⚔️ Europa Universalis V War Score Calculator

What is War Score?

War Score is the currency of peace negotiations in EU5. The more war score you have, the more you can demand in a peace deal.

Range: 0% to 100%

• 0%: White peace (no gains)
• 25%: Minor concessions
• 50%: Moderate gains
• 75%: Major territorial conquest
• 100%: Complete victory (annex entire nation)

How Much Do Provinces Cost?

Basic Formula:

Province Cost = Base Cost × Development Multiplier × Special Modifiers

Base Cost = 5 war score
Development Multiplier = Province Development ÷ 10

Examples:

• Low dev province (10): 5 × 1.0 = 5% war score
• Medium dev province (20): 5 × 2.0 = 10% war score
• High dev province (35): 5 × 3.5 = 17.5% war score

Special Modifiers:

• Enemy Capital: ×2 (doubled cost)
• Your Core Territory: ×0.5 (half cost - reconquest)
• With Claims: ×0.75 (25% discount)

Step 1: Identify Your War Goals

In Game:

1. Open the province you want to conquer
2. Check the Province Panel
3. Note these details:
   • Development level (top right)
   • Whether it's the enemy capital (crown icon)
   • Whether you have a core claim (your flag icon)

Step 2: Enter Target Province Data

In Tool:

1. Development: Enter the exact number (e.g., 35)
2. Enemy Capital: Check if it has crown icon ☑️
3. Your Core: Check if you have historical claims ☐
4. Province Name: Optional, for reference

Multiple Provinces:

• Click "+ Add Province" to add more targets
• Tool supports up to 5 provinces per war plan

Step 3: Enter Current Progress (Optional)

If War Already Started:

• Current War Score: Your current percentage

Tool will show:

• How much more you need
• Updated recommendations
• Remaining time estimate

Step 4: Click "Calculate Plan"

Tool analyzes and displays:

War Plan Summary:

• Total Required war score
• Current Score
• Still Need
• Progress bar visualization

Strategic Recommendations:

• Priority-based action list
• War score gain for each action
• Estimated time for completion
• Priority badges (CRITICAL, HIGH, MEDIUM)

Step 5: Choose Your Strategy

Tool provides 3 pre-analyzed strategies:

Strategy A: Quick Peace ⚡

• Minimal objectives
• Fastest completion
• Lowest war exhaustion
• Get your target and leave

Strategy B: Balanced Approach ⚖️

• Target + extras
• Moderate timeline
• Balanced war exhaustion
• Secure victory with buffer

Strategy C: Total Victory 👑

• Maximum gains
• Longest duration
• High war exhaustion
• Annex multiple provinces

Step 6: Execute in Game

Follow the recommendations in order:

1. Start with Priority: CRITICAL actions
2. Take opportunities (battles) when available
3. Track progress in tool (update Current Score)
4. Make peace when target reached

War Score Cost Breakdown

Example: Constantinople (Dev 35, Capital)

Calculation Steps:
1. Base Cost: 5 war score
2. Capital Modifier: ×2 = 10
3. Development: 35 ÷ 10 = 3.5×
4. Final: 10 × 3.5 = 35 war score

But you need extra buffer, so tool recommends 68%
(includes occupation value + peace deal cost)

Why More Than 35%?

• Occupying gives you ~40% (includes bonus)
• Peace demand costs exactly 35%
• Buffer ensures acceptance
• Some score lost to war exhaustion

War Score Sources Explained

Occupation (Most Reliable):

• Regular Province (Dev 20): +10%
• Capital Province (Dev 35): +40% (double bonus!)
• Border Fort (Level 1): +12%
• Major Fort (Level 3): +16%

Battles (Opportunistic):

• Minor Victory (2k losses): +5-7%
• Major Victory (5k losses): +8-10%
• Decisive Victory (8k+ losses): +12-15%
• Stackwipe (total destruction): +15%

Strategic (Situational):

• War Goal Achieved: +25%
• Full Occupation: Up to +80%
• Naval Blockade: +5% per major port

Recommendation Priority System

CRITICAL (Do First):

• Occupy enemy capital (massive score)
• Achieve war goal (if applicable)
• Occupy target provinces

HIGH (Do Next):

