Levies finally scale with the ages. That’s the standout change in Patch 1.0.7 (Checksum 724a) for Europa Universalis V, released November 20, 2025. Paradox Tinto has addressed one of the community's primary mechanical critiques: the rapid obsolescence of levy armies as technology advances.
Levy Viability Extended
Previously, levies were largely early-game fodder, quickly outclassed by professional standing armies as soon as economies stabilized. This update introduces progression for levies through the ages, ensuring they remain statistically relevant longer into the timeline. Furthermore, new late-game levies for nobles have been added. This shifts the military meta significantly; players can now maintain a hybrid force structure longer without suffering severe quality penalties, allowing for more flexible manpower management during multi-front wars.
How does the anti-piracy buff affect trade?
If you've been frustrated by the sheer volume of ships required to patrol trade nodes, this patch brings relief. The anti-piracy strength for navies has been significantly increased. From an economic efficiency standpoint, this is a massive buff. You can now secure your trade routes with smaller detachments, freeing up naval capacity for war fleets or reducing maintenance costs to bolster your treasury.
Stability and Future Plans
On the technical side, the team fixed specific crashes related to cabinet action efficiency and market goods demand calculations—critical fixes for ensuring late-game stability when the simulation complexity peaks. Looking ahead, Paradox confirmed that Patch 1.0.8 is already in the pipeline. The next update aims to improve combat tooltips for better clarity and will adjust the values for Centralization versus Decentralization, likely altering the internal management meta.