EU4: Beginner’s Guide for The Mamluks (Ultimate 2024)

Embark on a journey through history with the mighty Mamluks in Europa Universalis IV, a grand strategy game that challenges your skills in diplomacy, warfare, and empire management. Nestled in the heart of the Muslim world, the Mamluk Sultanate offers a unique blend of military might, economic prowess, and political intrigue, making it an enthralling choice for both newcomers and seasoned players of EU4.

This beginner’s guide will navigate you through the intricate dynamics of leading the Mamluks, from securing your borders against formidable neighbors to establishing a dominant presence in the Mediterranean. Whether you’re looking to expand your empire through shrewd diplomacy or formidable military campaigns, our step-by-step approach will help you harness the full potential of the Mamluk Sultanate. Prepare to immerse yourself in the art of statecraft, as we reveal the secrets to thriving as the Mamluks in the ever-changing world of Europa Universalis IV.

1444: Securing Your Surrounding’s

Diplomacy

Solidify Key Alliances: The Mamluks’ strategic position in the Middle East necessitates robust alliances. Prioritize securing alliances with nations like the Ottomans’ rivals (e.g., Hungary, Poland, or Qara Qoyunlu) to deter aggression from your formidable northern neighbor. Strong alliances will be crucial for your defense and potential expansion.
Improve Relations with Neighbors: Focus on improving relations with your immediate neighbors, especially smaller African and Arabian states. This diplomatic approach will pave the way for smoother expansion and less resistance. Consider nations like Medina, Hejaz, or Yemen for fostering good relations.
Consider Potential Vassals: Look for potential vassalization opportunities among weaker neighbors. Vassals can provide military support and serve as a buffer against larger foes.

Economy and Military

Economic Adjustments for Stability: Initially, balance your budget by adjusting army maintenance during peacetime. Keep a close eye on the political situation, and be ready to mobilize if threats emerge.
Strengthen Your Navy: The Mamluks’ strategic position along the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts makes a strong navy essential. Prioritize maintaining and expanding your fleet to protect trade routes and coastal territories.
Build Galleys for Naval Superiority: Galleys are cost-effective and efficient in the Mediterranean. Invest in building a fleet of galleys to ensure naval dominance against your rivals, particularly the Ottomans.

Technology and Ideas

Embrace Islamic Schools: As a Muslim nation, the Mamluks have access to various Islamic schools of thought. Choose a school that complements your playstyle, whether it’s military, diplomatic, or administrative.
Focus on Military Technology: Early on, prioritize military technology to keep up with your potential adversaries, especially the Ottomans. Staying competitive militarily is crucial for your survival and expansion.
Selecting Your First Idea Group: Consider choosing Administrative or Diplomatic ideas as your first group. Administrative ideas can help manage your empire more efficiently, while Diplomatic ideas enhance your ability to negotiate and forge alliances.

Initial Expansion Strategy

Expand into the Arabian Peninsula: Look towards the Arabian Peninsula for early expansion. Conquering smaller states here can be a relatively low-risk strategy to increase your power and resources.
Secure Trade Routes: Focus on securing and controlling key trade nodes in the Red Sea and Alexandria. This will boost your economy and provide the resources needed for further expansion and development.

1444 – 1450: Laying the Foundations of Mamluk Power

Early Military Campaigns

Conquest of the Arabian Peninsula: Continue your expansion into the Arabian Peninsula. Target smaller states such as Najd, Hejaz, and Yemen. These early conquests are relatively low-risk and provide valuable resources.
Preparing for Conflict with the Ottomans: Strengthen your army and fortify your border provinces in anticipation of future conflicts with the Ottomans. Focus on building a strong infantry core supported by artillery as it becomes available.
Naval Expansion in the Mediterranean: Enhance your naval capabilities by building more galleys and light ships. Control of the Mediterranean Sea is vital for trade and defense against European powers.

Economic Development

Boosting Trade Power: Develop provinces in key trade nodes like Alexandria and Aleppo. Constructing marketplaces and trade depots will increase your trade power, boosting your income significantly.
Balancing the Budget: Manage your finances carefully. Avoid unnecessary military expenses during peacetime and invest in economic development. Keep an eye on inflation, especially if you’re relying on gold mines for income.

Diplomacy and Alliances

Strategic Alliances and Rivalries: Reevaluate your alliances and rivalries based on the changing geopolitical landscape. Secure alliances that can counterbalance Ottoman power. Designate rivals that are weak or distant to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Influence Smaller States: Influence smaller neighboring states through diplomacy. Use your diplomats to improve relations, secure royal marriages, and forge coalitions against common threats.

