What happens if my army runs out of food in EU5?

If an army runs out of food, it begins to suffer severe **attrition**, losing manpower every month until the supply situation is resolved or the province is vacated.

How is army supply determined in Europa Universalis V?

Army supply is determined by the **Supply Limit** of the province, which is based on the province's development, terrain, infrastructure (like roads), and the season.

How can I increase the supply limit of a province?

You can increase a province's supply limit by investing in **Diplomatic Development** and building infrastructure, such as certain forts or supply depots, in that province.

EU5 Army Food Guide | Europa Universalis 5

Original Guide by GamerBlurb.com | Published on 11/06/2025 at 1:15 AM CST

Europa Universalis V

Running out of food in Europa Universalis 5 can destroy an army faster than any enemy. Soldiers don’t just fight, they eat, and when that supply chain breaks, your troops crumble from starvation before the first battle even starts.

How Army Food Works in EU5

Every army in EU5 carries a limited stock of food, usually enough for about one month of marching or sieging. Once that food runs out, the army begins to suffer attrition, losing manpower and morale each month. Auxiliary units can carry food for longer, but even they need regular access to supply lines or depots to keep feeding the front.

Creating and Using Supply Lines

Armies stay supplied through nearby friendly locations connected by Control and infrastructure. Food flows through these paths, and if any section is blocked by enemies or occupied territory, your army’s supplies stop moving.

Build roads between your capital and border provinces to strengthen supply routes
Keep ports active for maritime supply access to coastal armies
Avoid pushing deep into enemy territory without first building a new supply depot

If a hostile army takes a key province in your line, your forces can be cut off instantly.

Building and Managing Supply Depots

Supply depots act as food storage points. You can create one through the military menu when controlling a province. Armies within two locations of a depot can draw food from it each month.

Depots hold up to 50 food by default
You can refill a depot with a nearby army using the Deposit Food action
Destroyed or captured depots remove your army’s access to stored food in that region

Use depots during long campaigns or sieges, where distance from your homeland makes regular supply impossible.

What Happens When Armies Starve

When your food runs out, your army immediately begins taking attrition damage. Each passing month reduces manpower and morale, and in extreme cases, units can disband completely. Armies low on food also move slower, making retreat or regrouping harder.

To recover, retreat toward controlled territory or a stocked depot. Staying idle in enemy territory with no food left is the fastest way to watch your empire bleed soldiers for nothing.

Planning Campaigns Around Food

Winning wars in EU5 often comes down to who can stay fed. Before marching into an enemy kingdom, check how far your supply network can reach. Always plan fallback depots along safe routes, and avoid chasing enemies through low-supply terrain like mountains or winter zones.

Armies that stay supplied gain the upper hand automatically, since starved forces fight at half strength even with higher numbers.

Final Blurb

In Europa Universalis 5, food is your army’s lifeline. Keep the supply flowing, build depots before you advance, and never underestimate how fast hunger turns victory into defeat. Smart logistics win wars long before the fighting starts.