Best Trade Nodes In EU4

Highlights

• Players of Europa Universalis 4 can secure their country’s survival from 1444 to 1821 through surprising alliances and conquests.
• Investing in the right trade nodes is crucial for increasing capital in the game’s global economy.
• Trade nodes like Malacca, Beijing, and Ivory Coast offer unique opportunities for players to dominate trade and increase their profits.

While players of Europa Universalis 4 can pursue any type of playthrough with their nation, the most common goal is to secure their country’s survival from the game’s start date of November 11, 1444 until January 2, 1821. Between this roughly four-century period, a player’s leadership of their nation can lead to surprising alliances, rivalries, and even conquests of other nations. However, should a player choose a country like Portugal, they might find themselves focusing less on colonization and more on becoming a global superpower.

In the global economy of Europa Universalis 4, players who want to pursue increasing their capital should begin investing in the right Trade Nodes. When secured and properly developed, crucial Trade Nodes can ensure players get an influx of profit they wouldn’t ordinarily get when playing safe with other locations. However, just which Trade Nodes stand out for players of EU4?

1 Malacca

Dominate Southeast Asia Trade In The Early Game

Sometimes, conquest playthroughs in Europa Universalis 4 remain the ideal way to dominate trade, at least if players set their sights on an ideal location like Malacca. Technically both a Trade Node and a nation, the Malacca Trade Node makes for quite an attractive acquisition as its only points of exit are towards Bengal and the Cape of Good Hope, both pivotal Nodes that lead into the rest of Asia and Africa, respectively. In turn, it also makes sense for Malacca, its bordering nation, to be strong in both naval warfare and trade. Regardless if players use Malacca or eye the Trade Node for acquisition, they should expect resistance from other competing powers.

Players can pursue Malacca in the early game by first controlling Bengal in Eastern India, especially when European powers have yet to go to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. With the right timing, players may be able to get much of the trade in Malacca – and therefore, much of East Asia – under their control. Maintaining Malacca’s trading potential does mean securing the Cape and its immediate areas to ensure consolidation of Trade Power, making the Node potentially investment-heavy.

2 Beijing

Secure East Asia’s Trade Route With The Right Setup

On top of Ming already being a powerhouse in Europa Universalis 4, its capital Beijing references the Beijing Trade Node, which, in itself, is a potential powerhouse. Since Yumen is its only outgoing Node, Beijing is the only Trade Node absorbing trade from Asia’s larger area groups (China as well as the developing Japan, Korea, and Pacific Islands), as well as some of America’s (Alaska, California, Mexico, and Texas).

Granted, only around seven Trade Nodes will be usable to players at the onset of the game without developing Colonization and/or Exploration. However, players who manage to secure Girin, Lhasa, and the Philippines should secure enough merchants to jumpstart more vigorous economic growth in Beijing. Lastly, securing control over Yumen should stop unnecessary trade flow in undesirable regions, ensuring a steady influx of ducats.

3 Ivory Coast

Control Outgoing Asia Trade At The Risk Of Racing Against Other Colonizers

Considering the appeal of End Nodes like the English Channel, not many players immediately see the value of controlling Trade Nodes such as the Ivory Coast, which can funnel trade into these locations. Granted, having to redirect trade into stronger Nodes such as Bordeaux, the Caribbean Sea, and even the aforementioned Channel means the Ivory Coast is not going to perform as optimally as others in terms of overall revenue. However, considering incoming Nodes such as the Cape of Good Hope means the person controlling the Ivory Coast practically dictates the direction of trade from many of Asia’s superpowers.

As a rule of thumb, players should control at least four Centers of Trade within the Ivory Coast to maximize its effects under their ownership. However, the challenging part about the Ivory Coast is its appeal to colonizers. Discovering and controlling the Ivory Coast can become a race against time against other naval superpowers, especially if players begin their playthrough in Europe.

4 Cape Of Good Hope

Facilitates More Strategic Trade Funneling From Asia

Considering the turbulence of Europe at the advent of the Age of Discovery, players can spice things up in their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay with a more tactical approach to their overall trading strategy. In this regard, the Cape of Good Hope can become a player’s stronghold for the global economy, especially when gamers play their cards right in the acquisition of its provincial collective with no need to worry much about its pathways.

Key to the Cape’s strength is its connection to the Ivory Coast, as well as Zanzibar and Mallaca, all of which are strong Trade Nodes in themselves. Despite Zanzibar being an equally attractive Node, the Cape’s capacity to draw trade from Coromandel and Mallaca means the Cape covers how trade enters Africa via the Ivory Coast. Moreover, given the proximity of the Cape to the Coast, it’s very likely for players to assert control over the latter as part of their expansion.