• Win major field battles
• Occupy key border forts
• Secure strategic locations

MEDIUM (Optional):

• Occupy minor forts
• Blockade ports
• Win small engagements

Adding Multiple Targets

Example: Conquering 3 Provinces

Province 1: Constantinople (Dev 35, Capital)
Cost: 35%

Province 2: Sofia (Dev 18)
Cost: 9%

Province 3: Belgrade (Dev 15)
Cost: 7.5%

Total Required: 51.5% → Round up to 52%

Tool Calculates:

• Combined cost
• Optimal siege order
• Time to occupy all 3
• Additional war score needed

Siege Order Optimization

Tool Recommends Order By:

1. Capitals First: Highest value
2. High Development: More efficient
3. Strategic Location: Cuts enemy in half
4. Fort Status: Fortified = slower

Mistake 1: Not Planning Before War

Problem: Declare war, then realize you can't win

Solution: Use calculator BEFORE declaring war. Know if war is winnable. Plan exact objectives.

Mistake 2: Overextending Demands

Problem: Demanding too much, peace rejected

Solution: Tool shows exact requirement. Never demand more than you have score for. Leave 5-10% buffer for safety.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Time Costs

Problem: Long sieges drain manpower and money

Solution: Tool estimates time for each action. Choose Quick Peace if economy weak. Know when to cut losses.

Mistake 4: Wrong Siege Priority

Problem: Sieging low-value provinces first

Solution: Tool recommends optimal order. Always start with capital if possible.

Mistake 5: Not Updating Progress

Problem: Tool shows outdated plan

Solution: Update "Current War Score" regularly. Tool recalculates automatically. Always know where you stand.

Mistake 6: Forgetting War Exhaustion

Problem: Long war, army falls apart

Solution: Tool shows strategy war exhaustion. Choose Quick Peace if already high. Monitor in-game meter. Peace out before exhaustion breaks nation.

Tip 1: Capital is Always Priority #1

Why Capitals Are Special:

• Double war score value
• Central to enemy nation
• Highest development usually
• Occupation weakens enemy morale

Always Siege Capital First: Even if it's heavily fortified. Even if it takes months. Single best war score investment. Often 30-50% of your needs.

Tip 2: Battles Are Bonuses, Not Plans

Don't Rely On Battles:

• Battles are unpredictable
• You might lose instead of win
• Enemy might avoid engagement
• Score varies by casualties

Tool Approach: Primary: Sieges (reliable). Secondary: Battles (bonus if available).

Tip 3: Front-Load Your Gains

Strategy: Get score early, peace out fast

Why:

• First few months: Low war exhaustion
• Army at full strength
• Economy can handle costs
• Enemy hasn't rebuilt yet

Execution: Month 1-3: Aggressive sieges. Month 4-6: Reach target score. Month 6-7: Make peace immediately.

Tip 4: Know When to Settle

Consider Peace If:

• Within 10% of target
• War exhaustion rising
• Another war threatening
• Economy strained
• Manpower depleted

Don't Be Greedy: Better: 1 province secured. Worse: Overextend, lose everything.

Tip 5: Use War Goal Bonus

War Goal = +25% Free Score

How:

1. Declare war with specific Casus Belli
2. Achieve the war goal (usually occupy specific province)
3. Automatic +25% war score

Always: Choose CB with relevant war goal

Tip 6: Reconquest is King

If You Have Cores:

• Always use Reconquest CB
• 50% cheaper demands
• Minimal aggressive expansion
• Faster than conquest

Tool Automatically: Detects core provinces. Applies 50% discount. Shows massive savings. Recommends reconquest strategy.

