EU5 War Enthusiasm Guide | Europa Universalis V
Original Guide by GamerBlurb.com | Published on 11/08/2025 at 1:52 AM CST
It might look like just a little horse icon, but war enthusiasm tells you exactly how ready a country is to keep fighting. Once it drops, that stubborn AI suddenly becomes a lot more reasonable.
What War Enthusiasm Actually Does
War enthusiasm measures how much a country still wants to stay in a war. It’s separate from war exhaustion, which tracks how tired or unstable a nation’s people are. Enthusiasm is more about the leadership’s confidence.
You can see it in the war screen beside the war overview button. The color of the horse icon shows the current mood of the enemy and updates over time as the war changes.
Reading the War Enthusiasm Colors
Green horse means high enthusiasm. The enemy is confident and won’t take peace deals easily.
Yellow horse means moderate enthusiasm. They’re starting to get tired and may consider peace soon.
Red horse means low enthusiasm. They’re done fighting and usually ready to surrender.
Watching this color shift helps you know exactly when to press for a better peace deal or hold out a little longer.
What Makes War Enthusiasm Rise or Fall
A few main factors affect how much energy a nation has left for war.
War score, which shows who’s winning overall.
Occupied provinces, since losing key land lowers confidence fast.
War exhaustion, which slowly eats away enthusiasm over time.
Length of the war, since long fights wear everyone down.
Manpower and treasury, as running low on either breaks morale.
Allied strength, because losing allies can crush their will to continue.
The more of these stack against them, the faster their enthusiasm falls.
How to Use It to Win Smarter
When your opponent’s enthusiasm is green, forcing peace is usually a waste of time. Wait until it turns yellow or red before making big demands. That’s when even proud countries will accept terms they ignored earlier.
Keeping your own enthusiasm high means avoiding drawn-out wars. Win fast, protect your capital, and manage exhaustion to stop your side from giving up early.
Final Blurb
War enthusiasm isn’t just a mood tracker. It’s a sneak peek at your enemy’s breaking point. Keep an eye on that little horse, wait for red, and you’ll walk away from wars richer, stronger, and way less exhausted.
FAQ
What does the horse icon mean
It shows how much fight a country has left in a war, changing color as enthusiasm drops.
Is war enthusiasm the same as war exhaustion
No, exhaustion tracks public suffering while enthusiasm tracks the ruler’s confidence in the war.
What lowers enthusiasm fastest
Occupied land, high exhaustion, and long wars are the biggest hits.
When should I make peace offers
When the enemy’s enthusiasm turns red, they’re usually ready to agree to almost anything.
Does it affect AI nations
Yes, AI countries rely heavily on enthusiasm levels to decide when to fight or surrender.
© 2025 GamerBlurb. Linking is welcome with credit to GamerBlurb.com. Copying or reproduction without permission is prohibited.
More Europa Universalis V
