Europa Universalis 5 is far from easy to get to grips with, and even after completing introductory tutorials, players will often feel lost, unable to find what they need in the UI. One of the many important mechanics players need to engage with if they want to expand their realm in this grand strategy game is fabricating claims in EU5.
What Are Claims & Casus Belli In Europa Universalis 5?
A Casus Belli is a legitimate reason to start a war. Although one is technically not needed, having a Casus Belli with a clear goal is more likely to result in a successful peace treaty, as the aggressor can make specific demands, such as land.
How To Fabricate Claims In Europa Universalis 5
If players don’t have a Casus Belli and want to conquer more land, they will need to fabricate a claim. However, doing so requires a few steps of preparation, and with how many menus and sub-menus there are, finding how to fabricate claims in EU5 is a tad trickier than usual.
There is also an option to fabricate claims via parliament, but meeting the requirements is generally harder. This is done in the Government tab on the left.
Check The Requirements
Before thinking about fabricating a Casus Belli, players will want to see if they have any chance. To do so, click on the nation, and under Hostile Actions, select Create Casus Belli.
Depending on the chosen nation, players may see one or more possible Casus Belli. By hovering over the square on the right of each, there will be a number of conditions with ticked or crossed-out boxes. If the only missing requirement is a lack of spies, then players can move on to the next step.
If, however, there are many unmet conditions, and they seem unlikely to be fulfilled, then the likelihood of gaining that Casus Belli is low, and players might have to look elsewhere.
Build A Spy Network
The first step of fabricating a claim is to set up a Spy Network. This can be done by clicking on the nation you wish to attack, and under Covert Actions, there is the option to Build Spy Network.
A circular icon will appear on the map for this nation, and a green line will slowly increase inside it, highlighting the recruitment of more spies. Hover over this icon at intervals to see how many spies you have.
To fabricate a claim, 20 spies are required. It may take around a year or longer to gather these spies, especially in a more distant land where the cultures are more at odds.
Fabricating A Claim
Once 20 spies have been gathered, fabrication can begin. Return to the menu from the initial check by clicking on the nation and selecting Create Casus Belli from the list of Hostile Actions.
Any Casus Belli that are ready will have a box with a gold border. Click the one you want, and for claims on land, players will be taken to a map where Provinces in blue are valid targets. Click one of these provinces.
This will now begin the process of fabrication, with players able to see a progress icon on the target nation. This could take months or years, depending on how good the claim is.
Released
November 4, 2025
Developer(s)
Paradox Tinto
