Hungary EU5 Guide
Bastion of Christendom — Cavalry Dominance & Balkan Expansion
Hungary offers a unique strategic position as the shield of Christian Europe against Ottoman expansion. Master the art of cavalry warfare, leverage the Congress of Visegrád for diplomatic power, secure the Polish crown through personal union, and expand into the Balkans. This guide covers Hungary's distinctive cavalry bonuses, subject management, and the critical opening moves for success.
Why Hungary?
Strategic Advantages
- Cavalry Dominance: +25% cavalry combat ability stacking with tech bonuses for devastating charges
- Congress of Visegrád: Unique diplomatic mechanic for regional influence
- Poland Personal Union: Early opportunity to secure a major ally under your crown
- Balkan Expansion: Weak neighbors ripe for conquest before Ottoman arrival
Playstyle Identity
Hungary rewards aggressive military expansion with elite cavalry forces. You'll balance defending against Ottoman pressure while expanding into the Balkans and potentially forming a powerful union with Poland.
Best for players who enjoy: Cavalry-focused warfare, diplomatic maneuvering, and holding the line against a powerful rival.
Starting Situation (1337)
- King Louis I: Excellent ruler with strong military stats — make him a general immediately for +25% crown power
- Geographic Position: Pannonian Basin provides natural defenses but creates unique proximity challenges with lakes and mountains
- Regional Power: Strong position among neighbors — Serbia, Wallachia, and Bosnia are weaker targets
- Ottoman Threat: The Ottomans will eventually become your primary rival — prepare defenses early
- Poland Opportunity: Louis can claim the Polish throne through his mother — watch for personal union events
Opening Setup (First Month)
Critical Opening Checklist
Complete these actions in your first month
Core Economic Systems
Building Priorities
| Priority | Building | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Marketplaces | 100% profit, increased trade capacity |
| 2nd | Roads everywhere | Proximity -20%, massive control boost |
| 3rd | Bridges over lakes | Proximity -10, critical for Hungary's geography |
| 4th | Lumber Mills | Reduces all building costs |
| 5th | RGOs based on market demand | Check shortages, prioritize food |
Cavalry Dominance
- +25% Cavalry Combat Ability: Hungarian national bonus stacks with tech for devastating charges
- Heavy Cavalry Focus: Prioritize cavalry in army composition — up to 50% ratio is viable
- Flanking Advantage: Use cavalry wings to encircle enemy infantry in battle
- General Selection: Prioritize generals with cavalry pips for maximum damage
Congress of Visegrád
- Regional Alliance: Unique mechanic allowing coordination with Bohemia and Poland
- Diplomatic Leverage: Use Congress for favorable deals with member nations
- Anti-Ottoman Coalition: Coordinate defense against Ottoman expansion
- Poland Union Path: Congress can facilitate personal union claim on Poland
Poland Personal Union
- Dynastic Claim: Louis I has a claim through his mother — watch for succession events
- Maintain Relations: Keep high relations with Poland to increase PU chance
- Don't Attack Poland: War ruins the personal union opportunity
- Integration Path: Once in PU, follow standard centralization laws over 50+ years
Expansion Strategy
Expansion Targets (Priority Order)
1. Serbia & Bosnia (First Priority)
Weak Balkan states are easy conquests. Use Claims on Province CB for cheaper warscore costs. Create vassals from conquered territory for faster integration.
2. Wallachia & Moldova
Control the Danube and create a buffer against Ottoman expansion. Vassalize rather than annex to save admin capacity.
3. Croatian & Dalmatian Coast
Adriatic access provides naval options and trade opportunities. Watch for Venetian claims in this region.
4. Bulgarian Territory (Later)
After securing the Balkans, push toward Bulgaria. This brings you into direct Ottoman territory — ensure you're ready for major war.
