EU4 Basics - How Combat works in EU4 | Part 1 | Beginner's Tutorial

Part 1 of a 4 part series on basics of combat and combat related mechanics. I have seen a lot of questions on combat and how it works. So here's my attempt to explain the combat mechanics in EU4. Hope it helps!
Part 2 - Unit Pips/Siege - • EU4- What are Unit Pip...
Part 3 - Army Composition - • EU4 - Ideal Army Compo...
EU4 wiki pages-
eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Land_war...
eu4.paradoxwikis.com/Discipline
Mods used - Graphical Map Improvements, Stellaris UI Font
Discord - discordapp.com/invite/hXkJTJA
Text guides - www.eu4guides.com
Patreon - / radiores
Follow me on Twitter- / theradiores
Follow me on Twitch- / radiores

[@samcnut]

Me: has 200+ hours in EU4 Me after watching this: Oooooh! So that's why I always lose

[@europapulchra2855]

Honestly if you didn't know those mechanics with more than 300 hours I don't know what you've been doing

[@samcnut]

@@europapulchra2855 I've been colonizing

[@europapulchra2855]

@@samcnut only as Portugal? Because if it's another nation then you are far behind

[@samcnut]

@@europapulchra2855 I have played, way too much Portugal

[@theliberator5126]

Don’t worry. I have 500 hours and am still learning some of these details.

[@lord6617]

I feel like one of the most important aspects of combat people need to understand is how combat width and reinforcements work. I can't count the number of times I have seen people rage as they lose a battle in a very large war like a coalition war as their overstacked army fights a constant drip of morale refreshing coalition troops and despite better starting morale, discipline, tech... still manage to lose the battle because of this constant morale refreshment of new troops.

[@johndou7972]

So... Big number = good

[@Seagull512]

Basically yes, but that is true for all Paradox grand strategy games.

[@RadioRes]

Most of the time, yes.

[@emperoruniversalis9773]

Even for dicerolls?

[@destroyer2496]

But to decide which number to make bigger is hard

[@Khergman]

I really hope you become a dominant EU4 youtuber.

[@Lukekho]

Isn't he already

[@oaa-ff8zj]

Same, I refer all new players to his stuff it’s really good

[@Khergman]

@@Lukekho He's going to be, its kinda sad cuz a lot f other eu4 youtubers went inactive of doing something else.

[@zdhim2714]

shellshock What happened to Reman ?

[@ctreacts1537]

Hey Res, long time fan here, will you be moving to Imperator content on release or will you remain with EU4? Or a combination of both?

[@ropstensvaktare170]

^

[@randomperson6988]

^

[@RadioRes]

I will be definitely playing some Imperator!! Can't wait for the game. But EU4 content will always be the mainstay in this channel. So you can expect a combination of both in the coming month or so :)

[@ctreacts1537]

@@RadioRes Awesome! Glad to hear you will be playing both still.

[@x3xd869]

1 year later and i still find this video super usefull. Thx for saving me Byzantium campane : )

[@davidfilipovic163]

Best tutorial I have ever seen

And once again, the best tutorials come from an Indian guy.

[@Lukekho]

so thats how combat works

[@zdhim2714]

Ulm39 Dead You aren't exactly used to fight, are you ?

[@Lukekho]

@@zdhim2714 I press descissions

[@hunterofhotdogs4505]

i needed this

[@ProWhitaker]

Thanks for the video

[@eoinh]

After spending the day typing up a report in LaTeX this is the last place I expected to see more LaTeX equations 😂

[@Ponanoix]

An active eu4 YTber. Noice

[@Seagull512]

Hey mr. Radio man, just a quick question about army professionalism, what is your general opinion on it and will you cover it in this series?

[@RadioRes]

Army proff is very strong. But I don't think drilling is good. Will talk more about it in Part 3!

[@sharp9912]

Can you make a video about monarch point management? Tech, idea and development management? How do I spend my monarch points and stay up to date with both tech and ideas etc

[@-_-9440]

Advisors, as much as powerful as possible. It is not possible to stay on tech without them.

[@RadioRes]

That's an interesting idea. I'll think on it.

[@Meander_]

Hmmm, might help me at my Zazzau playthrough

[@aaronphilip8785]

I was playing the other day to get the Form Malaya achievement and noticed that cavs had changed, they now move into the middle to continue to flank the smaller enemy. So are Cavs worth it now? Love the Indian schoolboy accent btw.

[@Mrqawsikol]

Hello, mate I wanted join your discord but the link in the description say " it's expire", so how could I do for join your discor.

[@RadioRes]

It should work. Check again.

[@hanneslundin346]

Thanks dad

[@edim108]

Thank's, it's really helpful. Some of the stuff I already knew, but most of it either didn't know about or understood wrong. I'm still new to the game and your videos are very helpful :) p.s. There is no link in the description :( Edit: Ok, never mind.