Administrative and Technological Advancements

Institution Spread and Embracement: Focus on embracing institutions like the Renaissance as soon as they appear. Developing your provinces can help spread these institutions faster within your realm.
Idea Group Selection: If you haven’t already, select your first idea group. Administrative ideas can help with core creation costs and managing a large empire, while Diplomatic or Military ideas can bolster your diplomatic or military strength.

Religious and Cultural Stability

Managing Religious Unity: Work on converting non-Sunni provinces to Sunni to increase religious unity and reduce unrest. Employing a theologian advisor can assist in managing unrest.
Promoting Cultural Unity: Accept cultures that are widespread in your empire to reduce unrest and increase loyalty among your subjects.

1450 – 1465: Consolidation and Preparation

Strengthening Internal Administration

Centralizing the State: Focus on reducing autonomy in your provinces to centralize your state. This increases your direct control and resource extraction, essential for a growing empire.
Building Administrative Capacity: Invest in administrative buildings like courthouses and town halls. This will help manage unrest and increase your administrative efficiency.

Economic Expansion and Stability

Diversifying the Economy: Start diversifying your economy beyond trade and agriculture. Look into developing your manufacturing sector by building workshops and manufactories in provinces with valuable trade goods.
Managing Inflation and Finances: Keep a close watch on inflation, particularly if you’re drawing significant income from gold mines. Employ an advisor with financial expertise to help manage your economy.

Military Modernization and Expansion

Army Professionalization: Begin the process of professionalizing your army. Invest in military ideas that enhance your army’s effectiveness, such as Quality or Offensive ideas.
Naval Power Projection: Continue expanding your navy, focusing on building a balanced fleet capable of both protecting trade and projecting power in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Foreign Policy and Diplomacy

Strategic Diplomatic Maneuvers: Continue to adjust your diplomatic stance based on the evolving geopolitical situation. Look for opportunities to weaken the Ottomans diplomatically, such as supporting their rivals or interfering in their conflicts.
Expanding Influence in Africa and Arabia: Extend your influence into East Africa and further into the Arabian Peninsula. Use a combination of diplomacy and military might to bring more territories under your control.

Cultural and Religious Policies

Promoting Religious Harmony: Continue efforts to convert provinces to Sunni Islam to strengthen religious unity. Consider employing religious advisors to speed up the process.
Cultural Integration and Tolerance: Foster tolerance towards non-dominant cultures within your empire to reduce unrest and improve stability. This can be achieved through policies and ideas that promote cultural acceptance.

Preparing for Major Conflicts

Fortifying Borders: Upgrade forts along your borders, especially near potential hotspots like the Ottoman border. This will deter aggression and give you time to mobilize in case of war.
Building Reserves and Alliances: Build up your military and financial reserves in preparation for future wars. Ensure that you have a strong network of alliances to call upon when needed.

1465 – 1480: Expanding Horizons and Cementing Power

Strategic Expansion and Conquest

Targeted Territorial Expansion: Identify strategic territories for expansion that can bolster your economy and military. Focus on areas in North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and further into the Arabian Peninsula. Ensure that each conquest is manageable and doesn’t overextend your resources.
Handling Aggressive Expansion: Be mindful of aggressive expansion impact. Balance your expansion with diplomatic actions to avoid forming large coalitions against you. Employ diplomats to improve relations with neighbors and potential rivals.

Enhancing Trade Dominance

Controlling Key Trade Nodes: Aim to control more key trade nodes in the region, such as the Gulf of Aden and Basra. This can be achieved through both military conquests and strategic trade agreements.
Developing Trade Fleets: Expand and modernize your trade fleets. Invest in light ships to protect your trade routes and increase your trade power in key nodes.

Advanced Diplomatic Strategies

Forming Strategic Alliances: Look for new allies that can help balance against emerging threats, especially from European powers like Spain and Portugal as they begin exploring and expanding.
Influencing and Supporting Allies: Use your diplomatic influence to support your allies in their conflicts, which can help in weakening your rivals indirectly.

Military Innovations and Upgrades

Adopting Advanced Military Tactics: Keep up with military technology advancements. Experiment with different unit types and compositions to find the most effective combination for your army.
Building a Balanced Army: Maintain a balanced army with a mix of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. This versatility will be crucial in different terrains and against various opponents.

Cultural and Religious Management

Cultural Policies for Unity: Implement policies that promote cultural unity within your empire. This can include accepting more cultures or promoting cultural enrichment programs.
Continued Religious Efforts: Maintain efforts to convert provinces to your state religion, but also consider policies of tolerance towards non-dominant faiths to reduce unrest and rebellion.

Preparing for the Future

Long-term Economic Planning: Invest in long-term economic structures like universities and high-level production buildings. This will pay off in the late game with increased income and faster technology adoption.
Building a Reserve for Emergencies: Continue to build a financial and military reserve for emergencies. A strong reserve allows for flexibility in response to unexpected events or opportunities.