Strategy A: Quick Peace (Recommended for Most Wars)

Philosophy: Get what you came for, leave immediately

Execution:

Phase 1 (Month 1-4): Siege primary target
Phase 2 (Month 4-6): Win 1-2 opportunistic battles  
Phase 3 (Month 6-7): Make peace with exact objectives

Best For:

• Single-province wars
• Weak economy
• Multiple enemies
• Manpower shortage
• Quick expansion

Strategy B: Balanced Approach

Philosophy: Secure target plus strategic extras

Best For:

• Medium-sized wars
• Stable economy
• Regional dominance goals
• Border security needs

Strategy C: Total Victory

Philosophy: Complete conquest or vassalization

Best For:

• Major enemies
• Strong economy
• Large manpower reserves
• Removal of threats
• Empire building

Example 1: Conquering Constantinople

Setup:

• You: Byzantine Empire
• Enemy: Ottoman Empire
• Target: Constantinople (Dev 35, Ottoman Capital)

Using Tool:

Step 1: Input

• Province: Constantinople
• Development: 35
• Enemy Capital: ✓
• Your Core: ✗

Step 2: Results

• Required War Score: 70%
• Current: 0%
• Need: 70%

Recommendations:

1. Siege Constantinople (+40%)
2. Win 2 major battles (+16%)
3. Siege Edirne fort (+14%)

Total Time: 15 months

Result: Constantinople acquired!

Example 2: Multi-Province Reconquest

Setup:

• You: Byzantium (small nation)
• Enemy: Ottomans (large empire)
• Target: 3 Byzantine core provinces

Results:

• Normal Cost: 53%
• With Reconquest: 26.5%

Strategy: Very achievable! Reconquest CB makes this easy.

Result: 3 provinces reconquered in only 10 months. Efficient war!

War Score Needs by Province Type

LOW DEVELOPMENT (5-10):

• Normal: 2-5%
• Capital: 5-10%
• Your Core: 1-2.5%

MEDIUM DEVELOPMENT (10-20):

• Normal: 5-10%
• Capital: 10-20%
• Your Core: 2.5-5%

HIGH DEVELOPMENT (20-35):

• Normal: 10-18%
• Capital: 20-36%
• Your Core: 5-9%

VERY HIGH DEVELOPMENT (35+):

• Normal: 18-30%
• Capital: 36-60%
• Your Core: 9-15%

Minimum War Scores for Peace Deals

• White Peace: 0%
• Minor Concessions: 10-20%
• 1 Small Province: 5-10%
• 1 Medium Province: 10-20%
• 1 Large Province: 20-35%
• 1 Capital: 35-60%
• War Reparations: 30%
• Trade Power: 20%
• Vassalize Small: 40-60%
• Vassalize Medium: 60-80%
• Vassalize Large: 80-100%

Time Estimates

SIEGES:

• Low Dev Province: 1-2 months
• Medium Dev Province: 2-4 months
• High Dev Province: 4-8 months
• Capital: 6-12 months
• Level 1 Fort: 2-3 months
• Level 2 Fort: 3-5 months
• Level 3 Fort: 5-8 months

TOTAL WAR:

• Quick Peace: 3-8 months
• Balanced: 8-16 months
• Total Victory: 18-30 months

Q: Why does tool recommend more score than province cost?

A: Two reasons:

1. Peace demand cost ≠ occupation gain
2. Buffer ensures AI accepts (10-15% extra safe)
3. War exhaustion can reduce effective score

Example: Constantinople costs 35% to demand, but occupying gives 40%+, and you want 60-70% total to ensure acceptance.

Q: Can I demand provinces I haven't occupied?

A: Yes, BUT:

• Costs more war score
• AI less likely to accept
• Better to occupy what you want
• Tool assumes you occupy targets

Q: What if I'm losing the war?

A: Tool helps here too:

• Input negative war score (enemy has advantage)
• Shows how to get back to 0% (white peace)
• Or cut losses (give up least valuable provinces)

Q: Tool says 65%, but AI won't accept. Why?

A: Check these:

• Are you at war exhaustion limit? (reduces effective score)
• Did enemy recently win battle? (temporary bonus to them)
• Are you demanding their capital? (AI resist more)
• Try adding 10% more buffer

Q: How accurate is the time estimate?

A: 80-90% accurate IF:

• Normal siege progress (no disease, no desertion)
• Battles happen as expected
• No major setbacks
• Economy supports continuous siege

Add 20-30% buffer for safety.

Q: Should I always go for capital first?

A: Usually yes, but exceptions:

• Capital has Level 5+ fort (too long)
• Multiple smaller targets give equal score faster
• Capital is inland, hard to reach
• Strategic reasons (cut enemy territory in half first)

Tool recommends optimal order.