaign, but maybe not the first.

The Trade Pick: Venice

Venice is a small but wealthy nation, and it’s a great pick for beginners who want to focus on trade:

• Trade powerhouse. Venice is one of the richest trade nations in the game.
• Small and manageable. Venice is a small nation, which means less to manage.
• Clear focus. Venice’s path is clear — dominate trade in the Mediterranean.

The downside is that Venice is small and surrounded by larger powers. You’ll need to be careful with your diplomacy.

What to Look For in a First Nation

If you don’t want to pick one of these specifically, here’s what to look for:

• A safe position. You want to be able to make mistakes without being instantly crushed.
• A clear path. Whether it’s colonization, trade, or conquest, a clear goal gives you direction.
• A manageable size. A medium-sized nation is easier to manage than a massive empire.
• A strong economy. A good economy gives you room to make mistakes.

The Bottom Line

For your first EU5 campaign, pick Portugal — it’s safe, has a clear path, and teaches you the game without punishing you too harshly. Once you’ve done that, try France for a more powerful campaign, or Venice for a trade-focused one.

The key is to pick a nation that gives you room to learn. You’ll have plenty of time to play the hard starts once you know what you’re doing.