1480 – 1495: Entrenching Power and Preparing for a New Era

Consolidating Recent Gains

Stabilizing Newly Acquired Territories: Focus on reducing unrest and integrating new territories into your empire. Use governors and policies that promote stability and cultural assimilation.
Building Infrastructure: Invest in building roads, workshops, and other infrastructure in newly conquered areas to increase their economic output and integration into your empire.

Advancing Diplomatic Influence

Playing the Great Power Game: As you grow in power, engage more in the politics of other great powers. Look for opportunities to intervene in conflicts where you can tip the balance to your favor.
Establishing a Spy Network: Develop a robust spy network in rival countries. Use spies to support your diplomatic goals, whether it’s forging claims, stealing technology, or disrupting enemy plans.

Economic Modernization and Trade

Promoting Manufacturing and Trade: Continue to expand your manufacturing base. Prioritize building manufactories in provinces with valuable trade goods to maximize income.
Dominating Eastern Trade Routes: Strive to dominate trade routes coming from the East. Ensure control over strategic points in the Indian Ocean to tap into the wealth flowing from India and beyond.

Military Preparedness and Reforms

Modernizing the Army: Continue upgrading your military technology. Introduce more advanced artillery units and adapt your tactics to the changing nature of warfare.
Naval Expansion and Modernization: Expand and modernize your navy to project power beyond the Mediterranean. A strong navy is essential for protecting your overseas interests and trade routes.

Religious and Cultural Policies

Promoting Tolerance and Stability: Implement policies that encourage religious tolerance to maintain stability in your diverse empire. Balance religious conversions with measures that promote harmony among different faiths.
Fostering National Identity: Encourage the development of a national identity that transcends individual cultures within your empire. This can be achieved through cultural events, patronage of the arts, and educational reforms.

Preparing for the Age of Exploration

Exploration and Colonization: If you have not yet started exploring, consider taking Exploration ideas to begin your own voyages of discovery. Establish colonies to extend your reach and secure new trade routes.
Adapting to Global Changes: Stay informed about global events and be ready to adapt your strategies. The Age of Exploration brings new opportunities and challenges, and being prepared is key to taking advantage of them.

1495 – 1510: Embracing the Renaissance and Expanding Global Influence

Embracing New Ideas and the Renaissance

Adopting the Renaissance: Prioritize the embracement of the Renaissance institution. Develop your provinces, especially those with high development potential, to facilitate this process.
Innovating Your Administration: Continue to reform your administrative systems. Implement policies that enhance governance efficiency and reduce corruption.

Global Trade and Economic Diversification

Exploiting Global Trade Opportunities: As global trade networks expand, position the Mamluks to benefit. Focus on securing trade routes in the Indian Ocean and establish a presence in emerging trade hubs.
Investing in Colonies and Trade Companies: If you’ve started colonizing, focus on establishing and developing colonies or trade companies in strategic locations. These can serve as bases for trade, resource extraction, and naval power projection.

Strengthening Military Capabilities

Continued Military Modernization: Keep your military technology up-to-date. Adapt your army composition to include newer unit types and focus on developing effective siege strategies.
Naval Expansion for Global Reach: Further expand your navy to protect your growing global trade interests. A strong navy is crucial for defending your colonies and contesting key maritime trade routes.

Diplomacy and International Relations

Navigating European Powers: As European nations become more active globally, establish diplomatic relations with key powers. Consider alliances or non-aggression pacts with nations that can either aid your expansion or threaten your interests.
Establishing Overseas Networks: Utilize diplomats to establish networks in foreign courts. This can provide valuable intelligence and opportunities for diplomatic maneuvers.

Religious and Cultural Integration

Managing Religious Diversity: As your empire expands, you’ll encounter more religious diversity. Implement policies that balance religious conversions with tolerance to maintain internal stability.
Promoting Cultural Cohesion: Encourage cultural cohesion through events, the arts, and architecture. A united empire is more resilient to external and internal challenges.

Preparation for Reformation and Religious Turmoil

Anticipating Religious Changes: Be aware of the upcoming Protestant Reformation. Although it primarily affects Europe, its global impact on politics and alliances can be significant.
Adapting to Changing Religious Landscapes: Prepare to adapt to the changing religious landscape. This might involve reevaluating alliances and your stance towards different religious entities.

Key Tips and Considerations for the Mamluks
* As the Mamluks, it’s vital to maintain stability across your diverse empire. Given the religious diversity in your realm, focus on balancing tolerance with religious conversions to ensure internal harmony. Utilize statesmen or harsh treatment judiciously to suppress unrest and prevent rebellions in newly conquered territories.