5 Chesapeake Bay

Potentially Outmaneuver The English Channel With Global Trade Direction

Players who want to maximize their profits in their Europa Universalis 4 gameplay should remember that Trade Nodes work best when directed to their home Node, which is what Chesapeake Bay emphasizes when controlled. Granted, its exit Nodes are The Big Three’s English Channel and the rather smaller Gulf of St. Lawrence, but players need to remember that trade from the Caribbean getting into the Chesapeake Bay also means redirecting global trade coming from large nodes such as the Ivory Coast. While some might state St. Lawrence and the Chesapeake Bay are more situational Nodes, the latter has better economic potential for Europe starts.

For instance, pursuing a Great Britain playthrough can benefit from Chesapeake Bay instead of trying to race against everyone else for control of the English Channel. The focus on Chesapeake Bay here ties into its origins, as its principal source of trade is the Caribbean, which in itself is tied to the global intersection that is the Ivory Coast. A London-capital Great Britain can secure much of Chesapeake Bay’s profits with the right embargoes. Granted, players can’t fully maximize profits with someone else controlling the English Channel, but using Mercantilism to fully dominate the Chesapeake Bay could at least funnel much-needed funds in the player’s direction.

6 Novgorod

Consolidate Trading Power Through Trade Steering

When it comes to controlling Trading Nodes outside End Nodes, gameplay in Europa Universalis 4 generally falls into making the most out of both incoming and outgoing profits. From a technical point of view, Kiev won’t bring much to Novgorod, making provinces near Kazan and neighboring Nodes such as Siberia and Kiev more profitable locations to invest in. This is more evident as the Yuan, as controlling Kazan should secure much of Asian trade going into Novgorod.

The only challenge with Novgorod is how much of the profits would likely pass to other inland Nodes near Persia, making for not-as-maximized returns. Controlling the outgoing Baltic Sea Node should mitigate some loss of profit on the player’s part while going eastward to dominate Astrakhan, Samarkand, and Yumen should secure more profits before they even get to Novgorod.

7 Sevilla

Secure Decent Trading Power Through Downstream Control

When it comes to efficient trading strategies in Europea Universalis 4, the Trade Node of Sevilla showcases the value of controlling and securing all bases. Compared to other Trade Nodes, Sevilla shines when players capitalize on its proximity to countries in Europe, particularly Spain which can earn significant profits with the right strategy. While it’s evident that players need to increase their Trade Power to Sevilla and develop the Node’s infrastructure to maximize profits, this plan of success goes hand-in-hand with controlling the behavior of Nodes that led to Sevilla in the first place.

Consolidating Trade Power in the Caribbean and the Ivory Coast, as well as Malacca and the Cape of Good Hope, should help Sevilla become a significant location for goods from Africa, the Americas, the East Indies, and even India. It may help the players to also secure Valencia through its nearby provinces, just to juice up as much profit as possible.

8 Venice

Historically Accurate End Node That Struggles With Momentum

When it comes to Trade Nodes, End Nodes like Venice remain the most significant due to the influx of trade into its region with no outgoing profits. Theoretically, much of the trade getting into Europe can help Venice profit in the early game. Unfortunately, as history has also shown, the Age of Discovery and Ottoman control over existing routes going into Venice has led to the discovery of other potentially stronger Nodes, particularly Genoa and the English Channel.

Geographically, Venice has control of much of the trade on the west side of Italy, although it doesn’t have Nodes that flow exclusively into it. However, players in it for the long haul may realize Venice’s strategic value once they fortify its surrounding areas enough to have exclusive control over the region while other stronger powers fight for Genoa and the Channel.

9 Genoa

May Dominate Trade Through Trade Companies

Of the End Nodes a player might encounter in their Europa Universalis 4 playthrough, Genoa becomes a more attractive choice compared to the English Channel from a geographical standpoint. Should players have access to much of the western Mediterranean and North Africa, Genoa is likely to be a more ideal place to develop. Granted, Genoa loses out to the English Channel in terms of trade viability, but the former can potentially dominate when Trade Companies are put into the picture.

Considered provincial collectives that can funnel more Trade Power and Trade Goods to their owners, Trade Companies can become a decent alternative to secure an economic advantage, especially if others are already contesting the English Channel. Genoa is the ideal place to commit to this strategy, especially since its nearby provinces as well as those close to the Balkans and North Africa can be put into Trade Companies.

10 English Channel

Most Viable End Node With Exclusive Routes

Among the End Nodes of trade in Europa Universalis 4, the English Channel remains the most viable acquisition due to the strategic nature of both its location and immediate connections. The geographical location of the English Channel on top of its more valuable selection of goods makes it an ideal End Node to funnel Trade Power into. From a numbers point of view, the English Channel’s collective of 52 Provinces also allows it to control much of Europe’s overall trade.

For instance, players who manage to steer trade from an Incoming Node like the Ivory Coast can help transform the English Channel into a powerhouse in the mid-game. The Channel’s natural access to strong Nodes like the North Sea, Lubeck, and the Baltic Sea via Lubeck can also guarantee higher endgame development and production stats.