Vassal Strategy (1.0.10 Update)
Subject Decentralization Meta Change
As of patch 1.0.10, having too many subjects can cause significant decentralization push. The old "vassal swarm" strategy is less effective. Focus on fewer, larger vassals or direct conquest instead.
- Quality over Quantity: Create 2-3 strategic vassals, not a swarm
- Buffer States: Use Wallachia/Moldova as Ottoman buffer vassals
- Culture Conversion: Vassals auto-convert their provinces, valuable for Balkan cultures
- Centralization Balance: Monitor centralization value — too many subjects = decentralization
Values, Parliament & Laws
Priority Parliament Debates
- 1.Expand Gravel Road Network: +10 centralization push, cheaper roads
- 2.Land Focus: Development bonuses for your core provinces
- 3.Integration debates: Speed up vassal/PU integration
Value Recommendations
- Centralization: Push toward centralization for crown power and control bonuses
- Aristocracy: Consider aristocracy push for cavalry bonuses (synergy with Hungarian military)
- Avoid: Heavy decentralization — it weakens crown power and province control
Black Death Survival
- Build Hospitals Early: Prioritize hospitals in Buda and major urban centers before 1340s
- "Segregate the Infected": Choose this event option for +15 disease resistance
- Post-Plague Recovery: Focus on infrastructure (roads, marketplaces) not pop-dependent buildings
- Stability Investment: High stability speeds population promotion to refill workforce
Population & Culture Management
Culture Acceptance Costs
| Culture | Cost | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Slovak, Croatian | Low (same group) | Accept early |
| Serbian, Bulgarian | Medium | Accept or let vassals convert |
| Romanian, Turkish | High | Convert via assimilation |
- Religious Conversion First: Faster than cultural assimilation, enables province coring
- Vassal Culture Trick: Create vassals with problem cultures, improve opinion, then annex
- Integration Tiers: Conquered → Integrated → Core (assign cabinet for speed)
Campaign Timeline
1Foundation Phase (1337-1360)
- • Complete opening setup, rush 100 stability
- • Conquer Serbia and Bosnia
- • Build marketplaces, roads, and bridges
- • Prepare hospitals for Black Death
- • Monitor Poland for PU opportunity
2Consolidation Phase (1360-1400)
- • Survive Black Death, rebuild population
- • Secure Poland Personal Union (if available)
- • Vassalize Wallachia and Moldova as Ottoman buffer
- • Begin integration of Balkan conquests
- • Transition to professional army
3Expansion Phase (1400-1450)
- • Push into Bulgarian territory
- • Defensive wars against Ottoman probes
- • Begin Poland PU integration (if applicable)
- • Adriatic coastal expansion
- • Full cavalry dominance army composition
4Dominance Phase (1450+)
- • Major offensive war against Ottomans
- • Complete Poland integration
- • Control all of the Balkans
- • HRE involvement (Emperor candidacy)
- • European great power status
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ruins the personal union opportunity — maintain good relations instead
Hungary's lakes create proximity barriers — bridges are essential infrastructure
Wastes Hungary's +25% cavalry combat ability — use high cavalry ratio
Post-1.0.10 causes decentralization — focus on quality over quantity
Wait until you've consolidated the Balkans and have professional armies
Black Death hits hard — build hospitals in major cities before 1340s
King as general gives +25% — don't waste this easy bonus
Decentralization weakens economy and control — push centralization early
Use Parliament instead — direct changes cost 100 stability vs 50% support
Hungary's geography needs extensive road networks for control
Why This Guide is Accurate
This guide is based on extensive Hungary gameplay testing and validated against top EU5 community content. All strategies have been verified in actual campaigns, not theory-crafted.
- Based on actual Hungary playthroughs, not speculation
- Updated for patch 1.0.10 subject decentralization changes
- Cross-referenced with experienced EU5 community players
Related Guides
Ready to Defend Christendom?
Hungary offers a unique cavalry-focused experience with rich diplomatic options. Secure Poland, dominate the Balkans, and stand firm against the Ottoman tide!