* Leverage your strategic position to become a dominant trade power. Prioritize controlling key trade nodes like Alexandria, Aleppo, and Hormuz. Build trade buildings, deploy light ships to protect your trade routes, and invest in provinces with high-value trade goods, especially those producing spices and silks, to maximize your income.

* Expand cautiously but effectively. Target regions that complement your trade network and provide strategic value, such as the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and potentially into the Indian Ocean basin. Be mindful of aggressive expansion; use diplomacy to manage relationships, forming alliances, or vassalizing strategically important nations to enhance your power and security.

What are The Best Idea Groups for The Mamluks in EU4?

In Europa Universalis IV, selecting the right idea groups for a nation like Korea can significantly influence its diplomatic and military effectiveness. Here are the three best idea groups for Korea in both diplomatic and military categories:

Diplomatic Idea Groups for Korea

Influence Ideas: This idea group is excellent for managing vassals and integrating them more efficiently. It reduces the cost of diplomatic annexation and aggressive expansion impact, which is crucial for a nation like Korea that is surrounded by powerful neighbors. It also enhances your diplomatic reputation, making it easier to form and maintain alliances.
Diplomatic Ideas: This group offers a variety of benefits that enhance Korea’s diplomatic flexibility. It provides additional diplomats and diplomatic relations, reduces the cost of breaking royal marriages and improves province war score cost, which is helpful in negotiations. It’s great for nations that plan to engage in a lot of diplomatic activities.
Trade Ideas: Korea, positioned with access to several important trade nodes, can greatly benefit from the increased trade power and income offered by this group. Improved merchant efficiency and additional merchants can help Korea dominate regional trade and provide a substantial economic boost.

Military Idea Groups for Korea

Defensive Ideas: Given Korea’s geographical position and potential threats from neighbors like Ming or Japan, Defensive Ideas are highly beneficial. They improve the nation’s fort defense and army morale, making it harder for enemies to successfully invade and conquer Korean lands.
Quality Ideas: This idea group improves the overall combat ability of your troops, including infantry, cavalry, and artillery. It also enhances your naval capabilities, which is crucial for Korea, considering its long coastline and potential naval conflicts.
Offensive Ideas: Offensive Ideas are excellent for nations aiming to expand and engage in offensive wars. They offer bonuses to siege ability and land leader shock, which can give Korean armies a significant edge in battles and sieges.

How can the Mamluks effectively counter the Ottoman threat in EU4?

To effectively counter the Ottoman threat as the Mamluks, it’s crucial to focus on building a strong military and forming strategic alliances. Prioritize military technology advancements and maintain a well-balanced army. Forge alliances with the Ottomans’ rivals, such as Hungary, Poland, or Persia, to create a counterbalance. Additionally, consider expanding southward into Africa or eastward into Arabia and the Persian region to grow stronger before confronting the Ottomans directly.

What are the best strategies for Mamluk trade and economy in EU4?

As the Mamluks, maximizing trade income is key. Focus on controlling and dominating the Alexandria trade node, which is a crucial node for Mediterranean trade. Build a powerful navy to protect your trade routes and consider expanding into the East African and Indian Ocean trade nodes to further boost your trade income. Investing in trade buildings and deploying merchants effectively will also enhance your trade power. Balancing your economy with a strong production base in your Egyptian heartland will provide a stable financial foundation for your empire.

What are some unique aspects of the Mamluks in EU4 that players should be aware of?

Government Type: The Mamluk government type allows for the recruitment of special Mamluk units and provides unique interactions, such as appointing slaves to high office, which can impact your stability and military strength.
Geographical Position: Located at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, the Mamluks have strategic access to both continents, offering diverse expansion opportunities.
Religious Diversity: The Mamluks start with a Sunni majority but have significant religious diversity within their borders. Balancing religious harmony while expanding into regions with different faiths is a key challenge.

Conclusion
This Mamluks Guide is written for the vanilla version of EUIV – if you want to add up the fun of playing Europa Universalis IV, consider adding DLCs and content packs to your game.

As we reach the conclusion of our detailed journey with the Mamluks in Europa Universalis IV, it’s clear that mastering this influential Islamic power is an artful blend of shrewd diplomacy, economic prowess, and careful territorial expansion. Whether you’re navigating the political intricacies of the Middle East, expanding into Africa and beyond, or challenging the Mediterranean’s maritime powers, the Mamluks offer a deeply engaging and multifaceted gameplay experience.

We hope this guide has illuminated your path to triumph and fueled your enthusiasm for the rich and complex world of Europa Universalis IV. Now, the destiny of your Mamluk Sultanate is in your hands: Have you discovered any unique strategies or experienced memorable moments during your Mamluk campaigns? Feel free to share your stories and insights in the comments below. Together, let’s continue to unravel and celebrate the grand saga of EU4!