Summary at a glance
Goal: Progress through historical ages by adopting advances that transform your nation.
Do this first:
- Build universities early (+0.2 advance points/month each)
- Focus on economic advances first (Double-Entry Bookkeeping, Manufacturing)
- Prioritize institution embrace in capital and major cities
Pitfall to avoid: Ignoring literacy is the #1 reason for slow advance adoption. Build schools and universities early.
EU5 replaces EU4's traditional tech system with an era-based Advances system. Instead of spending monarch points, you progress through historical ages, unlocking advances that transform your nation.
How Advances Work
The Six Ages
- Age of Traditions (1337-1450): Basic medieval mechanics
- Age of Renaissance (1450-1530): Cultural flowering, improved buildings
- Age of Discovery (1530-1600): Exploration, colonization, global trade
- Age of Reformation (1600-1650): Religious change, military reforms
- Age of Absolutism (1650-1710): Centralization, standing armies
- Age of Revolutions (1710-1821): Enlightenment, modern institutions
Age Progression
You don't "research" ages. Instead, ages arrive globally on fixed dates for all nations. However, individual advances within each age must be adopted individually.
Adopting Advances
Advance Points
You earn Advance Points through various means:
Primary Sources:
- Literacy Rate: +0.5 to +2 points/month (higher education = faster)
- Universities: +0.2 points/month per university
- Development: +0.1 to +0.5 points/month based on total development
- Innovation Ideas: Certain reforms grant +10% to +30% advance points
- Golden Age: +50% advance points during golden ages
Special Events:
- Scientific discoveries: +5 to +20 points
- Cultural achievements: +3 to +10 points
- Great projects completion: +10 to +50 points
Advance Cost
Each advance costs 100 base points, modified by:
- Ahead of Time Penalty: +50% cost if adopting before age start date (rare cases)
- Institution Spread: -10% to -30% cost if neighboring nations have the advance
- Development Level: Higher development slightly reduces cost
- Innovation Focus: Certain government reforms reduce cost by -10% to -25%
Typical Timeline: With average literacy (40%), expect to adopt 1 advance every 8-12 months.
Advance Categories
Military Advances
Examples:
- Pike and Shot: Unlocks improved infantry units
- Naval Artillery: Allows heavy ships with cannons
- Military Professionalism: Enables standing armies
- Line Infantry: Unlocks 18th-century military units
Effects: New unit types, combat modifiers, military buildings
Economic Advances
Examples:
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping: +10% tax income, unlocks advanced markets
- Manufacturing: Unlocks manufactories for mass production
- Stock Exchange: Advanced trade buildings
- Industrial Production: Scaled production methods
Effects: New buildings, trade bonuses, production efficiency
Administrative Advances
Examples:
- Bureaucracy: Unlocks government buildings, +10% administrative efficiency
- National Banking: Enables loans and financial management
- Census: Improves population management
- Civil Service: Advanced administrative buildings
Effects: Government reforms, administrative efficiency, crown power
Naval & Exploration Advances
Examples:
- Oceanic Navigation: Required for transatlantic exploration
- Cartography: Reveals unknown territories faster
- Colonial Administration: Enables colonial subjects
- Global Trade: Unlocks worldwide trade routes
Effects: Exploration range, colonial mechanics, naval improvements
Cultural & Religious Advances
Examples:
- Humanism: Improved tolerance, faster cultural acceptance
- Religious Reform: New religious mechanics
- Enlightenment: Literacy bonuses, cultural advancement
- Scientific Method: Research bonuses
Effects: Cultural and religious modifiers, education improvements
Strategic Advance Priorities
Opening Strategy (First 50 Years)
Priority 1: Economic Foundation
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping (trade income)
- Manufacturing (production buildings)
- Basic infrastructure advances
Priority 2: Military Essentials
- Pike and Shot (if planning early wars)
- Naval Artillery (for maritime nations)
Priority 3: Administrative Setup
- Bureaucracy (government efficiency)
- Census (population management)
Mid-Game Strategy (Years 50-150)
Expansion-Focused:
- Military advances for army quality
- Colonial advances (if applicable)
- Integration and administrative advances
Economic-Focused:
- Advanced trade buildings
- Production method unlocks
- Financial management advances
Late-Game Strategy (Years 150+)
Domination:
- Late-era military units
- Industrial production methods
- Global trade and finance
Stability:
- Enlightenment and cultural advances
- Advanced government reforms
- Educational infrastructure
Institution Spread
Advances spread through institutions, similar to EU4:
How Institutions Work
Origin Point: Advances typically originate in high-development, high-literacy regions (Italy, Low Countries, etc.)
Spread Mechanics:
- Adjacent Spread: +2% to +5% per month to neighboring provinces
- Trade Spread: +1% to +3% per month along trade routes
- Cultural Spread: Faster among same culture group (+50%)
- Manual Embrace: Can spend gold to embrace institution immediately
Institution Effects
Provinces with Institution:
- -10% to -30% advance point cost
- +5% to +10% development efficiency
- Faster literacy growth
Provinces without Institution:
- No direct penalties (unlike EU4)
- Slower cultural advancement
- Reduced synergy with neighbors
Importing Institutions via Trade
You can accelerate institution spread through trade:
Requirements:
- Trade route from nation that has the institution
- Market capacity >50% utilization
- Sufficient market access (60%+)
Effect: +100% to +200% institution spread speed in market center
Maximizing Advance Speed
Short-Term Boosts (Within 5 Years)
- Build Universities: +0.2 advance points/month each
- Promote Literacy: Cabinet action, costs stability
- Complete Great Projects: One-time advance point bonuses
- Golden Age: +50% advance points (requires high prestige and stability)
Long-Term Strategy (10-50 Years)
- Develop Capital Region: Higher development = more points
- Education Laws: Enact laws promoting literacy
- Innovation Reforms: Government reforms granting advance bonuses
- Cultural Buildings: Universities, academies, libraries
- Trade with Advanced Nations: Import institutions faster
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring Literacy: Low literacy is the #1 reason for slow advance adoption. Build schools and universities early.
- Random Advance Selection: Don't adopt advances randomly. Follow a strategic plan aligned with your nation's goals.
- Neglecting Institutions: Institutions dramatically reduce advance costs. Prioritize institution embrace in capital and major cities.
- Overextending Without Advances: Don't expand faster than your administrative advances allow. You'll suffer from low control and efficiency.
- Skipping Economic Advances: Military advances are tempting, but economic advances fund your wars. Balance is key.
Advance Comparison: EU5 vs EU4
| EU5 Advances | EU4 Technology |
|---|---|
| Era-based, historical | Continuous progression |
| Adopted individually | Same tech level for all categories |
| Advance points (passive) | Monarch points (active) |
| No penalty for falling behind | Severe penalties for tech gaps |
| Institution spread bonus | Institution spread required |
| More granular effects | Broad category effects |
Quick Reference
- Average Advance Time: 8-12 months (with 40% literacy)
- Fast Advance Time: 4-6 months (with 70%+ literacy, universities, golden age)
- Slow Advance Time: 18-24 months (with <20% literacy, no universities)
Advance Point Sources:
- Literacy: 50-60% of total
- Universities: 15-20%
- Development: 15-20%
- Events/Projects: 5-10%
Priority Order (Generic):
- Economic advances (Double-Entry Bookkeeping, Manufacturing)
- Administrative advances (Bureaucracy, Census)
- Military advances (contextual to your wars)
- Exploration advances (if colonizing)
- Cultural advances (later priority)