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In Europa Universalis 5, military conquest is just the starting point; the real challenge lies in keeping control over your vast empire. The Control mechanic measures how well you can manage your territories, affecting your ability to collect taxes, raise armies, and keep stability high.
A higher Control value means a stronger economy and a more stable nation, while low Control can make distant regions prone to rebellion and underused. This guide explains the key factors that influence Control in EU5 and shares effective strategies—like building infrastructure such as roads and ports, and using Cabinet actions—to expand your influence across your empire.
How to Improve Control
Every location within your country has a Control statistic that changes based on various factors. This affects how much you can benefit from resources like taxes, levies, and population growth, making Control a crucial stat to prioritize. Basically, the more Control you have over a region, the more access you get to its resources.
Each location has a maximum Control limit, determined by three main factors:
- Proximity to your capital (which always has a max Control of 100%)
- Integration status
- Population Satisfaction
The last two are easier to manage:
- Integration: Locations can be Colonized, Conquered, Integrated, or made into a Core. Only Conquered locations suffer a control penalty, while Core locations are ideal for high Control. To turn an Integrated location into a Core, you need to convert its culture to your primary or accepted culture.
- Population Satisfaction: The satisfaction level depends on which pops (groups of people) live there. Prioritize ensuring your largest pops are happy — they have the biggest impact on control.
The most important factor is Proximity, which measures how easily you can access a location from your capital. On land, you improve proximity by building roads, and at sea, by increasing your maritime presence.
Enhancing Proximity and Control
There are actions you can take to boost Control in regions that have suffered during war or are hard to reach but valuable. Some Cabinet actions, like Increase Area Control (available after researching the Age of Absolutism), can help. During peacetime, stationing armies in a location provides a quick and temporary control boost.
Building certain structures, such as Temples, increases the maximum Control a location can reach. Constructing these where possible will help you maximize control in your empire.
How to Build Roads
To construct roads, select a location and open its menu (zoom in enough so you’re not opening your whole nation’s interface). Then, go to the Infrastructure tab and click the Road builder button. This allows you to connect the chosen location to another, typically your capital, to improve proximity.
Roads are expensive but very effective, especially if you focus on connecting your capital to your wealthiest and most developed regions first. This strategic investment ensures you get the best return on your control and economic benefits.
How to Increase Maritime Presence
Maritime presence is vital for controlling locations that border the sea. Like roads, increasing maritime presence reduces the control penalty for coastal regions.
To boost this, you should:
- Research advances like Trade Fleets in the Renaissance era
- Build fishing villages and other maritime infrastructure
- Assign your navy to patrol seazones during peace times
This effort enhances control over coastal locations and improves your empire’s overall stability and influence.
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