# r/Europe Campaign Naval Power Tier List


Since we all know that naval warfare is super relevant and naval combat is definitely not complete bullshit in EU4, I thought I'd make a tier list of the nations which might or might not be involved in a massive naval war next session.

## **A***vast* Tier

### Great Britain
Britannia rules the waves? Naval morale at a respectable +63% combines with British NIs and wooden wall doctrine to make for very high-quality ships in and around British islands and 1-2 extra heavies worth of fleet width. The bank of 20k sailors will allow a large heavy fleet and an extended war, and as long as the subs keep coming in from the Dutch fighting a war won't break his bank. Low naval tradition and lack of maritimes ideas keeps him from being S tier in this campaign, but he has dramatic superiority over those in the lower tiers. Has a max fleet limit with buildings of 216, which should support a sufficiently large heavy fleet. Protestant rather than reformed because he is a filthy casual.

## **B***lack Jack* Tier

### Netherlands
Not an island nation but has a large naval trade empire which he needs to defend if he is going to continue subsidizing half the world. Has the highest fleet limit in the game at 346 and is currently filling out Naval, which will boost him to +44% naval morale but very little naval tradition. Most sailor generation in the game, but currently running a deficit with his 200 light ships which will just be floating liabilities if war is declared. Unlimited money, so the only real limit in a naval war will be sailors and winning battles. Using merchant navy naval doctrine, which is reasonable but not having ship boarding means any naval victories are much less decisive as the majority of the enemy fleet will just retreat. Filthy casual religion. Currently only has a small heavy fleet, but is on a truce with his main rival so he has time to build up.

### Malaya
As an island nation he is highly motivated to keep a standing navy, and is tied for most heavy ships in the game. But next tech makes those galleons obsolete so that will soon stop being much of an advantage. Decent but not great naval morale due to taking Naval + Quality but no naval morale NIs. Currently has a low FL of 168 but could boost it up to GBR-levels if he built shipyards. Has a free idea slot which, if he chose maritime, would push him to A tier above the british.

## **C***ockswain* Tier

### Taiwan
Numba 1 in our hearts but numba 5 in naval significance. Decent fleet size, high fleet limit, good naval tradition, and a B-tier naval morale of 45% if he spends a handful of mil mana to switch his pirate faction to the captains. Almost out of sailors and using up all his regen on light ship missions, and definitely can't afford to build up a large money with his deficit. Very high privateer efficiency, so if he gets in on the winning side of a naval war he stands to make a ton of money from blockading and privateering some nodes.

### Vijay
Not invested into Navy, but has 32 heavies and could pump out 200 more mediocre heavies if he decided he wanted to. That would probably be enough to overpower anyone below B tier, but numbers wouldn't help against anyone in B tier or above.

### Ethiopia
Has 2 combat widths of heavies, so deserves mention. Few sailors, no morale bonuses, no naval tradition, so they will only really help against the landlubbers.

## Viking Tier

### Iceland
In my completely unbiased opinion, the sole naval superpower in the world. His naval morale is 50% higher than the next highest: not 50% more bonus, 50% more total morale. So his ships are to Great Britain's ships as Great Britain's ships are to someone with just quality ideas and positive prestige. Has a low fleet limit due to losing coastal provinces, but his shipyard give 6 FL apiece so it could easily be much higher. Iceland can capitalize on naval victory with powerful privateers and massive ship capture chances. Fighting naval battles with the vikings is really just giving them free ships and sailors. Which they need. Please gib free ships. It's too bad about all those land borders.

## Landlubber Tier
Everyone else is irrelevant in any war that erupts on the seas, unless their armies can invade one of the above powers.

## F+ Tier
### Ruthenia
Has 1 whole port, so very relevant

## Wholesome Tier
### Monkeyman
Very nice and smart for a monkey. send subs
### France
Very french, much wholesomeness

## Very Unwholesome Tier
### Sousouni
Wouldn't even sub for Date, SMH my head