[@morrishedlin4123]

you have to click "show more"

[@edim108]

@@morrishedlin4123 When the episode was out there was nothing in the description though...

[@sapphicmarci2726]

is there a chance of a najd guide, for the jihad achievement?

[@RadlerAndi]

so what is better? combining troops in fewer units with 100% before going in a fight or let more units fight with e.g. 50% strength? After watching this i guess i will combine more often, even when i have a lot of man power. can build troops afterwards but that's more microing.

[@MrLcumbee]

You can do Shift + combine which doesn't disband any units but puts their troop count to 0. then they replenish from manpower like regular

[@RadlerAndi]

oh, this is new to me (TIL@1300h) ;-D

[@kylegates6043]

So how do you actually start a battle ?

[@derpyyoshi2730]

I just go to a battle if i have higher numbers lol.

[@RadioRes]

that works most of the time

[@Jayako12]

But I want to be able to go to battle with lower numbers and still win, like the pros

[@pierre96245]

After 3k h i finaly understand it

[@evening1457]

:D bruh

[@MrMrluuc]

So since you played an india guide, and you couldnt pronounce the names i really dont know where you from. I thought you were Indian. Love your videos tho bro keep up the good work.

[@AM-we1es]

He sounds scandinavian

[@johndou7972]

I am pretty sure he is from Ulm

[@KY_100]

His first language is obviously German.

[@jeb8030]

This is rude question but you're from vijayanagar? (Nice video btw)

[@cana_leta]

This question never let me sleep at night...

[@jourdanm1073]

we are all from a vijayana -gar

[@TheSandrock8]

I now have a few hundred hours in the game. And iam at that point where i start to look where i fight, and with how much i go in there or use fort traps and so on. Yet sometimes in my ottoman, netherlands and now in my indian match i go into whatever battle and istantly have only about 50% morale and i dont know why. I have to outman my opposition so god damn much it doesnt even make fun anymore. Fe i fought some spanish troops (mixture of colonial and actual spanish troops) around 24k and attacked with 47k indian troops (have some nice modifers to percantage strength, discipline and at was about 40) yet the spanish basically space marines the shit out of my 50k although i was fighting at a coast with crossing pen, which my general covered. What i want to say is iam missing something really important it seems like. I mean its not even the indian troops i hve the same issue with my ottoman troops. Its so weird... :/

[@RadioRes]

The western units are better. See my video about unit pips! Also, just take your time. Its a complex game with too many mechanics, its hard to grasp them all :)

[@billisultan6224]

As a Bengali, I was shocked by the opening video.

[@SuperDavidoux]

there is a small mistake at 4:38 1.15 / 1.00 = 1.15 (not 0.15 as displayed)

[@RadioRes]

Its +0.15 from base

[@SuperDavidoux]

i would not want to appear to nitpick but then damage taken should display 0.131 ? :) nice guide BTW thanks

[@socialistpotato8336]

The numbers, Mason! What do they mean?

[@benpage5088]

What is the discord?

[@joesunter9878]

Discord link is in the description

[@Spawnofktulu007]

This is why Nahuatl is the best religion for war ❤️

[@samyhou4118]

Hey I'm so curious what's his accent?

[@muradkzlay7854]

yeah yeah formulas and stuff. just give us a simple instance, everybody will understand.

[@veinvisionary4892]

in very early(before artillery) do 12/2(inf/cav) divisions,after artillery you should add 1 artillery to those divisions for easy siege forts.After tech 15 use 12/2/6 divisions you should double this divisions if your opponent uses big divisions never attack your opponent in mountains,hills if your armies are even.Use mountain castles to your advantage lure your enemy to there then wipe them. Do not lag behind in military tech if your opponent's military tech 10 and yours 9 it is really hard to beat them you need at least 1:2 ratio.But if your enemies tech 10 and yours 8 you need 1 :10 ratio. Btw you are Turkish i suppose just like me

[@muradkzlay7854]

@@veinvisionary4892 yes I'm turkish :) I stopped playing eu4 but yes, I discovered these stuff by myself since every video on KZbin about combat in eu4 is extremely boring to watch. I actually love math but even for me, *very* boring. As you summarized, it's not a complex thing. Put some fuckin artillery in your army because they're the only unit that can attack from second line, be aware of the territory, find ways to increase morale, mil. tactics and discipline because they rock and most importantly, never lag behind in tech since its the main way to gather these three. Thanks a lot for your comment, cheers

[@Macinatorecazzaro]

I HAVE 115% DISCIPLINE AND I LOSE :-)

[@Daniel-of2ez]

3rd

[@agungoka2535]

Need 3 times i watch this to barely understand

[@Joni_1]

Hi could you please do a morocco guide? Because I Think there is no real morocco guide and your guides Are really helpful and good

[@RadioRes]

Its on the list. Will get to it eventually. Thanks!